The best magnetic chess sets
A magnetic chess set solves exactly one problem: the playing surface moving under the game. Trains, car seats, sofa cushions, café tables with a wobble — anywhere a normal set turns into pieces on the floor, magnets keep the position alive. Solve that problem well and a magnetic set is one of the most-used things a chess player owns; solve it badly and it's a drawer ornament with weak magnets.
That's the whole buying decision, really. Magnet strength first, size second, storage third — and an honest check at the end that you need magnets at all, because plenty of people buying a magnetic set actually want a home set.
We compared the popular magnetic options across the three sizes that matter. Here are the three worth buying.
Our picks at a glance
| Board | Magnets | Storage | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnetic 15" with storage | 15" folding | Strong | Slotted interior | Most people |
| Magnetic 12" folding | 12" folding | Strong | Loose interior | Kids, family games |
| Pocket magnetic 8" | 8" folding | Medium | Interior | Pockets, commutes |
The three worth buying
Magnetic set with interior storage (15")
The bigger magnetic option — playable at home, still portable.
Magnetic folding travel set (12")
Pieces stay put — in the car, on the couch, anywhere.
Pocket magnetic set (8")
Fits in a coat pocket. For planes, trains, and waiting rooms.
Why the 15" with storage is the best magnetic set for most people
At 15 inches, a magnetic set stops being a compromise. The squares are big enough that adult fingers place pieces normally instead of by feel, the magnets are strong relative to the piece weight, and the slotted interior gives every piece a home — no rattle in a bag, no hunting for a bishop that migrated to the bottom of a rucksack. It folds for the shelf and opens flat for the table, which makes it the one magnetic set that's genuinely pleasant to use at home too.
If you're buying one magnetic set and don't know exactly how you'll use it yet, buy this one.
Why the 12" is the kids and family pick
Children are the original use case for magnets: bumped tables, carpet games, pieces handled with enthusiasm. The 12-inch folder is light enough for a school bag, cheap enough that a lost pawn isn't a tragedy, and the magnets hold the small, light pieces firmly — positions survive treatment that would scatter a normal set. The same compact pieces that suit small hands are why adults find it cramped for long games.
If the child is just starting out, pair it with our guide to teaching kids chess — and for children under six or so, the bigger, chunkier options in the kids' chess set guide are the safer starting point.
Why the pocket 8" earns its place
An 8-inch magnetic set is a niche tool that's perfect for its niche: chess that happens on commutes, lunch breaks, and aeroplane tray tables. It disappears into a coat pocket, and medium-strength magnets on tiny pieces are enough to hold a position through turbulence. The trade-off is honest and unavoidable — fingernail-sized pieces and no comfortable overview of the position. It's a set for playing, not studying.
What actually matters in a magnetic chess set
Comparing beyond our picks? Four things, in order.
- Magnet strength above all. A magnetic set with weak magnets is worse than no magnets — you paid for the feature in piece weight and price, and it doesn't deliver. The tilt test above is the standard; treat any listing that doesn't inspire confidence in it as a pass.
- Size follows use. 15 inches for a set that doubles at home, 12 for the school bag, 8 for the pocket. There's no best size, only a best match — and if you're unsure, bigger is the safer miss, because "slightly bulky" gets used and "too fiddly" doesn't.
- Storage design. Slotted interiors beat loose interiors beat separate pouches. Magnetic sets travel, and travel is where pieces go missing — the set that locks each piece in place is the set that's still complete next year.
- Fit and hinge. The usual rules don't stop applying because there are magnets: pieces should fill about three-quarters of a square (our board dimensions guide has the sizing logic), and a metal hinge that opens flat outlasts plastic clips every time.
When magnets are the wrong buy
Magnets cost you something: magnetic pieces are lighter and smaller than proper weighted pieces, and the boards top out around 15 inches. On a stable table at home, you pay those costs and collect no benefit.
So if you're shopping for your main set — the one that lives on a table and hosts most of your games — skip magnets and get a full-size set with weighted pieces from our best chess sets guide. It plays better, and it's often cheaper.
And if what you're really asking is "what should I take on holiday?", that's a slightly different question — magnets are necessary but not sufficient, and packability starts to outrank playability. Our travel chess set guide ranks the options from that angle.
For everyone in between — the family that plays on sofas, the commuter, the player who wants games to survive the real world — a good magnetic set is one of the best small purchases in chess. Just run the tilt test first.