Checkers Sets Worth Setting Up on Family Game Night
WE Games Classic Wooden Checkers Set leads this group with a flat full size board and weighted wooden pieces. Families do better with the Melissa and Doug set, which stores everything inside and adds chess, while AMEROUS magnetic checkers handle cars and flights.
One set for years of regular play? Choose the WE Games Classic Wooden Checkers Set. Households with children get more from the Melissa and Doug combined set because its pieces store inside the board, and AMEROUS magnetic checkers solve travel outright.
Listings make every checkers set look identical, hiding the three details that decide real use: square size for adult hands, piece weight so nothing slides, and somewhere sensible to store 24 checkers. We compared board dimensions, piece materials, storage designs and owner reports on warping and lost pieces, then ranked on long term usability over looks.
Before you buy
What makes a good checkers set? Three specifications do most of the work: a board with squares comfortably larger than the piece diameter, pieces heavy enough to stay put when the table is knocked, and storage that keeps all 24 checkers together. Appearance matters less than any of them. Sets that fail on storage lose pieces within months, and sets that fail on square size get abandoned by adult players, so check both before admiring the finish.
What size should a checkers board and its pieces be? Every board uses the same eight by eight grid, so size differences come down to square dimensions. Cramped squares suit children and travel but force adults to knock neighbouring pieces while reaching across. Club and tournament boards run larger than family sets for exactly this reason. For a set adults will play regularly, board size is the spec worth paying for.
Wooden vs plastic checkers: which is better? Wooden pieces carry enough mass to stay where they land, resist decades of handling and make the satisfying click on a wooden board that players remember. Plastic weighs less, costs less and survives being chewed, dropped or lost, which is why children’s and travel sets use it. Households buying one set to keep should choose wood; households equipping a car or a classroom should choose plastic.
Which checkers set suits travel or outdoor play? Match the format to the venue. Cars, planes and trains need a magnetic folding board with internal storage, since unmagnetised pieces scatter at the first bump. Gardens and parties want a giant mat set that plays as a social activity. Neither substitutes for a table set at home, and buying the wrong format for the venue is the usual reason a set sits unused.
What we recommend
WE Games Classic Wooden Checkers Set
Turned wooden pieces land on this full size board with the weight and sound that separate a proper set from a toy. Because the board is solid rather than folding, it stays flat where hinged boards develop a ridge. Owners report years of family use, and the traditional finish earns a permanent spot on a side table.
Pros
- Solid board never develops a crease
- Pieces carry satisfying weight
- Handsome enough to leave on display
Cons
- No built in piece storage
- Heavier to carry than folding sets
Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wood Chess and Checkers Set
Two games share one wooden box here, and every piece stores inside it, so nothing goes missing between sessions. Setup takes seconds, which is why owners report this is the set that actually gets played weekly. Construction targets children from around six but holds up fine under adult hands.
Pros
- Chess and checkers in one purchase
- Internal storage prevents lost pieces
- Withstands regular child use
Cons
- Board runs smaller than full size
- Pieces weigh less than club standard
Pressman Checkers Classic Game
This is the folding board and plastic pieces most people picture when they hear checkers, and it plays the game perfectly well. Flat pack storage suits a crowded games cupboard. Expect the fold line to crease over time and the light discs to slide when the table gets bumped; that is the trade for the price.
Pros
- Costs the least here
- Folds flat into a cupboard
- Painless to replace if damaged
Cons
- Fold line creases and lifts with age
- Light pieces slide on any knock
Yellow Mountain Imports Checkers Set with Wooden Board
Yellow Mountain Imports specialises in board games, and the smooth lacquered pieces here outclass the price. Its wooden board folds shut with the checkers stored inside, bridging the gap between cheap plastic and a full club board. Hinges are the long term wear point, as with any folding wooden set.
Pros
- Wooden quality at a moderate outlay
- Folds shut with pieces inside
- Lacquered pieces feel refined
Cons
- Hinge wears before anything else
- Slightly under full board size
Jaques of London Draughts Set
Jaques has made board games since the Victorian era, and the finishing shows it: crisply turned draughts on a board that feels like furniture. Buy it as a wedding or retirement gift, or as the set your grandchildren inherit. Casual family play does not need this level of craft, which is the honest caveat.
Pros
- Finishing outclasses everything here
- Presents beautifully as a gift
- Built to last generations
Cons
- Costs far more than the rest
- Excessive for casual play
AMEROUS Magnetic Checkers Set
Magnets hold every piece to its square through motorway bumps and turbulence, which is the entire point of a travel set. Folded shut, the board traps the checkers inside so nothing scatters in a rucksack. Adults with larger hands will find the small squares fiddly, so keep a full size board at home.
Pros
- Magnets hold pieces in a moving car
- Self contained for packing
- Light enough for hand luggage
Cons
- Small squares fiddle adult hands
- Magnets weaken gradually over years
Hey Play Giant Checkers Set
Oversized discs on a roll out mat turn checkers into a lawn game for gardens, barbecues and events. Bystanders who would never sit at a table wander over and join in, which is the format’s real value. Store it in the carry bag and dry the mat after damp grass; this is summer equipment, not an indoor set.
Pros
- Turns checkers into a party game
- Draws in reluctant players
- Sets up on grass in minutes
Cons
- Bulky to store between summers
- Mat must dry after damp use
How they compare
| # | Model | Board | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WE Games Classic Wooden Checkers Set | Full size solid wood | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wood Chess and Checkers Set | Chess and checkers | Best for families | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Pressman Checkers Classic Game | Folding cardboard | Best budget | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Yellow Mountain Imports Checkers Set with Wooden Board | Folding wooden board | Best value wooden set | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Jaques of London Draughts Set | Traditional wooden board | Best heirloom quality | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | AMEROUS Magnetic Checkers Set | Folding magnetic board | Best for travel | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | Hey Play Giant Checkers Set | Large roll out mat | Best for outdoor play | 8.0 | Check price |
Common questions
Are checkers and draughts the same game?
Yes. North America says checkers, Britain says draughts, and the board and pieces are identical. Regional rule variants exist, especially on whether capturing is compulsory, so agree the rules before the first move.
What size is a standard checkers board?
All standard boards carry an eight by eight grid of 64 squares, the same layout as chess. Physical size varies widely, and bigger squares make play more comfortable for adults, which is why club boards run larger than family sets.
What age can kids start playing checkers?
Around five or six, once turn taking and diagonal movement make sense. Rules fit on a single card while the strategy keeps adults engaged, which makes checkers one of the best first strategy games for children.
How many pieces are in a checkers set?
Twenty four, twelve per side, with some sets adding spares. Count them on arrival, because a short set is easier to resolve with the seller in the first week than after a piece hunt months later.
Can you play checkers on a chess board?
Yes, the boards are interchangeable since both games use the same eight by eight grid. Combined sets like the Melissa and Doug box exploit exactly this, shipping one board with both armies of pieces.
Which is better for kids, wooden or plastic checkers?
Plastic survives younger children better: it shrugs off drops, costs little to replace and weighs nothing. Move to wooden pieces once the child values the game, since the weight and feel reward careful play.
What makes a checkers set good for travel?
Two features: magnetic pieces and a board that folds shut with storage inside. Magnets stop a bump from ending the game, and internal storage stops pieces migrating loose through a bag. The AMEROUS set pairs both.
Is a giant outdoor checkers set worth it?
For gardens, parties and events, yes, because the lawn scale pulls in people who avoid table games. As an only set it fails, since the mat and discs are bulky to store and unusable indoors.
How do you stop checkers pieces going missing?
Buy a set that stores pieces inside its board, or commit loose pieces to a labelled tin from day one. Storage design, more than anything else, predicts whether a set still has 24 pieces a year later.
Our pick
WE Games Classic Wooden Checkers Set is the buy for anyone who wants one board that stays flat, feels substantial and lives on the table for years. Families get more play per week from the Melissa and Doug set, since built in storage plus chess doubles its usefulness, and AMEROUS magnetic checkers own the travel role. Match the format to where games actually happen, because that decides whether any set gets used.
