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Hero Time Academy · Step 7 of 10

Board Game Safety Tests

Board game safety tests prove a game is safe for children. A game for players under 14 needs a test for every market it is sold in. Safety is step 7 of the ten steps in how to make a board game. These guides explain how testing works, the labels your box needs and the rules in each market.

This board game safety guide is a map: each section below names a part of safety testing and points you to the guides that explain it.

Which Games Need Safety Tests

A game made for children under 14 counts as a toy in most markets, so it needs a safety test for each market it is sold in. In the US, the law covers children aged 12 and under, but we recommend testing any game for under 14. A game made only for players aged 14 and over is not a toy in law. In practice, Amazon, some retailers and sometimes customs still ask for a safety test, even for a game made for players aged 14 and over. If you plan to sell through them, test the game anyway. Toy safety standards differ from market to market, but they test the same things: small parts and sharp edges, fire risk, harmful chemicals and the labels.

How Testing Works

An accredited lab tests copies of your game after mass production, in about 9 working days. How board game safety testing works explains each step, the price and why games fail. Labels are the most common reason for a failed test: board game box labels and warning signs lists every line, with a fully labelled example. If you sell on Amazon, the Amazon Direct Validation Program explains how the lab sends your report to Amazon.

Tests by Market

Each market has its own toy safety regulations, and one test does not cover them all:

  • The US: the CPSC certificate, based on ASTM F963 and CPSIA tests, now needed at customs for every shipment.
  • The EU: the CE mark, based on the EN 71 tests.
  • Great Britain: the UKCA mark, alongside the CE mark. The tests are the same as for the EU.
  • Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the rest of the world: ISO 8124 or its local version. Smaller markets such as Israel and the UAE will most of the time accept the EU report.

Shipping Direct to Customers in Other Countries

You only need a test and a local address for the markets where you store and sell your games. If you ship single orders straight to customers in another country, you do not need a test or an address there. For example, shipping from China straight to customers in the UK, or from a US warehouse to customers in the EU, is fine. This changes once you store and sell games inside that market, for example in a warehouse there or on Amazon there.

Next Step: Shipping Games from China

Once your game is made and tested, it has to reach your warehouse or your backers. Continue with shipping games from China, step 8 of the ten.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do board games need safety testing?
Yes, if they are made for children under 14 and sold in the US, the EU, the UK or most other markets. A game made only for players aged 14 and over is not a toy in law, but Amazon, some retailers and sometimes customs still ask for a test.
Are board games considered toys?
A board game made for children under 14 counts as a toy in the EU and the UK. In the US, products for children aged 12 and under are children's products, and we recommend testing any game for under 14.
Which safety test does my game need?
One for each market: a CPSC certificate for the US, the CE mark for the EU, the UKCA mark (alongside CE) for Great Britain, AS/NZS ISO 8124 for Australia and New Zealand, and ISO 8124 for most other countries.
How long does safety testing take, and what does it cost?
About 9 working days after production, or about 5 days express at double the cost. The price is a USD 100 base fee plus USD 170 for every three materials or colours.