Dreidels come in plastic, wood, clay, metal, glass and even chocolate. Plastic and wood dreidels are the best for playing. Silver, ceramic and glass dreidels are usually made as Judaica keepsakes and collectibles.
Dreidels for playing
Plastic. Cheap, light, colorful, and nearly indestructible. They usually come in bags of a dozen or more, which is perfect for a classroom or party. Fun fact: when researchers spun three dreidels thousands of times to test fairness, the cheap plastic one came closest to fair. See is dreidel a game of luck.
Wood. The classic. A good wooden dreidel spins smoothly and feels nice in your hand. Look for one with a short handle and a sharp, centered point.
Paper or cardboard. Not built to last, but you can make one in 15 minutes. We have a free printable dreidel template.
Dreidels for display (and careful playing)
Clay and ceramic. Yes, like the song. Hand-painted ceramic dreidels are beautiful, but they're heavy and can chip, so most people keep them on the shelf.
Silver, pewter and brass. These are the heirlooms. Silversmiths make dreidels as Judaica, often engraved or filigreed, and families pass them down. The weight actually helps them spin long and steady, so take them for a spin now and then.
Glass. Pure art. Gorgeous, fragile, and not something to hand a five-year-old.
Chocolate. Exists. Spins poorly. Tastes great.
Collecting dreidels
Dreidels are a popular thing to collect, partly because they're small and partly because they come in endless styles. Collectors usually care about:
- The maker. Handmade pieces by known artists and Judaica studios.
- Age and origin. Older dreidels and pieces from specific communities tell a story.
- Materials and craftsmanship. Silver work, carving, painting and glasswork.
- Novelty. Giant dreidels, tiny dreidels, light-up dreidels, dreidels shaped like everything.
At the top end, Guinness World Records recognized a diamond-covered dreidel inspired by New York's Chrysler Building as the most valuable dreidel in 2019. It was valued at $70,000. Probably don't play that one on a hard floor.
Choosing a dreidel
- For a family game: a sturdy wooden dreidel, plus a couple of plastic spares.
- For a classroom: a bag of plastic dreidels, one per group of three or four kids.
- As a gift: something handmade, or one from Israel with a Peh on it.
Our ten dreidel designs
Our online game lets you pick from ten dreidel designs before you play, each inspired by a real style: Sapphire, Emerald, Gilded, Chocolate, Olive Wood, Sterling, Starlight, Clay, Festival, and Jerusalem, which has the Israeli Peh.
Win a game and you get to pick a prize: one of five special winner's dreidels. There's Aurora, which shifts colors like the northern lights; Golden, polished to a mirror shine; Mosaic, covered in blue and white tiles; Neon, with glowing letters; and Onyx, matte black with polished gunmetal letters. Each win unlocks another one. They reset when you leave the site, so you'll have to win them all over again next time.
Updated October 2026