Baby & Family · Head-to-head
Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece vs PicassoTiles Classic 100-Piece (PT100)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Magnetic Tiles: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
Magna-Tiles are the original for a reason: food-grade MABS plastic, riveted magnets and a lattice that resists cracking. PicassoTiles gives you 100 compatible pieces for roughly the price of the 32-piece original.
Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece
Buy itThe original magnetic tile: food-grade plastic, riveted magnets and compatibility with every Magna-Tiles set ever made.
- Food-grade, non-toxic MABS plastic that is free of BPA, phthalates and latex, with a signature internal lattice that resists cracking under drops.
- Magnets are riveted in place rather than glued, the single biggest safety and durability difference between the original and clones.
- The 32-piece set (squares plus equilateral and right triangles) covers the core shapes, and every piece works with every other Magna-Tiles set including themed and microMAGS lines.
- Costs about twice as much per tile as the value brands, so a big build collection gets expensive fast.
- 32 pieces is a starter quantity; most kids exhaust it quickly and you will end up buying a second set.
- No storage container in the Classic box.
PicassoTiles Classic 100-Piece (PT100)
Buy itThe value standard: 100 compatible tiles for less than the 32-piece original costs.
- 100 pieces for roughly forty dollars, about the best price per tile from any brand with a real safety record and a decade of sales history.
- Sensible shape mix for building: 8 large squares, 46 small squares, and three triangle sizes, so kids can make real walls and roofs early on.
- Same 3-inch square footprint as Magna-Tiles, so it mixes into an existing collection without problems.
- Plastic is a step below the original: thinner faces and a less refined finish that show scratches sooner.
- Magnet strength is good but not quite equal to the premium brands, which you feel on tall, cantilevered builds.
- The catalog is a tangle of similar listings; buy the PT100 or a clearly labeled set and ignore the themed bundles.
Side by side
| Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece | PicassoTiles Classic 100-Piece (PT100) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | First-time buyers who want the tile that invented the category and plan to build a collection that lasts through multiple kids. | Gift buyers and grandparents who want maximum play value per dollar without rolling the dice on an unknown clone. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece - The original magnetic tile: food-grade plastic, riveted magnets and compatibility with every Magna-Tiles set ever made. Choose the PicassoTiles Classic 100-Piece (PT100) instead if gift buyers and grandparents who want maximum play value per dollar without rolling the dice on an unknown clone.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Magnetic Tiles: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).