We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
  • Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
  • Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
  • Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Was this helpful?

You probably remember the fidget spinner craze that took over a few years ago. Fidget toys are still around today. And they’re more sophisticated — and helpful — than ever.

Fidget toys are a popular way to help people push back feelings of anxiety, and improve their focus in the classroom or at work. They’re often used by people who have anxiety or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but anyone can enjoy the benefits that fidget toys provide.

Fidget toys are small objects designed for fidgeting. Although similar objects have been seen all throughout history, fidget spinners first became popular in 2017. Today, fidget toys have expanded from your basic three-pronged spinner to encompass fidget cubes, rings, keychains, and much more.

Fidget toys are meant to help relieve feelings of anxiety or boredom. They can help you regulate your emotions, calm down, and focus on the task at hand.

Multiple studies have been conducted to address the potential role of fidget toys in emotional regulation.

A 2018 study indicated that fidgeting relieves stress in the short term. However, a different 2018 study that looked at children with ADHD discovered that fidget spinners simply distracted the children.

Bottom line: There isn’t enough scientific evidence to support the claim that fidget toys alleviate anxiety or help you learn or focus better. But based on the anecdotal evidence, fidget toys may help you calm down in stressful situations — plus, many people find them a lot of fun.

Fidget toys are applicable to a variety of conditions, such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or ADHD, providing an outlet for people to channel nerves or excess energy.

Even if you don’t live with any diagnosed conditions, fidget toys are still a helpful resource. They may calm you down during a stressful situation or provide a quick work break if you’re feeling creatively stuck and need to get back in the zone.

Here are the main criteria we used to pick our list of the best fidget toys:

  • Durability. Fidget toys are most often used when you’re feeling anxious or upset. That means they might take a beating. We tried our best to select products that can withstand long-term use.
  • Visual appearance. The day of boring fidget spinners is long past. Color, shape, size, and material are all components that go into creating a visually attractive, fun-to-use fidget toy.
  • Customer ratings. Finally, we couldn’t forget to thoroughly investigate reviews from past customers and users, making sure each fidget toy we mentioned lives up to the hype.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $10
  • $$ = $10–$15
  • $$$ = over $15

Best overall

MAYBO Sports Wiitin Fidget Spinner

  • Price: $$

Harry Potter fans will especially appreciate this option, but anybody might enjoy this iridescent spinner. This unique fidget toy is appropriate for adults and children over 3 years old.

Its small size makes it easily portable, and the metal body spins for approximately 1 to 2 minutes per spin.

Best silent fidget toy

Monkey Noodle

  • Price: $

While fidget toys are a lot of fun, sometimes fun is too loud. That’s where the Monkey Noodles comes in: a fidget toy that’s almost completely silent to use.

You can stretch, pull, twirl, wrap, or squeeze these stretchy strings. They start at 12 inches long and stretch up to 8 feet. The strings are non-toxic and come in bright colors.

Best fidget toy with options

WTYCD The Original Fidget Retro

  • Price: $

Why stop at one fidget toy when you could have them all? The fidget retro is made of rubberized plastic and shaped like a gamepad.

The toy has eight functions: a joystick, buttons, gear roller, massage roller, clickable switch, spinnable dial, spring-loaded slider, and grip textured section. In other words, you can ease your stress while reliving the days of 8-bit video games.

Best wearable fidget toy

ALEXTINA Stainless Steel Spinner Ring

  • Price: $

This wearable fidget toy is highly discreet, providing a great option to stay occupied if you want or need your fidgeting to fly under the radar.

Made of hypoallergenic, never fade stainless steel, the ring has an inner band locked inside the main band that can be spun manually. Best of all, it’s fashionable.

Best for kids

AKSDTH Push and Pop Bubble Fidget Sensory Toy

  • Price: $

This fidget toy is designed in bubble pop style. Think of it as a silicone bubble wrap: Your child can pop the bubbles in and out, creating a great tactile activity.

The popper comes in seven colors and two styles, and it’s easy to wash and dry if needed.

Best cube

Appash Fidget Cube

  • Price: $$

This fidget cube has six sides and six ways to fidget: click, glide, flip, breathe, roll, or spin. The high quality desk toy will help you focus harder or blow off some steam — whatever you need to get back in the zone.

Best minimal design

SCIONE Fidget Spinner

  • Price: $$$

Keep things simple and stripped-down with the SCIONE fidget spinner. This toy might be what pops into your head when you think of the term “fidget spinner” — the way they used to be before so many other options came onto the market.

Best durable design

Tom’s Fidgets Flippy Chain Fidget Toy

  • Price: $$

Looking for an option with extra toughness? This heavy-duty fidget toy is made of bike chains — interlocking stainless steel rings that can take on even the most intense fidgeters.

It’s quiet, small, and easy to carry around with you.

Best keychain

TOP TRENZ OMG Mega Pop Avocado Fidget Toy Keychain

  • Price: $$

Slip this adorable avocado fidget toy on your keychain so you can have it with you at all times. The bubble popping fidget toy has a hard shell exterior with soft silicon bubbles inside that can be pushed in and out.

Best for foot fidgeting

Bouncyband Foot Tapper Fidget Button

  • Price: $$

Yes, “foot fidgeting” is a real thing. This tactile ridged foot pad is a great fit for someone who tends to tap their foot or bounce their leg while seated. Just place the pad under your foot and use your heel or toe to tap or push the button.

Who should use fidget toys?

Fidget toys are most popular in the classroom or the workplace. You can take them with you to school or the office to help you focus better. You can also keep them handy if you experience anxiety or ADHD.

Is there anyone who shouldn’t use fidget toys?

Fidget toys are appropriate for kids and adults alike. However, keep in mind that smaller toys may be a choking hazard for toddlers.

It’s also important to know that some schools have banned fidget toys. Any toy you use in a classroom or office setting should be quiet and discreet, so it won’t bother others.

How do fidget toys relieve stress?

It’s believed that fidget toys relieve stress by giving you something else to focus on. The tactile input and repetitive movement may calm you down, distract you, and stimulate a different part of your brain.

There’s no shortage of fidget toy options on the market. With one of these toys, you may be able to relieve your stress and improve your emotions as you work in the office or the classroom.