The best lightsabers are likely going to look very different depending on your age, but also your budget and utility, which can be difficult for those without prior experience.

As Star Wars has grown, so has its fan base, which now means that you can buy replica sabers of the swords used by your favorite characters. Some lightsabers that can take a beating and offer more light and sound effects than mass-produced ones are ideal for roleplay combat.

Light sabers in the Star Wars franchise are swords of pure, plasma energy that can cut through anything. Not all of the real-world versions are suitable for dueling. Many replicas are designed to be admired rather than used, with some only available as a hilt without the light-up blade, so you have to purchase it separately.

This is also the case with the official offerings you can find in Disney's theme park shops, including within the Galaxy's Edge area of Disney World, in which you can build a building. It costs $219, but you get to keep your creation, and it's also an interactive experience where you can learn some Jedi lore and take part in a group activity.

The price of lightsabers can vary by a significant margin depending on what you're looking for. Children's toys aren't budget-friendly, but they are more affordable than some of the fancy collector's items. We're sure you'll find something that suits both your needs and wallet, because there are options available across every budget.

You will be prepared for your own Star Wars adventure, such as watching all the Star Wars movies in chronological order, if you pair one of these epic lightsabers with one of the best Star Wars costumes.

Best official lightsabers

If you want to make a Star Wars characters blade, you have to navigate around copyright and include a different name. When the Black Series Force FX sabers are released, they sell out fast and become difficult to find at a reasonable price, because there aren't many officially licensed replicas of Lightsabers around these days.

If you want to not overpay for these collectibles, you should be able to get them as soon as they are available for pre-order.

The Galaxy’s Edge Darth Vader Legacy lightsaber in its display case on a white backdrop.

(Image credit: Disney)

Disney licensed replica lightsabers are the easiest to find and can be used with a lightsaber blade purchased at the park. The blade is sold separately from the hilt, so you can find it at both Walmart and Amazon.

You can buy the light-up blade online, but this could be a problem. The process of buying a blade is a little easier when they are in stock on the Shop Disney store.

These are some of the best officially licensed replica lightsabers to ever hit the market and a cut above the usual pop-up plastic toys you find down the toy aisle of Walmart. They're better used as a displayed prop, but they have fantastic light and sound effects and are perfect for swinging around for kids and grownups alike.

The Black Series Luke Skywalker Force FX Lightsaber mounted against a blank background.

(Image credit: Disney)

One of the first lightsabers to ever appear on screen was used by the first character in the original trilogy, and it is unsurprising that it is well known throughout the franchise. The Black Series is a range design by Hasbro that offers a more accurate replica of the on-screen props, while still being officially branded as a children's toy, so this model can be played with and used in duels.

It's far from what enthusiasts would call dueling quality, but you can see lighting and sound effects when they clash against a surface, and you don't have to worry about snapping anything.

It's not cheap, so it's understandable that people prefer to keep it as a display prop.

The Black Series Supreme Leader Kylo Ren Force FX Elite Lightsaber against a white background.

(Image credit: Disney)

The sequel trilogy introduced a new generation to the Star Wars universe and a new villain in the form of Kylo Ren. In the movies, his lightsaber is characterized by crackling sound effects to represent the unstable kyber crystal housed within, something that is beautifully replicated within this faithful prop toy.

You're getting 80 LEDs for bright lighting, a real metal hilt, and the ability to switch between Battle FX for combat sounds and Molten FX to recreate the feeling of melting the environment with the blade when you press it against a surface.

If you want to keep the stand in the box, you need to be careful not to be rough with it. The Supreme Leader's lightsaber is considered to be one of the best officially licensed products on the market.

The color-changing Hasbro Darth Vader FX Lightsaber on a white background.

(Image credit: Disney / Hasbro)

This 2-in-1 from Hasbro is great for fans of Anakin Skywalker, with a fun feature that changes the lighting effects between blue and red to represent the chosen one's transition to the dark side. It is a toy first and a replica second, but it is not ideal for the roleplay community as it can take some smacking against soft surfaces and swinging.

It isn't a perfect replica of Anakin's lightsaber, so it isn't great for collectors. It is perfect for everyday fans of the series, and the lights look great when mounted against a wall or used as part of a costume.

The batteries are a pain to change over, but the price is one of the most affordable we have seen.

The Black Series Mandalorian Darksaber Force FX Lightsaber

(Image credit: Hasbro)

The Clone Wars series is an especially popular watch for both children and adults alike, and is one of the best Star Wars movies to date. The Darksaber, which was first seen in the animated series, has since appeared in The Mandalorian, a live-action series on Disney Plus, and is a very recognizable lightsaber for Star Wars.

You're getting a selection of light and sound effects, which do a pretty good job at emulating the original design, and of course, the style more closely resembles that of an actual ninjat, the weapon of choice for Ninjas during Japan.

The replica Dark Saber is not cheap, but it is not unique to this particular design. It is on the delicate side so while it is tempting to swing it around and pretend you are going to lead the Mandalorians in battle, it is probably best left as a display-only collectible.

Best toy lightsabers

Hasbro Bladebuilders Kylo Ren Lightsaber

(Image credit: Disney / Hasbro)

It isn't easy for everyone to visit a place where they can build their own lightsaber, but there are more affordable options for smaller kids. You can swap pieces around in the Bladebuilders series, creating a toy that can be changed between other models. This toy is based on the blade from the sequel trilogy and can be swung around to play with classic light and sound effects.

This is designed to be used as part of a Halloween costume or play fighting, and so it can take a substantial beating, provided a child is the one smacking it around. The red plastic pops up to extend the blade and it looks like a distorted screen.

Hasbro Mandalorian Darksaber

(Image credit: Disney / Hasbro)

If your kids have seen the Clone Wars episodes on Disney+, we can't fault them for wanting one of their own. The design of the saber is very close to the swords used by real-life Japanese Shinobi.

It isn't as bright as the more standard designs, but you get the usual light and sound effects from swinging it around. It works well as a costume accessory, toy, or decorative prop, despite the light dueling.

Official Disney Yoda Lightsaber

(Image credit: Disney)

If you're buying for a small child and you're not a huge fan of the movie, it can be hard to distinguish the blue and green lightsabers that are used in it. The Disney lightsaber is for kids who just want a lightsaber. You can find this model in Disney stores and websites.

It doesn't have the usual pop-up style that many other toy lightsabers have, but that gives it a bit more structure for being whacked against things, and you still have some decent sound effects when the blade is in motion.

It's not perfect as a replica, and the lights look dull, but for an officially licensed toy, it's an affordable option.

Hasbro Bladebuilders Jedi Master Lightsaber

(Image credit: Disney / Hasbro)

The experience of making your very own lightsaber at Disney World is a great one, but it's also pricey, and the fact that a lightsaber is unique to its wielder is something that runs deep in Star Wars lore. The Jedi Master Bladebuilders Lightsaber from Hasbro is a kit that lets you switch between several styles of hilt, blade, and angles to create a fully functioning toy.

It's still on the expensive side for a kids toy, and those small parts could go missing if they're not looked after, but this is a breath of fresh air from the pop-up toys. They can be used with other lightsabers in the Bladebuilders range.

The lightsaber can take a beating for a toy, but you can get movie-accurate sound and light effects that will make for memorable battle moments. The lightsaber model requires six batteries to run, which is more than any other model.

Official Star Wars Electronic Lightsaber (Rey)

(Image credit: Disney)

It's refreshing to see action toys with female voice lines, and with this official Disney lightsaber being modeled on the version Rey uses in the sequel trilogy, you can hear phrases said by the young hero throughout the movies.

With it resembling other popular blades, you might be tempted to grab this lightsaber as a costume prop, but be warned - you can't change the voice. You will have to endure the character phrases if you want to use the other light and sound effects.

This is a great toy for young girls who are fans of the trilogy, and the perfect costume accessory. You can use the free Jedi training videos to guide your swing and combat styles, and there is also a QR code on the hilt.

Best unofficial lightsabers

Sabertrio lightsaber

(Image credit: Sabertrio)

The world of custom lightsabers is a lot more expensive than the plastic toys we have seen so far. You are unlikely to find many accurate replicas due to licensing, but if you are looking for the best blades then the following manufacturers are the way to go.

Thanks to its glowing reviews and incredible build quality, Sabertrio tops the list, and while custom lightsabers are typically very pricey, they offer many different options that can make the cost feel reasonable when stacked against rival offerings. There is a reason that sabertrio lightsabers are so in demand.

If you want to get one, you need to keep an eye out for stock drops, as the store often sells out as quickly as fresh inventory appears.

Kybers lightsabers

(Image credit: Kybers)

Want something you can order quickly, but still appreciate all the amazing features? Kybers sells its lightsabers directly on Amazon, so the process is very simple and you are still getting a cool lightsaber.

There are a few issues, the main one being that shipping doesn't appear to be available outside of the US, and as Kybers appears to be based in a non-English speaking country the language is a little confusing at times. The Kybers Amazon store has a pretty good review rating from customers for some peace of mind, despite the fact that these don't affect the overall quality of the product.

You can get an idea of what you're ordering before you add one to your basket, because there are plenty of videos from both the creators themselves and those submitted by previous customers. They are sturdy enough to hit around with a metal hilt and some fantastic sound and light effects.

Vader's Vault lightsaber

(Image credit: Vader's Vault)

Vader's Vault is a US-based custom lightsaber manufacturer that uses premium components, so it's little wonder that these blades are often described as highly realistic movie props. You can use these for roleplay or just general fun. The lower-end products are fairly reasonable, but limited edition runs can easily exceed $2,000+, which is more than most will be willing to pay.

Some customers claim to have waited up to six months for their lightsaber. There is a thriving online community of Vader's Vault customers who can offer a helping hand, as instructions are not provided with the product.

Saberforge lightsaber

(Image credit: Saberforge)

If you're looking to build your own lightsaber, or even if you're just looking to modify it, Saberforge is a great option. The website is clean and well laid out, making it easy to understand when buying parts. They are affordable when compared to rival offerings, but you may get caught out by parts being sold separately.

You can inject some personality into your lightsaber here, with axe-style blades available alongside the usual straight tubes, and you can keep costs down by selecting a standard infinity blade over a threaded neopixel tube.

The customer service at Saberforge has a few complaints, but they offer some of the best-looking hilt designs on the market without making your own from scratch, so if you want a gorgeous lightsaber you might be happy to look past that.

Ultra Sabers lightsaber

(Image credit: Ultra Sabers)

Ultra sabers are an affordable option that lets you personalize your lightsaber. Stunt sabers are $60 and come with a single colored blade.

lightsabers are capable of taking a real beating during fights, and Ultra Sabers are well respected in the dueling community. These are the ideal choice for LARPing or other roleplay activities.

The configurations are easy to understand and put together on the Ultra Sabers website is easier than it is on other manufacturers. If you want a handcrafted product, the hilts are mass-produced to keep costs low.

Bendu Armory staff lightsaber

(Image credit: Bendu Armory)

After creating some of the first carbon fiber hilts on the market, which were celebrated for their weight, balance, and durability, Bendu Armory rose to popularity. They are one of the cheapest options for people looking to purchase their first lightsaber.

A quick swap of the lightsaber hilt's shell is one of the benefits of not using materials. There are options for staff for the hilts, which adds variety to the designs people are looking for.

The website can be a little confusing for newcomers, with the configuration options listed when building your custom saber offering very little information outside of the additional costs, so make sure you brush up your lightsaber knowledge on some forums before your purchase.

What controls a lightsaber's color?

The real-world versions of the lightsabers in the Star Wars franchise are far safer to wield than the pure, plasma-energy swords in the franchise. The user's thoughts can affect the color of a lightsaber's blade. lightsabers are personal to the wielder, making it easy to tell the difference between Darth Vader and Yoda.