20 Best Nerf Guns for Kids 2024

Kids of all ages love Nerf guns. In fact, most adults love them. It’s pretty fun to shoot your friends with these crafty toy guns. The company behind Nerf, Hasbro, provides assurance that their toy guns are tested to the highest safety level for children’s toys, and you will be pleased to know that these little guns come with foam darts that are safe for children.

Not all Nerf guns are created equal, however. There are so many options on the market for such a diverse range of age groups that it’s challenging for even the most discerning parent to choose the right one.

Choosing the Perfect Nerf Gun

Let’s take a look at what goes into choosing the best Nerf gun for kids.

Safety

Safety should always be the top priority when buying Nerf guns, whether it’s going to a kid or an adult. Nerf guns are relatively safe but can be dangerous if the dart hits someone in the eye. Kids should always wear eye protection when playing with Nerf guns, and should never aim at anyone else’s face.

Something else to keep in mind with these guns is that they present a choking hazard. There are lots of small parts involved in the construction of a Nerf gun. Keep an eye on your kids to make sure they don’t chew down on broken bits of foam and other small pieces.

Age

Nerf guns as a whole are fun for all ages. With that said, many guns are designed for specific age groups and have a recommended age. Take note that most of these guns are recommended for kids eight and up.

Be sure to look at the speed of fire, ammunition type, and how easy it is for kids to hold Nerf guns to see if they would be a good fit for your kids. Some Nerf guns aren’t safe for small children. You can check the product description on the box to learn more about how suitable a gun is for your kids.

Features

While there aren’t any restrictions on whether Nerf guns should be played indoors or outdoors, you should decide for yourself if you want kids playing with them inside or not. Take a look at the weapon range to see if it would be suitable for indoor use. Nerf guns typically have a range of up to 20 feet, but some can reach up to 70 feet. Long-range dart guns are better suited for outdoor play.

Size

Size is an essential consideration with Nerf guns, especially Nerf guns for kids. Nerf guns are generally divided into small, medium, and large. Large nerf guns are best left to the big kids. Big Nerf guns are bulky and have the firepower to match, making them tons of fun, but they’re a bit heavy for younger kids to carry around all day.

With all that in mind, let’s get to our picks for the best Nerf guns for kids available today.

Top 20 Best Nerf Guns for Kids 2024

1. NERF N-Strike Elite Triad EX-3

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list With has excellent range and a triple-barrel, The N-Strike Elite also has smart technology to tell kids which barrel is loaded, so they never fire the wrong one. Instead, they’ll have the option to fire all three barrels in rapid succession.

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Triad dart gun is one of the very best Nerf guns for kids. The toy gun is surprisingly simple to use, and compact despite the size. It has three barrels of blasting fun for kids and only activates when the barrels are loaded.

This toy gun offers some serious firepower for kids. Don’t let the small size fool you, as big things often come in small packages. The smart technology built into the gun lets you know which barrel is loaded, so you’ll be blasting away with confidence.

The small size of the gun works to the advantage of kids. They can keep the blaster tucked away in their pocket or coat out of sight and hit someone fast with the element of surprise. All you have to do is pull down the handle to prepare the shot, aim, and fire when the time comes.

While the gun is small enough for most little kids to handle without difficulty, it’s the power of the shot that makes this one better suited to older kids.

2. Nerf N-Strike Modulus ECS-10

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list The N-Strike Modulus because it offers plenty of customization for kids. Creative kids can take the gun apart and put it back together again how they want. You could buy two kids the same weapon and have them turn it into two different ones.

The unique feature of this gun is its modular design that lets you take it apart and put it back together. The different modules offer more than aesthetic appeal, as different combinations provide different performance levels.

There are over thirty different possible combinations with this long-range weapon that shoots darts up to 90 meters. The dual-rail barrel gives the N-Strike Modulus the power to hit targets from a vast distance, while the Banana Clip stores up to ten darts.

Please keep in mind that this dart gun requires 4 AA batteries to work fully. The fun can come to an end quickly if you don’t have enough batteries, so be sure to stock up.

3. Nerf N-Strike Elite Jolt Blaster

For Ages 6+
Why it made the list Small but mighty, this is a great little gun for younger kids. The gun has plenty of performance as well despite the small size, which we always appreciate.

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Jolt Blaster packs a big punch for something so small. Built for stealth, the gun takes one dart at a time. This means your kids will have to reload it after every shot, but it’s still a lot of fun to play with.

The N-Strike includes Elite-power high performance. Load a dart into the barrel and ready the blaster by pulling down the cocking barrel. Take careful aim at the target and pull the trigger to send a dart blasting their way. Quickly reload and blast off another round before the target has a chance to even know what hit them.

The Jolt is a great dart gun for all occasions. It’s small enough to be packed into pockets, ready for kids to play with whenever and wherever they get the chance to. The small size makes it a perfect fit for younger children. We recommend parents supervise small children with Nerf guns to ensure they aren’t having any problems and are playing safely.

4. Nailbiter Nerf Zombie Strike Toy Blaster

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list The NailBiter includes a complete zombie defense kit. It’s good to know your kids will be prepared thanks to the toy blaster, back-up blaster, and attachable accessories included in the box.

The Nailbiter Nerf Zombie Strike Toy Blaster has everything you need to make it through an apocalypse. The gun has lever-action as well as a slam-fire mode for shooting an entire clip of darts. Your enemy won’t know what hit them when the full force of eight Nerf darts flies towards them.

The Zombie Strike blaster comes with a two-dart stealth blaster you can store in the main gun for surprise attacks when enemies get in close. The full kit includes a tactical light and barrel extension. There’s also a targeting scope to give you even more customization.

With two 12-dart clips and a pack of 26 darts, the Nailbiter offers fast-firing with no priming and complete customization. This toy gun is excellent for kids with a big imagination. You won’t even need to reload the dart gun to keep the action going.

This gun is a member of the [amazon url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071G93672″]Zombie Strike Nerf gun range[/amazon]. If your kid loves it, why not check out some of the other choices in the range?

5. Nerf Gun N-Strike Rough Cut

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list The N-Strike Rough Cut launches up to eight darts without the need to reload. That kind of ammo capacity is going to come in handy when things get hairy. We also like that it comes in three different color options, meaning kids don’t need to fight over whose gun is whose.

The Gun N-Strike Rough Cut is the ultimate in long-distance Nerf guns. The gun features a double-barrel design, packing quite the punch when kids fire both darts at once. Take out the competition with a double-barrel Nerf sniper rifle.

The pump-action allows you to quickly fire a steady stream of Nerf darts without having to stop. If your kids already have other N-Strike toys, then this would be an excellent choice. Most guns in this range are compatible with the darts and accessories of others.

The pack includes 8 Nerf Elite darts and complete instructions. There’s enough power in this baby to fire those darts up to 75 feet for long-distance gunplay. The excellent range on this gun makes it an ideal choice for outdoor play with plenty of open space. Take this one to the park or let kids loose on a big yard for endless fun.

6. Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike RaptorStrike

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list The N-Strike RaptorStrike rapidly and accurately fires any of the [amazon url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UON2OLQ/"]Nerf Elite range of darts[/amazon]. The 18 darts the gun comes with should be plenty, but it’s good to know that it won’t be challenging to get more.

The Nerf N-Strike RaptorStrike is part of the AccuStrike series of Nerf guns. As the name implies, these guns are built for supreme accuracy. The RaptorStrike has an extendable bipod kids can use to adjust the height of the weapon for ease of use and better aiming for every shot.

With a clear focus on absolute precision, this is a blaster your kids need to take down targets at a distance. All you have to do is load up the two clips ready, so you have one prepared for fast reloads in a pinch. Kids won’t have to put the darts in one at a time when they can swap magazines instead.

The package includes the blaster, 18 Elite darts, a two-piece bolt, two clips, a bipod, and instructions on how to use the gun. The excellent range and focus on accuracy, including pop-up aiming sights, make this a Nerf gun for aspiring snipers. It’s impressive how fast and far the darts fly when fired out of the RaptorStrike.

7. AlphaPoint Nerf Laser Ops Pro Blaster

For Ages 6+
Why it made the list This kit comes with not one but two Nerf blasters, making it great for a family with more than one kid. Either split the equipment up and give your kids a gun each, or give one kid both for supreme dual-wielding fast-action firing.

The AlphaPoint Nerf Laser Ops blasters have everything kids need for head-to-head live-action Nerf battles. The gun has excellent visual and audio effects to pull kids into the action. There’s also a quick-reload button and indicators for how much “health” kids have left before the fight is over.

You can connect the AlphaPoint blasters to a smart device to keep track of performance. That way, there won’t be any arguments over who has the most victories. The guns are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, making them a versatile choice for parents.

The two guns fire lasers rather than darts, with the IR beams reaching up to 225 feet. The kit includes two armbands to hold smart devices to run the Nerf Laser Ops Pro app. Please note that the armbands don’t offer protection for devices. Keep an eye on kids to ensure they don’t get too rough and damage your phone.

8. Nerf N-Strike BowStrike Blaster

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list It’s so tiny that even younger kids should be able to play with it, even though the official recommendation is for eight-year-olds. We also love that it looks like a crossbow when opened up correctly, which is always cool.

This is an excellent gun that shoots fast and far with great accuracy, much like a real crossbow. The Nerf N-Strike blaster can help your kid take out the competition. With a little pull of the handle and a little aiming, the target will have no chance.

Pull the handle back to open up the bow arms and activate the sights. The Nerf N-Strike BowStrike blaster is small enough for stealth action blasting. The gun has one barrel and comes with three darts, giving you the chance to take out targets one at a time. The idea to combine Nerf blasters with crossbows was a genius one. Our compliments to the mastermind behind the BowStrike.

9. Persuader Nerf Doomlands Toy Blaster

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list Put this blaster in the hands of a child with wanderlust and see where their imagination takes them. We also love that it doesn’t need batteries to use, so the fun never stops.

The Doomlands toy blaster has four barrels and comes with four hollow-tip Nerf darts. The tactical rail on the gun lets kids choose their own accessories and customize the weapon just how they like. Give them some accessories and a few minutes, and they’ll soon be prepared to fight their way through the apocalypse.

The hammer-action Persuader fires four darts in a row. Curious kids can watch the gun’s transparent part to see the firing mechanism in action to understand how the weapon works. Just load up the barrels, pull the trigger, and blast your way through Hell and back. The Persuader is just what kids need to “persuade” the enemy into surrendering.

10. Nerf Glowshot Gun

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list The Glowshot is compatible with other Nerf darts, including Nerf suction-cup bullets. It’s not often you see something compatible with the suction-cup ammo that wasn’t made for it.

The Nerf Glowshot Gun is an excellent choice for kids who love sneak attacks or playing around in the dark. Not only does this one-barrel one-shot blaster allow for stealth attacks, but the gun also glows and lights up a battlefield. One press of the button on the grip is all you need to light up the field.

Firing the blaster is as simple as possible too. Load a dart into the barrel, pull the handle back, aim, and squeeze the trigger. The Nerf GlowShot blaster is small enough to fit in your pocket and comes with three darts to get the party started. Don’t forget to buy extra darts if you think three won’t be enough. Nerf darts are relatively cheap depending on the make, so we don’t consider a small amount of included darts too much of a negative.

11. Nerf Fortnite RL MicroShots Dart-Firing Toy Blaster

For Ages 6+
Why it made the list If your kid is a fan of Fortnite (and what kid isn’t these days?), they will love the Fortnite RL MicroShots blaster. Nerf teamed up with Fortnite to recreate some of the guns from the games in real life with their Fortnite RL range.

The Fortnite rocket launcher, in particular, inspired this dart-firing Nerf gun. The micro-blaster is a scaled-down version of an original Nerf blaster, making it suitable for smaller kids who want to join the action. These Nerf guns are small in size but big in action.

The blaster comes with 2 Nerf Elite darts, and it shoots one dart at a time. There’s no need for batteries with this fully-manual Nerf gun. Just load one dart into the gun, prime the shot by pulling down the handle, and squeeze the trigger to fire.

This toy blaster is a must for any kid that loves both Fortnite and Nerf. As the name suggests, the RL range lets kids bring the action out of the game and into real life. This is an excellent choice for parents who wish their kids wouldn’t spend all day playing video games. Nerf allows kids to play Fortnite in real-life with the RL range of toys.

12. Nerf Elite Titan CS-50 Toy Blaster

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list The Nerf Elite Titan CS-50 Toy Blaster comes with everything a kid needs to bring the thunder to the battlefield, including a rotating barrel and motorized shooting capacity to create a Nerf minigun. The battery-powered automatic fire means your kids will fire all 50 darts in no time.

Take out targets with the power of a giant at your disposal with the Nerf Elite Titan CS-50 Toy Blaster. This mammoth blaster has a fully-motorized rotating barrel and holds up to 50 darts for a huge Nerf dart-storm. Put some power into the motor and pull the trigger to cover the field with an ocean of darts.

Don’t worry about the weapon being too heavy to handle, as it comes with a shoulder strap for easy carrying and use. The gun works excellent with most Nerf Elite darts and is packed with 50 of its own in the box. Extra clips and darts aren’t included but are available. Imagine what an unstoppable force your eight-year-old would be with more clips and no need to reload. Better yet, don’t think about that. What eight-year-old needs that much power?

13. Nerf N-Strike NanoFire

For Ages 5+
Why it made the list Nerf N-Strike NanoFire is so small and easy to use that younger kids should have no problem. It’s also reasonably priced, which is always a plus.

The Nerf N-Strike is one of the best Nerf guns for small kids because it’s small and simple but still packs a punch that kids will love. Kids need to manually reload the weapon and prime their shot with the priming handle. The NanoFire loads up to two darts at a time but only fires one.

The Nerf N-Strike NanoFire Nerf gun is just the right size for small kids to handle. It comes bundled with three darts, so you might want to consider picking up some extra ones. Being able to load two darts at once does at least mean kids won’t always be stuck reloading.

All in all, this is an excellent toy weapon for the price. The small size means that kids younger than five shouldn’t have problems playing with it. Keep an eye on little kids to ensure they play safe and are using the toys properly.

14. Nerf Ultra One Motorized Blaster

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list What’s not to love about the Nerf Ultra One? The blaster has an incredible capacity with 25 darts (included in the package), complete with innovative flight tip technology for the fastest and most accurate shots.

The Nerf Ultra One could be the most advanced Nerf gun ever made. It’s the ideal choice for big kids who want nothing but the best. Nerf broke the mold when they put this one together as it offers supreme performance and power, including incredible accuracy, speed, and distance. The comprehensive design ensures darts fly for at least 120 feet, if not a bit further.

The Ultra One is the gold standard in Nerf guns. The gun comes packed with Nerf Ultra Darts, designed for far-flight with Aerofin technology. The motorized blaster holds up to 25 darts in a giant drum and on-weapon dart-storage, so nothing is stopping your kid from playing all day long.

If your kid has the Nerf skills to pay the bills, it makes sense to give them the best blaster. Give your kid the gift of battlefield superiority with the Nerf Ultra One. There won’t be anything stopping your kids from being the top dog when they have the advantage of superior firepower.

15. Nerf Fortnite TS-1 Blaster

For Ages 5+
Why it made the list We’re back to Fortnite blasters with this one. If your kids are fans of the game and want something more powerful, then the TS-1 Blaster is the ideal toy for them. Nerf did an excellent job of replicating the in-game blaster weapon with this one.

The Fortnite TS-1 Blaster is more than your average blaster – firing up to four darts in a row. With this in mind, it’s a bit more fast-paced than other Nerf guns for kids. While young children should be able to use it without much of a problem, make sure they can handle the pump-action TS-1 before letting them run wild with it.

The blaster is fully child-powered with no batteries needed. It has eight official Mega Darts with storage space for up to four in the stock. Kids will love being able to reload and fire faster without having to put darts back in the machine at the end of each round.

The price is pretty fair for a Fortnite-themed blaster. The only thing holding you back on whether to purchase this or not is whether your kids are physically capable of powering it. It could pose a challenge for small children but shouldn’t be an issue for kids over 6.

16. Nerf Zombie Strike Hammershot Blaster

For Ages 5+
Why it made the list The young-kid-friendly gun comes with five darts, which should be more than enough to keep little ones entertained.

Kids are sure to love the Nerf Zombie Strike Hammershot Blaster because it comes packed with five darts that can be loaded all at once. Kids can use the gun with a single hand, making it easy for smaller hands to handle. We also expect kids will get a kick out of the zombie theme the weapon is inspired by.

The toy gun also stands out for being lightweight. Kids should have no problem carrying this toy around and using it to their hearts’ content. The official recommendation is for kids eight and up, so you should check to see your kids won’t have any trouble with it. However, as said before, most Nerf guns are rated for eight and up despite being usable by younger kids.

Once again, please keep an eye on young kids playing with Nerf guns. Nerf darts aren’t tough enough to do real damage, but accidents can happen. Kids should use some eye protection, at least.

17. Nerf N Strike Elite Firestrike Blaster

For Ages 8+
Why it made the list We love the Nerf N Strike Elite Firestrike Blaster because it’s not just one of the best Nerf guns for kids, but one of the best Nerf guns in general. Kids of all ages should have no problem playing with it – and loving every second of it.

The Elite Firestrike stands out for several reasons, one of which is the light beam targeting option. Kids won’t miss any shots thanks to the “laser-sight” aiming. The precision beam works on targets up to 15 feet away, giving your kids a clear indication of where their shots will land.

The Firestrike only has three darts in the box, but it is compatible with every other Nerf dart in the Elite blaster range. It also works with most darts from the original N-Strike range. You shouldn’t have any problems finding more darts for the kids, especially if you have other Nerf guns in the house.

This Nerf gun was built for range. The darts can shoot up to 75 feet away. This is one toy weapon that kids would get more out of if they played with it outdoors. It also comes with a tactical rail compatible with most N-Strike accessories to add a touch of customization to the game. Please note these accessories are sold separately.

While the gun is best suited for kids aged five and up, younger children should be okay with parental supervision; if your kids can handle it, there’s no reason not to let them play with it – so long as they take proper safety precautions.

18. Star Wars Rogue One Nerf Captain Cassian Andor Blaster

For Ages 5+
Why it made the list Star Wars fans of all ages will love this themed blaster, and it’s an excellent toy gun for small kids because it’s got some bells and whistles without being overwhelming or too much.

This Star Wars-themed Nerf gun comes with three darts that fire one at a time. There are only three darts in the box, but they are unique and glow in the dark, so we can’t complain. The blaster itself also lights up and makes some cool laser blast sound effects. It’s the closest your kids can get to a legitimate Star Wars blaster for now.

The lights, sounds, and action are sure to keep your kids entertained for hours. Just keep an eye on that battery level and make sure you’ve stocked up. The toy requires 3 AAA batteries (not included) so have some to hand in case they are needed. One of the only downsides with the Captain Cassian Andor Nerf blaster is the price. The weapon is an official product with a price tag to match.

If you can deal with the price tag, then this toy gun would be an excellent present for any young Star Wars fan in your life. Even teens and adults would love to get their hands on this one.

19. Nerf N-Strike Elite Sonic Fire and Ice Jolt Blasters

For Ages 5+
Why it made the list We love these blasters because they have everything you could need for a fun time. If you have more than one kid, then these blasters are an excellent choice because you get a pack of four – two red and two blue – for team play.

The first thing to note about this set is that there are four blasters with four darts each, for a total of 16 darts. The blasters are small in size and would be a good fit for younger kids, but they are rated for ages six and up.

We’ve heard from people who said kids as young as two played with these Nerf guns and enjoyed them. We would recommend that parents supervise their kids, especially younger children, when playing with these toys.

The darts are 7cm long each and with good range. The toy guns are better suited for indoor play with enough range to reach from one end of a room to another. These little toy guns are such a treat for kids of all ages, including adults. Why not team up one parent with one child for some family fun?

20. Nerf Fortnite Mico Blasters Triple Pack

For Ages 4+
Why it made the list What kid wouldn’t love to get not one, not two, but three Fortnite-inspired Nerf blasters all in one set? This kit includes the Fortnite Micro R, RL, and Micro Llama blaster. These blasters manage to capture the look of the original weapons from Fortnite, and we can’t help but love that.

Playing with Nerf guns and blasters is always more fun when you have another kid to play with for a great time. This is one reason we think this triple pack of Nerf blasters is sure to appeal to parents and kids alike.

All of the blasters are ready-to-play and don’t need any extra assembly. They also have unique designs based on the popular Fortnite video game. Each blaster comes with two darts for a total of six across the whole set. You might want to buy some extra darts to keep the action flowing when kids play.

The blasters are also all hand-powered, which makes things safer for smaller children. There are no batteries or electrical parts to worry about. The darts aren’t going to do enough damage to hurt anyone or break anything either, so the guns are safe for indoor use. Of course, nothing is stopping you from bringing the action outside. The Fortnite Micro Blasters are all small enough to fit into pockets or bags.

The Bottom Line

There’s plenty of choices when it comes to finding the best Nerf gun for kids. Discerning parents can find toy guns for kids as young as three. When choosing toys for smaller kids, the main thing to consider is what you think your children can handle. Some three-year-olds won’t have problems using guns for bigger kids, but others might, so keep what works best for your kid at the top of your mind when choosing.

Is your preteen not a fan of nerf guns? There’s probably something on our list of gift ideas for 12-year-old boys that they’ll love instead.