By Susan McBarnet, Co-Founder and Chief Play Officer of Wild Child. Susan is an ASID Associate member who designs and installs custom playrooms for families across the US.
Last updated October 18, 2026
A Foam pit for kids is a soft-sided pit, usually 2 feet deep, filled with foam cubes for jumping, crashing, and climbing into. Home foam pits typically range from about 4' x 6' to 8' x 8'. A Wild Child foam pit starts at $1,900 with free shipping, and you'll add foam cubes on top of that.
Foam pits are one of the most requested features in the playrooms we design, and our best-selling product. Here's everything we've learned about choosing one: what size to get, how many cubes you need, what it costs, and where it works best in a room.
Foam Pit
From $1,900
The MVP of the playroom - A Foam Pit for Active, Sensory Play
Our soft-sided Foam Pit is a total crowd-pleaser: part crash pad, part climbing zone, part sensory haven. Use it under a climbing wall or monkey bars or let it stand alone as a soft space to jump, tumble, and play.
Available in five generous sizes and designed to pair perfectly with our foam cubes (sold separately). Now shipping free.
Why kids love foam pits (and why parents do too)
A foam pit gives kids a safe place to do what they're already trying to do on your couch: jump, crash, and tumble. It's also a playroom feature kids of every age use, from toddlers to teens, and plenty of parents have been known to hop in.
Big-body sensory input. Sinking into a pit of cubes gives kids the deep pressure and movement input that sensory seekers crave, in a way that's safe to repeat all afternoon.
Motor skills. Climbing in and out builds strength, balance, and coordination. Grabbing, stacking, and throwing cubes works the hands.
Imaginative play. A foam pit becomes an ocean, a fort, or a snowball fight. Kids invent their own games.
A landing zone. Under a climbing wall or monkey bars, a foam pit turns "climb up" into "drop in," again and again.
A stronger core also helps kids sit up in class and even supports pencil grip and handwriting. And the novelty never wears off: foam pits are often the most-used thing in the playroom. In our house, the pit is still where our teens hang out with friends.
How is a home foam pit different from a trampoline park pit?
Home foam pits use the same 6-inch foam cubes as trampoline parks, but that's where the similarities end. At a trampoline park, kids jump in and scramble out before the next kid lands. At home, the pit becomes a place to play: kids build towers with the cubes, burrow in, "swim" across the foam, and toss cubes at each other. And there are none of the germs of a shared public pit.
What size foam pit do you need?
For most home playrooms, a 5' x 5' or 6' x 6' foam pit is the sweet spot. Go bigger, to 5' x 8' or 8' x 8', if several kids will play at once or the pit sits under a climbing wall or monkey bars. Every Wild Child pit has 2-foot walls and is 24 inches deep, including a 2-inch padded floor.
| Size | Best for |
|---|---|
| 5' x 5' x 2' | Smaller playrooms, one or two kids |
| 4' x 6' x 2' | Narrow rooms and alcoves |
| 6' x 6' x 2' | Siblings and playdates |
| 5' x 8' x 2' | Running the length of a climbing wall |
| 8' x 8' x 2' | Large playrooms and big groups |
Two planning tips from our installs:
Measure for walkways. Leave room to walk around the pit and to open doors and closets.
Under a climbing wall, go long. The pit should run the full width of the wall and extend past its edges, so a 5' x 8' pit is often the right match for a wall of horizontal panels.
How many foam cubes do you need for a foam pit?
Plan on 3 to 9 packs of 64 foam cubes, depending on the pit's size. Our pits use 6-inch cubes, and a full pit needs enough for kids to sink in, not just bounce on top.
| Pit size | Packs of 64 cubes | Cubes |
|---|---|---|
| 5' x 5' or 4' x 6' | 3 | 192 |
| 6' x 6' or 5' x 8' | 6 | 384 |
| 8' x 8' | 9 | 576 |
You can always add a pack later if your kids want a deeper fill.
How much does a foam pit for kids cost?
A home foam pit with cubes costs about $2,560 for a 5' x 5' setup, and more for larger sizes. Wild Child foam pits start at $1,900 with free shipping, and foam cubes are $220 per pack of 64.
| Pit size | Pit | Cubes | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4' x 6' or 5' x 5' | $1,900 | $440–$660 (2–3 packs) | $2,340–$2,560 |
| 6' x 6' | $2,650 | $660–$1,100 (3–5 packs) | $3,310–$3,750 |
| 5' x 8' | $2,850 | $660–$1,100 (3–5 packs) | $3,510–$3,950 |
| 8' x 8' | $3,750 | $1,100–$1,540 (5–7 packs) | $4,850–$5,290 |
What you're paying for is a pit built to last, made in the USA and made to order in your choice of color.
Where should a foam pit go in a playroom?
The best spot for a foam pit is under or beside something kids can climb, like a climbing wall or monkey bars. That turns the pit into the landing zone for the whole room. A stand-alone pit works beautifully too, especially in a corner.
Under a climbing wall. Kids climb up and drop in. Make sure the pit extends past the edges of the wall.
Below monkey bars or a cargo net. A pit gives kids the confidence to try, because missing a bar means a soft landing.
In a corner. A corner pit tucks out of the way and leaves the rest of the room open.
Away from doors and furniture. Keep the pit's edges clear of door swings, shelves, and anything with hard corners.
Are foam pits safe for kids?
Yes. A well-made home foam pit is one of the safest ways for kids to jump and crash. The soft walls and deep cube fill cushion every landing. A few rules keep it that way:
Fill it properly. A pit with too few cubes lets kids hit the bottom. Use the cube counts above.
Feet first. Teach kids to jump in feet or bottom first, not head first.
One jumper at a time. Kids can play in the pit together, but take turns jumping in.
Keep the edges clear. No furniture, toys, or hard surfaces where kids climb in and out.
Supervise little ones, especially toddlers just learning to climb in and out.
Choose quality foam. Look for cubes from a CertiPUR-US certified manufacturer.
Our pits are 24 inches deep, including a 2-inch padded floor, so there's plenty of cushion under every landing. A home pit also means no shared germs from public play spaces.
How do you clean a foam pit?
Inevitably some of the foam cubes will fall out of the pit and kids will throw the cubes around. Do you blame them?! How could they resist? That said, foam cubes don’t roll away and it’s a fun game to throw them all back into the foam pit. Bottom line - yes, there is some clean up involved but it’s not at all tedious. For the pit itself, wipe the walls with a damp cloth and mild soap. For the cubes, the easiest option is washable cube covers: slip them off and toss them in the laundry.
Cube covers also let you change the pit's look. Swap colors to match a new room, a season, or a kid's latest favorite color, without replacing the cubes.
Foam pit vs. ball pit: which is better?
For kids past the baby stage, a foam pit is usually the better choice. Foam cubes absorb a jump far better than plastic balls, so a foam pit works as a real landing zone under a climbing wall. Ball pits suit babies and young toddlers who want to sit, roll, and splash in a shallow pit.
| Foam pit | Ball pit | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Toddlers through teens | Babies and young toddlers |
| Jumping and crashing | Yes, absorbs impact | Limited, balls compress less |
| Works under a climbing wall | Yes | Not recommended |
| Cleaning | Washable cube covers | Wash balls individually |
Should you add a foam pit yourself or work with a designer?
A foam pit is easy to add on your own: it arrives ready to fill, with no installation. It's worth bringing in a designer when the pit is part of a bigger plan, like pairing it with a climbing wall, monkey bars, or a cargo net, or designing the whole playroom around it.
Anywhere in the US: our E-Design service gives you a complete plan, remotely.
Near Westport, CT or Dallas, TX: our full-service team designs and installs the whole space.
Get started and tell us about your space.
Saving couches from coast to coast! Foam pits offer endless fun for kids of all ages. For kids who love to crash, they’re a much better landing spot than your couch!
Frequently asked questions
What age is a foam pit good for?
From toddlers to teens, everyone loves a foam pit! Kids can enjoy a foam pit from approximately 18 months and up. Obviously, parents and caregivers should monitor little ones when they’re engaging in any gross motor play, and foam pits are no exception. As your kids grow, they will continue to play with the foam pit all through their childhood. In fact, our teens’ favorite place to hang with friends is in the pit. 🙂
How long does a foam pit take to arrive?
Our foam pits are made to order and arrive in about 6 - 8 weeks, with free shipping in the continental US.
What colors do foam pits come in?
Our foam pits come in 11 colors: white, gray, navy, blue, sea blue, purple, plum, pink, red, kelly green, and forest green. Because every pit is made to order, you can choose the one that fits your room. White and gray blend into the space and keep the room calm, while a bold color makes the pit the star of the playroom.
Can adults go in a foam pit?
Yes. Our pits are built for active play, and plenty of parents have been known to hop in.
Do foam cubes shed or make dust?
Very little. Our foam cubes are sturdy and stand up to lots of rough play, and we see very little dust from them. That said, they’re not indestructible: with lots of rough play, you’ll see a few rips and tears over time.
Do kids actually use foam pits?
Yes! They absolutely do! In fact, foam pits are often the most used toy in the playroom. They can be enjoyed year round and are pretty much irresistible to kids. The novelty never wears off, foam pits invite kids to climb and jump in whether that’s from an adjacent rock wall, from monkey bars, a climbing rope or a fort. We delight in watching kids come up with endless imaginative games with the foam.
What do parents say?
"Great value and wonder for our two kids 3 and 6." (Rachel, verified buyer)
The take away:
Foam pits are a unique addition to your playroom that your kids will love playing with for years to come. We love foam pits as they’re not only fun but also very functional! You’ll love how your kids’ eyes light up when they see the foam pit, like moths to a flame they simply cannot resist playing in the foam pit.
If you’re interested in learning more about foam pits or inquiring about a custom foam pit size or color shoot us an email at [email protected]. You can purchase our foam pits and cubes in our store! Enjoy!
