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A small child standing in a learning tower at the kitchen sink helping a parent wash vegetables. Credit: Getty Images / Halfpoint

The Best Learning Towers of 2024

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A small child standing in a learning tower at the kitchen sink helping a parent wash vegetables. Credit: Getty Images / Halfpoint

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Editor's Choice Product image of Little Partners Explore n Store Learning Tower
Best Overall

Little Partners Explore n Store Learning Tower

Check Price at Amazon

The Little Partners Explore n Store Learning Tower is a practical option for families looking for a well built learning tower that doesn’t take up much room but is sturdy and safe. Read More

Pros

  • Sturdy design
  • Doesn't take up a lot of room
  • Easy to store

Cons

  • Narrow
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Sdadi Kids Learning Stool
Best Value

Sdadi Kids Learning Stool

Check Price at Amazon

This is a perfect option for someone looking for a learning tower that is narrow in design but has the sturdiness to keep your child safe with each use. Read More

Pros

  • Beautiful design
  • Narrow
  • Easy to store

Cons

  • Tall
  • Grips get dirty
3
Product image of Franklin+Emily Toddler Tower

Franklin+Emily Toddler Tower

Check Price at Franklin+Emily

Franklin+Emily has built a beautiful and sustainable tower that’s both useful for your child and also aesthetically pleasing. Plus, it won’t take up a lot of room. Read More

Pros

  • Modern design
  • Comes fully assembled
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Expensive
  • No step stool feature
4
Product image of Guidecraft Tower Step-Up Kitchen Helper

Guidecraft Tower Step-Up Kitchen Helper

Check Price at Amazon

The Guidecraft Tower is easy to set up and can accommodate older children. Read More

Pros

  • Sturdy
  • Easy to use
  • Works for older kids

Cons

  • Large
  • Hard to store
  • No back panel
5
Product image of Little Partners Learning Tower

Little Partners Learning Tower

Check Price at Amazon

If you have the space in your kitchen and are looking for a durable tower that will grow with your child for years to come, this is the learning tower for you! Read More

Pros

  • Beautiful design
  • Stable
  • 4 height adjustments

Cons

  • Large
  • Hard to store
  • Heavy
  • Best Overall Little Partners Explore n Store Learning Tower
  • Best Value Sdadi Kids Learning Stool
  • Other Learning Towers We Tested
  • How We Tested Learning Towers
  • What You Should Know About Learning Towers
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

If you have a curious toddler, like I do, you probably spend a lot of time lifting them up and down from the kitchen counter. Or maybe you've even let them stand on a chair to help bake cookies or make snacks. If you're looking for a way to give your child safe access to the counter while protecting your back (and your toddler) from potential injury, a learning tower is the way to go.

Learning towers—sometimes called kitchen helper towers—are a large wooden or plastic step tower for toddlers and children to safely stand at counter height and be involved in daily activities such as baking, mixing, or preparing food. Learning towers encourage involvement, assistance, and help with self-confidence. They’re a practical investment and can be used for so many daily activities.

After testing seven different learning towers with the assistance of my 2-year-old-son, we think that the Little Partners Explore n Store Learning Tower (available at Amazon) is the Best Overall thanks to its compact size and attractive design.

For a more budget-friendly option, the Sdadi Adjustable Height Kitchen Step Stool (available at Amazon) is also a great choice.

The Little Partners Explore n Store learning tower is our top pick.
Credit: Little Partners

The Little Partners Explore n Store learning tower is our top pick.

Best Overall
Little Partners Explore n Store Learning Tower
  • Item Weight: 18 pounds
  • Dimensions: 22.28 x 19.56 x 33.5 inches
  • Foldable: Yes
  • Adjustable: Yes
  • Maximum Height: 18.27 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 150 pounds

The Little Partners Explore n Store Learning Tower is a practical option for families looking for a well-built learning tower that doesn’t take up much room but is sturdy and safe. It lifts your child up to counter height, and encourages interaction, exploration, and togetherness between children and parents.

This 18 pound tower is made with layered birch and came in an attractive gray color which worked well for my kitchen. It has two little footprints that have a grip on them to make it easy for your child when going up and down.

My favorite feature on this tower is the fold-up bottom step which makes it a perfect fit for under kitchen counters and islands. My son loved using his foot to pull down the step and I especially loved it for how little room it took up in my kitchen.

As for other features, it adjusts to four different heights to grow with your child, whereas many other towers only have two height adjustments.

With a four sided railing and the two steps, I felt my son was safe in the learning tower but could still help out and participate in activities at counter height.

I also loved its narrow design and the fact that I was also able to store it under my island overhang, making it a great choice for smaller spaces.

The biggest issue with the Little Partners Explore n Store is that toddlers don’t have much room to move around because of its narrow design.

Pros

  • Sturdy design

  • Doesn't take up a lot of room

  • Easy to store

Cons

  • Narrow

Buy now at Amazon

$129.99 from Target

$129.99 from Walmart
The Sdadi Adjustable Height Kitchen Step Stool is a budget-friendly option.
Credit: Sdadi

The Sdadi Adjustable Height Kitchen Step Stool is a budget-friendly option.

Best Value
Sdadi Kids Learning Stool
  • Item Weight: 17 pounds
  • Dimensions: 15.3 x 35.4 x 18.1 inches
  • Foldable: Yes
  • Adjustable: Yes
  • Maximum Height: 35.4 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 150 pounds

Made from solid wood, the Sdadi learning tower is coated with a durable, nontoxic, lead-free coating. The four-sided railings provide support with your child inside and the additional base support legs attached at the bottom make sure there is no risk of tipping over.

This learning tower was one of the tallest among the ones we tested out so while we were not able to store it under our island, it stood completely flush against the island and was very sturdy.

The coated finish on the tower makes spills easy to clean up, which I appreciated since my toddler often used the tower to eat his meals.

Between the aesthetically pleasing design and the narrow profile, this learning tower quickly became a necessity in our kitchen.

I love how it has a built in step which makes it easy for any toddler or child to climb inside safely. There is also an anti-slip mat attached to the standing platform so you don’t have to worry about your child slipping.

While it’s sturdy enough to not fall over, my son was able to move the tower across the kitchen on his own which was also a plus. My husband and I could move it with ease and it did not take up much room in our kitchen.

The anti-grip attachment did tend to get a bit dirty but I felt that this added safety feature outweighed the cleanliness issue.

Pros

  • Beautiful design

  • Narrow

  • Easy to store

Cons

  • Tall

  • Grips get dirty

Buy now at Amazon

$106.68 from Home Depot

$94.89 from Walmart

Other Learning Towers We Tested

Product image of Franklin+Emily Toddler Tower
Franklin+Emily Toddler Tower
  • Item Weight: 15 pounds
  • Dimensions: 16 x 17.25 x 33.38 inches
  • Foldable: No
  • Adjustable: Yes
  • Maximum Height: Not listed
  • Maximum Weight: Not listed

Franklin+Emily has built a beautiful and sustainable tower that’s both useful for your child but also aesthetically pleasing and won’t take up a lot of room in your kitchen.

When I opened the box, I was extremely pleased to see the tower came fully assembled. Some of the other towers took upwards of 45 minutes to assemble so this factor alone earned major points in my book! We pulled it right out of the box and could use it immediately.

The tower has a modern design, and it is constructed of high grade Baltic Birch plywood and finished with environmentally and kid-friendly finishes that can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth.

The Franklin+Emily learning tower has three adjustable platform heights at 12”, 15”, and 18” which is the standard across most on the market.

At just 33.38 inches tall, it was short enough to fit under the overhang on my island which I appreciated tremendously.

It has slip-resistant felt pads on the feet which makes it sturdy but also easy for my son or my husband and I to move it around the kitchen. It has a leather safety strap on the back to provide extra security and it also adds an element of style into the design. Another feature I appreciate is that it is designed and fabricated in Brooklyn, New York. Since the towers are made to order, shipping does take approximately four weeks, but it's worth the wait.

Unfortunately, because the tower is so light, it is not as sturdy as others we tested, and while I appreciated the look and design of the leather strap, my son would often hang on it. Plus, the small design means that there’s no step stool feature and my son found it difficult to get into initially.

Pros

  • Modern design

  • Comes fully assembled

  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Expensive

  • No step stool feature

Buy now at Franklin+Emily
Product image of Guidecraft Tower Step-Up Kitchen Helper
Guidecraft Tower Step-Up Kitchen Helper
  • Item Weight: 26.7 pounds
  • Dimensions: 22.3 x 20 x 36 inches
  • Foldable: No
  • Adjustable: Yes
  • Maximum Height: 36 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 200 pounds

If you have the space and are looking for a learning tower that can accommodate older children, the Guidecraft Kitchen Helper is a good option, as it was one of the larger learning towers we tested.

Set up was a breeze and the directions were clear, which gained points in my book. This sturdy step stool is designed to safely and securely elevate children to countertop height.

The tower easily adjusts to two platform heights to grow with your child and has two hand-holds to assist in climbing up and down. Out of all the learning towers we tested, this one was the easiest for my son to get in and out of.

While it’s hard to store, it sat perfectly flush against our counters and looked great in my kitchen. Another plus is that it serves as a handy step-up for adults as well, so it's useful for hard to reach items in your kitchen. It’s a solid piece of furniture and each time my son used it, I felt that he was safe and there was no chance it could tip over.

The Guidecraft learning tower is large so it was bulky in my small kitchen and took up a lot of space.

The tower also does not have a back railing, so if you have a younger toddler who is not steady, there is a risk of falling off the back. My son had no issues with it, however, and once he learned how it worked, he was going up and down with ease.

Pros

  • Sturdy

  • Easy to use

  • Works for older kids

Cons

  • Large

  • Hard to store

  • No back panel

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Little Partners Learning Tower
Little Partners Learning Tower
  • Item Weight: 28.63 pounds
  • Dimensions: 33.14 x 23.15 x 38.07 inches
  • Foldable: No
  • Adjustable: Yes
  • Maximum Height: 24 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 250 pounds

If you have the space in your kitchen and are looking for a durable tower that will grow with your child for years to come, the Little Partners Kids Learning Tower is a fantastic choice. Designed by a Montessori school educator, the Learning Tower lifts your child to kitchen counter height to encourage interaction and togetherness between children and parents.

Out of every tower I tested, this one has the most stable and secure design, supporting up to 250 pounds. It’s crafted out of wood and has a beautiful design that looks great in your kitchen.

As for other features, the step stool adjusts to four different heights to grow with your child, which is the most out of any of the other learning towers.

The tower features safety rails and handholds, and rounded edges offer additional security. Little Partners also offers add-on accessories you can purchase separately, like the silicone slip mat which provides a non-slip platform to help prevent falls, and an art and education board attachment.

While this learning tower is extremely sturdy, it was the largest of the towers I tested and took up the most room. Plus, my son was not able to move it on his own, which limited his independence.

Pros

  • Beautiful design

  • Stable

  • 4 height adjustments

Cons

  • Large

  • Hard to store

  • Heavy

Buy now at Amazon

$199.99 from Target

$149.99 from Walmart
Product image of Simplay3 Toddler Tower Adjustable Stool
Simplay3 Toddler Tower Adjustable Stool
  • Item Weight: 13.2 pounds
  • Dimensions: 16.5 x 23.18 x 34.5 inches
  • Foldable: No
  • Adjustable: Yes
  • Maximum Height: 18 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 60 pounds

If you are looking for a reasonably priced learning tower that is small in design and easy to move around the house, the Simplay3 Toddler Tower is a great choice.

Simplay3’s learning tower is the smallest in design and the lightest, weighing just 13 pounds. It was also the only learning tower made of plastic.

From opening the box to setting it up in our kitchen for use, assembly was completed in under five minutes. It features three adjustable height settings to 18”, 15”, and 12”, which can be done by pulling the support out instead of using any additional tools.

My son was easily able to figure out how to get in and out of the tower and it stood at a great height at my kitchen island at just 34.5”, allowing it to be stored under the counter when not in use.

This learning tower is extremely lightweight and easy to store but also has non-skid pads on the bottom for added security. For a parent looking for a tower they could store in a pantry or underneath an overhang and use it when needed, this is a great option. You can easily move it all over the kitchen or take it to the bathroom for hand washing with no trouble.

The plastic design makes it easy to clean if there are any messes, and it would be hard to damage it even with extreme use.

Since it is so small, there is not much room for a child to move around once inside, and it was not as sturdy due to the lightweight plastic construction.

Pros

  • Small

  • Lightweight

  • Easy to assemble

  • Easy to store

Cons

  • Plastic

  • Easy to tip over

Buy now at Amazon

$109.99 from Target

$99.99 from Walmart
Product image of Craffox Convertible Kitchen Tower for Toddler
Craffox Convertible Kitchen Tower for Toddler
  • Item Weight: 17.63 pounds
  • Dimensions: 15.1 x 16.5 x 36.2 inches
  • Foldable: No
  • Adjustable: No
  • Maximum Height: Not listed
  • Maximum Weight: 150 pounds

Craffox has designed a smart learning tower that has many uses for families with two pieces of furniture in one. The Craffox Kitchen Tower is a useful learning tower for toddlers and children with many features.

My husband and I struggled with a few parts when assembling the tower, but overall it was fairly easy and the directions were detailed. The overall design is very cute with a picture of a bear’s smiling face on the side and I loved how it came in a natural wood.

The tower weighs approximately 17 pounds, so it’s light enough to move around the kitchen or bathroom. The tower has rails on every side which makes it safe for kids to participate in an activity whether it’s washing hands, brushing teeth, or playing at the island. It is made of Baltic birch plywood, which is generally known for its durability.

The Craffox tower is equipped with a blackboard surface for drawing, and the upper part can be folded down to turn into a table, making this a multi-use piece of toddler gear. Out of all the towers I tested, this is the only one that is really two pieces of furniture in one.

The tower stood flush against my island and was a great size—big enough for my son to get in and move around but not too large that it took up too much space in my kitchen.

One big drawback to the Craffox learning tower is that I didn't feel it was sturdy enough. I didn’t feel completely comfortable letting my son on the tower without close-at-hand adult supervision. While the chalkboard is a cool feature, it did attract my son to draw on it with crayons whereas he viewed all the others strictly as pieces of furniture.

Pros

  • Built-in fold out table

  • Cute design

  • Includes chalkboard

Cons

  • Expensive

  • Not especially sturdy

Buy now at Amazon

How We Tested Learning Towers

The Tester

Hi! My name is Michaela Crimmins and I live in Wakefield, Rhode Island with my husband, Matt, and two boys, Ryder (2 years) and Teddy (9 months). I work full time as a program manager for the University of Rhode Island Alumni Engagement team. My true passion lies in connecting with other moms and sharing my favorite products, which is what brought me to start my blog, Ocean State Mama. I love to share a real, inside look at what life is like as a busy mom with two kids, and I share my favorite products, tips, and anything mom-related with others who can relate.

The Tests

My husband and two brothers-in-law put together all seven learning towers. Box after box, it was interesting (and comical for me!) to watch them build each of the towers while I observed what the assembly process was like. Some took five minutes and others took 30 minutes. For the month that followed, we put a couple of the towers in our kitchen at a time for our son to test and then rotated them out.

For the testing process, we would invite our son to participate in an activity at the kitchen island and see what his experience was like when he used the tower. We looked to see if he had any issues getting in and out, if it was safe and secure once he was inside, if he could move around in it, if it has railings, if it has a step stool, could he move it around the kitchen, and if we could move it easily as well.

Then we looked at the tower in general based on its design and size. We looked at how many height adjustments each one had, how tall it was, how much space it took up in our kitchen, and if we were able to store it underneath our kitchen island.

What You Should Know About Learning Towers

The Size of Your Kitchen

The size of your kitchen and how much storage space you have is a huge factor in purchasing a learning tower. If you have a large and open kitchen, you would be better off going with a bigger tower. The larger the tower, the more space your child has to move around in. If you’re going large, it generally would stay in your kitchen at all times since they’re harder to store, so you want to get one you truly love that works well with your space.

On the flip side, if you have a smaller kitchen, I would suggest a smaller tower that won’t take up a lot of room and could also potentially be stored under your kitchen island or in a pantry.

How Tall Your Counters Are

The height of your kitchen island and counters is also something to consider before you purchase your tower. I personally like the learning towers that I’m able to store under my island overhang when not in use, and many of the towers were too tall to do that.

Before making a purchase, measure the height of your counters and island and then check it against the tower so you’ll know that it fits correctly.

The Age and Weight Limit

Learning towers that are lightweight and easier to move often tend to have lower weight limits. If you're selecting a learning tower for an older toddler—or you want one that's going to last for quite a few years—you'll need to choose one of the larger models that can safely support bigger kids.

Unfortunately, learning towers with higher weight limits also tend to be bigger and harder to store, which can be a problem if your kitchen is short on space.

Meet the tester

Michaela Crimmins

Michaela Crimmins

Contributor

Michaela Crimmins is a native Rhode Islander and graduate of Keene State College in New Hampshire. Working in Marketing her whole career, she was a Digital Marketing Specialist at Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski for five years before becoming a Program Manager for the University of Rhode Island Foundation & Alumni Engagement. Michaela currently resides in Wakefield, Rhode Island with her husband and two boys under age two, along with their golden retriever, Swagger. She has a true passion for connecting with other moms and sharing her favorite products. Follow her Instagram page and blog, Ocean State Mama for an inside look of her family's daily adventures and parenting resources.

See all of Michaela Crimmins's reviews

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