9 Best Swing Sets for Kids to Play in the Backyard
Few recreational mainstays get kids excited for outdoor play like swing sets do. And we completely understand why—swing sets can keep kids active when it’s sunny and warm outdoors, give them a place to expel some energy (when they feel cooped up inside or your patience is wearing thin) and encourage them to develop a range of physical fitness skills and sense of balance. If you ask a little one, though, they’ll probably just say how “super fun” it is to mill around a miniature playground in their own backyard!
If you’re looking for the best swing sets to put up on your property, we’ve rounded up a number of our favorites. From larger wooden ones with climbing walls and enclosed tube slides to smaller metal sets with a myriad of features for kids of all ages to glide, ride and yes, even slide, these are the best swing sets to shop right now. But before you start putting your list together, you’ll want to read up on some essential safety considerations to keep your backyard play set secure and sturdy.
There are several things you’ll want to explore as you look for the best swing sets for your kids. Your swing set can potentially influence a ton of happy-go-lucky memories for your kiddos, but only if it’s well-made, safe and carefully matched to your adventurers’ abilities.
- Age appropriateness. Rest assured, none of the swing sets we’re curating require the skill sets of, say, Cirque du Soleil performers—but you’ll still need to find a set that aligns with your child’s capabilities (not just what they can do now, but what they’ll be able to do in the future). If you have an infant or young toddler, you’ll want to seek out a swing set with options for baby swings. If you have a preschooler who’s starting to get the hang of pumping their legs, adjustable seat heights will let them reach the seat on their own. And if you have big kids, let them explore features like climbing walls, monkey bars, trapeze rings and more. Just continue to reinforce carefulness, especially if you have children of varying ages all playing together. Paying special attention to the manufacturers’ age recommendations is the best way to go.
- Material. Just like any public playground, swing sets you purchase for your backyard will likely be made out of wood, plastic or steel (or a hybrid of a couple materials). No one material is better than another, but wooden and metal swing sets are certainly more durable and long-lasting. You may find that wooden sets splinter or wear over time, in which case sanding and sealing the areas could be helpful. With highly conductive metal sets that get hot in the sun, you can look for options that are lighter in color (or perhaps even paint the set in a white or neutral color) to reflect the sunlight. Ultimately, strongly made swing sets that can support a hefty weight capacity are going to be your best bet. As the years go by, with proper maintenance and spot checking to account for anything in poor condition, you can keep your swing set in good shape for at least 10 years.
- Positioning and suitability for your yard. Truth be told, the number of swing sets for kids on the market today is overwhelming. It’s easy to get mesmerized by sets with features rivaling your child’s favorite local playground, but you’ll also need to set your sights on structures that won’t be too big for your backyard. The set should be built on flat ground (ideally supported by a shock-absorbing surface of mulch, wood chips or recycled rubber) and most manufacturers advise having a six-foot safety perimeter that keeps your children’s play set away from anything like fences, walls or patio sets.
Remember to also talk to your littles about proper play etiquette while they’re using the swing set. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends parents teach their children “that pushing, shoving or crowding while on the playground can be dangerous.” To that end, beyond the more active cause for injuries, Safe Kids also advocates for parents to highlight appropriate playground “decorum” and dress as your kids prepare to play outside. That includes removing necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on equipment and pose a strangulation hazard. This applies just as much to at-home swing sets as it does to public parks and playgrounds.
A swing set purchase is definitely one you’ll want to mull over for more than a minute, because apart from the major safety considerations, it’s also a major investment. But if you’re starting to get serious with your search, we’ve assembled a can’t-miss list of swing sets that check the boxes for safety, aesthetics and fun. Whether you’re after a wooden swing set outfitted with thoughtful places for your preschooler to ponder or a heavy-duty swing set where your kindergartner and their besties can set sail as pirates, blast off as astronauts or swing like animals in the jungle, you’ll find it in these best swing sets for kids.
Oh, and big advice: If your budget allows for assembly services, and they’re offered for an additional charge (unfortunately it’s rarely an included perk), we say take advantage of it. Some of these sets require hours of setup, so it helps to have professionals on hand who are up for the task.
Best toddler swing set
- Set can be used indoors during colder months
- Simple assembly and disassembly that requires no tools
- Durable polyplastic construction wipes clean easily
- Structure does start to sway when swing’s in use, some parents say
- Swing height is set and can’t be adjusted for taller toddlers
If walks outside with your toddler have been reduced to a meltdown every time they see a neighbor’s swing set, it might be time to think about a toddler swing set that’s just for them. Nothing too big, of course, but something that can tide them over until they’re ready for one of the other sets on our list. We adore this 3-in-1 combination swing set for the activities it affords the ever-curious toddler. There’s a straight slide (preceded by a non-slip ladder), a swing (with an anti-slip drop crotch) and a basketball hoop, all wrapped up in a sturdy plastic frame. Plus, how cute is the primary color palette and friendly teddy bear motif?
Dimensions: 65’’ (L) x 64’’ (W) x 49’’ (H) | Weight limit: 110 lbs. | Material: Plastic | Age range: Not listed
Best wooden swing set
- Roof protects the play deck from weather and provides shade on hot days
- Size and number of stations can accommodate a large group of children
- Doubles as a swing set and a hide-out fort
- Not for babies or young toddlers
- Close supervision is recommended (especially for the rock climbing feature)
There are a lot of wooden swing sets out there, but this one has us sold for so many reasons. This set isn’t like the rickety ones we grew up with—rather, it’s made from bright and beautiful cedar wood (which is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect damage) accented with frog-green and sunny-yellow features. Beyond the alpine wave slide, the swing set has a fun accessory arm with three belt swings and trapeze rings, a roomy play deck with a steering wheel and telescope for endless pretend play, a climbing wall and a sandpit underneath. And about the premium cedar lumber: It’s pre-sanded, pre-stained and pre-cut, along with pre-drilled main beams, so your installation time is cut down considerably.
Dimensions: 150’’ (L) x 180’’ (W) x 114’’ (H) | Weight limit: 800 lbs. | Material: Wood | Age range: 3 to 11 years
Best metal swing set
- Weatherized (UV-resistant) material doesn’t crack, warp, rot or splinter
- No painting or staining required (and the metal doesn’t contain harmful lead)
- Free standing A-frame doesn’t need to be cemented down
- Open design leaves no options for shade
- Metal rung climber can pose slip hazards for very young children
Something about a metal swing set just takes us back to elementary school recess or that friendly neighborhood playground just down the block. Although it’s a very simple silhouette, this green and gray swing set for kids still packs a punch with an eight-foot slide, a primary-color-foothold climbing wall, two swings and a trapeze bar. We especially love the soft rubber grips on the swing chains for safety (and really, isn’t that a win if their hands don’t smell like metal after playing?) and the plastic covering caps on every hard edge. There’s also a very thoughtful embossed “car map” at the top of the slide to occupy big kids who are waiting for their turn.
Dimensions: 182.4’’ (L) x 174’’ (W) x 86’’ (H) | Weight limit: 600 lbs. | Material: Metal | Age range: 3 to 12 years
Best swing set with monkey bars
- Structure can fit up to 9 children
- Monkey bars have generous clearance (good for tall kids)
- Sloped edging on the slide promotes a gentle landing
- Professional assembly isn’t offered through retailer
- Gray wood may show weathering
Not all swing sets are created equal—in fact, some swing sets have features that go way beyond simple swings and slides. This KidKraft playset comes equipped with a slide, a rock wall (with a mix of colored footholds and cutouts for varied climbing levels) and one of our favorite playground pillars: monkey bars. With this wooden set, your kids can have fun swinging like monkeys across the horizontal rungs, right onto a platform that goes to the slide or to a wooden slat ninja bridge. Our favorite part? The next-level style of competition they invite with the bonus “ring toss” rings. Perhaps you’ll have the next American Ninja Warrior-in-training on your hands!
Dimensions: 218.4” (L) x 177.6” (W) 96.3” (H) | Weight limit: 990 lbs. | Material: Wood | Age range: 3 to 10 years old
Best swing and slide set
- Steering wheel, molded-in windows and open-close door promote pretend play
- Anchors are included to secure the swing set to the ground
- Proprietary EverTough material lasts for years with double-wall construction that’s fade-resistant and doesn’t chip or need to be stained (and it’s easy to clean!)
- Not a great choice for households with tweens/teens
- Some parents say it’s tough to put together
- Expensive option (with less longevity)
If you’re looking for a swing set with next level swings and slide options, you’ll want to keep Step2’s Adventure Lodge Play Center in mind. If you have a toddler swing set, think of this as the next step up—it still has the plastic “playhouse” vibes that kept your toddler amused and busy, but now, your big kid(s) have more to explore. Two belt swings are cool, but we’re all about the glider that can fit two kids on it at once (talk about a lesson in collaborative play!). And if anyone is “hogging” the slide, there are still plenty of other activities for the kids in-waiting, whether they want to check out the two-story playhouse in great detail, swing on their slides or shoot hoops on the other end of the set. When it comes to swing and slide sets, everything is fun!
Dimensions: 216’’ (L) x 118’’ (W) x 87’’ (H) | Weight limit: 300 lbs. | Material: Metal and plastic | Age range: 3 to 8 years
Best small swing set
- Green and yellow canopy provides shade during hot, sunny days
- Chains on the swings are adjustable (to grow with your kids)
- Reinforced steel support on the corners provides extra sturdiness
- Climbing wall is the only way to get up to the slide (may not be suitable for young children only accustomed to ladders so far)
- Sand is sold separately
As with most of the options on this list, this pick from The Swing Company gives you a double feature with both a swing and a slide. But unlike the rest of them, these swings have a special kind of superpower: The built-in rainbow LED lights make them glow, making them a fun time day or night (with supervision, of course). We’re big fans of the six-foot wavy slide, which is designed in one piece for easy setup. And the durable vinyl coverings on the metal swing chains are ideal for protecting your kiddo’s tiny hands. Add to all of this a canopy-covered playing deck, a chalkboard station, a rock-climbing wall and an enclosed frame for a sandbox underneath, and your little ones have the swing set of their dreams, while you have a compact footprint in your yard (this one is amazing for smaller spaces).
Dimensions: 118.1’’ (L) x 112.2’’ (W) x 94.3’’ (H) | Weight limit: 200 lbs. | Material: Wood | Age range: 3 to 10 years
Best large swing set
- Features 12 distinct “interest” areas for maximum play time
- Side-by-side rock wall and traditional slat ladder give kids of varying ages different ways to climb
- Crow’s nest area is fun for kids who are always on the lookout for new experiences
- Big swing set takes up a lot of yard room
- Pricier option
With “titan” in its name, you can count on this swing set for kids bringing colossal amounts of fun. This new set essentially connects two forts, each with their own slide and climbing apparatuses (a rope ladder on one, a rock climbing wall on the other) via a ninja rope bridge. Canopies on each side provide comforting shade when the sun starts beating down, as do the open-framework lower decks. We love these bonus spaces to spread out a blanket and let your littles play card games or have snacks and sips when they need to recoup their energy. And of course, what’s a good swing set without a plethora of swing options? This one has two band swings and a trapeze bar for your tiny aerialists.
Dimensions: 228.8’’ (L) x 218.9’’ (W) x 111.5’’ (H) | Weight limit: 990 lbs. | Material: Wood | Age range: 3 to 10 years
Best heavy-duty swing set
- Blue and green colorway is fun
- Perfect choice for kids who love to swing
- Less expensive option
- Budget-friendly, but can quickly add up with assembly services
- No shade options
We covered large swing sets, but what about a set that’s heavy duty? Look no further than this set from Sportspower. Built using high-quality two-inch steel tubes, the construction is weighty and super durable—which you need when you’re considering an A-frame silhouette that can sway when the swings are in use. There are two blow-molded swings (meaning the swing is hollow, made out of two plastic pieces), a flying saucer and a glider, so if your kiddo isn’t pumping yet, they can work with a partner who’ll get the rocking started or get pushed! The safety features are huge with this swing set. Inner webbing on the saucer keeps kids comfy and secure, the glider uses an extra-thick hanger and handles to provide a smooth ride and both swings highlight a four-point chain hanger for better stability and less of a tipping risk.
Dimensions: 177.1’’ (L) x 104.3’’ (W) x 72.8’’ (H) | Weight limit: 700 lbs. | Material: Heavy-duty 2-inch powder-coated steel tubes | Age range: 3 to 8 years
Best budget-friendly swing set
- Price can’t be beat
- Simple design fits nicely into yards of every size
- You can get separate “baby” swings to switch out the regular seats
- Adding the slide can virtually double the price
Buying a swing set certainly isn’t cheap, but if you don’t want to break the bank you can get away with something minimalist. We’re big fans of this classic, no-fuss Swing-N-Slide style. It’s just two swings, a combination ring/trapeze bar swing and a beautifully constructed wooden framework. If you can’t do without a slide, though, you can opt for the Ranger ‘Plus,’ which adds an easy-to-summit ladder, canopy-covered platform and wavy slide to an already safe and sturdy design with top-notch aesthetics.
Dimensions: 104’’ (L) x 92’’ (W) x 82’’ (H) | Weight limit: 350 lbs. | Material: Stain-finished wood | Age range: 2 to 10 years
To help streamline your shopping and highlight the best swing sets for kids, we considered a list of criteria when sourcing products, including standout features, quality and durability, value, ease of setup and, last but definitely not least, safety. We consulted playground safety protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and read up on [summer safety and injury prevention tips(https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/keeping-kids-healthy/prevention/summer-safety/)) outlined by the country’s foremost children’s hospitals and medical teams. We also read user reviews to get the low-down on how these products work for families, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating.
Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.
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