Short answer: for most children the best chess gift costs about $21. It is a tournament-style set: weighted plastic pieces and a roll-up board. It is what clubs use, it survives being dropped, and it will still be in use in five years. Add a book if your child reads, a clock if they play friends or clubs, and leave the $300 smart board for later.
We run an online chess school. We do not sell any of the things below and we earn nothing from them. Prices are US dollars, as shown by the sellers on November 6, 2026, and they change.
The quick guide by age
| Your child | Best gift | About |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5, not playing yet | Story Time Chess | $40 |
| 5–7, just learning | A tournament set and Chess for Children | $21 + $17 |
| 7–10, plays at home | A tournament set and How to Beat Your Dad at Chess | $21 + $20 |
| 8+, goes to a club or tournaments | A digital clock with delay | $43–$90 |
| Plays everywhere | A magnetic folding set | $8–$21 |
A real set: the gift that does most of the work
The standard for club and tournament play is a 3.75-inch king on 2.25-inch squares. You do not need wood. Triple-weighted plastic pieces on a vinyl board that rolls up are what children will meet at almost every tournament.
- Tournament pieces and a 20-inch vinyl board, $20.95 at House of Staunton. US Chess Sales lists the same set at the same price.
Why not a beautiful themed set? Because a child has to learn the pieces at a glance. Knights that look like dragons and bishops that look like wizards make that harder, and the set usually ends up on a shelf.
For children too young to play properly
Story Time Chess lists at $39.99 for ages 3 and up. It teaches the moves through a storybook, with pieces, character cutouts, tokens and a two-sided board. It is a good way in for a preschooler, as long as a parent is happy to read along. For what works at this age, see our guide to chess for kindergartners.
No Stress Chess is $24.99 and marked for ages 7 and up. Cards tell the player which piece to move, which takes the pressure off a child who gets stuck.
For travel
- 12-inch magnetic folding set, $20.95. A good size for the car or a grandparent's house.
- Pocket magnetic set, $7.95. A nice stocking stuffer, though too small for regular play.
A clock, once they play other people
A clock is a real step up and most children love it. It is worth buying once your child plays at a club or in events. Before that it mostly adds stress.
- DGT 1001, $34.95. Fine for home and for friends. The seller notes it is not recommended for US Chess rated play.
- ZMF-II, about $43, with delay and increment.
- DGT 3000, $89.95, with US delay. A clock a child can keep for all their tournaments.
If your child plays rated events in the US, buy a clock with delay.
Books that children actually use
- Chess for Children by Murray Chandler and Helen Milligan, $16.95. Written for children as young as five. The classic first book.
- How to Beat Your Dad at Chess by Murray Chandler, $19.95. Checkmate patterns, and a title children enjoy.
- Chess Tactics for Kids by Murray Chandler, $19.95. The natural next book once the moves are secure.
- Winning Chess Puzzles for Kids by Jeff Coakley, $35.95. For ages 7 to 13, and a lot of puzzles for the price.
- Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, $9.99. A good choice for an older child who likes working alone.
Skip books written for adults, however famous. A child who cannot finish a book feels they have failed at chess.
Smart boards: usually not yet
Electronic boards connect to an app and record the game. Some move the pieces by themselves.
- Chessnut Air, $249.99.
- ChessUp 2, $349.99.
- Miko Chess Grand, $499.
- Chessnut Move, $719.
They are lovely objects. But for a child who is still learning, a $21 set and a free Lichess account do almost everything these do. Even Chessnut's own buyer's guide points its value model at children who already know the rules. Buy one when a child plays every day and asks for it.
Memberships
- ChessKid Gold. A one-year membership can be bought as a gift from an adult account. A year costs about $50–$60. It suits a child under 13 who wants safe online play.
- Chess.com. You can gift a month or a year, but the minimum age in the US and Canada is 13. For a younger child, choose ChessKid.
- US Chess. A youth membership is $24 a year and lets a child play rated events. We found no gift product, so a parent signs up directly. It is a good present for a child heading to a first tournament, together with what a rating means.
- Chess Federation of Canada. Junior fees depend on the province, from 20 to 32 a year. There is no gift option.
Lessons, if that is what they really want
Some children do not need another object. They need someone to play with and someone to show them what they are doing wrong. A year of weekly lessons is more than most families want to put in a stocking, and we do not sell gift cards. But you can book a first lesson and tell your child about it on the day: the first lesson is free and one to one, and after that our online chess lessons are $79 a month in the US, with online cancellation at any time. Book the free first lesson
If you would rather start with no spending at all, our free self-study account has puzzles and needs no card.
When to order
None of the chess shops we checked has published a 2026 holiday cutoff yet, so order early. USPS lists December 17 for Ground Advantage inside the US and December 9 for parcels to Canada. Wholesale Chess quotes 4–7 business days, including Canada. Canadian families should also check duty and the exchange rate before ordering from a US shop.
FAQ
What is a good chess gift for a 7-year-old?
A tournament-style set and How to Beat Your Dad at Chess or Chess for Children, about $40 in total. If they do not yet play, No Stress Chess is a gentler way in.
What size chess set should I buy for a child?
The standard: a king about 3.75 inches tall on 2.25-inch squares. Small hands manage it fine, and it matches what they will find at clubs.
What is the best chess set for a beginner?
The plain one: weighted plastic pieces and a vinyl roll-up board, about $21. Clear pieces matter more than beautiful ones.
Does my child need a chess clock?
Not until they play at a club or in tournaments. At home it often adds more stress than fun for a beginner.
What do you give a child who already plays tournaments?
A clock with delay if they do not have one, a tactics or puzzle book at their level, or a US Chess or CFC membership. If you are not sure of their level, ask their coach.
Choosing a class as well? See the best online chess classes for kids, or how to teach a child chess if you would rather start at home.