Buying guide for best spirograph sets

There’s something soothing about the rhythmic nature of drawing with a Spirograph. It’s doesn’t matter whether nostalgia fuels your search or simply a desire to satisfy the budding artist in your home — a Spirograph set allows even the most art-challenged folks to make awe-inspiring designs.

There are far more Spirograph sets on the market today than there were 20 years ago. That means you’ve got some choices to make. Not sure what you want or where to start? Don’t worry. Our shopping guide has the information you need to narrow down your options.

Patterns can be made using both hands, though it may take some practice. If you really want to be creative, try drawing a single picture with the help of another person. You can get several wheels going around the same plate to make something truly unique.

Spirograph set size and portability

Size

Spirographs come in several sizes, including pocket-size travel kits and large table-top models. Before buying, take a good look at the table/counter space you have available. A compact Spirograph set may be best for apartment living while a deluxe Spirograph set may be perfect for a home with a harvest table.

Portability

With all those wheels and pens, you’d think Spirographs were meant to stay put, but many are designed to take on the go. Travel Spirograph sets are small enough to fit in a backpack

or purse and store everything you need, though you’d need to replace the paper often. These are by far the most portable sets, but even large Spirograph sets are designed with portability in mind. They come with a carrying case in which to store wheels, pens, and paper so you can make art anywhere.

Spirograph set features

Wheel types

Wheels create the magic. Toothed edges and strategically placed holes provide multiple design options with each wheel. Spirograph sets come with anywhere from six to 25 wheels with the following options.

• Round wheels: These basic wheels are probably the type with which you are familiar. They may have five to 35 holes. Each hole will create a slightly different pattern using the same wheel. 
• Shaped wheels: Shaped wheels come in a wide variety of shapes, including bar, quad, triangle, and oval. Like the round wheels, shaped versions also have multiple holes to vary the design.
• Racks (with rounded ends): A rack is basically a bar with rounded ends. These are not as common as round and shaped wheels and require more room to use than either of the other types. Typically, they’re only found in deluxe, super, and jumbo Spirograph sets.

Wheel sizes

The size of the wheel determines the scope of the design — whether it will have tight, intricate lines or large, swooping curves. Each set, even travel sets, will have round wheels in several sizes. Some of the larger sets also have shaped wheels and racks of several sizes.

Wheel hole size

Each Spirograph wheel has several holes into which you place a pencil or pen to create a design. Some sets have larger holes than others, and newer sets tend to have larger holes than older sets. Larger holes allow for the use of a greater variety of writing instruments. While small holes limit instrument choice, they hold the pen or pencil tighter, which can make drawing easier.

Wheel material

Most Spirograph sets have plastic wheels, but there are a few out there with metal wheels. Of course, metal is more durable than plastic, but metal is heavier to carry, and sets with metal wheels usually have fewer wheels for the price.

Pens

Spirograph sets come with at least one pen; some sets include two or three. By using the pens included with the set, you’re assured that they will fit in the wheel holes. However, you can use any pen or pencil that fits in the wheel hole, whether it came with the set or not.

Carrying case

With wheels and pens floating around, there are a lot of pieces to keep track of when using a Spirograph set. A carrying case keeps everything together and allows children to take the fun to school or a friend’s house. Some sets are made of an open table with wheel holders on the back of the table. These sets aren’t ideal for traveling, as the wheels aren’t contained if they fall out of the holders. If you want to take your Spirograph set on the road, look for one with a case that secures with buckles or another latching system.

Plates and rings

To create designs, wheels are placed either within or along the outside of the plate or ring. Plates and rings have teeth on the outside and inside edge. Consequently, wheels can be used on either side. Plates and rings are held in place using Spiro-putty, magnets, or pins.

Spiro-putty, magnets, and pins

A wheel must be placed inside a stationary plate or ring for designs to be drawn. Each plate needs to be held in place with Spiro-putty, magnets, or pins. Sets come with one of these three options (except for travel sets, which have a plate built into the lid).

Pins are the most stable option, but these are usually found only on older Spirograph sets. Sets with a metal table or case may come with magnets to hold the plates in place. The latest addition to Spirograph design is Spiro-putty, which feels and acts like sticky tack. Pieces can be broken off and stuck to the bottom of a plate, holding it in place on the board or table while you draw.

Spirograph set prices

Spirograph travel sets cost less than $10. Small enough to carry in a backpack or purse, these sets keep everything contained, including the paper and marker. Between $10 and $20, you’ll find much larger sets with up to 19 wheels plus multiple plates/rings, pens, and guide books. Some of these sets come with a handy carrying case, too. At over $20 are the jumbo sets with up to 75 pieces. Wheels of all shapes and sizes, as well as multiple plates/rings, make these ultimate sets worth the higher price.

Tips

• When it comes to using a Spirograph, a flat surface is a must. A Spirograph requires consistent pressure to be applied as the wheel moves around the center of the plate, which can be hard to do at an incline or on an uneven surface.
• Spirographs inspire creativity. Use colored pens and pencils to bring color and an extra level of depth to your creations. Some sets are sold with colored markers for this very purpose, but you can also use any marker that fits in the wheel holes.
• There’s a right side and a wrong side to each wheel. The holes on the wheel are not perfectly straight; rather, they are beveled to funnel the pen or pencil toward the paper. The side with the wider opening is the top side of the wheel. 

Other products we considered

The sets that didn’t make our list are specialized to a specific audience but might be perfect for you. The Kahootz Spirograph Tin & Pad My Little Pony Playset has the fun of a Spirograph with all of the color and spunk of My Little Pony. If you have an artistic Pony fan at your house, this is the set for you.

If Spirograph was an integral part of your childhood, the Kahootz Spirograph Diecast Collector’s Playset might be the nostalgic set you need. Diecast metal wheels and plates give this set some heft. It doesn’t include the variety of other sets, but if you prefer quality over quantity, you won’t be disappointed.

Spirographs quickly gained popularity because they allowed children (and adults) who didn’t think they had the artistic talent to create interesting designs. The use of pattern and visual display of math concepts has kept it at the top of many kids’ toy lists.

FAQ

Q. Can the wheels be held in place with pins that aren’t included with the set?
A. The manufacturer always recommends using the pieces that come with the set, and so do we. However, like pens, if it fits through the holes, you can probably use it. If you have a set that uses pins, but you lose them, Spiro-putty can be used instead and can be purchased separately.

Q. What’s the age limit for most spirograph sets?
A. Most sets are for ages six and up, though there are some that are for ages eight and up. Spirographs require a certain degree of fine motor skill that children under the age of six are often lacking. Following age guidelines is the easiest way to make sure a set won’t be too advanced for a young artist.

Q. Can more than one person use a set at a time?
A. While each set includes only one table or platform on which to draw, if you attach a plate to another flat surface, two to three people can use the Spirograph at one time. Smaller sets may be harder to share but drawing with a friend makes twice the fun.