The 9 Best Piano Mats
Updated by · How we research
Giant walk-on keyboards, toddler mats and baby kick gyms compared by age range, keys and sound. The Play22 Original is the best all-round floor piano for kids. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A piano mat is a toy, not a lesson: each key is a pressure pad that plays a recorded note through a small speaker, the same idea as the giant floor piano in the 1988 film Big. The big walk-on mats suit preschoolers with room to stomp, while kick-piano gyms and small fold-up mats fit babies and toddlers.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Play22 Original leads the list because it's the giant floor keyboard most families picture, it's still sold, and it has years of owner history behind it. Eight of the ten mats on the old list can't be bought anymore, among them the Lujex Foldable, both Kidzlane mats, the FAO Schwarz Step 'N' Play, the Discovery Kids Keyboard and the Alex Toys mat. The Fisher-Price Step 'n Play gave way to the newer Fisher-Price Glow and Grow, and the Cyiecw Musical Mat here is that maker's current version.
Plenty of readers come looking for the Sharper Image floor piano. It isn't sold anymore, so the FAO Schwarz Giant Dance Mat now fills that role, and it comes from the store where the floor-piano scene in Big was filmed. We also added two baby gyms with kick pianos, a toddler farm mat and the B. toys Boogie Woogie for two dancers.
No lab has put piano mats through a formal test, so we leaned on makers' feature lists and age labels, the CPSC's small-parts rules for toddler toys, a recall search on every brand, and owner reports on mats that stop registering steps.
October 23, 2020:
The piano mat seems to have evolved into the compact and travel-friendly "roll up piano" since this list was last updated, so we added the Lujex Foldable as our new top pick as it gives serious piano players a convenient way of always being able to practise, no matter where they are. What's more, it has a MIDI output, so it can plugged straight into your computer's digital audio workstation for making music. The preset sounds are fairly realistic, but having a sustain pedal too helps give players that real feel when an actual piano isn't on hand.
Similarly, we added the Picasso Tiles, as this is also a roll up piano, except directed at young children. It has colorful rainbow keys, 8 tones, some demos for inspiration, and somewhat unexpectedly, a sustain button for adding a little color and realism to the sound. This would be a great choice for parents who want to encourage their child's interest in playing piano but aren't sure about shelling out for a large keyboard just yet.
We removed the Tencoz Portable and the Winfun Giant due to availability issues, and felt that as these items were fairy similar to other choices in terms of what they offered, it was better that we included the above "roll up pianos" instead.
Again, because of lack of availability, we had to say goodbye to the BigMouth Potty that lets you play while on the toilet, and decided to replace it with the award-winning Fisher-Price Step 'n Play. This item can be used in myriad ways to inspire your babies as they grow from lying on their tummies to taking their first steps.
December 12, 2019:
Our selection features several models that resemble traditional pianos, with their strictly black-and-white keys, which makes these fun for adults as well as children. This includes the Play22 Original, our top pick, which features 24 touch-sensitive keys, including working sharps and flats.
In this update, we added in several colorful models with exciting bells and whistles that are sure to appeal to young kids. This includes the Kidzlane Jumbo, which has numbered keys in every color of the rainbow. It’s six feet wide and offers large “buttons” up top so you can play the sounds of the piano and 7 other instruments. Just hop onto the button or press it with your hand to switch modes. Like many others, this one offers record and playback functionality so kids can choose to replay their masterpieces for the family at a later time. Another vibrant choice is the Cyiecw Playmat, which features a corner panel that lights up with the songs’ rhythms, something many who own this mat say their children love. It’s equipped with cards to teach kids 10 fun classic tunes.
Many a parent has fond memories of visiting the iconic toy store FAO Schwarz, and just as many remember well the 1988 Tom Hanks movie “Big” where the star plays “Heart and Soul” before a crowd of onlookers. If you’re a fan of the movie, the FAO Schwarz Step 'N' Play might be the choice for you, and you can hop on it right along with the kids and forego your daily workout at the gym.
A couple other new additions are suitable for small kids: The Discovery Kids Keyboard features just eight keys, so it won’t overwhelm young preschoolers as they hop and dance. It features a fun memory game where they repeat sequences of notes, as well as an eye-catching blue border with colorful musical symbols and stars. The Tencoz Portable can teach animal sounds, as it mimics dogs, cats, birds, cattle, and more. And you won’t have to worry about putting your little one on it, as its fabric is nontoxic, stain-resistant, and comfortable for small feet and hands.
No matter which piano mat catches your eye, make sure your child falls within the manufacturer’s stated age range, and always supervise young children during play for safety’s sake.
Check out our list of best toddler pianos for both floor mats and slightly larger keyboards designed to teach youngsters to play music as well as learn numbers, shapes, and colors.
Special Honors
Enabling Devices Enabling Devices, based in New York, has made adapted toys for children with disabilities for decades. Its music section includes large-button and switch-adapted toys, worth a look if a child can't manage a standard foot-press mat. enablingdevices.com
Giant Walk-On Mats And The Piano From Big
Keep them off stairs and away from doorways where they become a trip hazard.
The famous floor piano in the 1988 film Big was a real instrument called the Walking Piano, built by Remo Saraceni and first shown at FAO Schwarz in New York in 1982 (Wikipedia). Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia play "Heart and Soul" and "Chopsticks" on it. Today's toy versions borrow the look, not the mechanism: each key is a pressure pad wired to a small control box with a speaker.
Most giant mats run about 6 feet long with 24 keys, eight instrument voices, a record button and a few demo songs. The FAO Schwarz Giant Dance Mat stretches past 8 feet. Lay any of them on a hard, flat floor. Vinyl mats slide and fold on rugs, and a fold under a key can stop it from registering. Keep them off stairs and away from doorways where they become a trip hazard. Plan on AA batteries, which are usually sold separately.
Match The Age Label: Baby Gyms, Toddler Mats And Big Mats
Age labels on these toys matter. Under federal rules, toys meant for children under 3 can't contain small parts that fit in a test cylinder, and toys with small parts for older kids must carry a choking-hazard warning (CPSC small-parts guidance). That's why the B. toys Boogie Woogie, labeled small parts and not for under-3s, sits in a different group from the baby gyms, which are rated from birth.
For babies, a kick-piano gym is the safer fit. The baby lies on a padded mat and kicks at keys mounted on a frame, so there's no standing or tripping. Stay close during tummy time, and take hanging toys down once a baby starts pulling up on them. Toddlers do well with small fold-up mats of 8 to 10 keys. Most of the giant 24-key mats are rated for ages 3 and up. Before buying, check that the battery door closes with a screw, which keeps batteries out of small hands.
What A Piano Mat Can And Can't Teach
A piano mat teaches cause and effect, rhythm, counting and big-muscle movement. It won't teach piano. The keys are wide pads, the sound comes from a small speaker, and many mats play only one note at a time, so a second child stepping on a key cuts off the first. If two kids will share one, look for a mat that sounds several notes at once; B. toys says its Boogie Woogie mat plays up to four.
For a child who wants to pick out real tunes with their fingers, a roll-up silicone keyboard is a step closer. It has dozens of narrow keys and often a headphone jack, though the soft keys still feel nothing like a piano. Mats with numbered keys and a matching songbook help early readers follow simple songs. One more thing: the soundproofing rugs sold for upright and grand pianos also show up under "piano mat" in searches. They are a different thing, and none is on this list.
How we researched this
We compared 18 piano mats, roll-up keyboards and baby piano gyms, read the makers' feature lists and age labels, checked the CPSC's small-parts and labeling rules for toddler toys, studied owner feedback patterns, and searched the CPSC recall database for every brand. Updated October 26, 2026 by Ezvid Wiki Admin.
Frequently asked questions
Can a piano mat teach a child to play piano?
Not really. It teaches rhythm, counting and cause and effect. The keys are wide pads played with feet, and the sound comes from a small speaker. A roll-up silicone keyboard or a real keyboard is the next step for finger playing.
What age is a piano mat for?
Check the label. Kick-piano gyms are rated from birth, small toddler mats often from a few months or one year, and most giant 6 to 8 foot mats from age 3. Mats labeled with small parts are not for children under 3.
Do piano mats work on carpet?
They work best on a hard, flat floor. On thick carpet or rugs, a thin vinyl mat can slide or fold, and a fold under a key can stop it from registering. Padded mats with anti-slip backs grip better.
What batteries do piano mats need?
Most take three or four AA batteries, and many don't include them. Baby gyms often ship with demo batteries meant for store displays, so plan on fresh ones.
Where can I get the giant piano from the movie Big?
The film's Walking Piano was a custom instrument by Remo Saraceni. The Sharper Image mat many people remember is no longer sold. The FAO Schwarz Giant Dance Mat, over 8 feet long, is the closest toy version on sale now.
Is a piano mat the same as a yoga or exercise mat?
No. A piano mat is an electronic toy with keys printed on it. It isn't padded for exercise, and it shouldn't be used as a yoga mat.
