The 10 Best Sandboxes With Lids
This wiki has been updated 27 times since it was first published in April of 2017. These sturdy sandboxes with lids can provide hours of backyard fun on a nice day, and their protective covers can be counted on for safeguarding their contents from wind, rain, and curious critters. They’re available in both hardwearing plastic and attractive wooden designs, and some come with built-in seats as well as useful accessories like shovels, rakes, and buckets. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Sandlock Sandboxes CSG-60120
2. Step2 Cascading Cove
3. Little Tikes Turtle
Editor's Notes
July 14, 2020:
The award-winning Sandlock Sandboxes CSG-60120 joins the list in this update. It’s available in both square and rectangular designs, with removable seats on the corners that can be stored inside of it when the cover is on. The cover consists of a vented tarp with handles and sewn-in bungee cords that make it easy to put on and remove. It’s green and beige colors help it to blend in with any backyard setting, and the permeable ground barrier ensures moisture won’t become trapped inside, and it won’t be overtaken by weeds. It’s made of recycled plastic and can be assembled in minutes. The Step2 Crabbie also joins the list today and, like the Little Tikes Turtle, this classic model has been around for generations. Its lid is shaped like a shell and reliably keeps out rain and critters when it’s in place. Many families also use it as a kiddie pool on hot summer days, and the handles make it easy to carry, as needed. The pair of claws can double as seats, making it a nice choice for those who don’t like to sit in sand. Like the turtle, it features a fun character design that kids are sure to enjoy.
For another award-winning selection, look to the Simplay3 Indoor Outdoor, which features a sliding lid that opens to reveal two sizable bins that are great for sand as well as craft supplies and blocks or other toys. Just flip over the lid to reveal four cup holders and a surface that’s otherwise flat, and this mode can serve as a place for little ones to have their meals. In this update, we also replaced the Step2 Play And Store with the Step2 Naturally Playful 830299, which is more readily available at this time. We also removed the KidKraft Pirate Sandboat, which contains small parts that make it unsuitable for children younger than three years of age.
For a choice that can also serve as a water table, look to the Step2 Cascading Cove, which is equipped with two separate compartments, each with its own drain hole. It also comes with a handy umbrella that helps provide some shade for youngsters on hot summer days.
March 12, 2019:
Thanks to its incredibly creative design, protection from the sun, and other cool features, the KidCraft Sandboat easily rose to the top of our selection. Other options like the Little Tykes Turtle at number two are classics that have stood the test of time and won't cost you too much money either. Elsewhere, the square-shaped offering from Best Choice Products is a nice idea, but its lackluster wood quality keeps it from breaking into anything approaching the top spots.
Special Honors
Sportspower Solid Wood Sandbox with Cover This rectangular choice opens up to provide two benches, so kids can sit comfortably. It’s well suited for those who don’t like sitting in the sand, and the seating can free up more room for digging and constructing sandcastles. It comes with a ground liner to keep out weeds, and its integrated hand grips make it easy to open and to fold. It features 47-by-51-inch dimensions and can support up to 150 pounds of sand. wayfair.com
4. Step2 Naturally Playful Table
5. Step2 Crabbie
6. Simplay3 Indoor Outdoor
7. Little Tikes Digger
8. Step2 Naturally Playful 830299
9. Best Choice Products Square
10. ECR4Kids Activity Play Center
Karen Bennett lives in Chicago with her family, and when she’s not writing, she can usually be found practicing yoga or cheering on her kids at soccer games. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s in English, and her writing has been published in various local newspapers, as well as “The Cheat Sheet,” “Illinois Legal Times,” and “USA Today.” She has also written search engine news page headlines and worked as a product manager for a digital marketing company. Her expertise is in literature, nonfiction, textbooks, home products, kids' games and toys, hardware, teaching accessories, and art materials.