When I was 10, I got into a very heated argument about whether you could keep a velociraptor as a pet. I was firmly in the ‘no’ camp – and after many months, we eventually agreed to disagree. But to this day, the thought of how humans and dinosaurs would have co-existed still crosses my mind. Thankfully, we’ll never be able to find out – and there are lots of brilliant dinosaur toys on the market instead.
Dinosaurs have fascinated people of all ages for centuries, and it's not difficult to see why. With their immense size, unique features, and mysterious extinction, they provide an endless source of wonder and intrigue. For children, this fascination is often expressed through play, whether it's with action figures, board games, or puzzles.
But did you know that playing with dinosaur toys can also be a valuable educational tool? Research has shown that play is essential for children's learning and development, and by incorporating educational elements into playtime, children can learn important skills and concepts without even realising it.
Is there a little one who loves dinosaurs, or do you want to say thanks to your favourite teacher or lecturer? Perhaps you’re looking to liven up your home office workspace? And of course, dinosaur toys make great teaching aids for budding palaeontologists. Or maybe, you just think dinosaurs are cool (they are).
From Tyrannosaurus rex to Stegosaurus, we’ve got you covered with these interactive dinosaur toys.
17 of the best dinosaur toys
Inspire future palaeontologists, or just have a roaring good time, with our selection of the best dinosaur toys, from awesome LEGO kits to that inflatable T. rex costume.
Educational dinosaur toys
Excavate a dinosaur!
Best for archaeology
Want to feel like a real palaeontologist, and make some mess in the process? Dig a surprise dinosaur by scraping, tapping, brushing and shovelling away the plaster to reveal the skeleton, then assemble the pieces to make your dinosaur. Each kit contains a surprise dinosaur, plus the tools needed to excavate. Dinosaurs include T. rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, or you might also excavate a Mammoth.
Meccano dinosaur kit
Best for variation
Having been around for over a century, Meccano has stood the test of time and modern kits today come in all shapes and sizes. They’re excellent for introducing kids to engineering, and most sets come with instructions for several different models.
Meccano toys are great for boosting STEM skills, and if you have multiple kits, you can mix and match the pieces. With this Meccano dinosaur kit, you can make at least 10 different dinosaurs; there are 179 pieces, two tools and instructions for each of the different dinosaur toys.
For more things Meccano check our list of the best Meccano sets.
Build a Stegosaurus
Best motorised dinosaur
See your wooden dinosaur creations come to life with this robotic walking dinosaur kit. Press out the shapes from the numbered wooden sheets, and slot them together to create your dinosaur, no glue is required. With the motor installed, clap once and your dinosaur will move forward, twice to turn right, and three times to turn left – it’ll even roar! Choose from a Stegosaurus (pictured), Triceratops or T. rex.
Dinosaur toys for adults
Jurassic Park Monopoly
Best board game
Complete with the iconic gate, music and special effects, secure the park and avoid a rampaging T. rex in this Jurassic Park-themed Monopoly. Building protective fences (instead of placing houses) allows a player to charge more rent, as well as protect the property from the T. rex.
LEGO dinosaur skeletons
Best LEGO dinosaur
Turn your living room into a natural history museum with this LEGO dinosaur fossil kit, which lets you build a T. rex, Triceratops and Pteranodon. Each one is articulated and comes with its own display stand and name plaque. There are 910 pieces in total, as well as a LEGO palaeontologist figure and human skeleton!
Inflatable dinosaur costume
Best dinosaur costume
Ideal for parties, fancy dress, or just for lightening the mood during lockdown, this inflatable T. rex costume is ideal for people 170cm and taller. It’s inflated using a battery-powered fan (takes four AA batteries) and is made from ultra-durable, soft, waterproof and lightweight polyester.
Dinosaur toys for toddlers
Wild Republic Diplodocus Hand Puppet
Best stuffed dinosaur
This Diplodocus hand puppet from Wild Republic is just the thing for those who are looking for less ferocious dinosaur toys. There are other dinosaurs too, including a Pteranodon and T. rex, but we think the Diplodocus is too dang cute.
Jellycat Mini Triceratops Collectable
Best collectible
This adorable plush toy will make the perfect addition to any dinosaur enthusiast's collection. Featuring whimsical details and super soft fur, this charming collectable is mini, meaning it can serve as a huggable companion or delightful decoration.
Triceratops Plush Toy
Best dinosaur stuffed animal
This triceratops teddy is expertly crafted from top-quality plush fabrics, not to mention incredibly cute. Inside, it has a high-quality feather PP cotton filler, which means it's lightweight and hypoallergenic.
Dinosaur play set
Dinosaur Toys Race Track
Best for ages 3-6
This captivating toy set features realistic dinosaur figurines that come to life with dazzling LED lights and lifelike roars, providing an immersive prehistoric adventure for young explorers. It's perfect for both play and education and will offer hours of interactive, imaginative fun.
Dinosaur Play Mat Set
Best for creative play
This comprehensive kit boasts a whopping 28 dinosaur figures, along with 14 lifelike accessories such as trees, rocks, and tree stumps, all ranging from 3 to 10cm in size. It also has the added bonus of a dinosaur mat and a convenient storage case.
Dinosaur Sorting and Stacking Toys
Best for ages 1-3
Designed to develop toddler's fine motor skills as they stack and play, this Montessori-inspired toy will make a delightful addition to any playroom. Its vibrant and tactile dino figures are great for inquisitive minds and guaranteed to brighten up any room.
Dinosaur toys for kids
Mould and paint plaster of Paris Dinosaurs
Best for crafts
Get crafty with this plaster of Paris dinosaur kit from 4M. There are five different moulds that allow you to create your own flat-backed dinosaurs, which are ideal for fridge magnets. Or why not press a pin badge into the wet plaster for easy DIY dinosaur badges? Paint your dinosaur creations with the included paint or add some glow-in-the-dark details for extra pizazz.
Galt Toys, Horrible Science Kit – Deadly Dino Experiments
Best for science
Dig up dinosaur fossils, and experiment with quicksand traps and amber slime with this Deadly Dino Experiment kit from Galt Toys. This Horrible Science kit includes a dinosaur excavation stone with two dinosaurs, excavation tools, play goggles, an amber slime egg with dinosaur, pterodactyl, T. rex skeleton pieces, air-dry clay, dinosaur footprints mould, sand, cornflour and a lab notebook.
Glow in the Dark Surprise Dino Strike Blind Bags
Best collectibles
Blind bags have been hugely popular throughout 2020 and 2021, and this double pack from Zuru contains five surprises in each. Each dinosaur toy comes with glow-in-the-dark headgear, armour, scalable weapon backpack and firing projectiles. There are 13 different dinosaurs to collect, and you can even combine the single and double blasters together to make the ultimate triple blaster! Will you find the rare gold T. rex?
Best Jurassic World toys
Jurassic World dinosaur toys: Stygimoloch Dinosaur Escape Toy
Best Jurassic World LEGO
This LEGO dinosaur kit is an ideal starter set for younger children and includes two dinosaur figures, an all-terrain off-roader and a treehouse/observation post. There are also some fun accessories, including a tranquillizer gun, carrot, shovel and of course, a dinosaur poo. There’s also a removable cage for the Stygimoloch dinosaur toy on the back of the vehicle.
Velociraptor Blue
Best Velociraptor toy
Take home your very own Blue from Jurassic World. Like the Super Colossal Indominus Rex listed above, the Velociraptor Blue can devour up to 20 mini dinosaurs (sold separately), which are then released via a flap in Blue’s belly. Ideal also, for hiding sweets and other treats you don’t want people to find!
And just to be sure that the fun is supersized, this dinosaur toy is over 3 ½ feet long, and around 18 inches tall – so make sure you’ve got room in the house for this big dinosaur toy.
Jurassic World dinosaur toys: Jurassic World Real Feel Mosasaurus
Best aquatic dinosaur
Okay, so the Mosasaurus isn’t technically a dinosaur - it’s a marine reptile - but with over 1,500 five-star ratings, we had to share. The Amazon-exclusive Mosasaurus features textured skin and realistic sculpting for truly terrifying underwater antics. The jaws of this apex predator open wide, and the limbs are articulated for hours of action and adventure.
Jurassic World dinosaur toys: Super Colossal Indominus Rex
Best Indominus Rex toy
This Super Colossal Indominus Rex can swallow up to 20 mini dinosaur figures, which can then “escape” via a hatch in its belly! With ferocious chomping action, realistic skin texture and articulated arms and legs, this Jurassic World dinosaur toy is 18” high, approximately 46cm.
Jurassic World dinosaur toys: Stomp n’ Escape T Rex
Best T Rex toy
The Stomp n’ Escape T. rex doesn’t want to be restrained. Twist her tail to create big stomping motions (did you know dinosaurs wagged their tails when running?), then press the secret button on her back to make her roar, as she escapes from her bonds. With realistic roaring noises, this dinosaur toy is not small, measuring up at just under 55cm long.
Jurassic World dinosaur toys: Roar Attack Ankylosaurus
Best Ankylosaurus toy
The Ankylosaurus is one of the largest armoured dinosaurs, easily identified by the heavy club at the end of its tail. Press the button on its back to make the tail swing back and forth to defend against predators – or annoying siblings.
Looking for more dinosaur gifts?
We hope you’ve found something useful in our round-up of the best dinosaur toys, or maybe just dinosaurs in general; if so, be sure to check out our selection of the best dinosaur books or why not take a look inside a dinosaurs skull with this pop-up book, Tyrannosaurus rex.
Discover some amazing facts about dinosaurs:
- 17 of the weirdest dinosaurs
- Dinosaurs wagged their tails while running
- Volcanic eruptions may have helped dinosaurs evolve
- Download your free Instant Genius PDF guide to Dinosaurs!
- Were dinosaurs cold-blooded?
- Did dinosaurs fart?
- When did dinosaurs become birds?
- 5 of the best dinosaur books for adults and kids