Top 10 Fidget Toys For Adults
If you’ve ever had an adult tell you to stop tapping your pencil, stop fidgeting, or stop doodling… you may be a fidgeter.
Now as an adult, though, we have some news for you:
Once a fidgeter, always a fidgeter.
But who said that was a bad thing?
For one, fidgeting and fidget toys can help you focus - they’re harmless ways to displace a little bit of extra energy so your brain can attend to the main task at hand. Fidgeting can also help with anxiety to help you feel better in stressful situations.
If anything, fidget toys have just gotten a bad rap because of how fidgeting was perceived in our grade school days. Now, though, we’re adults! And it’s time to reclaim the fidget and embrace our true nature. That's why our Fidget Cubes make such great Christmas gifts for dads, moms, and other adults in your life.
What are fidget toys?
Fidget toys like Fidget Cube are made to occupy the hands and fingers of fidgeters, like you and us, in cool and relaxing ways. "Toy" just means they're fun! Adults use fidget toys for anxiety at work or home. Fidget Cube, our original fidget toy, has six sides. Click. Glide. Flip. Breathe. Roll. Spin.
What are fidget toys used for?
Fidget toys don't have to be useful. They're just fun! People say Fidget Cube helps restless hands, like when you're a student and you can't stop drumming your pen at school, or you're an adult and keep making paperclip chains at work, especially long meetings.
Fidget Cube is great for passing long, boring periods of time, too. Fidget toys keep your brain active so you don't nod off during that morning meeting or afternoon class. Deduct your Fidget Cube as a business expense!
We want to give you a list of more top-notch, high-quality, and clever fidget toys and devices so you can get the most out of your fidgeting.
Fidget Cube
Fidget Cube™, our original fidget toy from our Kickstarter campaign, has six different sides for fidgeting: Click. Glide. Flip. Breathe. Roll. Spin™. Fidget at work during long meetings. Fidget in school during long classes. Or just fidget at home while you're watching Netflix or taking a break from chores!
Are fidget toys like Fidget Cube™ for adults or kids?
Both! Sometimes adults are reluctant to check out fidget toys like Fidget Cube. They think fidget toys are just for children. No! Many adults develop fidgeting habits as kids (like we did) and it gets harder and harder to stop. And fidgeting can be embarrassing when you're with groups of colleagues or managers.
What we set out to do with Fidget Cube™ was make a fidget toy that was full of satisfying fidgets. When do you fidget most? Some people fidget alone in their office, too, like when you're on the phone or reading documents. Fidget toys for adults can help you concentrate by focusing that nervous energy on your delightful Fidget Cube™. Fidgets for adults stimulates the brain when you're feeling lethargic, like that hour or two after lunch or listening to a dull presentation.
The Fidget Spinner
The Fidget Spinner is another classic fidget spinner toy that will keep those idle hands busy for hours. What makes this an ideal adult fidget toy is its low profile. Its slim design and use of nearly frictionless zinc-coated ball bearings means that using it is fun for you without being distracting for them.
Especially in open office settings, we do need to be mindful of how our actions might affect those around us. If you’re crunching some numbers or getting deep into strategy and you need to fidget a little, a quick flick of the Fidget Spinner will help keep you focused without making noise that might interrupt your coworkers.
Magnetic Sculpture Magnet
The Magnetic Sculpture Magnet is a slightly more complicated fidget toy for adults. What sets it apart is the sheer number of pieces: 171 non-magnetic steel balls, all atop a magnetic base.
The steel balls, which range in size from 0.25 inches to 0.55 inches, can be arranged in all sorts of designs, shapes, and structures. Create arresting artistic pieces, geometric structures, or just see how high you can stack it before gravity wins.
The advantages of the Magnetic Sculpture Magnet has a fidget toy is how dynamic it is. We’re sure you could fidget with it for days without getting the same results. As engaging as it is, though, that is also one of its complicating factors, too. It does demand your attention. It’s better for the kind of fidgeting you do between tasks to help refresh yourself, rather than the idle fidgeting you do during.
Tangle Chrome
Though you may recognize the Tangle Chrome from its kid-friendly original iteration, this sleek, modern Tangle is from their Museum Edition. A stunning upgrade on the original’s bright, playful colors, the Chrome Original Tangle features a fluid design that can be changed and modified.
Intended to help lower anxiety and provide sensory stimulation, this Tangle is also aesthetically pleasing. For an adult fidget toy for the office, this would be perfectly fine to leave out on your desk between fidgets.
If this ever-changing sculpture is of interest, there is also a second larger version that can expand to over 2’ in length.
Flippy Chain Fidget
The Flippy Chain Fidget is one of a number of handsomely designed metal fidget toys from Tom’s Fidgets. What we like about this one is how satisfying it is for such a compact fidget toy.
After all, if you have social anxiety or nervous energy, you don’t necessarily need something complicated to relieve it - you just need something that works. With the Flippy Chain Fidget, you can enjoy one-handed fidgeting spins between your thumb and index finger, a more concentrated two-handed flipping, or running it up and down your fingers.
For a durable, subtle, and silent fidget toy, this is a fun option.
Gyroscope Toys
The world of metal fidget toys on Etsy is vast, and it’s one we’ll dive further into with an upcoming post. For now, we’re highlighting just a couple, including one of the most visually appealing fidget toys: the Mechforce EDC Gyroscope.
While it is not the cheapest adult fidget toy on the list, it certainly is among the most beautiful. From its mesmerizing looks to its nearly 5 minutes of spin time on tables, this is a fidget toy that truly combines form and function. With a solid weight, it’s satisfying to hold and to fidget with, while also being easy enough to carry around with you on the go.
For a fidget toy that’s grown up, consider one like the Mechforce EDC Gyroscope.
Steel Spinning Ring
When one thinks about fidget toys for kids, what comes to mind are bright colors, satisfyingly loud noises, and interactivity. Fidget toys for adults often have some of these qualities, but they also tend to be more restrained so we can use them in public and professional settings.
For those reasons alone, this Steel Spinning Ring is a terrific fidget toy for adults. Handmade of stainless steel, this fidget toy is indeed a ring you can wear. When you need just a quick, subtle fidget, you can use your thumb to manipulate the little balls. If you want to play a little more, you can take the ring off, and enjoy the satisfying sound of the balls clacking together, spin the ring on a table, and more.
Sometimes the best quality of a fidget toy is being able to have it when you need it, and with this Steel Spinning Ring fit to your fingers, you’re sure to have it nearby.
Pocket Gecko
While the Snafoozle Pocket Gecko may be a little less subtle than some of the other adult fidget toys, that doesn’t make it any less satisfying.
This 3D-printed charmer is a slinking, flexible toy that wriggles around in your hands as you play with it. Lightweight and energetic, it can be used in a number of different ways. Build manual dexterity in one hand, have it jump between hands, or simply enjoy fumbling with its articulations.
What sets the Snafoozle Pocket Gecko apart from the others on this list is its unique sensory experience. Rather than being an easily repeated action, it’s a bit more dynamic and fluid, which can spark surprise and joy in its use. And though its use does require more attention, it is not a loud toy, making it a decent option even in more public spots.
Mezmoglobe
As adults, many of us become more interested in design. Design of our homes, design of our workspaces, and design of our objects. Yet, that desire to fidget doesn’t necessarily leave us - it’s just less socially acceptable to be playing with bright, colorful objects in a serious workspace.
That’s what makes the Mezmoglobe a real treat as an adult fidget toy. This device is machined from aerospace-grade aluminum for a truly stunning appearance. Then with a flick, it spins effortlessly (and silently!) on its ball bearings, making for a nearly unending optical illusion.
More than just for watching, you can also trace your finger around it, hold it in your palm and play with the ball bearings, and more. This is certainly one of the most attractive adult fidget toys, and is a great addition to any professional space.
Pocket Ball
In the search for interesting adult fidget toys, you’re likely to come across many made of plastic and metal. That’s why the Pocket Ball caught our eye - it’s actually crafted from sandalwood.
In comparison with some of the more design-forward adult fidget toys, this is relatively subtle. With its satisfying size and fidget that glides well in between your hands, on the table, or with your fingers, the Pocket Ball is an ideal option for adults who want to fidget without calling too much attention to it.
A Few Of Our Other Adult Fidget Toys
If you’ve enjoyed the fidget toys found on this list, you might also like some of the other inventions we’ve put out at Antsy Labs.
From a board game about creating your very own adult fidget toy to collections of real-life coins to celebrate achievements (that make for great fidgeting), we love being able to create tangible products that are as fun to handle as they are enjoyable to use.
