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know the game
Quoits, in one breath
This guide uses garden rope quoits with a wooden base and numbered pegs, as in Jaques garden sets. Toss a ring over a peg and add its printed value.
The shortlist
Our top quoits picks at a glance
Choose by the players, the court and how you plan to store the set. The notes below explain each model's contents and limitations; these are researched selections, with no hands-on rating.
Start here Best Overall
Pros - Soft rope rings that are safe indoors and on any lawn
- Forgiving weight that kids and adults can both throw
- Two solid wood targets with 9 inch pins that stack for storage
Watch for - Soft rings lack the precise, weighty feel of traditional steel quoits
- Lighter rings get bumped around more than heavy metal ones
Who it's for This is the set I recommend for most homes, a safe rope game the whole family can play anywhere, and a purist chasing the real steel-on-clay feel will want a metal set instead.
Best for Tradition
Pros - Heavy cast-steel rings deliver the authentic traditional game
- Substantial weight flies straight and resists getting knocked away
- Built to last for decades of outdoor play
Watch for - Really wants a clay or sand bed and a long pitch to play properly
- Heavy rings are too much for young kids and can rust if stored wet
Who it's for Reach for this if you want the demanding, authentic quoits experience and have the space and surface for a proper pitch, and a casual family game is better served by soft rings.
Best for Families
Pros - Bright, lightweight rings that younger kids can throw and ring
- Tool-free setup that takes a minute
- Affordable and safe for indoor or backyard play
Watch for - Casual-grade build that will not stand up to hard competitive throwing
- Light rings feel less solid than rope or steel in an adult's hand
Who it's for This is built for kids and easygoing family afternoons, and a serious quoits player will outgrow the light rings quickly.
Best Indoor / Tabletop
Pros - Pub-style board play that works on a table indoors
- Compact format that does not need a yard or a pit
- A fun, different take for game-night gatherings
Watch for - A small tabletop game rather than the full lawn pitching experience
- Build quality on novelty board sets can be hit or miss, so check reviews
Who it's for Pick this if you want a quoits-style game for indoor game nights and small spaces, and anyone after the real outdoor pitching game should buy a rope or steel set.
From the commissioner
How to choose a quoits set
- Rope vs steel is the whole decision. Rope and rubber rings are light, safe on floors, and can be played indoors or on bare grass, which makes them ideal for families, kids, and apartments. Steel quoits are heavy metal rings thrown at a clay or sand bed, and they deliver the satisfying, demanding traditional game. Decide which experience you actually want before you spend.
- Match the set to your space and surface. A steel quoits set really wants a clay or sand bed around the hob and a long flat pitch, which is a commitment. Rope and rubber sets need nothing but a flat patch of lawn or even a living-room floor. If you do not have room for a pitch and a bed, go soft.
- Check what counts as a complete set. A good set should include the rings (usually four, two per side), at least one hob (the target pin), and ideally two hobs so you can pitch back and forth without walking the rings down every end. Confirm the piece count and whether hobs are included rather than assuming.
- Weight and grip change the throw. Heavier rings fly straighter and resist getting bumped, but they are harder on the wrist and not great for young kids. Lighter rope and rubber rings are forgiving and easy to learn on, at the cost of some of the precise feel that steel gives. Mixed-age groups usually want the lighter set.
- Consider durability and storage. Rubber and rope sets shrug off weather and pack down small, which is convenient. Steel sets last essentially forever but are heavy to store and can rust if left out wet. A carry bag or case is worth having either way to keep four rings and the hobs together.
next up Build the whole roster
Outfitting a party or a whole backyard? Start with our party game picks, or see how quoits stacks up against the rest.
Buyer's desk
Quoits buying FAQ
What is the difference between rope and steel quoits?
Rope and rubber quoits are light, safe on floors, and can be played indoors or on bare grass, which makes them great for families and kids. Steel quoits are heavy metal rings thrown at a clay or sand bed for the traditional, demanding game. Rope is the easy, flexible choice and steel is the authentic, space-hungry one.
Is quoits the same as horseshoes?
They play almost identically, you pitch at a target and try to ring it, but quoits uses fully closed rings while horseshoes uses open U-shaped shoes. Quoits also comes in soft rope and rubber versions that horseshoes does not, so it is friendlier indoors and around kids.
Do you need a clay pit to play quoits?
Only for heavy steel quoits, which traditionally land in a clay or sand bed around the hob. Rope and rubber quoits sets are designed to be pitched straight onto the lawn, or even on an indoor floor, with no special pit at all.
How many rings come in a quoits set?
A standard quoits set includes four rings, two per player or team, plus at least one hob (the target pin). Better sets include two hobs so you can pitch back and forth between them without walking down to fetch the rings every end.
