Baby & Family · Head-to-head
Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece vs PicassoTiles Classic 100-Piece (PT100)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Magnetic Tiles: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
Magna-Tiles are the original for a reason: food-grade MABS plastic, riveted magnets and a lattice that resists cracking. PicassoTiles gives you 100 pieces for less than the 32-piece original costs.
Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece
Buy itThe original magnetic tile: food-grade plastic, riveted magnets and compatibility with the Classic, microMAGS and themed sets.
- Food-grade, non-toxic MABS plastic that is free of BPA, phthalates and latex, with a signature internal lattice that the maker says prevents cracking under drops and footsteps.
- Magnets are held by rivets rather than glue, and the maker states it has never had a product recall in its 25-plus year history. The rivet is the construction detail Magna-Tiles publishes that the clones here do not.
- The 32-piece set covers the core shapes: 14 squares, 2 large squares, 8 equilateral triangles, 4 right triangles and 4 isosceles triangles, and the maker says you can expand with any Classic, microMAGS or themed set.
- Costs several times as much per tile as the value brand below, so a big build collection gets expensive fast.
- 32 pieces is a starter quantity; most kids exhaust it quickly and you will end up buying a second set.
- No storage container in the Classic box; the maker sells its storage bin separately.
PicassoTiles Classic 100-Piece (PT100)
Buy itThe value standard: 100 tiles for less than the 32-piece original costs.
- 100 pieces at the lowest cost per tile of the named brands here.
- Sensible shape mix for building: 8 large squares, 46 small squares, 20 small triangles, 12 medium triangles and 14 tall triangles (3 by 5.5 inches), so kids can make real walls and roofs early on.
- PicassoTiles says the set is compatible with all of its full-sized sets, and its small squares use a 3-inch base.
- PicassoTiles publishes less about plastic type and magnet construction than Magna-Tiles does, so the quality gap is unproven either way.
- The maker describes the magnet connection as strong but does not say how the magnets are secured.
- The catalog is a tangle of similar listings; buy the PT100 or a clearly labeled set and ignore the themed bundles.
Side by side
The 6 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece Our pick | PicassoTiles Classic 100-Piece (PT100) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | First-time buyers who want the tile that invented the category and plan to build a collection that lasts through multiple kids. | Gift buyers and grandparents who want maximum play value per dollar without rolling the dice on an unknown clone. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| Piece count | 32 tiles | 100 tiles |
| Tile material | Food-grade MABS, riveted magnets | BPA-free plastic; magnet fixing not published |
| Magnets | Ceramic (ferrite), riveted | Maker says "strong"; fixing not published |
| Compatibility | All Magna-Tiles sets | All full-sized PicassoTiles sets |
| Age rating | 3+ | 3+ |
| Best for | The default first set | Maximum pieces per dollar |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece if
first-time buyers who want the tile that invented the category and plan to build a collection that lasts through multiple kids.
Know before buying: costs several times as much per tile as the value brand below, so a big build collection gets expensive fast.
Pick the PicassoTiles Classic 100-Piece (PT100) if
gift buyers and grandparents who want maximum play value per dollar without rolling the dice on an unknown clone.
Know before buying: picassoTiles publishes less about plastic type and magnet construction than Magna-Tiles does, so the quality gap is unproven either way.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Magna-Tiles Classic 32-Piece - The original magnetic tile: food-grade plastic, riveted magnets and compatibility with the Classic, microMAGS and themed sets. Choose the PicassoTiles Classic 100-Piece (PT100) instead if gift buyers and grandparents who want maximum play value per dollar without rolling the dice on an unknown clone.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Magnetic Tiles: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).