The best binoculars for kids make an ideal gift for space-loving nieces, nephews, grandkids, etc, who are curious about the natural world and wildlife. They're a practical gift to encourage STEM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). In an ideal world, our children would be excited about astronomy by simply pointing our existing pair of binoculars at the night sky and observing the stars, but not all stargazing binoculars are suitable for children.
Typically, binoculars are designed for adult-sized hands and faces and can be heavy and/or fragile, so not ideal for a child to use comfortably and safely for stargazing or nature spotting. That's why we've rounded up the best binoculars for children, saving you time searching for lightweight and compact binoculars that are much more suitable for smaller hands.
You can find out alternative small, but not necessarily kid-friendly products in our best compact binoculars guide. Be sure to check out our guide to the best binoculars for stargazing or seeing in the dark too. We've even got a guide for the best night-vision binoculars.
Best binoculars for kids deal March 2023
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It's a known fact that children can see better in the dark than adults. Their pupils can dilate wider, increasing their light-gathering power and improving their night vision. This means it is possible to give a child smaller binoculars that are easier to carry and hold, but that allow less light in than yours, and they will still see a glistening night sky, whereas, with the same pair, it might not look as impressive for you. You also can go for a pair of binoculars like the Celestron Cometron, which are both reasonably lightweight and let in a lot of light.
With 7x magnification and 50mm objective lenses, these binoculars — which we thought were remarkable value for money in our Celestron Cometron 7x50 binoculars review — are an ideal size for a beginner’s introduction to stargazing. What’s more, their optics are multi-coated and include a stargazing-centric Porro prism. They also have a large exit pupil, guaranteeing maximum light at night and dawn/dusk. As a bonus, they can easily adjust to suit smaller faces.
There are a couple of downsides to consider. They utilize step-down BK7 glass (not the preferred BaK-4), the aluminum-cased Celestron Cometrons are not waterproof, and their covering lacks a premium feel. However, parents care about such things more than children do and the Celestron Cometron are such good value that the benefits outweigh this.
- Read our full Celestron Cometron 7x50 review
These are a compact, lightweight pair of powerful kid-friendly binoculars with surprisingly good views; they are excellent value for money as a beginner pair and double up well as a handy portable pair when you don't want to take your more expensive glass with you. While they have non-slip rubber armor and stippling and an easy-to-hold grip —even for small hands.
Your child will be able to see clear images with accurate color representation thanks to the BaK-4 multi-coated lenses. The center focus wheel is easy to use, and focus can comfortably be achieved quickly. The soft, rubber foldable eyecups also add to the comfort.
We were pleasantly surprised during our Occer 12x25 compact binoculars review that there was less chromatic aberration (color fringing) than even a pair from Celestron (the Celestron Outland X 10x42) which we were reviewing at the same time.
A carry case and neck strap are provided alongside the Occer 12x25 binoculars to protect them from the elements, bumps and knocks when carrying them around. They are also small and rugged enough to fit in a jacket pocket providing there is nothing sharp in there that will scratch the lenses as lens caps aren't supplied.
- Read our full Occer 12x25 compact binoculars review
Rugged, compact, and portable, these garish yellow or green (hard to lose) binoculars scream 'my first binoculars.'
Designed with very young children in mind, and with a tough polycarbonate housing, these roof prism binoculars with BK7 glass come with a small case and a foolproof wrist strap. That's important because they are pretty small. Featuring only 6x magnification and with just 21mm objective lenses they’re only useful for looking for the Moon after dark as they lack the light-gathering abilities of superior astronomy-specific binoculars.
Since kids tend to be less good at holding still than adults, that small amount of magnification can help everything seem more stable. The higher the magnification, the more noticeable the wobble. Reduced wobble makes finding and focusing on things like the Moon easier. Don’t mistake them for a throwaway novelty, though, as inside, you’ll find surprisingly good optics and anti-reflective coatings that brighten the image. They lack substantial eye relief, and as we found in our National Geographic 6x21 Children's binocular review, the eye cups are poor quality — we wouldn’t recommend them for kids who wear glasses.
For terrestrial viewing, they do the job of magnifying sporting action, birds and other wildlife perfectly adequately for a very young user.
If you can put up with their shortcomings, these are a neat cost-effective option as an introductory pair of binoculars, ideal for getting young children interested in stargazing.
- Read our full National Geographic 6x21 Children's Binocular review
Those binoculars with an 8x magnification and a 42mm objective lens are ideal for kids to view the night sky. This is lower than the 10x50 specification that is generally recommended for adults. It means they have lighter and smaller bodies but still have enough magnification and light-gathering power. In our Opticron Adventurer T WP 8x42 review, we consider these an excellent value example pair of binos.
The specs are good: You get a Porro prism design using BaK-4 glass prisms with fully multi-coated lenses, water and dew-proofing, all coated in protective rubber-like armor. A soft case, neck strap, and rubber objective lens covers are included. They also feature long eye-relief eyepieces for kids who wear glasses.
All these factors help to make night sky viewing easy and enjoyable. Opticron Adventurer T WP 8x42 binoculars are an ideal entry-level option for kids with a serious interest in astronomy, but they’re just as good during the day for wildlife and landscapes. They’re also available in other specifications including 6.5x32 (opens in new tab), 8x32 (opens in new tab), 10x42 (opens in new tab), 10x50 (opens in new tab) and 12x50 (opens in new tab).
- Read our full Opticron Adventurer T WP 8x42 review
It is difficult for humans to stay completely still. Throw magnification into the mix, and the upshot is that it's hard for anyone using binoculars to keep their subject steady in their field of view without using a support like a tripod, even more so if the user is a small child.
Cue the waterproof Canon 10x42L IS WP, a powerful, portable, expensive but utterly irresistible pair of binoculars that change the stargazing game. They can help the user keep objects completely still using the same built-in image stabilization (IS) tech seen in Canon's wallet-melting camera lenses. Capable of instantly impressing a child — or anyone else, for that matter. They top the list in our best binoculars buying guide, and we gave them five stars in our Canon 10x42L IS WP review.
Inside, gyro sensors detect the amount of wobble created by the holder and use actuators around the barrels to move floating lens elements to compensate for that movement. It's a battery-powered system that is engaged simply by pressing a button on the top of the binoculars. Two AAA batteries give about two hours' worth of image stabilization.
The stillness of these binoculars helps produce images pin-sharp, so star clusters, the Moon and even Jupiter and its moons become genuinely incredible to look at. It's not just the image stabilization you're paying for. Inside is the ultra-low dispersion glass lens elements and 'Super Spectra' lens coatings. One thing we weren't impressed with during our Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars review is that lens caps are a surprisingly poor fit and very easy to lose, something which shouldn't be seen at this price point.
This is a specialist purchase and shouldn't be used by children without supervision and a neck strap (to prevent drops). They do represent the most enjoyable and impressive binoculars for skywatching yet. Who needs a telescope?
- Read our full Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars review
Not everyone can justify buying binoculars solely for their kids enjoyment. Instead, you might want to find a quality pair that the whole family can share. If that is the case, look no further than Nikon, a photography and optics brand you will have definitely heard of. These mid-range binoculars are beginner-friendly, well suited to use by kids but also anyone else who finds holding binos their face a tiring experience. They are one of the more expensive models on this list, but $110-150 (prices fluctuate quite alot) isn't outrageous for a good pair of binoculars that everyone can enjoy.
Covered in non-slip rubber for easy grip and all-important shock resistance in case of drops, Nikon Prostaff P3 binoculars are guaranteed to be fog-free and waterproof (up to 1 m/3.3 ft for 10 minutes). They are slim, compact and lightweight considering their size, making holding them for long periods of star gazing easy.
As we found in our Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42 review, the view is sharp, clear and bright thanks to their multi-coated lenses and high-reflectivity silver-alloy mirror-coated prisms. A long eye relief design also means a clear field of view for glasses wearers. They are an excellent pair of 'go-anywhere' binoculars.
As mentioned before, 8x magnification with a 42mm objective lens is perfect for kids' binoculars, and this pair from Nikon is just that — perfect for light-gathering and stargazing. Nikon Prostaff P3 binoculars are also available in 10x30 (opens in new tab), 10x42 (opens in new tab) and 8x30 (opens in new tab).
- Read our full Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42 review
These are among the most impressive and unusual binoculars available for children and adults who wish to view the night sky in full 3D.
Specifically designed for wide-field observation of the stars and the Milky Way, Vixen SG 2.1x42 binoculars use lenses composed of five multi-coated elements to help star clusters like the Pleiades, Hyades and the Perseus Double Cluster really stand out against a dark sky. The stereoscopic depth is incredible, and the light-gathering power is remarkable, though the nature of the optics means that there is a distinct ring of blur around the edges of the field of view.
Made in Japan and supplied with a soft case and neck strap, we found during our Vixen SG 2.1x42 review that they are easy to use and boasts excellent build quality. It can be a little fiddly to focus both lenses individually, but because of the wide field of view, the user gets a very steady image. This, and the solid yet lightweight construction make it suitable for kids. One drawback is that the lens caps are easy to lose, but that’s a small detail on these pocket-sized, unique binoculars that skywatchers will love.
- Read our full Vixen SG 2.1x42 binoculars review
Though quite large and heavy (at over 1kg), Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 binoculars are an excellent choice for any child who has outgrown lower-power binoculars and wants to get close-ups of deep-sky objects such as the Andromeda Galaxy without moving into telescope territory.
With 12x magnification, it’s perfect for spotting moon craters and resolving individual stars in clusters like the Pleiades and Hyades. However, we strongly recommend purchasing them alongside a tripod. We certainly appreciated the extra stability during our Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 binocular review and think it is an absolute must for children to use one to minimize the wobble of the large 12x magnification.
Built around a Porro Prism design featuring BAK4 glass and boasting multi-coated optics for bright and detailed views, the objective lenses of 60mm let in a lot of light. The Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 has an ultra-firm rubber coating on its barrels that’s easy to hold and helps protect them from bumps. A basic carry case and lens caps are included to provide protection when not in use or when in transit. We'd recommend attaching the lens caps to the binoculars as they aren't the best fit and are prone to falling off.
- Read our full Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 binocular review
Want to keep it small and light for your child? If so, consider investing in smaller, general-purpose binoculars like the Celestron Nature DX 8x32 (opens in new tab).
The 32mm objective lenses and 8x magnification certainly keep the weight down, and the waterproof outer covering makes them non-slip and can probably withstand a few knocks, although this isn't the sort of thing we regularly test. Inside are BAK4 prisms with a phase coating to maximize contrast and sharpness, and they also have multi-coated optics that maximize light transmission for brighter images in the dark.
Unusually for such small binoculars, you also get a built-in tripod mount to aid stability if desired. This would also come in handy if you have more than one child and want them both to peer through the lens at whatever it is you've focussed on.
Both portable and highly versatile, the Celestron Nature DX 8x32 is perfect for beginners but perhaps best suited to older kids. They also come in an 8x42 design (opens in new tab) which is, at the time of writing on sale at a 42% discount (opens in new tab) in the UK and a 29% discount in the US (opens in new tab).
On paper, its 10x magnification and 25 mm objective lenses make the Olympus 10x25 WP II appear less than ideal for stargazing in anyone's hands. They just don't have the appropriate light-gathering power to produce bright images. However, when you’re buying a pair of binoculars for a child, you have to think about weight and size as well as image quality. If you wanted the ultimate binoculars for night-time skywatching, you wouldn’t choose a pair like this, but in practice, for children, the size of a pair of skywatching binoculars is as important as the glass inside them.
Inside these roof‑prism binoculars, is high-quality optical glass, which helps create a bright image. They are also well adapted for smaller faces. Boasting a dual-hinge design, they’re simple to adjust to fit the user’s face, with a focus knob in easy reach for sharpening. There’s also a dioptric adjuster for matching the lenses to a user’s specific eyesight, this makes them a stand-out optical instrument. The Olympus 10x25 WP II binoculars have nitrogen-filled bodies, which aids with waterproofing, fog-proofing and dirt-proofing. They’re protected by a rubber coating that is tactile and grippy.
They are easy to fold up and carry in a pocket, and the paltry 260g weight is a fraction of many skywatching-specific binoculars and ideally suited to smaller hands.
How we test the best binoculars for kids
To guarantee you're getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best binoculars for kids to buy here at Space.com we make sure to put every binocular through a rigorous review to fully test each instrument. Each binocular designed for kids is reviewed based on a multitude of aspects, from its construction and design, to how well it functions as an optical instrument and its performance in the field.
Each pair of binoculars is carefully tested by either our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth. This ensures fair reviewing is backed by personal, hands-on experience with each binocular and is judged based on its price point, class and destined use.
We look at how easy they are to operate, whether eye relief can be adjusted for spectacles wearer, if a binocular comes with appropriate accessories or carry bags and also make suggestions if a particular set of binos would benefit from any additional kit to give you the best viewing experience possible.
With complete editorial independence, Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on binoculars for kids, whether you should purchase an instrument or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.
Best binoculars for kids: What to look for
Binoculars can be a great starting point for budding young astronomers and nature watchers, yet there are some things worth considering before purchasing one for children. Above all, be wary of 'toy binoculars'. They are much cheaper and generally more visually appealing to children, but their performance will not be anything like the standards of 'proper binoculars' and will therefore affect enjoyment and learning.
1. Make sure the binoculars aren't too heavy or bulky for a child to hold steady. If they are, ensure they have a tripod adapter.
2. Magnifications of 7x or 10x are generally the best for skywatching.
3. Porro prisms and BAK4 glass are best for stargazing.
4. Foldable designs are convenient and portable.
Many top manufacturers introduced models tailored especially for kids, including Celestron, Nikon (opens in new tab) and Olympus. But just what are the best binoculars for kids and what influences this decision?
It's worth checking how much you can physically adjust the binoculars. Binoculars have a degree of flex to better fit individual faces, particularly the distance between the eyes. The more flex, the more likely they will fit a smaller face comfortably.
If you want to further your research into what's available or if you want to consider telescopes for an even more powerful look at the night sky, then be sure to check out our binoculars deals or best telescopes guides.
Binocular weight
Binoculars can tire even grownup users with repeated use, so it’s important to factor in weight when letting children handle them. Children can struggle to keep an image steady with even mid-weight binoculars, so we recommend pairs that weigh less than 10oz (283g) for very young children (4-7 years). Teenagers can generally handle standard-sized binoculars well but can still benefit from more lightweight binoculars with a lower magnification.
Magnification of binoculars
If the weight of your binoculars can cause image shake and affect the stability of your view, so too can magnification. High-powered binoculars with a magnification above 8x can make it tough for smaller hands to keep the view steady, as any movement of the hands gets multiplied by the magnification. Since a shaky image can prove frustrating and eventually bore younger users, having low-powered, stable binoculars can enhance their enjoyment.
Lower-magnification binoculars also produce a wider field of view than high-powered/higher magnification binoculars, with several benefits for all users, especially children. High-powered binoculars zoom in closer to the object you’re looking at, but low-powered binoculars, with a wider field of view, make finding objects quickly much easier. They also help locate fast-moving objects such as birds and can significantly improve a beginner’s coordination and accuracy.
- Related: How to Hold Binoculars Steady
Binocular objective lens aperture
The aperture of binoculars refers to the diameter of the front lenses and affects the amount of light that reaches the rear lenses. It is the second number after the magnification and denotes millimeters. So, a pair of binoculars that are rated at 7x30 offers a magnification of x7 and a diameter of 30mm.
That aperture can make a big difference to the experience of using binoculars, especially in low-light and at night, so we recommend using a pair of binoculars with a 40mm or above aperture to let in more light, especially for night-time stargazing.
Essentially, larger objective lenses mean brighter images, so aim for at least 30mm in diameter. The best binoculars will have fully multi-coated optics and BaK-4 glass prisms. There are cheaper instruments available, which will still give enthralling views of the heavens, but you won't be getting the absolute best image possible.
Durability of binoculars
Anything can happen when you're out in the field, so to prolong the life of your binoculars and ensure the best possible user experience for as long as possible, it's sensible to purchase the most durable pair that meets your needs. This doesn't have to mean the most expensive, as many, including those above (like the Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 (opens in new tab)), come with some form of protective rubber coating, and some are even waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. Anything that prevents accidents and damage can only reduce your worry and add to your child’s enjoyment of binoculars and the incredible views of nature and the sky above that binoculars can open up.
How much do the best binoculars for kids cost?
The price point is another thing to consider. Typically, you'd expect to see binoculars for children to be cheaper than their 'adult' style alternatives. But there are some high-quality binos out there (such as the Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42 (opens in new tab)) that suit smaller hands and can also double as compact binoculars for adults.
