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Best Barbie Dolls

Updated November 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Barbie The Movie Doll, President Barbie
Barbie
The Movie Doll, President Barbie
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Barbie in Charge
Bottom Line

A beautiful Barbie that's inspired by the movie and makes a nice addition to any Barbie collection.

Pros

Features a sparkling gown that accurately resembles that worn by President Barbie in the movie. Includes a sash and glamorous necklace. The doll is elegant and well-made. A great choice for fans of the popular movie from 2023.

Cons

Several boxes arrived damaged, which is disappointing when it comes to gifting or collecting.

Best Bang for the Buck
Barbie Barbie Plan ‘n' Wash Pets Doll and Playset
Barbie
Barbie Plan ‘n' Wash Pets Doll and Playset
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Best Deal
Bottom Line

With accessories included and cool design features, this is a great choice for children who love caring for animals.

Pros

Doll designed with easily bendable knees and arms. Each pet is designed with color-change feature that allows it to go from clean to dirty or vice versa. Three pets, food bowls, animal snacks, bath time buckets, brush, and pet bed are included.

Cons

A few customers noted packaging arrived opened or damaged.

Barbie Barbie Princess Adventure Chelsea Pet Castle Playset, with Blonde Chelsea Doll
Barbie
Barbie Princess Adventure Chelsea Pet Castle Playset, with Blonde Chelsea Doll
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Most Magical
Bottom Line

This set is a great choice for children who love animals and princesses.

Pros

Chelsea doll dressed in an animal-inspired graphic top, sparkly pink skirt, a tiara with starry details, and slip-on shoes. The playset includes ​​4 royal pets and a 3-level castle. Each level of the castle includes a cubby and space for pets.

Cons

A few customers noted that top is painted on, so children cannot dress doll themselves.

Barbie Rainbow Lights Mermaid Doll
Barbie
Rainbow Lights Mermaid Doll
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Colorful Design
Bottom Line

Vivid colors and water-activated features make this mermaid Barbie a hot commodity.

Pros

Unique rainbow-colored tail lights up when in contact with water for added bathtime fun. Features a necklace with an on switch for times when you'd rather skip using her in water. The rainbow lights create a cool effect.

Cons

Doesn’t bend at the waist, making the doll feel a little stiff.

Barbie Barbie Made to Move Doll
Barbie
Barbie Made to Move Doll
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Most Flexible
Bottom Line

Whether Barbie is doing gymnastics or playing guitar, this doll is built to accommodate any action.

Pros

The doll is designed with 22 joints to allow for a greater range of motion. Dressed in black leggings with a color-block top. Allows children to move the doll into different poses that imitate real-life action. The clothing is rather durable.

Cons

A few customers were unhappy with how doll’s hair looks.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
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60
Consumers
Consulted
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Researched
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Buying guide for Best Barbie dolls

Globally recognized as the most prominent fashion icon of the toy industry, Barbie has undergone countless makeovers since her “birth” in 1959. Barbie dolls have endured as a firm favorite among little girls from all walks of life, and it isn't hard to see why.

Whether filling the shoes of a career woman, farmer, fairy, mermaid, or fashionista, Barbie dolls manage to fuel imagination, unleash creativity, and ignite inspiration – all through free play.

Choosing a Barbie doll for a special child can be oodles of fun, but with hundreds of models out there, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. If you're in search of the perfect Barbie doll and could use a little help, we’ve got you covered.

Short on time and eager to shop? Check out our five favorite Barbie dolls. Or continue reading to learn more about all things Barbie.

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To date, Barbie has pursued over 150 incredibly diverse career paths, from following her dream of becoming a rock star to running for president.

Suitability: finding the perfect Barbie

Selecting a Barbie doll that matches your child’s unique personality and individual interests is a must.

While this may seem like a glaringly obvious point, we know that it can be incredibly tempting to choose a model with qualities that we admire in the hopes of fostering similar values and goals in our beloved little ones.

Unfortunately, however noble your intentions may be, a little girl who’s enthralled by the magical world of fairies, mermaids, and princesses is less likely to be impressed by a doll that doesn’t exude some or all of these characteristics.

Enhancing enjoyment through versatility

Versatility is an especially important consideration if you're purchasing a Barbie doll for a child you don't know very well or haven't seen in a while.

Although all Barbie dolls offer versatility in terms of customizable clothing and accessories, certain models have an edge over others straight out of the box. Dolls that transform by adding, removing, or adjusting included clothing and accessories give children the opportunity to choose the version they like best.

If one of these isn't an option, look for a basic Barbie doll with neutral hair, makeup, and a pretty dress, then purchase a few outfits and accessories separately.

Barbie doll features

Collectibles and designer dolls aside, the average children's Barbie doll stands 11.5 inches tall. The head moves from side to side, the arms move at the shoulders, and the legs are individually joined at the hips, allowing Barbie to “walk” and sit. Certain models have fully articulated limbs that feature moving elbows, wrists, knees, and sometimes even ankles.

With so many unique Barbie dolls models on offer, it may be impossible to create a comprehensive list of Barbie doll features, but one thing’s for certain: there's a Barbie doll for everyone.

If you’ve dreamed it, chances are there's a Barbie out there living it!

Barbie doll prices

A good Barbie doll certainly doesn't need to break the bank.

A basic Barbie doll can cost as little as $10, while Barbie doll sets, complete with extras and accessories, generally range between $15 and $30.

Not surprisingly, collectible Barbie dolls cost a bit more, with prices starting at around $40 and reaching upwards of $100 for rarer items.

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Despite many setbacks, Barbie dolls are so popular that a whopping three dolls are sold every second!

FAQ

Q. Can I wash a Barbie doll’s hair?

A. Yes. There's no need to replace or discard a Barbie doll simply because her hair is a little lackluster. Start by combing it out. Next, add a dab of conditioner. After a couple of minutes, rinse the conditioner under lukewarm running water. Next, work a mild shampoo into the hair and rinse. Condition once more before rinsing, and gently remove excess water with a towel. Lastly, spray on a leave-in conditioner, comb, and allow the hair to air dry. Your Barbie’s hair is as good as new!

Q. Can Barbie dolls be submerged in water?

A. While Babies specifically designed for water play can come along for bath time, we recommend keeping the average Barbie doll out of water to prevent mold growth where you won't be able to see or reach it.

Q. Are there any interactive Barbie dolls on the market?

A. Although a WiFi-enabled interactive Barbie was released in 2015, we highly recommend thoroughly researching this option before purchasing, as there are some claims that it may pose a security risk.

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