Best plasma balls

Plasma ball lamp
(Image credit: Amazon)

Plasma balls have been one of the coolest gadgets a nerd could buy for years now. Not only are they a brilliant scientific wonder, and used by sci-fi TV shows for decades, they act as a soothing light and a party piece at social gatherings. 

I've had various plasma balls around my house for years now so I was thrilled to see what the best ones are that you can buy right now.

The standard candle

8 inch Plasma Ball

(Image credit: Amazon)

8" Nebula Plasma Ball

The one in my house

This 8-inch plasma ball is the one that sits on my desk right now, and I love it. Every now and then I'll reach up and stroke it to see the lightning dance and hear the crackle of energy. It never fails to make me smile.

The 8-inch model is a great size for multiple people to try at the same time as well, so it makes a great party piece.

For science

Katzco_plasma_bal

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Katzco Plasma Ball - Scientific Set

This has a great party trick

Speaking of fun party tricks, this 7-inch plasma ball comes with a handy Edison style LED light bulb. If you bring the bulb close to the plasma ball the ambient energy will cause the LED to glow without being plugged in.

You can wow your friends or make your kids believe in magic!

Plasma lamp

moses-hosea plasma lamp

(Image credit: Amazon)

Moses-Hosea 16" Nebula Plasma Lamp Ball

It's a squeezed in ball

What do you get if a lava lamp and a plasma ball have a baby? The Moses-Hosea Plasma lamp, that's what. This 16-inch lamp is great for those with little room, but want the cool light show anyway. It also works extremely well as a night light.

Green is go

Kicko Green ball

(Image credit: Amazon)

Kicko Green Plasma Ball

It is the same but different

This 7-inch plasma ball is pretty much identical to all the others except it has a cool green filter. I know that doesn't seem like much, but if you are setting up a Halloween sci-fi scare chamber, it's absolutely perfect. 

Giga flare

KExclusive Storm Dragon

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K EXCLUSIVE Storm Dragon Plasma Ball

It has a dragon head!

Mixing the scientific plasma ball and the, clearly, historically accurate dragon head is, in my humble opinion, a stroke of genius. You can imagine the dragon is a Kaiju and it's about to spit forth a plasma ball of destruction! I like this plasma ball a lot, just for the fun of it.

Pretty butterfly

CoztCabin Butterfly Plasma Bal

(Image credit: Amazon)

CozyCabin Butterfly Plasma Ball Light

Beauty and power in one

This teeny-tiny plasma ball is the perfect gift for the butterfly lover in your life. The coil where all the lightning stems from is shaped into a little butterfly and so the plasma dances in different patterns compared to the normal balls.

If you are looking for a small, fun gift, this is a great place to start, and it's dirt cheap too.

Feel the hair rise

If you've never played with a plasma ball but have often thought of getting one, there is no better time than now. The prices are extremely cheap, and they are very easy to get hold of. They're also fun experiments you can do with kids that make them useful in an educational setting as well.

I personally own the 8" Nebula Plasma Ball and that's the one I suggest you get but if you want something a little different to other people then the 16-inch plasma lamp might be more your speed. Either will put on an excellent light show for you and your friends.

AOP Writer