A tin soldier is a small toy soldier made from tin. Tin soldiers became popular toys in the 19th century.

Tin soldiers were bought in stores, either as finished toys or as make-it-yourself-kits containing tin and molds. Tin melts at a relatively low temperature, which makes it easy to handle. Young boys could easily melt the tin on the stove or the furnace and pour it into the molds.

When the toy soldier was finished and had cooled down, it was possible to paint it.

These days tin soldiers are best known from the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale "The Steadfast Tin Soldier".