For everything else you need to know about swing sets, see Swing Sets 101

Swing Set Buyer's Guide

You can find swingsets and playsets at prices ranging from less than $500 to well over $5000. Our Buyer's Guide is designed to give you an idea of what you can expect to find in different price ranges as well as a list of swing set brands and where you can buy them.

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Choose a Price Range

  • Materials
    If you are planning to spend $500 or less you can expect to find a variety of small mass-market playsets, usually made of metal or plastic with a few imported Chinese "cedar" sets at the higher end of the price range.

    Size and accessories
    At less than $500, most swing sets will be small and, at their highest point, up to 6 or 7 feet high, though many sets will be shorter. These sets will generally be simple with perhaps a couple of swings and a short slide.

    Weight limits
    Swing sets in this price range are usually designed for small children, so they will have lower weight limits, usually 100 pounds per child, as well as a total weight limit for the set limiting how many kids can use it at a time. Swing sets in this price range are not meant to be used by adults.

    Packaging and Assembly
    Wooden swing sets may come as kits with 4x4 lumber not included. Complete swing sets will be flatpacked with no pre-assembled components.

    Where to buy
    Swing sets in the less than $500 range can be found at large national retail chains such as Walmart,KMart, ToysRUs, orHome Depot both in the stores and on their websites.

    Brands
    To find brands that sell playsets in this price range, please see our Swing Set Brand Guide below.

  • Materials
    Swing sets in the $500-1500 range include largermetal sets, a fewplastic sets, and sets made from Chinese "cedar".

    Size and accessories
    At the lower end of this price range, the sets may be as simple as a few swings, but at the higher end you will find sets with more structures and more accessories. While you can get more bells and whistles than at the lowest price range, swing sets in this range, particularly wood playsets or plastic, will not be as sturdy as sets in higher price ranges.

    Weight limits
    Weight limits vary depending on size and materials. 100 to 120 pounds per swing is common. On some sets, total weight capacity may be limited to 600-800 pounds. This is fine for kids but may not be safe if grownups want to play.

    Packaging and assembly
    Sets in this range may come as kits with 4x4 lumber not included. Complete swing sets will beflatpacked with no pre-assembled components.

    Where to buy
    National chain retailers includingWalmart, Sam's Club andTarget sell sets in the $500-1500 price range. You can also find sets in this range at Amazon and other online retailers, and some brands that sell swing sets in this price range sell direct to customers on their websites.

    Brands
    To find brands that sell playsets in this price range, please see our Swing Set Brand Guide below.

  • Materials
    Most playsets in the $1500-2500 price range will be made from imported Chinese "cedar", but you can also find sets made from pressure treated pine and vinyl coated pine.

    Size and accessories
    In this price range you will find a lot of variety in sets with most having sizable forts or towers and many choices of swings and other accessories. The sets can be quite large with swing beams up to 8 feet high.

    Weight limits
    Weight limits in this price range vary a lot. Some sets have weight limits as high as over 200 pounds per swing, so you can find a playset that will accommodate grownups and kids of all sizes. Make sure to check weight limits before purchasing, however, as some sets in this price range still only have weight limits up to 150 pounds per swing and as low as 800 pounds overall.

    Packaging and assembly
    Most sets in this price range, especially the ones imported from China, will be flatpacked, with pre-cut lumber and pre-drilled holes, but no pre-assembled components. Sets made from domestic wood species, however, may come with pre-assembled components, and you can find brands and dealers at this price range that offer assembly services, usually at an extra cost.

    Where to Buy
    You can find playsets in this price range at national retail chains and online retailers as well as online direct from the playset brand itself. At this price range, you also begin to see sets at authorized dealers and brand showrooms. Brands that sell through dealers or showrooms will usually provide store locators on their websites, so you can find a dealer near you.

    Brands
    To find brands that sell playsets in this price range, please see our Swing Set Brand Guide below.

  • Materials
    This price range begins to include premium playsets which means sets made with bigger, better wood and higher quality construction. While this price range includes playsets made from Chinese "cedar", you can also find playsets made from domestic woods including Redwood, Northern White Cedar, and pressure treated pine. You can also find a variety of vinyl coated sets in this range.

    Size and accessories
    Playsets in the $2500-5000 price range will be large and include forts or towers, high playdecks, several choices in swings and a variety of accessories.

    Weight limits
    Weight limits on playsets in this price range are usually high —200 pounds or more per swing and playdecks may take total weights from 800 to 1000 pounds to essentially unlimited. In general, swing sets in this price range are strong enough for grownups to play too, though sets made of Chinese "cedar" may have lower weight limits than those made of domestic woods.

    Packaging and assembly
    In this price range, imported sets will be shipped flatpacked with predrilled and precut lumber but no pre-assembled components. Sets produced domestically may have pre-assembled components. Many online dealers or brands that sell directly to customers will also offer assembly services, usually at an extra charge.

    Where to Buy
    Playsets in this price range are usually sold either directly from the playset brand’s website or sales department, or brands may sell through their own showrooms or at authorized dealers.

    Brands
    To find brands that sell playsets in this price range, please see our Swing Set Brand Guide below.

  • Materials
    This price range represents premium playsets, meaning sets that are made with bigger, better wood and highest quality construction. Most sets above $5000 will be made domestically from Northern White Cedar or Redwood as well as vinyl coated and pressure treated pine, though you can also find a few very large sets made from Chinese "cedar".

    Size and accessories
    At this price range, you can expect to find large and very large sets with just about any playset accessory you can dream of. Some playset companies that sell sets in this range offer customizable, or modular, sets, so you can make your playset as big as your imagination — and your budget — will allow.

    Weight limits
    This price range offers big playsets with high weight limits. Check the weight limit on any specific set you are interested in, but in general, you can expect that sets in this price range will have weight limits of at least 200 pounds per swing and be able to hold adults and a whole neighborhood full of kids.

    Packaging and assembly
    Domestically produced sets in this price range will usually be shipped with pre-assembled components making them easier to assemble, but brands that sell playsets in this range will also offer delivery and assembly services.

    Where to buy
    Premium playsets can be purchased at brand showrooms or from authorized dealers or on their websites.

    Brands
    To find brands that sell playsets in this price range, please see our Swing Set Brand Guide below.


Swing Set Brand Guide

Please Note: The Brand Guide will be most useful when viewed on wider screens

Terms used in this chart: Where to Buy, Material

Brand Where to Buy Where to Buy Material Material Source under
$500
$500 to
$1500
$1500 to
$2500
$2500 to
$5000
over
$5000
Backyard Adventures authorized dealers Chinese "cedar" imported
Backyard Discovery big box stores,online retailers,online direct Chinese "cedar" imported
Cedar Summit by KidKraft big box stores,online retailers Chinese "cedar" imported
CedarWorks online direct,phone Northern White Cedar domestic
Creative Playthings brand showrooms,authorized dealers,online direct pressure treated pine domestic
Creative Playthings - Playtime brand showrooms,authorized dealers,online direct pressure treated pine domestic
Eastern Jungle Gym authorized dealers,big box stores,online direct,brand showroom,online retailers Chinese "cedar" imported
Flexible Flyer big box stores,online retailers metal domestic
Gorilla big box stores,online retailers,online direct Chinese "cedar" imported
Iron Kids big box stores,online retailers metal domestic
King Swings authorized dealers vinyl,Southern Yellow Pine,Chinese "cedar" domestic
Lifetime big box stores,online retailers,online direct metal,plastic imported,domestic
Little Tikes big box stores,online retailers,online direct plastic domestic
PlayNation authorized dealers,online direct Chinese "cedar" imported
Rainbow brand showrooms,authorized dealers mix of Chinese "cedar" and domestic cedars imported,domestic
Sportspower big box stores,online retailers metal domestic
Step 2 big box stores,online direct,online retailers plastic mostly domestic
Swing Kingdom authorized dealers vinyl domestic
Swing n Slide big box stores,online retailers,online direct Chinese "cedar", pressure treated pine imported,domestic
Woodplay Safari Series authorized dealers,phone Chinese "cedar" imported

Note: This list is limited to companies that sell nationally and is not meant to be exhaustive, nor is it intended as an endorsement of any specific retailers or brands.