Best Basketball Hoops for Kids

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Basketball is a fun sport and many kids love it. Even with all the devices around us, basketball is still a quite enjoyable activity by kids and adults alike. It’s a great way for your kids to have fun while also practicing a form of exercise.

If you want to buy a hoop to get the little ones started with basketball, check out this article to develop a background about what you should be looking for.

Best Basketball Hoops for Kids Reviewed

Basketball hoops come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. With so many options to choose from, things can get confusing.

To help you make a decision, we’ve reviewed some of the best basketball hoops for kids you can find. We’ve also listed the pros and cons of each of them.

Last update on 2020-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

1. Little Tikes EasyScore Basketball Set

Last update on 2022-10-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Little Tikes EasyScore basketball hoop is designed for kids aged one to five. It features an oversized rim for easy buckets, which is ideal for beginners. It’s made of soft plastic, making it extremely safe for kids to play with it without hurting themselves.

The plastic base can be loaded up with sand to prevent the hoop from tipping. The height is adjustable between 2.5’ and 4’, so your kids can enjoy this hoop as they age. It requires minimal setup effort and it’s quite lightweight. It comes with three junior-sized balls.

What We Like

• Safe design
• Suitable for beginners
• Good price
• Adjustable height
• Easy to set up

What We Don’t Like

• Kids may get bored of the oversized rim after a while

2. Little Tikes Adjust and Jam Pro Toy Basketball Hoop

Last update on 2020-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Similar to the smaller Little Tikes EasyScore, the height of this basketball hoop is adjustable between 4’ and 6’. It’s also made of soft plastic, providing safety for the little ones. This basketball hoop can be used both indoors and outdoors. However, it is larger than the EasyScore so you may not have room for it indoors.

The oversized rim is replaced with a smaller one to make scoring more challenging. However, the rim hangs at an angle after some dunks, which is a letdown. It’d be better not to use this hoop for dunking. The base can be filled with sand to avoid tipping. A junior-sized basketball is included in the package.

What We Like

• Adjustable height
• Safe to use
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use

What We Don’t Like

• The rim doesn’t stay up

3. Lifetime 32″ Youth Portable Basketball Hoop

Last update on 2020-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The basketball hoop from lifetime is made of steel with an impact shatter-proof backboard. The height of the hoop can be adjusted from 5.5’ up to 7’. Due to the metal construction and tall height, this hoop is more suitable for outdoor use.

The base can be filled with sand or water to prevent the hoop from tipping. The hoop is coated with a rust-resistant material.

Standard sized basketballs are used with this hoop, meaning that it’s more suited for older kids. You also get a five-year warranty with this hoop.

What We Like

• Sturdy steel construction
• Adjustable height

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t come with a ball

4. Step2 Shootin’ Hoops Pro Basketball Set

Last update on 2020-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

​This basketball hoop from Step2 is made of soft plastic, making it extremely safe for your kids to play with. It features an adjustable central pole, with which you can change the height of the hoop from 30’’ all the way to 48’’, so when your kids grow, they can still find it challenging. It’s easy to adjust, thanks to the collar system built into the pole.

However, the collar easily collapses when a ball hits it. You can work around this by tying it up with a cord or belt. We really like the woven net too. It’s much more fun than other nets made of stiff plastic.

Another good feature is the ball/drink holders built into the base, so your kids can enjoy drinking their favorite juice while they play. The base itself is made of strong plastic, making it quite sturdy. You can weigh down the base with sand or water to increase the stability and prevent the hoop from tipping over. It comes with one 6″ basketball.

What We Like

• Easily adjustable height
• Made of soft plastic
• Ball/drink holders built into the base
• Large backboard
• Real woven net

What We Don’t Like

• The adjustable collar collapses easily when a ball hits it

5. Little Tikes Attach ‘n Play Basketball Set

Last update on 2020-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This basketball hoop can be mounted on doors, thus saving a lot of space. It’s a great option for those who don’t want a bulky, sand-filled structure in their home. This Little Tikes rig features a telescopic design. The height is adjustable so that the hoop can grow taller as your kids grow older.

Another good feature is the breakaway rim, which provides extra safety and stability. However, the plastic that’s used to attach the hoop to the door is quite fragile and it can break down on an aggressive dunk.

Frequent opening and closing of the door may also loosen the assembly. Although it’s made out of soft plastic, the backboard can make a loud noise when it falls to the ground.

You also have to be careful with the door you pick for attaching the hoop. A door that opens up to stairways can be potentially dangerous because the door may open during a game.

What We Like

• Breakaway rim
• Portable and space-saving
• Made of soft plastic

What We Don’t Like

• The plastic attachments can break easily

6. SKLZ Pro Mini Basketball Hoop with Ball, Standard (18 x 12 inches)

Last update on 2020-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you’re looking for a portable basketball hoop for your kids, the SKLZ Pro Mini basketball hoop would be the perfect choice for you. At only 18 x 12 inches, you can easily put it in your car when going on vacation.

Not only that, but it’s also quite easy to set up. There are size options, including a glow in the dark option which is quite cool.

As far as durability is concerned, this basketball hoop features a shatterproof backboard, which should make it last for a long time. However, it’s somewhat flexible making it possible to break even by kids.

The backboard is foam-padded to prevent your doors from getting damaged. The spring-loaded 9” rim allows your kids to dunk without worrying about breaking the rim. It’ll just bounce back thanks to the spring-loaded design. It comes with a 5” rubber ball.

What We Like

• Shatter-proof backboard
• Portable design
• Easy Setup
• Spring-loaded rim
• Reasonable price tag

What We Don’t Like

• The backboard is flexible and prone to breakage

7. Lifetime Portable Basketball Hoop with 44in Impact Backboard

Last update on 2020-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Just like the basketball hoop from SKLZ, this basketball hoop is designed with portability in mind. It isn’t just a backboard that you can attach to doors, it’s a full set with a pole and a base.

It’s quite easy to assemble and disassemble, making it great for those looking for a basketball hoop to take on their vacation. It can easily fit into your car.

The adjustable height means that you’ll get your kids a hoop that’ll last for years to come. The height is adjustable from 7.5′ to as high as 10′. Moreover, it comes with a 27-gallon base, which you can fill with water or sand to increase the stability.

It also features an 18-inch steel rim that’s supported with two half-inch braces, so your kids can play basketball like real pros. The backboard is made of an impact-resistant material, allowing your kids to throw the ball as strong as they can without worrying about breaking the backboard.

What We Like

• Portable
• Easy to assemble and disassemble
• 18-inch steel rim
• 27-gallon base for extra stability
• Impact-resistant backboard
• Adjustable height

What We Don’t Like

• The backboard doesn’t allow the ball to bounce well enough

8. 3 Bees & Me Bath Toy Basketball Hoop & Balls Set for Boys and Girls – Kid & Toddler Bath Toys Gift

Last update on 2020-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This basketball hoop is intended to be installed in the bathroom. It’s suitable for kids and toddlers alike. The patent-pending Secure Stay design ensures the hoop stays steady even when dunking. It’s quite compact, occupying minimal space in your bathroom.

The hygienic no hole design prevents germs and molds from using the hoop as a hiding place. It also comes with three mini plastic balls. This is one of the best budget basketball hoops for your kids, but keep in mind that older kids may not really enjoy playing with this small hoop.

What We Like

• Compact, no-hole design
• Stays steady
• Easy setup
• Great for toddlers
• Cheap price

What We Don’t Like

• Not really suitable for older kids
• The plastic balls wear out quickly

Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying

There are many factors to consider when looking for a new basketball hoop for your kids.

Safety

Safety should be your number one concern before considering to buy a basketball hoop for your kids. As far as safety is concerned, there are a few factors that play a role, including materials, breakaway rims, and stability.

Basketball hoops made of fiberglass and steel are more likely to injure your kids than plastic ones. It’s preferable to graduate your little tikes from plastic hoops to metal and fiberglass at older ages after they become more familiar with basketball. They’ll be less prone to injuries if they have an idea of what they’re doing.

It’s also important to get a basketball hoop with a breakaway rim. A young kid can get hurt dunking on a stiff rim no matter their skill level. It’s also better to avoid rims that aren’t flexible enough to bend or move when dunked on unless you want your kids’ fingers to get jammed.

Stability

The stability of basketball hoops is affected by the base and the backboard. A weak backboard that doesn’t absorb the impact force of the balls may cause the hoop to tip over. Moreover, the base must be heavy enough to keep the hoop stable.

Many basketball hoops come with bases that can be filled with sand or water to provide additional stability. Sand would be a better option than water since it’s heavier.

Stability also plays a role when it comes to safety. Small plastic hoops that are made of soft plastic are nothing to worry about because they’re too light to cause any injuries to your kids. The real problem is with metal basketball hoops that are usually used outdoors.

It’d be better to get your kids a plastic basketball hoop first before trying out more advanced ones. Even at a height of 5′, a sand-based hoop made of steel and fiberglass is likely to tip over if hit with a big enough force. Your child should be mature enough to be aware of the dangers of a hoop tipping over.

Additionally, make sure to get a hoop with an impact-resistant backboard. If part of the backboard gets shattered, broken pieces will fall and hurt your kids. A good backboard is usually made of a composite material like fiberglass.

Durability

When it comes to durability, the weakest point in any basketball hoop is usually the rim. It must be well supported and fixed to the backboard, so it doesn’t break.

Standard rims are just fixed with screws into the backboard. This increases the stability of the rim to a great extent. However, it also causes the ball to bounce around a lot. Dunking on these rims isn’t a great idea either, because they’re too stiff. This could also damage the backboard.

A better alternative is breakaway basketball rims. These rims have compression springs that dampen the force of the shot, which means less bouncing. The result is a “soft touch” that many basketball players enjoy.

Moreover, breakaway rims are great for dunking. They come in two versions, either a version where the compression springs are exposed or more durable rims with covered springs for rust resistance. The latter are more expensive though.

Height

Before you buy a basketball hoop, make sure that its height is suitable for your kids’ ages. A basketball hoop that’s too high will be really challenging for your kids to play with and they won’t enjoy it.

Many hoops come with a telescopic pole, which means you can adjust the height to make it suitable for your kids. Another merit of the adjustable height is allowing your kids to adjust the height as they grow, it basically means that the hoop grows with your kids.

Portability

If you need a basketball hoop that can be easily moved, you have to make sure that it can be easily assembled and disassembled.

Size also plays an important role. If you want a basketball hoop to take with you when going on vacation, mini basketball hoops that can be attached to doors are also a great option because they can easily fit into most cars.

Cost

Cost mainly depends on the material choices of the basketball hoop. A basketball hoop made of steel will be more expensive than one made of soft plastic.

Fun

Basketball is quite fun but your kid should be able to score for them to actually enjoy it. Make sure to pick a hoop that won’t only be fun but also rewarding. This means you must pick one that’s suitable for your kid’s age and skill level.

For the ultimate fun, it’d be a good idea to get your youngest child a basketball hoop that’s colorful and easy to net balls in. The hoops can get more challenging as your kid grows and comes closer to playing like a pro.

Adjustable heights are important too. Having the ability to adjust the height of the rim according to your kid’s age and skill level allows you to create challenges for them.

You can put it on the lowest height until your kid gets better and more familiar with basketball. Then, move it up slowly as his skills improve. This makes the kids stay engaged and have a fun time as they get better.

Wrap Up

The ultimate decision depends on your needs. Things like whether you want an indoor or an outdoor hoop, the age of your kids, and portability should be considered.

Our top pick as the best basketball hoop for toddlers and younger kids is the Little Tikes Adjust & Jam Pro. We love that it’s made of soft plastic because kids of this age can easily hurt themselves if the hoop was made of metal. The adjustable height is a plus too. You just can’t go wrong with it.

For older kids, the best choice on our list would be the Lifetime 32″ Youth Portable Basketball Hoop. The sturdy metal construction along with the impact-resistant backboard and the adjustable height make this our favorite basketball hoop for kids aged 9 and up.