Rebecca Brown
Kids love exploring, playing outdoors and experiencing new things. Textures can be so exciting for them to experiment with, and it doesn’t have to be that difficult to set up! Water and sand tables offer up the best texture play out there for your little ones.
They can be set up outside so that there is no mess inside (how perfect) and the materials can be found so easily. Clean sand can be bought from a toy store or a hardware, and the water comes straight out of the tap. Water and sand tables are perfect for summer play and will keep the kids really entertained for ages.
You can even mix things up a bit – give them toys to wash in the water table, and items to dig up in the sand tray. There are so many different ways to keep their little hands busy.
Here are the best water and sand tables on the market:
| Product | Photo | Price | Features | Our Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kidoozie Sand ‘n Splash Activity Table |   | $$ | A simple table with separate trays for water and sand. | ★★ ★ ★ |
| Simplay3 Indoor Outdoor Sand and Water Activity Table |   | $$$ | A larger table that accommodates for more than one child playing at a time. | ★★★ ★ ★ |
| Step2 Naturally Playful Sand Table |   | $$$ | Large sand pit that has a secured lid to keep sand clean and dry | ★★ ★ ★ |
Naturally Playful Sand & Water Center **Editors Choice** |   | $$$ | Water and sand table with crafted landscapes and umbrella | ★★★ ★★ |
| Dino Dig Sand & Water Table |   | $$$ | Dino-themed play table with space for water and sand. | ★★★ ★ |
| Splash N Scoop Bay |   | $$ | Two piece lid that can cover the tray not in use and create a water tower | ★ ★★★ |
| Cascading Cove Sand and Water Table |   | $$$ | A sand side and water side separated by a molded-in roadway | ★★★ ★ |
| Crabbie Sand Table |   | $$ | A Crabbie Sand Table perfect for toddlers, with a lid to keep sand clean and dry. | ★★★ ★ |
| Little Tikes Garden Table |   | $$ | A gardening theme work station that can hold water, it comes with lots of gardening accessories. | ★★★ ★ ★ |
| Little Tikes Sandy Lagoon Waterpark |   | $$ | Water table that comes with water park accessories. | ★★★ ★★ |
| Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table |   | $$$ | Sea themed double tier water table with accessories. | ★★★ ★★ |
Kidoozie Sand ‘n Splash Activity Table
This is a nice and simple water and sand table, but has everything your child needs. There is space for water and sand in different trays – your kids can pretend they are out at the beach. Once playtime is over, you can pack everything into the trays and place the lid on the table. Everything will be packed away and safe until the next play time. The table comes with some toys as well – a bucket, a shovel, a rake, boat, crab and stamp. Kids can spend the day outside with this texture play.
Separate trays for water and sand
Can be packed away with lid
Comes with toys
Only suited for children 2 years and up
Fairly simple table
Simplay3 Indoor Outdoor Sand and Water Activity Table
This sand table is great for group play. The table can be rearranged to create four different play patterns, suiting your kids and their games. There is an additional table top space for extra sensory play. The table can be expanded to 49 inches wide, making it big enough for more than one kid and activities.
Separate trays for water and sand
Comes with toys
Takes up a larger area
Step2 Naturally Playful Sand Table
More for outdoor than inside, this sand table offers toddlers and kids a large sand pit to explore. The elevated design makes it perfect for little ones and the elastic tie down lid keeps the sand clean and dry when not in use. The table comes with two shovels, two rakes and a bucket. The lid even has molded-in road ways for some extra fun. The table is 16.375″H x 36″W x 26″D, making it a decent portable sand pit.
Elevated to suit little ones
Comes with toys
Large sand pit area
Elastic tie down lid keeps sand clean
Takes up a larger area
Only accommodates for sand
Naturally Playful Sand & Water Center
**Editors Choice**
This is the ultimate for outdoor water and sand table play. There are two sides to the table – one for water and one for sand. Either side is crafted with natural landscapes, making for interesting play. An umbrella will keep the kids in the shade and out of the sun while they play with the included bridges, boats, pots and shovel. The elastic tie down lid keeps contents safe and clean, while the detachable legs make for easy storage. Not only is it an all-inclusive playset, but the different landscapes make for creative, imaginative play.
Two sides for water and sand
Comes with toys and umbrella
Detachable legs for easy storage
Elastic tie-down lid keeps sand clean
Takes up a larger area
Dino Dig Sand & Water Table
A dino-dig table that gives kids so much imaginative play! There is space for both sand and water – the waterfall feature acts as a lid to the sand area. Water can be poured into the top of the volcano and pours down the mountain waterfall feature into the water hold. The dinosaurs can take shelter under the palm tree before diving into the pool. The kit comes with lots of play toys and a shovel and rake to dig in the sandpit to find the molded-in dino bones.
Two sides for water and sand
Molded-in dino bones
Large enough for group play
Waterfall volcano top covers sandpit
Takes up a larger area
Volcano covers the sand area, so can’t be played with at the same time
Splash N Scoop Bay
A fun, clean and simple water and sand table that offers space and variety of fun play time. The cover is in two pieces, so it can cover a side that isn’t in use and it doubles up as a mountain cover that creates a waterfall into the water table. The 7 piece set comes with a water tower, a cup, slide, spinner, shark scooper, cup and a shovel/rake. There is a drain plug built into the water table to allow for easy draining and cleaning.
Two sides for water and sand
Water tower feature
Large enough for group play
Takes up a larger area
Cascading Cove Sand and Water Table
Another simple yet fun table, there is space for both water and sand. The sand side holds 10lbs of sand, while the waterside can hold up to 3 gals. The two sides are separated by a roadway, for some added play. An easy drain plug makes tidying up simple and the one-piece plastic cover keeps contents clean and safe between uses. There are molded-in roadways on the surface of the lid that add to the playing surface. Tie the lid down with the included elastic ends.
Two sides for water and sand
Molded-in roadways on lid
Large enough for group play
Takes up a larger area
Crabbie Sand Table
This is one for the little toddlers. The Crabbie Sand Table is styled to suit toddlers perfectly. There is a four piece accessories kit included and the sand table can hold up to 25lbs of sand. There are no dual sides, but water can be used instead of sand if you are going to watch your child play. The Crabbie Sand Table will keep them entertained for ages. It also comes with a Crabbie lid that keeps sand clean and dry.
Made for toddlers
Lid to keep sand clean and dry
Large enough for group play
Can only hold either sand or water at one time
Little Tikes Garden Table
For the little gardener, this is the perfect play set. The plant and water flower basin can hold water that can be easily drained with the built in plug. It comes with a working watering can, four flower pots, two soil disks, a tray, a sifter, a rake and a shovel. Everything a little gardener needs for imaginary play. The tray can fit over the water tray to convert to a table top work station.
Gardening theme
Tray converts to table top work station
Comes with gardening accessories
Can only hold water
Little Tikes Sandy Lagoon Waterpark
This elevated play set is perfect for busy little toddlers. There are characters that float around in their swimming tubes who are also ready to dive down the twin water slides. Included as well is a 2-1 shovel/rake. There is a plug for easy clean up, making it good to use outdoors. The lid keeps contents clean and dry.
Water park theme
Built in easy drain plug
Comes with accessories
Can only hold water
Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table
Sea themed and ready for some fun outdoors, this set comes with an umbrella to keep your little ones out of the harsh rays of the sun. The swimmers can jump off the diving board or swing off the slide. Kids can even create a tidal wive! The mermaid lagoon can be super exciting and the dolphin lagoon is there for extra entertainment. The set holds 2.22 gallons of water in the top section and 3.24 gallons in the lower section. Perfect for a summers day.
Sea theme
Built in easy drain plug
Comes with accessories
Can only hold water
There you have the best water and sand tables that will keep your little ones busy outside all summer long. It is safe, fun and educational play that is sure to be a hit for a good few years!
