10 Best Kids Basketball Hoops of 2023 – Reviews and Buying Guide

Getting a kids basketball hoop is easy but when you’re talking about the best kids basketball hoop, you need to make sure you look out for its durability, height adjustability and also the type of hoop you want. While you are at it, you can’t forget safety either.

Unfortunately, the marketplace is full of low-end junks which are pretty useless. You might save a few bucks but in reality, they’re good for nothing. The next thing you know, you’re getting another one and another one again.

Well, we decided to put an end to such a bummer. This is why we looked out for a kids basketball hoop that meets all the features a high-end basketball hoop needs. We found 10 kids' basketball hoops that hit our marks.

Before we dive into the detailed reviews, let’s look at the summary of the products we have listed.

10 Best Kids Basketball Hoops - Quick Guide

If you're pressed for time, we have included a summary for each of the products. Read this and you will get up to speed before you can say dunk.

1. Best Overall: Lifetime 90022 Youth Portable Basketball Hoop

"This one is the best hoops you can get for kids thanks to its overall great features like adjustable height and a solid base which gives it stability."

2. Top Rated: Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set

"Nothing is more confidence-inspiring than a solid review from a customer. This one is the best-rated one and you can get it without worry in the world. The oversized rim makes it super easy to use as well."

3. Best Budget: AugToy Height Adjustable Toddler Basketball Hoop

"Get this one if you're shopping on a budget. You won't miss quality here either. The build is solid and it's easy to assemble too."

4. Best Weather-Resistant: Best Choice Products Kids Adjustable Hoop

"With a solid steel frame and a base that can be filled with both water or sand, this one is the best for weather resistance. That means you can take it outdoors!"

5. Best Door Mount: SKLZ Pro Mini Basketball Hoop

"Need more rigidity? Get this one from SKLZ. The door mounting mechanism will keep it locked in place. You give up adjustable height though but you get a solidly built hoop."

6. Best Toddler-Friendly: Step2 Shootin' Hoops Pro Basketball Set

"This one comes completely free of BPA, phthalates and VOC. So, it’s very safe for toddlers. Not only that, there are other cool features like adjustable height."

7. Best Premium Quality: SKLZ Pro Mini Portable Basketball System

"Those who want a solid build with robust features can get this one. It's also from SKLZ and features a shatterproof polycarbonate backboard with large rims."

8. Best Versatile: Tsomtto Kids Adjustable Basketball Hoop

"Versatility at its best. It’s super easy to install and also has height adjustment from 2’9” up to 6’2”."

9. Best Arcade System: Kiddie Play Toy Basketball Hoop for Kids

"If you want to give your kids an arcade experience, there is only one option to go with and it’s this one. Kiddie Play made a complete and fascinating arcade experience with this one. It doesn’t have height adjustment though."

10. Best for Aged 3 To 5: AOKESI Kids Adjustable Basketball Hoop Set

"Shopping for kids aged between 3 and 5? This one is a perfect choice. The height can be adjusted from 2'7" up to 6'3" which gives it quite the reach and the base can be filled with water. Although there is an awkward sandbag that comes with it."

Reviews of The Best Basketball Hoop for Kids and Toddlers

When buying the best basketball hoop for kids, you want to make sure you give them one that’s not only safe but is also fun for them to use. A quick google search will give you hundreds of results. Here are the only 10 you need to care about.

1. Best Overall: Lifetime 90022 Youth Portable Basketball Hoop

Our first one is from the guys over at Lifetime. This one checks all the right boxes and is a solid choice if you’re looking for the best youth basketball hoop. What makes this a solid choice is just the great quality of life features you get.

The first thing that will impress you is the adjustable height. That means you aren't stuck with one single height. Whether you have kids that are shorter or taller, The Lifetime 90022 will accommodate them all. The minimum height is 5'5" and the maximum height is 7'5".

Then there is the solid 10-gallon base. Once you fill it, you can be sure it isn't going anywhere. This should give you some peace of mind knowing that the hoop will stay put in place. Relocation is also super easy. And you can fill it with either sand or water.

Build quality isn’t compromised here either. It's weather and rust-resistant which means it will handle daily wear and tear like a champ. So, even if it’s raining outside, your kids can still play with it outside and shoot some hoops. 

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2. Top Rated: Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set

Sometimes the best thing you can do when buying a basketball hoop is to just listen to paying customers and check out the ratings. These people have already paid and used the product and will be able to give you an opinion from hands-on experience.

That’s why we decided to include this one in our review. Little Tikes managed to produce the best basketball hoop for toddlers with the highest customer ratings. Now that’s saying something. What makes it the best rated though? Let’s check it out.

The size of the rim is oversized. That means your kids will have an easy time scoring their shots. And the more they score, the more fun they will have when playing. That isn't rocket science and is pretty easy to understand.

On top of that, you also get 3 junior basketballs that are easy to shoot and play with. As you can see almost everything about it screams ‘made for kids’. You can also use sand to weigh it down. Doing this will give it more stability.

There aren't options to use water though. And of course, the sand isn't included either which we don't think is a major issue. It's height-adjustable and can be used both indoors and outdoors. That's a plus since not everyone will have a large yard to play in.

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3. Best Budget: AugToy Height Adjustable Toddler Basketball Hoop

Here is the good thing about a children's basketball goal, you don’t have to spend a fortune on them to get yourself a quality one. Some solid options are perfect for budget shoppers like this one from AugToy.

What we loved about this one and you would too, is despite being a budget model, it still provides a solid experience for kids of different ages. Since It's height-adjustable, you can make it shorter for smaller kids and as they grow up, you can just increase the height of the thing. How easy and cool is that?

It’s also pretty easy to install right out of the box as well. You won’t face any problems setting this thing up since there are clear instructions in the package. Speaking of the package, you get a full-featured one too! There are rims, stand, base, balls and pumps all in the set.

This kind of basketball hoops isn't only good for fun. They also help develop your kid's motor skills, hand-eye coordination and social skills. And every kid needs that to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

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4. Best Weather-Resistant: Best Choice Products Kids Adjustable Hoop

The previous one might not do that well in the sun, that’s why the Best Choice Kids Hoop is the one to get if you want top-notch weather resistance. The build is very solid and will handle wear and tear plus the sun’s rays like a champ.

All other must-have features are present too! You can adjust the height of this thing from 86” to 97”. That’s quite an impressive range. So, if you have younger kids and also older kids, all of them can have a great time with this hoop.

The frame material is steel which makes it super robust. Along with superior weather resistance, you also get a solid build quality which we think will last you a long time. The backboard is hard-plastic and the net is nylon. All these elements together make for a very durable basketball hoop.

You can also choose to use both sand or water to fill the base. This will help keep the hoop grounded in place and won’t roll away when your kids are playing with it.

If you need to move the basketball hoop, that can be done easily too. There are convenient little wheels which makes relocation super easy. This makes it easy to take it outdoors and indoors in a jiffy.

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5. Best Door Mount: SKLZ Pro Mini Basketball Hoop

Not everyone will want a portable basketball hoop for their kids. Those who are looking for a solid wall-mounted youth basketball hoop need to take a look at this one.

The mounting mechanism of this one is solid. Once you properly install it, it isn't going anywhere. And since it's fixed in place, you don't have to worry about shattering the backboard or toppling the thing over when playing a little aggressively.

That means, your kids can do dunk shots for days and not worry about a thing. The backboard itself is very durable too. It’s made from shatter-resistant polycarbonate. Not only that, the brand went the extra mile and installed padding to minimize impact. Now that's impressive if you ask us.

Since the rim is a breakaway one, it will provide cushioning on contact which makes dunking even easier. Do not expect any height adjustments here though. This is to be expected since it’s a mounted hoop.

You also get a cool little basketball in the set. The 5-inch rubber pro mini ball is perfect for kids to play their favorite sport. The backboard size is 18" x 12". So, keep that in mind when installing this thing.

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6. Best Toddler-Friendly: Step2 Shootin' Hoops Pro Basketball Set

This one is definitely the toddler indoor basketball hoop to get if you want a safe option and won't need constant supervision. Step2 Shootin’ made a very toddler-friendly product with this one. We loved the durable build quality as well.

Since the backboard is oversized, your kids won’t miss their shots as much. You can’t expect toddlers and kids to play like pros. So, making it easier for them will help their morale and also help them stay in the game for longer. This will of course be a healthy habit as well.

The base can be filled with both water or sand which will give you some versatility. Sand is a bit expensive but is less messy. Water is cheaper but can be a little messy and there is a chance of leaks.

Although leaking isn’t something you need to worry about since the build is fantastic. The durable double-wall construction will last you for quite some time. This board is BPA and phthalates-free and doesn't have any VOC either. As we said, it’s one of the best toddler basketball hoops.

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7. Best Premium Quality: SKLZ Pro Mini Portable Basketball System

If money isn't a worry and you're looking for premium kids adjustable basketball goals, SKLZ has you covered with the Pro mini portable hoop. From the build quality to the design, everything screams premium.

Let’s start with that build then. The backboard is a robust one with extra padding and reinforcement. This thing isn’t breaking anytime soon, that’s a given. The frame itself is also very sturdy and will hold up to daily wear and tear like a complete trooper. It’s polycarbonate and shatterproof.

On top of all that robust build, there are some quality-of-life features as well. The base is weighted. You can use either sand or water to ground it. This will make the hoop much more stable and won’t fall over.

In the case you need to move the thing, there are built-in wheels as well. That will make relocation very easy and convenient. Height adjustment is, of course, present too.

This goes all the way down to 3 feet and up to 7 feet. So smaller and taller children can play with this hoop and have a great time. The rim is a breakaway one with a spring action that makes dunking super fun. 

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8. Best Versatile: Tsomtto Kids Adjustable Basketball Hoop

In the market for not just any adjustable basketball hoop for kids, but for the most versatile one? Then you don’t need to look any further than this one from Tsmotto.

It has all the features you might want. What makes it truly versatile is the base which can be filled with either sand or water, the height-adjustable frame with a large range and also the cool backboard.

To top it all off, these hoops aren't that hard to install either. Everything you need is in the package and you can get started right away after some minor assembly. The height adjustment range is impressive.

It can go all the way down to 2’9” and up to 6’2”. So, it should be perfect for kids of all heights. And if you have a smaller kid now, they can keep using this hoop as they grow older and taller. That’s why adjustable height is such an awesome feature. 

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9. Best Arcade System: Kiddie Play Toy Basketball Hoop for Kids

This one is the most unique hoop set we have in our review. That’s because it isn’t just any other hoop, but a full-blown arcade setup. If you know a thing or two about hoops is super exciting.

The net has a slide that allows the ball to roll right back to your kid. This makes it easy to play and use. They can just pick it up from there and shoot again. The rim size is pretty big as well so it won’t be an issue.

There are a lot of things included in the package as well. You will get a convenient pump to get it all up and going. 2 cool little basketballs are there too! This can be the dream indoor setup for any kid.

That also brings us to the small gripe we have with this one. It's bulky and can't be used outdoors. This is the case by design since it's an arcade setup. So, keep that in mind. 

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10. Best for Aged 3 To 5: AOKESI Kids Adjustable Basketball Hoop Set

For kids that are on the younger side, you can get this one. This is the basketball hoop for 5 years old and will also work well for 3 years old.

First up is the solid design and build. The base uses a triangle design which gives it much more stability and minimizes shaking. The pole, net, and backboard are all solid too. The overall build quality of this one will impress.

It even comes with quite a lot of things in the package as well. You get a basketball, nylon nets, and more. One thing we didn't like is the sandbag that is given to weigh down the base.

The base takes 1.3 gallons of water. This will give it some stability. But the brand decided to include a sandbag which you can place on top of it. It just isn't an elegant solution and looks pretty awkward.

Apart from that, height adjustability is something your kids will appreciate. It can go from 2’7" up to 6'3" which is quite the range. That means all kids should be able to play with this hoop. 

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Factors To Consider When Purchasing A Kids Basketball Hoop

Picking one from a list of hand-curated products is easy. We are sure you won’t be disappointed going with any of the 10 we reviewed, but knowing exactly what features to look for will help you make a more informed decision. Don’t worry, we will keep it short and sweet.

Assemble and Installation

If you're the handyman of the house, make sure to get on that's easy to install or set up. Otherwise, you will be beating yourself up and waste time getting the hoop ready for play.

Durability

Anything that’s going to be used by kids needs to be durable. Look for solid materials like steel and polycarbonate. All these will help the hoop last much longer.

Height Adjustability

Height adjustability is a must-have feature. It will make the hoop much more versatile and your kids will be able to use it as they grow up. You can increase the height of the thing as they grow. And for smaller kids, you can lower it down.

Mounted or Portable

Some basketball hoops for kids are mounted ones while others are portable with a weighted base. Mounted ones give you more stability and portable ones give you mobility. Mounted hoops also don't have height adjustment either.

Safety

Since you are buying a basketball hoop for kids, you need to make sure they are safe to use. Look for BPA and VOC-free options. Those are tested to be safe for kids.

FAQs

1. Should I have used sand or water for the base?

You can choose either. Sand is less messy but costs a bit more. Water is more accessible but is messier.

2. Is height adjustability important?

Generally, yes. If you want to keep the hoop operable for a long time as your kids grow up then height adjustability is a crucial feature to have.

3. Are mounted hoops worth it?

Some mounted hoops offer much more stability and durability. They are a great solution if you want a permanent hoop placement.

Our Final Verdict

There you have it, the best kids basketball hoop you can buy. All these offers something for everyone. At the end of the day, you need to decide which features matter to you the most.

You just can’t go wrong with the Lifetime 90022 Youth Portable Basketball Hoop. It has all the features you would want and comes in a durable package with height adjustability. There are other options you can check out as well to fit your specific needs.

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