15 hot holiday toys to buy now before they sell out

Which hot holiday toys are best?

The holidays are around the corner, and this year, many consumers are shopping early to pick up the hottest gifts of the season. Toys are no exception, and like every other holiday, there are a few unique toys that shoot to the top of wish lists.

There's always a bit of a craze for top-rated toys during the holidays, particularly new releases or trending items that have been around but are still out of stock. If you're prepared to start researching popular toys early, you may increase your chances of getting them just in time for the holidays.

What to know about shopping for hot holiday toys

What makes a toy a hot item

It's hard to say what makes a toy skyrocket in popularity for the holidays. While there are hundreds, if not thousands of toys that are prospective bestsellers, only a select few reach the legendary status of Cabbage Patch dolls, Tickle Me Elmo, Furbys or "Star Wars" toys. According to veteran holiday shoppers and toy industry experts, not knowing which ones those are only contributes to the holiday toy craze.

Some toys simply have the "it" factor with unique features or new technology, such as the Sphero "Star Wars" droids that debuted a few years ago. Other toys are desirable because they're rolled out alongside blockbuster children's movies, like "Frozen," or hit television shows like "The Mandalorian." There are also under-the-radar toys that hang out on the market for a few months, but right before the holidays, they become unexpectedly popular and end up out of stock.

Where I can find hot holiday toys

In the past, toys were mostly available from stores like KB Toys, Toys R Us or Child World. Today, the toy market has changed, and so has retail. In response, many online and big-box retailers now have robust toy departments.

Macy's, for example, recently partnered with the previously shuttered Toys R Us and currently sells top holiday picks from Geoffrey's Hot Toy List. Amazon, the online retail juggernaut, stocks tens of thousands of toys, ranging from Barbies to Beyblade action figures. Other retailers have also begun ramping up their toy departments, including Kohl's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby and even Home Depot.

Other ways to pick up hot holiday toys

Toy shopping during the holidays previously involved standing in long lines hours before stores opened. Because it's neither practical nor enjoyable, many stores have adopted alternate methods of getting toys into the hands of shoppers.

Several retailers let you skip the lines and crowds with in-store or curbside pickups.
Other retailers encourage shoppers to pre-order upcoming merchandise to make sure they get toys on release day before they sell out.
Amazon now has convenient pickup lockers sprinkled around towns and cities, and shoppers can get their toys within a couple hours from a nearby location.
Some delivery services have entered partnerships with big-box stores and now operate as retail couriers, in which they bring merchandise directly to shoppers at home or in the office.

15 hot toys for holiday

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Stunt Tire Play Set

This action-packed stunt course launches Hot Wheels and monster trucks up to 35 inches. The travel-friendly toy folds up into a giant wheel when it's not in use.

Sold by Amazon and Macy's