Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Culture

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 8 Cool Desk Toys for the Kid in All of Us

Kelsey Machado
By
Office worker playing with newtons cradle.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Looking for ways to personalize your home desk space? Desk toys are great nostalgic trinkets that can make your office space feel cool while still looking (mostly) like an adult. We can’t forget about fidget spinners — these seriously cool desktop toys can keep you entertained for hours. Check out our picks for cool desk toys, just don’t forget that you’re actually supposed to be working.

Related Guides

For the Builder: Huzi Cosmos Spaceship Building Blocks

Cosmos Satellite Kinetic Desk Toy
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What’s better than using your imagination to build cool things? Basically, nothing. Relive your childhood building block days with a decidedly grown-up toy. The Cosmos Satellite Kinetic Desk Toy from Huzi Design is a beautifully constructed, five-piece wooden puzzle that can be assembled in a variety of ways to create your own custom toy satellite.

Recommended Videos

For the Car Enthusiast: Candylab Toys

Blu 74 Candylab toy outside of box in white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You loved playing with Micro Machines and Matchbox Cars as a kid. As an adult, you take great care to keep your ride looking fresh. So why not take that passion to your break time with a wooden toy car from Candylab Toys? Bring out your inner child as you vroom-vroom the cars across your desk. With everything from a race car to a police cruiser (perfect for those high-speed chases), these high-end, solid wood cars with real rubber wheels can keep you endlessly entertained (provided you get your work done first).

Related

For the Clock-Watcher: Kikkerland Magnetic Hourglass

Uncommon Goods Magnetic Sand Hourglass
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re going to mindlessly watch the minutes tick by while at your desk, you might as well have something really cool to stare at. The Magnetic Sand Hourglass from Kikkerland is mesmerizing. The magnetized ferrous sand creates a round, spiky pile in the bottom of the glass rather than your typical, boring, even sand pile in a standard hourglass. Bonus: Use your own magnets along the side of the glass to pull the sand out into creative shapes.

For the Old Schooler: Newton’s Cradle

Newtonian Demonstrator Progressive desk toy on white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nothing beats the classics, and no desktop toy is more classic than Newton’s Cradle. See his Third Law in action and relax to the soothing sound of the metal balls clanking together. There are countless versions of Newton’s Cradle available online, but we are really digging the simple wooden frame of this one from Arbor Scientific.

For the Scientist: Toysmith Euler’s Disk

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re the seriously geeky type, get yourself a Euler’s Disk. How does it work? We have no idea, but inventor Joseph Bendik ensures it is educational and it’s been the subject of a number of scientific papers. But you don’t have to worry yourself with all of that, just set it spinning and enjoy the soothing sound and mesmerizing color display.

For the Puzzler: Venn Puzzle

Craighill

If you love wrapping your head around a brain teaser, Venn Puzzle from Craighill is for you. Made from stainless steel, the puzzle consists of three identical pieces that fit together to form a perfect sphere. Don’t get too confidant, it’s trickier than you would think to complete this challenge. Bonus: At nearly 2 pounds, once you put it together, Venn Puzzle becomes a stylish paperweight for your desk.

For the Athlete: New Entertainment Desktop Basketball

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Is work getting in the way of your time on the court? Bring the hoop to your desk with this desktop basketball game from New Entertainment. The vintage-style court comes with two miniature wooden basketballs and a built-in ball launcher so every score is a three-pointer. Who’s the king now, James? 

For the Gamer: My Arcade Retro Machine

Image used with permission by copyright holder

With 200 built-in video games, the My Retro Arcade Machine is sure to be a welcome distraction from whatever it is you’re actually supposed to be doing. Just be sure to turn the sound off so your boss doesn’t catch on. 

Editors' Recommendations

Kelsey Machado
Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
All of James Cameron’s films, ranked
From Terminator and Titanic to Avatar, these are the best James Cameron movies ever made
James cameron filming Terminator

Few directors understand the popular imagination the way that James Cameron does. He's had commercial instincts since early in his career, and he has now directed three of the five most financially successful films ever made. Given that legacy, it can be easy to mock what Cameron does because it's so overtly populist. He is not always a subtle director, but it's hard to deny that he's an effective one. Unlike some of Martin Scorsese or David Fincher films, James Cameron movies turn into big blockbusters every time, and he always makes them well.
Now, as we look back on his career to date, it's easy to see the throughlines between each of his projects. One thing you might notice: This guy really loves water. Here's every movie Cameron has ever made, ranked.

9. Piranha II: The Spawning (1982)

Read more
Ranked: The 11 best Bill Murray movies ever
He's starred in a lot of films, but if you're a fan, you must see these Murray movies
Bill Murray from Lost in Translation

A name that is and should be widely recognized in comedy, Bill Murray has been around to provide laughs for decades. Bringing his own unique qualities to the screen, Murray has carved for himself a niche based on his personality that simply cannot be copied. Between his masterful physical comedy to his perfectly timed and hysterical line deliveries, Bill is truly a one-of-a-kind talent. From his many roles over the years, the films he stars in are either because a certain director or repeat collaborator has a great bond with him, or simply because he is able to steal the spotlight no matter the assignment. Due to this, he has been given opportunities to play cameos in later films such as Dumb and Dumber To, Get Smart, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and a cameo as himself in Zombieland, which has got to be his best cameo.
All the way from wacky and zany to introspectively deep, Bill Murray portrays a lifetime of emotions in our list of films today. If you watch him closely enough, his performative nuances will make you laugh, cry, and think about what it truly means to be an actor. Murray is loved as a human being worldwide (for the most part), who has reportedly shown his face at random bars and parties just for a kick, becoming the owner of four minor league baseball teams, spontaneously studying philosophy and history in Paris, and starting his own golf apparel line. These and many other reasons are why we are here today to celebrate his accomplishments on screen, so sit back and scroll through the 10 best Bill Murray movies ever.

11. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Read more
The 9 best golf movies of all time – from Caddyshack to The Legend of Bagger Vance
Do you love the game? Then get inspired to get back out there by watching these movies
Happy Gilmore

When it comes to sports movies, some of our favorite films have always been golf adjacent. There's just something about this slow-paced and overwhelmingly frustrating game that we can't get enough of. So now that spring has arrived, it feels like the perfect time to go back and rewatch some of the best golf movies of all time.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or a complete amateur, these great golf films have a little something for everyone. Whether you're looking to experience the drama of the game through a comedy or a biographical spotlight, we've got you covered.

Tommy's Honour (2017)

Read more