The Best Chemistry Set for Kids (and Adults!)

There’s no better way to learn about chemistry than with fun, hands-on experiments and science projects. Teachers and parents, read on to learn the best chemistry set for kids of practically any age. Adults are sure to have a blast, too!

We have reviewed and updated this guide recently, so it is ready for 2020. You can check the best available options right now.

Get ready to share a great adventure into chemistry together with your kids!

Why Do Chemistry Experiments at Home?

Kids are naturally curious about the world around them. Satisfying and encouraging that curiosity will help lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

Chemistry is driving practically everything that happens in the universe, and the best way to learn it is to see it in action. Think back to your own schooldays. What parts of science class were the most memorable? The experiments and demonstrations!

Chemistry is an empirical or experimental science, and it is extremely difficult to make it enjoyable for a kid using only theory, or textbook explanation. Many chemists even admit to not like chemistry very much when they were kids! This was because their learning experience lacked of experiments.

Basically, the reason to find the best chemistry set for kids with age-appropriate experiments is that they are educational and totally cool. Students of all levels can learn important science concepts and have tons of fun doing it.

We have previously covered how to set up a home chemistry lab, but today we focus on another very important topic: learning together with our kids!

And this kind of sets go beyond learning chemistry. If you are interested in other fields of science, you should go and get your hands into a science kit.

If you are looking for something to give as a gift to a chemist, check out this gift review!

In this post, we’ve got our pick for the best chemistry set for kids, as well as detailed reviews for eight different chemistry kit products, all ideal for classroom or home use.

Our Top Choice for Best Overall Chemistry Kit

As always, we start this review post with our number one pick. Today, that designation goes to the Thames & Kosmos Chem C2000 kit. This would be considered the intermediate chemistry set, between the C1000 and the C3000 products.

Thames & Kosmos Chem C2000 (V 2.0)

We rate this best overall because of the amazing number of projects, quality materials and full-color experiment manual. It is on the higher end of the price range among the kits in this article, but with everything you get, it is a great value.

Chem C2000 was the best in 2019, and is still the best option out there in 2020.

The Chem C2000 chemistry set includes around 250 experiments with professional quality equipment. As such, it is ideal for homeschooling and traditional classrooms alike.

Thames & Kosmos recommend this kit for ages 11 and up; after all, there are some pretty serious chemicals in here, not to mention an alcohol burner for experiments that require heat.

Quick Comparison Table

The Best Chemistry Sets for Kids

Now, starting with our top pick, we’ve got detailed reviews of eight products which provide fun chemistry experiments for kids of all ages.

1. Thames & Kosmos Chem C2000

Thames & Kosmos offer a range of Chem kids’ science kits, and the C2000 falls right in the middle in terms of extensiveness, level, and price. It comes with the equipment and supplies you need for some 250 experiments with a comprehensive lab manual to guide budding scientists through each activity.

Thames & Kosmos Chem C2000

We would rate this as the ideal beginner chemistry set for older elementary school and up. Thames & Kosmos are famous for their award-winning products, so it’s no wonder they rolled out the best science kit for kids. Both this and the more basic C1000 kit have won awards from the Parents’ Choice Foundation.

Although it does not have as many experiments as the C3000 kit, it is very complete and very professional. It is recommended for ages 11 and up, but honestly, adults are just as likely to find this chemistry kit enjoyable and educational as children are.

Of particular note in the C2000 set is the alcohol burner, which greatly expands the number of possible experiments by providing a heat source.

2. Thames & Kosmos Chem C3000

This product is, of course, the more advanced premium option from Thames & Kosmos. Compared to the C2000 model, this chemistry kit has about 333 experiments, with extremely high quality equipment.

Thames & Kosmos Chem C3000

If you don’t mind the higher price point, this would definitely be the best chemistry set for adults of all the products on this list. It is just about the closest thing you’ll find to a professional chemistry set out there.

The C3000 model is recommended for ages 12 and up, and its experiments cover some fairly advanced topics. It would make a great companion to high school science, and would be right at home in the classroom as well.

If you are looking for a more advanced chemistry set for teenagers, this is probably a very nice bet.

3. Thames & Kosmos Chem C1000

Once again, another product from Thames & Kosmos that ranks among the best science kits for kids. Unlike its higher-end counterparts, the C1000 has just 125 experiments. However, this is still a very complete set, recommended for ages 10 and up.

Thames & Kosmos Chem C1000

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of the C1000 chemistry set compared to the other to is its more affordable price. Considering everything you get, we would still call the C2000 a better overall value, but this is another excellent choice.

Also, the Parents’ Choice Foundation has dubbed this one of the best chemistry sets for kids, too, by giving it their gold award.

4. Ben Franklin Toys Chemistry Lab Pad Science Kit

This product from Ben Franklin Toys is one of several options for chemistry kits for kids in preschool and early elementary school. Accordingly, it puts a focus on safety and exploration, and it is designed for children ages 5 and older.

Ben Franklin Toys Chemistry Lab Pad Science Kit

The distinguishing feature of the Lab Pad Science Kit is, you guessed it, the lab pad. Parents and preschool teachers will appreciate the lab pad, because it serves as both a work surface for experiments and storage for all the included equipment. As a result, everything stays nice and organized in between science days.

However, the experiments in this product are very limited. In contrast to the other chemistry sets on this list—even the ones designed for younger kids—it only has around 12 activities to do. The price for this product is in the middle of the range, but if you are looking for a great variety of experiments to do with your kids, then it might not be the best value.

5. Learn & Climb Kids Science Kit

Another chemistry set for kids designed for the preschool and kindergarten age group, the Learn & Climb Fun with Science kit is suitable for ages 5 and up.

Learn & Climb Kids Science Kit

Unlike the previous product, Learn & Climb provides a much more complete kit. It contains over 60 experiments, compared to just 12 in the Ben Franklin Toys product, and it retails for a lower price.

In fact, we would rate this as the best chemistry set for kids between the ages of 5 and 10. The number and variety of activities is quite impressive, it is very affordable, and it is designed to help kids learn and explore independently. On this last point, the kit includes a kid-friendly experiment manual and an instructional DVD to guide young scientists through each project.

6. Learning Resources Primary Science Deluxe Lab Set

If the Learn & Climb science kit is the best option for elementary school-aged children, then this lab set from Learning Resources is the best chemistry set for kids who are still in preschool. Designed for children as young as 3 years old, it is perfect for the youngest scientists.

Learning Resources Primary Science Deluxe Lab Set

This kit comes with 20 double-sided activity cards that guide students through experiments with step by step instructions. Altogether, it’s a great kit for giving kids their first exposure to real scientific equipment, like test tubes, flasks, funnels, and even a “science view scope” that looks like a microscope.

So, if you want to encourage scientific exploration in your children or students between the ages of 3 and 5, then this would be our top recommendation.

7. Dan & Darci Light Up Crystal Growing Kit

One of the most rewarding and visually impressive science experiments you can do with your kids is crystal growing. While natural crystals take thousands of years to form in the ground, crystal growing kits like this one from Dan & Darci take just one week or less to form beautiful crystals that will fascinate children and adults alike.

Light-up Crystal Growing Kit for Kids

Although the kit is not recommended for use by kids under 8 years old, your younger kids can still get excited checking the crystals each day to see how much they’ve grown.

The Dan & Darci crystal growing kit is very reasonably priced for this type of product. It comes with materials to grow three crystals: one red, one blue, and one colorless. All you have to do is add boiling water and follow the instructions.

Arguably the most standout feature of this specific crystal growing kit is the LED light display. Once your crystals have finished growing, simply use the included USB charging cable to charge the LED display, and then set your crystals on top and enjoy the beautiful results.

8. Happy Atoms Magnetic Molecular Modeling Complete Set

When kids start learning about atoms and molecules in middle and high school, the new information can be very abstract and overwhelming. Don’t let this discourage them! Instead, help them feel curious and confident by putting those molecules right in their hands.

Happy Atoms Magnetic Molecular Modeling Complete Set

This Happy Atoms kit might seem somewhat expensive for a molecular modeling kit; however, it has a very innovative special feature that accounts for the more premium price. In addition to the magnetic atoms and bonds, it comes with a scanning mat and a free app download that will scan and identify the molecules your child builds.

Because of this, it is a great tool for kids aged 10-17 as they go through their first dedicated chemistry classes. Also, it comes with 216 enrichment activities that are fun and sure to foster a love of science.

If you want more info on molecular modeling kits, make sure to check our previous review.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

In all cases, any time you are performing chemistry experiments, always make sure that you wear lab safety glasses. Protect your eyes (and your kid’s) at all costs.

Choosing the Best Chemistry Set for Kids

Luckily, this is a very easy choice for parents and teachers to make. After all, the main factor to consider is the age of the children who will be using the kit.

If your young scientist is at least 10 years old, then one of the Thames & Kosmos chemistry sets will be most appropriate for general chemistry experiments, especially the Thames & Kosmos Chem C2000 model. This is a great option that even adults will enjoy. The chemistry kits from this series are a great complement for learning chemistry in high school too.

If they are taking chemistry in high school, teenagers would also strongly benefit from the Happy Atoms molecular modeling kit and its companion mobile app.

For elementary-aged kids, approximately ages 5-10, we would recommend the Learn & Climb Kids Science Kit. This is because of its excellent array of experiments compared to similar products, its great value, and its clear focus on kids.

Finally, the Learning Resources Primary Science Deluxe Lab Set is certainly the best chemistry set for kids who are still in preschool and too young for the Learn & Climb kit. With visual instructions, bright colors, and safe experiments, it’s ideal for ages 3+.

If you want to check out some chemistry experiments that you can do at home without having to purchase any kit, make sure to check these examples.

So you see, there are great options available to do fun chemistry at home no matter where you kids are on their learning journey. These experiments are so cool, they won’t even realize they’re educational!