Best wooden building blocks sets made in the USA.
We all know and love them. Wooden building blocks have been a a cornerstone of children’s play sets for centuries and I’ve tried to find the best wooden building block sets that are still made in the USA. And fortunately, there are quite a few!
To determine which ones would make the list I looked at the origin of the wood used, the size and variety of each collection and whether the blocks were finished with products that are safe towards the environment and your child’s health.
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Why wooden building blocks?
In an era of Ipads and intricate Lego builds, a wooden building blocks set certainly isn’t the flashiest toy you could bring home. But it’s exactly their simplicity that makes them so great.
Because of their simple design, they’re extremely versatile and excellent for combining with other toys. They can become a dollhouse, castle, pirate ship or racecar track where toy cars zoom around to win first place (with the price being one delicious cupcake). All in just one box! Kids can even paint or draw on the blocks to give them a personalized touch. As a result, wooden building blocks are great for developing creativity in younger children.
Another thing to consider is their environmental benefits. Wooden blocks are made from renewable resources and are practically indestructible, meaning they can even be passed down through generations. If, at some point, they’re no longer wanted, they don’t cause any waste after disposal.
Best American made classic building block sets.
We start off with the best classic building blocks sets, as those are probably the ones you’re looking for. I’ve picked out those who offer the widest selection and are truly made in the USA.
Beka: best classic building blocks
When it comes to classic building blocks, it just doesn’t get much better than Beka. They offer a wide range of sets, with more or fewer blocks, depending on your preference. All blocks are handmade in St. Paul, Minnesota from regionally harvested maple hardwood, making them 100% made in the USA!
Because they’re made from hardwood and are slightly larger than most blocks you find on the market today, their blocks are more stable and great for building larger structures. In addition, they’re sanded smooth and don’t contain any harmful finishes!
Wood origin: hard maple from Minnesota and Wisconsin, USA
Finishing: No coatings, water based stain, colored latex
Manufacturing: Minnesota, USA
Maple Landmark: runner-up in classic building blocks
While they don’t offer as much variety as Beka, they’re still a great option for those who’re looking for a classic wooden building blocks. They offer sets from 21 pieces, all the way up to 104, so you can pick whichever seems best suited for your child’s play level. Aside from those, they also offer some fun alternative blocks.
Maple Landmark makes their blocks in Maine, USA from locally sourced, sustainably harvested maple hardwood.
Wood origin: hard maple from Maine, USA
Finishing: No finish, non-toxic ink for colored blocks
Manufacturing: Maine, USA
Keva Planks
Keva takes a slightly different approach to wooden building blocks. In fact, they don’t make blocks at all. They’ve decided that planks is pretty much all you need. And they might be on to something, because when you take a look at the kind of structures you can build with them, it’s pretty astounding!
They might not be as intuitive as simpler wooden block sets though, which is why they’re better suited for slightly older children. But don’t worry, Keva offers plenty of guidebooks and Youtube videos to get you started!
The planks are made in Maine from regionally harvested maple hardwood. Even the wooden boxes they come in are made in the USA! They do offer a pine option for larger orders, which is imported, so do look out for that.
Plank dimensions: 5/16″ x 7/8″ x 4 5/8″
Wood origin: hard maple from Maine, USA or imported pine
Finishing: No finish
Manufacturing: Maine, USA
Alternative building blocks made in the USA.
While classic building blocks are great, sometimes you want might something a little more elegant or outside of the box. That’s why I’ve collected three brands that put a slightly different spin on what a wooden building block looks like.
Gem blocks
Gem blocks look, well, like gems… Their many faces make them more interesting and satisfying to stack, which make them fun toys for both kids and adults to spend some relaxing time with.
Tumi Ishi
Tumi Ishi handcrafts their blocks in Missouri, USA from a large variety of native hardwoods. As finish they use a mix of mix of 100% organic jojoba oil and beeswax, making them the perfect option if you’re looking natural looking gem blocks that let the inherent shades of wood shine.
Finishing: 100% organic jojoba oil and beeswax
Wood origin: various hardwoods from the USA
Manufacturing: Missouri, USA
Rock Blocks
If you prefer your gem blocks a little more colorful, look no further than Rock Blocks. Their balancing blocks are made in Utah, USA from Alder hardwood and painted with non-toxic, zero-VOC acrylic paints with an eggshell finish.
Finishing: non-toxic acrylic paints, eggshell finish
Wood origin: Alder hardwood sourced from supplier in Utah, USA
Manufacturing: Utah, USA
Treemagination: building blocks from nature
Treemagination takes yet a different approach to building blocks. Why not respect the form nature had given to the wood, instead of carving it into a man-made shape? As a result, they offer some of the most unique blocks out there, all of which are made in Texas from fallen branches from their family property and nearby communities. Perfect for building a fairy land!
Finishing: homemade wood polish, made from local organic beeswax
Wood origin: various woods from Texas, USA
Manufacturing: Texas, USA
Conclusion
So, those are my favorite American brands! While there are some other companies that sell or make wooden building block sets made in the USA, I chose not to include them in the list because they tend to offer just one set or they don’t meet some other requirements. I hope this was helpful, if I missed your favorite building block set, let me know!
You can also check out my post on the best toy blocks made in the USA, which, aside from some brands mentioned above, includes plastic and giant building blocks!
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