When the soft darts start to fly, it can only mean one thing: NERF war! Sofas become trenches, yards become battlegrounds, and friends become foes. Only the soldiers with the best weaponry will reign victorious as kids play out safe conflicts with minimal risk to breakable valuables.
This kind of carnage doesn’t have to cost much either, with many cheaper NERF guns offering the same bang for your buck. These recommendations include NERF blasters, zombie blast targets and Fortnite guns, as well as wackier options like a moose that shoots foam balls out of its mouth. We’ve based our list on only the real reviews, so you can trust that these toy guns might be cheap but won’t disappoint anyone in the heat of battle.
If you have any extra pocket money, you will also want to check out our best NERF under $20 and best NERF under $50.
1. NERF N-Strike Elite Jolt Blaster (Best Budget Option)
The Jolt blaster was designed for stealthy battles. It is small and compact, allowing kids to keep it hidden until they need to pull it out to shoot. Unlike other NERF guns, this is one of the best NERF guns under $10 because it is a simple design that anyone can shoot. Plus, it comes with two darts that are easy to reload in and out of battle.
It only shoots a single dart at a time before you have to reload it. The NERF Jolt blaster uses traditional N-strike elite darts. Although it only comes with two, it is compatible with replacement dart packs, as long as they are NERF Elite.
What We Love:
- It has an easy-to-pull trigger
- The grip is designed for kids of various hand sizes
We Don’t Like This As Much:
- It wasn’t designed for prolonged NERF gunfights
2. Hog Wild Moose Popper Toy (Best Quality Option)
When looking for a different way to play NERF gunfights, the Hog Wild Moose Popper toy is one of the best NERF guns under $10. This toy looks like a Moose that is dressed in a camouflage outfit. Unlike regular NERF guns, this toy uses soft foam balls that will shoot from the moose’s mouth.
This toy is excellent for kids of most ages because, unlike regular NERF guns that shoot at a particular strength, this one shoots at a velocity based on how hard you squeeze the moose’s stomach. Finally, this toy can be purchased as different animals if the moose.
What We Love:
- You can fit all six balls into the mouth at the same time to avoid reloads
- This toy is designed to be played with everywhere, inside and outside
We Don’t Like This As Much:
- The provided balls are a little small
3. NERF Zombie Strike Target Set
Unlike other NERF guns, this NERF Zombie Strike target set doesn’t just come with the standard NERF gun. This set also includes three quality-made targets, which will help you learn how to aim properly with this Zombie Strike NERF gun and other types of firearms.
This NERF gun is compatible with Zombie Strike darts and has a compact design that is excellent for kids with smaller hands. This gun only provides a single shot and must be reloaded after each shot, making it more suitable for target practice or as a secondary weapon in a NERF gunfight.
What We Love:
- It has a clip-on sight that helps kids zero in on their target.
- It has an easy-firing trigger
We Don’t Like This As Much:
- The provided sight could be sturdier
4. Holdout NERF Doomlands Toy Blaster
The Holdout NERF Doomlands blaster is designed as a single-shot blasting NERF gun. It will allow kids to practice their shooting, and it was designed to be easy for kids of any experience level. Unlike other NERF guns, this one is intended to be hand-powered, so it doesn’t require batteries. This means that it can always be used without worrying about constantly changing out a power source.
The NERF blaster has built-in storage capable of holding up to two darts and attaches to the blaster’s tactical rail for stability. It uses Doomsland elite darts constructed of foam and hollow tips. Finally, it has a unique grip design that makes it easy to use and hold.
What We Love:
- It is made from high-quality plastic material
- It shoots far enough to be adequately used inside and outside
We Don’t Like This As Much:
- The scope on this NERF gun is not functional.
5. NERF Rival Knockout XX-100 Blaster
The Rival Knockout XX-100 Blaster is designed to have the power of the original NERF Rival model. Still, it has a compact design that makes it easier to keep hidden in a fight and maneuver around within a smaller area. However, it still has a strong enough firing power that is also suitable for medium to long-range shooting. It uses a hand-powered spring-action mechanism, which means it doesn’t need batteries to fire.
Plus, it comes with a trigger lock to help prevent accidental firing when the gun is in storage or carried around. It has an integrated storage area on the gun to keep extra ammo, making it easy to reload and reach while in combat.
What We Love:
- It comes in different colors, which makes it easy to have team fights
- It uses small round NERF bullets
We Don’t Like This As Much:
- Due to the spring-action mechanism, reloading between each shot can take a moment.
6. NERF Elite 2.0 Volt SD-1 Blaster
The NERF Elite 2.0 Volt SD-1 Blaster has a small compact design, but the blaster can be customized with two tactical rails that make it more accurate and easy to shoot. It uses traditional NERF Elite darts that are made from quality foam. The darts also have hollow tips that make shooting this gun an option inside or outside.
This blaster is designed for short-range combat because although it can shoot up to 90 feet, the light beam targeting system with the blaster only works on targets approximately 15 feet away. Finally, this blaster has built-in storage that can hold two darts.
What We Love:
- It comes with six official NERF darts
- The light beam targeting system requires batteries, but the gun can shoot without them
We Don’t Like This As Much:
- It is a single-shot blaster, which means it has to be reloaded after every shot
7. NERF N-Strike Elite Triad EX-3 Toy
If you are looking for a small and compact NERF gun blaster, then the NERF N-Strike will make an excellent addition to your NERF gun collection. This blaster is designed with mega power, which means it can shoot darts at a greater range than some of the other NERF guns. It has more than one barrel that can be loaded simultaneously, and the user can see which barrel is loaded with a simple glance.
The N-Strike Elite Triad EX-3 has a cocking handle that helps to ready the gun for each shot, and it is designed with an easy pull of the trigger that makes this gun suitable for most kids eight years old and up.
What We Love:
- It has smart technology to provide confidence when firing
- It is small enough to fit inside most pockets
We Don’t Like This As Much:
- This gun can be harder to cock than some other NERF guns
8. Guns Toys for Boys-with 10 Soft Refill Foam Darts Bullets
The Frost Nova has a unique design compared to many other NERF guns, and this one is easier to load than other guns. After placing the dart into the shooter, all you have to do is pull back the cocking mechanism to the backside of the gun and pull the trigger. In the front of the shooter, two storage places are built into the gun design to make it easy to reload.
It was designed to be a long-range weapon, and it is ideal for kids four years old and up. This gun can shoot up to 40 feet away, and although it is not a NERF brand gun, most original NERF darts are compatible and fit well into this gun model.
What We Love:
- It comes with an ammo holder that straps to the user’s wrist
- Has enough darts to load the gun and fill the ammo holder fully
We Don’t Like This As Much:
- The wristband won’t fit well on all kids’ wrists.
9. NERF Fortnite HC-E
Fortnite is a viral video game, and this NERF blaster is designed to look like the HC-E blaster used in the game. This blaster will allow kids to enjoy holding their favorite video game gun in the palms of their own hands. Unlike most NERF guns, this one is not designed to carry darts. It is a super soaker, which means that it uses water and acts like a traditional water gun. It has a long barrel and a sight on the back of the gun to help line up shots on their target easier. The soaker holds up to 7.4 fluid ounces, which means it can shoot for several rounds before refilling.
It is made from high-quality plastic, and it also mimics the color schemes of the HC-E from the video game and not just the basic cosmetic design of the gun. Kids of most age ranges can use this gun. It has an easy-to-hold grip, and the trigger is designed to be responsive, which means they will be more likely to hit what they aim for. Finally, it is important to remember that you should always empty any excess water after each use.
What We Love:
- The tank on the gun is easy to refill
- The gun comes in one solid piece.
We Don’t Like This As Much:
- The nozzle on the end of the gun might drip some after a few uses.
What to look for with a NERF gun under $10
When buying a Nerf gun for $10 or less, consider:
- Durability: Look for models known for their durability or check customer reviews.
- Range and Accuracy: Check product descriptions and customer reviews for good performance.
- Dart Capacity: Consider the number of darts the Nerf gun can hold simultaneously.
- Dart Compatibility: Ensure compatibility with standard Nerf darts or desired types.
- Features and Extras: Evaluate additional features and accessories within your budget.
- Ergonomics and Comfort: Check for a comfortable grip and appropriate size and weight.
- Reviews and Recommendations: Read customer reviews for insights on performance and satisfaction.
Remember that with a lower budget and $10 is the least you can spend, there may be trade-offs in features and performance, but affordable Nerf guns can still offer a fun experience.
Finally
We have compiled a list of the ten best NERF guns under $10 that can be purchased from Amazon.com in 2023. All of the NERF guns in our list are designed for both boys and girls and are all made from high-quality material. Each one is different in style, but they can provide kids and adults with an exhilarating NERF gun experience, whether they are up against other people or just target practice. Finally, all of these NERF guns come highly recommended by parents for their quality experience.
