5 Best Pinewood Derby Sets - May 2026

BEST OF THE BEST

Derby Dust

Ready-to-Assemble Pinewood Derby Car Kit

Easiest to Use

This high-end kit is nearly ready to race right out of the box.

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PROS

Goes from the box to the racetrack quickly.
Pinewood body comes preformed and aerodynamically shaped.
Axle slots are machined as well for consistent performance.
Includes Boy Scouts of America-approved wheels, polished axles, tungsten weight putty, and more.

CONS

Expensive.
May require some tweaking to compete with faster cars.

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK

Boy Scouts of America

Official Pinewood Derby Car Kit

Bargain Pick

An inexpensive officially recognized Pinewood Derby Kit.

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PROS

This kit from the Boy Scouts of America comes with race-legal wheels and axles included.
Also includes instructions and decals.
The kit's unformed block allows you to get creative when choosing the shape of your car.

CONS

Raw wood block requires a bit more upfront work than other models.

Maximum Velocity!

Pinewood Derby Car Kit Bulk Pack

Best for Large Groups

This bulk pack is a perfect fit for families, scout troops, and other groups who need to race.

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PROS

Includes 12 pinewood blocks with axles and wheels to match.
Axles are smooth and free of burrs, crimp marks, or other imperfections.
Block dimensions are identical to official Boy Scouts of America models.

CONS

Not an official Boy Scouts of America kit so new axles and wheels may be required for competitions.

Pinewood Pro

Pre-Cut Pinewood Derby Car Kit

Great for Beginners

A pre-formed wedge kit that gives users a head start on the assembly process.

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PROS

The pine block is shaped into an aerodynamic wedge from the factory.
This kit comes with official axles and wheels.
Includes a set of plastic race car parts and decorative stickers for personalized flair.

CONS

Some users noted the axles were a bit rough and may take some work to get the car to roll smoothly.

Maximum Velocity!

Pinewood Car Kit

Impressive Performance

Performance is key with this pre-formed, aerodynamic kit.

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PROS

This kit's pinewood car body is aerodynamic and race-ready with no additional cutting required.
Includes steel weights with pre-cut pockets.
High-performance wheels and axles are approved by the Boy Scouts of America.
Fast and consistent on the track.

CONS

A bit pricey.
No decals included.

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First Reviewed

August 15, 2021

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