The best solar system kits allow kids (and adults) to get their hands on our solar system, putting together a model to represent the planets around us. We've got a range of models on our list, featuring some pre-built models and some DIY kits that need assembling from scratch.
While most of the solar system kits here are aimed at children, they are suitable for adults with an interest in space, too. You'll find hanging mobiles, motorized models and even 3D puzzles. We've also included a Home Planetarium: It's a little different to a typical solar system kit, but it's a great way of getting close to the planets.
Solar system kits allow you to learn about the universe as well as getting a creative outlet while you assemble it. We think these make great gifts for kids with an interest in space, but they're also fun to look at, adding a bit of interest to any room.
You might also like our guide to the best space lamps, best star projectors or if you want more models you can put together yourself, take a look at our guide to the best Lego space sets.
The quick list
This easy to assemble model kit looks fantastic when it's all put together, though you'll need to paint all the planets yourself too.
A fun project for younger kids, this solar system is designed to hang from the ceiling: Perfect for putting over a youngster's bed.
This model doesn't need painting: simply click the pieces together and it's good to go. It shows the placement and rotation of all the planets, and the central sun even lights up.
This chunky wooden puzzle is great for pre-school kids: construct the board, and then place the planets in the correct holes.
This doesn't show the full solar system, but it's a fantastic working model with a surprising degree of accuracy.
It might not quite be a traditional solar system kit, but with its range of discs, this home planetarium star projector allows you to get closer to the planets than ever.
Best overall
✅ You want a craft project: This model kit needs fully assembling and painting from scratch.
❌ You want something ready-made: You'll need to put the work in before this is a finished model.
🔎 4M 3D Glow-in-the-Dark Solar System Model Making Kit: This is a great craft project that allows for plenty of creativity. ★★★★½
Designed for kids aged eight and over, 3M describes its 3D Solar System Model Making Kit as 'easy to assemble'. It has snap-together planets, and has everything you need to complete the model, including hangers, string, paints and paintbrushes. It's a full-on craft project, then, which requires you to not only assemble the planets but paint them too.
That means the finished product is going to depend entirely on how well you paint it — but it allows for plenty of creativity, with kids being able to add their own mark to it.
Each of the nine planets are made with appropriate crevices and rings for a more realistic representation, but it's up to you if you want to color them accurately. It's worth noting that there's only one paintbrush in the set, so if you're wanting to make this model as a group project, it's worth picking up some extra brushes.
Best mobile kit
✅ You want a fun project: This mobile needs painting and assembling from scratch.
❌ You want something hard-wearing: The foam planets are easily damaged
🔎 Peachy Keen Crafts Create Your Own Solar System: This craft set isn't the most hard-wearing, but it's a fun project to complete with younger kids. ★★★½
Everything about constructing this DIY solar system mobile from Peachy Keen Crafts is about making it your own. The planet pieces and all the decorative stars get to be painted by your little one, and everything needs assembling from scratch.
The Peachy Keen Crafts Create Your Own Solar System kit includes glow-in-the-dark stars and other decorative stickers that you can place strategically around the mobile, which is a nice touch. Alternatively, you could even add the stickers to your child’s bedroom ceiling and wall to extend the theme of the solar system mobile to their decor. Who doesn't love glow-in-the-dark stickers?
Once assembled with the included string, this mobile hangs an impressive 27 inches long. If you've got lower ceilings, it might be worth trimming the string so it doesn't hang quite as low.
All nine planets and the sun are included, and you'll find the necessary acrylic paints and a paintbrush inside the kit.
Best model kit
✅ You want a more scientific model: This solar system model shows the rotation of all the planets.
❌ You want a craft project: There's no painting, and minimal assembly required here.
🔎 Educational Insights GeoSafari Motorized Solar System: This battery-powered model shows the rotation of all the planets, and it even lights up. ★★★★
This solar system kit from Educational Insights is one to buy if you're looking for something more scientific rather than a fun craft project. The Educational Insights GeoSafari Motorized Solar System model sits on a motorized base and rotates to mimic the planet’s orbits around the sun.
None of the pieces need to be painted or decorated: simply click them together, and the model is good to go. Even better, the instructions are easy enough for most children to follow on their own. It's bad news if you were hoping for a creative project to work on, but if you want something that's practically good to go out of the box, this is it.
The centerpiece of the GeoSafari Motorized Solar System model glows bright yellow to mimic the sun, although it can also be switched to show the placement of popular constellations and zodiac signs.
Take note, though: you'll need AA batteries for the model to rotate and light up, which are not included with the kit.
Best for young children
✅ You want something long-lasting: This wooden puzzle is hard-wearing and made to last.
❌ You want something complex: This is very much designed with pre-school kids in mind.
🔎 Wanpidou Wooden Solar System Model Board: This chunky and colorful puzzle is designed with pre-school kids in mind. It teaches the placement of the planets. ★★★★
This wooden solar system model from Wanpidou is essentially a chunky jigsaw puzzle, making it suitable for young children. It's recommended from ages three and up, and it's a great way to introduce youngsters to the solar system.
After building the base, which is made up of three large jigsaw pieces, children next need to align the planets in the right place. There are written labels on the board, with holes for each planet to sit in. The puzzle comes with eight wooden planets that need adding into the right hole, and a set of picture cards will help children work out where each one should go.
The Wanpidou Wooden Solar System Model Board is a colorful, educational toy that we love, and thanks to being made out of wood it's long-lasting — the sort of thing children can enjoy for years.
Best for adults
✅ You like assembling mechanisms: Lego Technic requires simple mechanisms to be built out of bricks and cogs.
❌ You want something ready-made: You'll need to put this model together from scratch.
🔎 Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit: This is a fantastic and surprisingly accurate model, although it doesn't include the full solar system. ★★★★★
The Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit isn't quite a model of the entire solar system, but it does feature a very important part of it: the Earth, the Moon and the Sun. It's a model that needs assembling piece-by-piece, but it's seriously rewarding to put together, no matter how old you are.
Once the model is finished, it can rotate, showing a realistic orbit of the Earth and Moon around the sun. Simply turn a crank handle on the side of the model and you'll witness the planets rotate. It's a very cleverly made model, but this mechanism means that building it can be a little tricky. Younger kids may need a bit of supervision, but the instruction booklet included is thorough, easy to follow and well-detailed.
In our review of the Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit, we called it a beautiful set and praised the high level of accuracy captured in the model.
Best home planetarium
✅ You want to get closer to the stars: It's a little different from a craft project, but the projections of the planets it provides let you get closer than ever.
❌ You want a craft project: This isn't a traditional solar system kit that needs assembling.
🔎 Brainstorm Toys Deep Space Home Planetarium: It might not be the traditional choice for a solar system kit, but this is a great star projector with some unique views of the solar system on offer.. ★★★½
Hear us out: while the Brainstorm Toys Deep Space Home Planetarium star projector might not be a traditional solar system kit, it does achieve a similar goal of introducing the solar system to younger children. But rather than having to put the planets together yourself, this home planetarium delivers them straight to you by projecting them on the wall.
The Brainstorm Toys Deep Space Home Planetarium comes with multiple disks that can be inserted inside the unit. What disk is in the machine will dictate with images will be projected. There are disks here including photos of the planets of the solar system, allowing you to get a good, close-up look at them.
The disks are all based on images taken by NASA and the Hubble telescope, so there's certainly an educational element to this star projector. The projections aren't scientifically accurate, but they will bring you close to the planets than any home model kit would. It's inexpensive, too, and as we said in our Brainstorm Toys Home Planetarium review, it's a great STEM toy.
How we test
Some of the items on this list have been tested and reviewed by our in-house experts and their families. We haven't officially reviewed every item included in our guide to the best solar system kits yet, but every recommendation we've made is based on public reviews and popularity of the sets included. We wouldn't recommend anything that we wouldn't be willing to buy ourselves.
We've included sets based on their quality, their price, and the perceived value for money that they offer. We've featured a range of sets that allow for a creative experience while also being a useful educational tool at the same time.
Recent updates
February 20: We have Updated the strapline and intro to accurately reflect the products in this guide, we've also added the home planetarium to the guide.
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