Chess sets and boards
The pieces you’ll keep for life.
Almost every serious set follows the Staunton design that Jaques of London first sold in 1849. What changes is the material, the weight and the hands that carved the knights. Buy a weighted plastic set for clubs and events, and a wooden one for home if you love the game.
- Picks
- 8
- Price range
- $34 to $3,995
- Prices checked
- November 2026
All chess sets and boards
8 products
- The set everyone needsClub setInspiration Club SetChess HouseTriple-weighted modern Staunton pieces on a thin flex-pad board that rolls or folds. The kind of set you see at every club.$42Under $50
Heavy club setBobby Fischer Ultimate SetChess HouseExtra-heavy plastic pieces with felted bottoms and grooved knights, on a flex-pad board. A favourite of blitz players.$94.95$50 to $150
Silent setSilicone Chess SetChess HouseSoft silicone pieces on a silicone board: silent, unbreakable and safe for small children.$34.5Under $50
Plastic setChampionship Set, Academy EditionWorld ChessThe modern world championship design by Daniel Weil, made affordably in plastic.$49Under $50- Wooden setWorld Chess Championship SetWorld ChessDaniel Weil’s championship design in wood, the official set of FIDE world championship events, on wenge, walnut or rosewood boards.From $579Over $400
- Wooden piecesPro Tournament Staunton PiecesChessbazaarWeighted, hand-carved tournament pieces in ebonised wood and boxwood, from an Indian workshop that sells worldwide.$219.99$150 to $400
Wooden boardEbony and Maple BoardChessbazaarA 21-inch board in genuine ebony and maple with 55 mm squares, the right size for tournament pieces.$349.99$150 to $400- Heirloom set1849 Edition StauntonJaques of LondonA faithful reproduction of the first Staunton set, made by the firm that sold the original in 1849, in a mahogany casket.$3,995Over $400
At a glance
Side by side.
The quick version of everything above. Select a name for the full details.
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Inspiration Club SetChess House | A first proper set, and the one you take to events | $42Under $50 |
| Bobby Fischer Ultimate SetChess House | Club players who want plastic that feels like wood | $94.95$50 to $150 |
| Silicone Chess SetChess House | Schools, young children and quiet games | $34.5Under $50 |
| Championship Set, Academy EditionWorld Chess | Fans of the championship pieces on a club budget | $49Under $50 |
| World Chess Championship SetWorld Chess | Fans who want the pieces they have watched in title matches | From $579Over $400 |
| Pro Tournament Staunton PiecesChessbazaar | A first serious wooden set | $219.99$150 to $400 |
| Ebony and Maple BoardChessbazaar | Pairing with a good wooden set | $349.99$150 to $400 |
| 1849 Edition StauntonJaques of London | A once-in-a-lifetime set, or a collector’s gift | $3,995Over $400 |
Questions
Asked often.
What size chess set should I buy?
For a standard board with 2.25-inch squares, choose a king of about 3.75 inches. That is the size you will meet in almost every club and tournament, so practising on it means nothing looks unfamiliar on the day.
Is a wooden set better than plastic?
It is nicer, not better. Weighted plastic is what tournaments use, is nearly indestructible and costs little. Wooden sets are about the pleasure of the pieces: their weight, their carving, and how they age with you.
What does “Staunton” mean?
It is the standard design of the pieces, registered by Nathaniel Cooke in 1849, sold by Jaques of London and endorsed by the leading English player Howard Staunton, whose name it carries. FIDE and US Chess both specify Staunton-style pieces for official play.
Chosen because players widely use and recommend them, not because a maker paid to be listed. We don’t earn commissions from these links. Prices are what the linked store charged in November 2026, in US dollars. About this guide