A pair of binoculars can provide hours of fun for youngsters interested in stargazing or getting up close to nature. They can help you bring the solar system to life by zooming in on bright planets (Mars and Jupiter will be visible at night all month long) and even reveal parts of the lunar surface typically invisible to the naked eye. Try spotting an Apollo landing site when the year’s final full moon, the Cold Moon, rises on December 15 (here's our moon observation guide if you need some tips).
These aren't toys; our reviewers have gathered together a list of all the best binoculars with fully functioning optical systems that work just as well as adult models. We also have a guide to the best night vision binoculars and the best compact binoculars that might be suitable for older kids or teens.
The holidays are just around the corner, and there are still several plenty binocular deals left over after Black Friday. Our best all-rounder, the Nature DX 8x32 binoculars, are $25 off on Amazon.
While we reviewed the Nikon Prostaff P3 8x32 binoculars, the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x32 binoculars are similar but with more magnification and are currently on offer with 35% off, so you can pick them up for less than $100.
The quick list
You won't need a tripod thanks to the excellent built-in stabilization here. They're expensive, but if your kid is serious about watching the skies, these are the ones to go for.
Slightly bigger than some, but their excellent grip and water resistance makes the Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 a good choice for kids. They're easy to adjust/focus and can be mounted to a tripod, taking the weight out of small hands.
Waterproof and fogproof, we love the outstanding build quality of the Olympus 8x25 WP II. Their light size means they're comfortable for long use and they boast fantastic contrast and clarity.
The waterproof sealing on this pair of binoculars makes them versatile for both day and night time use. They were built with the outdoor enthusiast in mind.
A premium build quality makes this pair of binoculars a joy to use. They're small and compact enough for anyone in the family to pick up, and their optics are surprisingly good.
The Cometron 7x50 binoculars don't have the best optics in the world but considering their price point they're good enough. We particularly love their wide field of view.
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Some of the smallest binoculars around, the Occer 12x25 compact binos are great for youngsters — and boast both great quality optics and excellent grip given their tiny size. The moon looks awesome through these!
These binoculars are actually designed with kids in mind so make a great set for the youngest members of the family. Despite looking toyish, though, they still offer great optics.
The long eye relief here is a great option for kids who wear glasses, fully multi-coated, quality BaK4 glass offers outstanding optics. They're waterproof too.
Best styling
We love the design, colors, and light weight of these Pentax UD compact binoculars. They're fully multi-coated, too.
Best for young teens
Waterproof and fogproof, these compact binoculars are perfect for a young teen starting to get serious about their stargazing or wildlife watching hobby.
Best binoculars for kids that we recommend 2024
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Best overall
✅ Your child will benefit from built-in image stabilization: These are the only binoculars on this list with built-in image stabilization — view the stars, wildlife, sports events and concerts without any wobble!
✅ You can afford to: Chances are if you're looking for 'kid-specific' binoculars, you won't want to spend a lot. But if you're lucky enough to have the budget to get the best of the best, you won't be disappointed.
❌ Your child wants to use binoculars unsupervised: We strongly recommend these binoculars are used under supervision and with the neck strap attached to prevent drops and breakages.
❌ Your child won't use them often: They are a big investment, so if your child won't get much use from them, opt for a much cheaper pair.
🔎 Canon 10x42L IS WP Binocular: Pricey but almost perfect for hand-held astronomy. In a market saturated with low-priced astronomy-centric binoculars, some clear, sharp and high-resolution optics and image stabilization wizardry make the waterproof Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars expensive but worth it. ★★★★★
We're taking a bit of a risk by naming the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars as the best binoculars for kids. After all, their price tag far, far exceeds what you're probably expecting to spend on some binoculars that your youngster may or may not love. We agree: these are very expensive, and if your child isn't sure yet whether they're interested in stargazing or nature-spotting, it's probably not a wise purchase. But if your youngster is committed, and you want them to have the very best? You won't be disappointed.
Just why are the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars so expensive? It's because they have built-in image stabilization (IS). It's a technology you'll find in expensive camera lenses which makes the view in the lens stable even if you're not using a tripod. Holding binoculars still is challenging, especially for a child, and with a 10x magnification, you'll almost always need a tripod. But these Canon binos do away with the need for additional stability, allowing for sharp, wobble-free views in even the smallest of hands.
There's a reason we gave these binos five stars in our Canon 10x42L IS WP review—lots of reasons, in fact. We'd go as far as to say that anyone who uses them, kids or adults, will be amazed by their capabilities. But since this is a specialist (and therefore expensive) piece of technology, we wouldn't recommend children use them without supervision. We'd also recommend using a neck strap at all times to prevent accidental drops.
As for the actual technology supporting the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars, you've got gyroscopic sensors on board to detect any wobbling or shaking. If there is any wobble detected, actuators around the lenses of the binoculars move the lens in such a way as to counteract the wobble. This stabilization (which requires two AAA batteries, just so you know) is just one of the reasons why these binoculars produce pin-sharp images.
Whether you're looking at the moon, Jupiter or star clusters, you and your family are going to be treated to genuinely incredible views. It's not just the image stabilization you're paying for — inside are the ultra-low dispersion glass lens elements and 'Super Spectra' lens coatings.
- Read our full Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Waterproof design |
| Performance | Bright and colorful images |
| Functionality | Image stabilization provides steady views |
Best for detail
✅ Your child wears spectacles: The eye relief is a generous 17mm so these are comfortable for glasses wearers.
✅ You want to stargaze with them: The huge aperture drinks in loads of light and can be used for deep sky astronomy.
❌ You want something lightweight and portable: These binos weigh over 2.2 lb / 1kg.
❌ You don't want to buy a tripod: The amount of wobble caused by the 12x magnification is too big to enjoy the views for any length of time without leaning them on something. In reality, this means purchasing a tripod.
🔎 Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 Binocular: Great value for an excellent pair of low-light-friendly binoculars with fantastic specs and a quality design. The tripod adapter is especially welcome given the high magnification. ★★★★½
Whilst they wouldn't be best-suited to younger kids due to their hefty weight and size, the Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 binoculars are an extremely good buy for older kids and teenagers who are looking for the most detailed views. Coming from Celestron, one of the leading astronomy brands, they are particularly ideal for stargazing thanks to their huge 60mm objective lenses and 12x magnification power.
The multi-coated optics offer stunning views thanks to their use of high-density BaK-4 glass, which is much better than the BK-7 glass that is often used in more affordable binoculars. The 60mm objective lenses soak up a huge amount of light and make it easy to pick out Jupiter and the four Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. The wide view also makes it easy to scan the sky for star clusters like The Pleiades (Seven Sisters) and galaxies like Andromeda. With the 12x magnification, young stargazers will be able to enjoy spotting craters on the moon, too.
These binoculars offer similarly impressive views during the day, bringing even the most distant objects into sharp detail. However, their Porro prism design means that they're quite bulky and heavy to carry around with you. The 12x magnification also requires an extremely steady hand, so we'd recommend investing in a tripod and adapter to use with these binoculars for the best views, especially since the neck strap is a bit thin to be comfortable during prolonged use. But with the right setup, these will offer your kids the most detailed views on this list and brilliant optics at an affordable price.
In our Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 review we thought these were seriously impressive binoculars for the money. They have excellent build quality, with a protective rubber coating to help them withstand knocks and non-slip grips to make them feel nice and secure in the hand. They're fog and water-resistant and feature a generous 17mm of eye relief, meaning that glasses-wearers can comfortably use them by folding down the rubber eyecups.
- Read our full Celestron SkyMaster 12x60 binocular review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Excellent build quality |
| Performance | Excellent light transmission |
| Functionality | Generous 17mm eye relief |
Best for all-weather use
✅ You're looking for a reasonably priced but good-quality all-round user pair: They sit at a price point of around $70 — that's a great price for top-quality optics and excellent build quality.
✅ You want something pocketable: They weigh just 260g and have a dual-hinge design to fold them neatly away and pop them in your pocket.
✅ You're likely to use them in inclement weather: They are nitrogen-purged with aids with waterproofing, fog proofing and dirt-proofing.
❌ You want binoculars primarily for stargazing: The little aperture doesn't let enough light in for anything more than moon observations, though your little ones will be able to see more light through them than you will.
🔎 Olympus 8x25 WP II Binocular: The Olympus 8x25 WP II's seamless housing and exquisite optical system offer small but clear, crisp views of bright targets with stunning contrast. ★★★★½
In our Olympus 8x25 WP II review we found these binoculars to be a durable and kid-friendly option for young people who love the night sky and the great outdoors. In many cases, buying binoculars for a child for the first time may just be a test to see whether or not they enjoy the hobby. If it's something they become passionate about, you'd likely upgrade to a better quality, more powerful (and likely more expensive) set later on. Costing around $70, the Olympus 8x25 WP II is a good first choice.
Generally speaking, the relatively low 8x magnification and the 25mm objective lenses of the Olympus 8x25 WP II binoculars mean they're not so good for stargazing. They just don't have the appropriate light-gathering power to produce bright, sharp images that are necessary when viewing the night sky. However, when you're shopping for a child, your binocular must-haves change somewhat: You'll also have to consider weight, size and image quality. In that case, we've found these to be a rather good choice for kids.
The nitrogen sealing of the Olympus 8x25 WP II binoculars is a great feature, making them waterproof, dirt-resistant and fog-proof. Let's face it: With the best will in the world, children are more likely to get their binos dirty or splash them with water, and so that extra protection offers some great peace of mind. It also means they're usable in inclement weather.
They're easy to fold up and carry in a pocket, and the paltry 260g weight is just a fraction of the weight of many skywatching-specific binoculars and is ideally suited to smaller hands and weaker arms. You can purchase them in 'Forest Green' or 'Deep Purple,' which may add to the aesthetic appeal for young users. The only thing we'd recommend, as we mentioned in our Olympus 8x25 WP II binoculars review, is to upgrade the neckstrap so it's more comfortable.
The Olympus 8x25 WP II binos have a roof-prism design and BaK-4 optical glass. That makes for beautifully bright and clear images, which is particularly useful whether you're viewing the night sky, watching an event or observing nature. Their technical specs make them suitable for most users, but it's their small size that makes them ideal for children. They can be easily adjusted for smaller faces thanks to a central hinge — and that means the same pair can be passed around between you and your child, or shared between siblings of different ages.
- Read our full Olympus 8x25 WPII binoculars review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Excellent, high quality build |
| Performance | Good views of bright night-sky targets |
| Functionality | Low light-gathering prowess |
Best all-rounders
✅ You're looking for a good all-rounder: These are general-purpose binoculars that can be used day and night in any weather.
✅ You want to share the views with others: They are tripod mountable so once you've had a look at what's in the field of view, you can show someone else without them having to readjust.
❌ You want something stargazing specific: These are a generalist pair for casual observations. Though you'll be able to get good views of the moon and other bright celestial subjects, you'll want something with a bigger aperture for stargazing.
🔎 Celestron Nature DX 8x32 Binocular: A great all-round pair that will see you through many years of stargazing as well as wildlife watching and getting closer to sporting action. ★★★★
We've chosen the Celestron Nature DX 8x32 as one of the best pairs of binoculars for kids for multiple reasons. First, they're lightweight, making them suitable for smaller hands. They're coated with a tough, grippable material, too, meaning they'll sit comfortably in a child's hands without slipping out. Their waterproof coating helps give them some additional resistance, too, meaning they won't be affected by rain or a bit of a splash.
We're pleased that these binoculars have a built-in tripod mount, something that's not all that usual in a pair this size. Their 8x magnification means that extra stability is often needed to get the best views. Mounting binos is also a good idea if views are going to be shared between the family or a group of kids: everyone can take a look without needing to refocus.
We particularly like how comfortable these binoculars are to use. The Celestron Nature DX 8x32 have a larger eye relief (17.5mm), which makes them great for glasses users. The BaK-4 prisms ensure great contrast and sharp images, too. Couple that with the multi-coated lenses and you're going to get excellent light transmission.
However, it's probably the fact that the Celestron Nature DX 8x32 binoculars can be used so easily for a variety of purposes that makes them so easy to recommend. Despite coming from Celestron, they aren't necessarily made for stargazing — they're part of Celestron's 'Nature' range, meaning they're designed for watching wildlife. But we've found them suitable for both tasks, just as long as you're not hoping to achieve deep sky views.
- Take a look at our Celestron telescope and binocular deals hub
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Waterproof design |
| Performance | Versatile for day and night |
| Functionality | Not designed specifically for skywatching |
