VoxVibe

• Here are the best swing set brands in 2021
• Kidkraft
• Little Tikes
• Backyard Discovery
• Gorilla Playsets
• Cedar Works
• How we selected brands
• Best safety practices for swing sets
• What to consider when shopping for a swing set
• How swing sets benefit children
• Our sources

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• A good swing set is safely constructed and durable enough to hold up for many years.
• We did the research and spoke to experts to round up the best swing set brands.
• Many sets include special features like slides, climbing walls, clubhouses, and sand boxes. 

Swing sets provide children with a multitude of benefits, including physical activity, motor skills development, social play opportunities, and sensory input. In addition to swings, many of today's residential sets are equipped with slides, monkey bars, rock walls, playhouses, and picnic tables. 

To help you find a safe and fun swing set within your budget, we rounded up the best swing set brands so you can make an informed decision before making this big purchase. All of the brands featured below meet or exceed the home playground equipment standards outlined in American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1148.

We also spoke to eight experts, including pediatric occupational therapists and a safety expert, to narrow down our criteria for the best swing sets. At the end of this guide, read more about how we selected brands, best safety practices for swing sets, what to consider when shopping for a set, the ways swing sets benefit children, and who we consulted.

Here are the best swing set brands in 2021

• Kidkraft
• Little Tikes
  
• Backyard Discovery
• Gorilla Playsets
• Cedar Works

Kidkraft

Kidkraft is known for its high-quality wooden toys and children's furniture, and its most affordable wooden swing set is a true bargain.

Kidkraft's swing set selection currently starts at $399, making it one of the more affordable brands. I have personally tested countless toys and pieces of furniture from Kidkraft and have found it's one of the most reliable, high-quality, and affordable children's brands.

Even Kidkraft's most basic sets offer play areas that provide both vestibular (movement sense) and proprioceptive (pressure sense) input. Kids get vestibular input from swings and slides, while proprioceptive input comes from climbing or using monkey bars, according to Amber Lee, an occupational therapist at Sensory Zone Gym for Children in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Some of the features of Kidkraft's sets include sandboxes, picnic tables, ladders, rock walls, playhouses, chalk walls, and monkey bars. Most sets are approved for ages 3 to 10, and they can hold anywhere from 3 to 12 kids at a time.

Buying from Kidkraft is easy no matter what retailer you consider. Sets are available at Kidkraft's website as well as Walmart, Target, Wayfair, Costco, BJ's, and Sam's Club. Note that some sets are exclusive to specific stores. Unfortunately, Kidkraft does not offer installation, but they do provide a 10-year warranty.

Worth a look:

Equipped with a slide, rock wall, 2 swings, clubhouse, sandbox, and canopy. Holds up to 6 children, maximum weight of 110 pounds per child. Ages: 3 to 10.

Equipped with a slide, rock wall, 2 swings, acrobar, 2-story clubhouse, picnic table, and canopy. Holds up to 6 children, maximum weight of 110 pounds per child. Ages: 3 to 10.

Includes a double wave slide, rock wall, 2 swings, acrobar, and clubhouse. Holds up to 9 children, maximum weight of 110 pounds per child. Ages: 3 to 10.

Little Tikes

Little Tikes is another budget-friendly brand that sells both plastic and wooden swing sets for kids of all ages.

Known primarily for their toys for toddlers and younger children, Little Tikes makes plastic and wooden swing sets for kids ages 2 to 10. My daughter's first swing set was the Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set. It's low to the ground and ideal for younger kids.

Little Tikes sets provide both vestibular and proprioceptive input, with features like rock walls, seesaws, hammocks, crawl spaces, climbing walls, picnic tables, and rope bridges. Sets can hold 4 to 12 kids at a time.

The sets are available on the Little Tikes website as well as major retailers like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and Wayfair. Some sets are exclusive to specific stores. Professional installation is available, and many of the sets also have 3D interactive instructions to guide you in assembly.

Little Tikes offers a one-year warranty on its products as well as an additional prorated five-year warranty on the wood. 

Worth a look:

Includes a wave slide, rock wall, climbing net, two swings, play nook, and clubhouse. Holds up to 6 children, maximum weight of 110 pounds per child. Ages: 3 to 10.

Backyard Discovery

Backyard Discovery's metal and wooden swing sets are in the low- to mid-level price range and include a wide variety of features.

Backyard Discovery makes metal and wooden swing sets. Many its sets incorporate features that provide both vestibular and proprioceptive input. Some of the features include suspended rings, picnic tables, tube slides, rock walls, monkey bars, crow's nests, web swings, and solar powered lights.

The sets are sold at major retailers such as The Home Depot, Lowe's, Amazon, Sam's Club, Wayfair, and Overstock, and some sets are exclusive to specific stores. You can also buy directly through Backyard Discovery. Installation by GoConfigure is available on most sets.

The brand's swing sets are designed for kids ages 3 to 10, and the max capacity of its largest set is 9 children. Backyard Discovery provide a one-year warranty for parts and a five-year prorated warranty for wood rot and decay.

Worth a look:

Equipped with 2 belt swings and 1 disc swing. Holds up to 4 children, maximum weight of 150 pounds per swing. Ages: 3 to 10.

Includes two swings. Holds up to 2 children. Ages: 2 to 10.

Consists of a wave slide, 2 swings, web swing, two-level clubhouse, and ladder. Holds up to 9 children, maximum weight of 150 pounds per child. Ages: 3 to 10.

Gorilla Playsets

Gorilla Playsets makes wooden playsets with all the bells and whistles, including racing slides, monkey bars, and even solar lights.

When you're looking for a variety of options and are comfortable spending a bit more, Gorilla Playsets is the place to shop. Its swing sets range in price from a couple hundred dolllars up to $6,000.

Sets in the lower price range are equipped with only swings and rings. As with all its other sets, even these lower-priced sets provide vestibular and proprioceptive input. "Suspended rings provide proprioceptive input from hanging and vestibular input from being on a dynamic swing," Lee explained.

Gorilla Playsets swing sets are available at many major retailers, including The Home Depot, Overstock, Amazon, Lowe's, Wayfair, and Costco. You can also purchase directly from the Gorilla Playsets website, where you have the opportunity to customize parts of the swing set — change the roof style or add monkey bars, for example.

The largest sets have a maximum capacity of seven kids and are designed for ages 3 to 11. You can find a wide variety of features, including sand boxes, racing slides, rock walls, standup swings, chalkboards, tic-tac-toe areas, rope ladders, picnic tables, tire swings, climbing ramps, and sky lofts.

Installation is available on select sets, and all carry a one-year warranty for accessories and a limited ten-year warranty for lumber.

Worth a look:

Equipped with 2 swing seats and 1 ring/trapeze swing. Holds up to 3 children, maximum weight of 115 pounds per swing. Ages: 3 to 11.

Cedar Works

Cedar Works has many customizable indoor and outdoor swing set options and an onsite quiz to help you find the best one for your backyard.

Cedar Works offers customizable sets in natural wood finishes. One of the best and most unique aspects of Cedar Works swing sets is that they are designed for ages 3 up to adulthood so there is no limit to who can enjoy them. The sets can also potentially hold dozens of kids. 

Cedar Works' offerings are on the pricier side — ranging from $1,485 to $67,005 for predesigned sets. The price of customized sets varies. You can purchase directly from the Cedar Works website or via phone, and installation is available. Depending on the product, the brand offers one-, two-, five- and ten-year warranties.

Cedar Works' onsite quiz is designed to recommend the best set for your family. Quizzes are available for two of their outdoor swing set lines: Serendipity and Frolic. Some fun and unique features include a crow's nest, tube slide, rock wall, rope ladder, firepole, rope and bucket, and bench swing.

Cedar Works also has a large selection of indoor playsets — ideal for homes without an outdoor space or in extremely cold climates. Most of their indoor sets and all of their outdoor sets provide both vestibular and proprioceptive input.

Worth a look:

Includes a wave slide, climbing wall, leaning ladder, rope ladder, 2 swings, trapeze bar and rings, picnic table, and fort. Can be further customized. No weight restrictions. Ages: 3 and up.

Equipped with a slide, rock wall, 2 swings, clubhouse, and ladder. Can be further customized. No weight restrictions. Ages: 3 and up.

Includes a slide, 2 swings, rock wall, and two-story clubhouse. Can be further customized. No weight restrictions. Ages: 3 and up.

How we selected brands

We researched the top swing sets and brands, then spoke to experts to find out what to look for in a swing set. From there, we created a list of selection criteria and evaluated brands accordingly. 

Here are our main criterion:

Safety standards: All brands we included meet or exceed the home playground equipment standards set by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1148.

Vestibular and proprioceptive input: Many of the occupational therapists we spoke to emphasized the importance of vestibular (movement sense) and proprioceptive (pressure sense) input for children. "There are a few essential components that are important for a swing set: something that moves (traditional U-swings, see saw swings) and something that can provide the proprioceptive input such as monkey bars, ladders, or something to climb," occupational therapist Amber Lee told us. We only considered brands with swing sets that provide both types of input.

Availability: We wanted to bring you swing sets that are readily available and easy to buy. With the exception of Cedar Works and Swing Kingdom, all brands we recommend are sold at major retailers. We also gave strong preference to brands that offer installation.

Warranty: We only considered brands that offer warranties on their swing sets.

Price: When you decide to buy a swing set, you do so knowing it's a big purchase. A swing set offers so many benefits to children that we wanted to find accessible options for all budgets. We only included brands whose prices start below $2,000. It might seem logical to believe that expensive swing sets are higher quality. However, Karla Crosswhite, a spokesperson for the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), assured us that a more expensive set does not always equate to a safer set.

Variety: We chose brands that offer a variety of options across price points. The brands we chose also cater to a wide age range (most 3 to 10 years old) and can accommodate small, medium, and large groups of kids.

Best safety practices for swing sets

Swing set safety is incredibly important to prevent injuries. Follow these safety practices to keep your children as safe as possible.

Choose an age-and-size-appropriate swing set: Be sure to purchase a set that is age graded for your children because a swing set well beyond their ability can be dangerous. Keep the maximum capacity of the set in mind as well. If you regularly have a large number of kids playing in your yard, choose a set large enough to accommodate them.

Create distance from other toys and obstacles: According to ASTM F1148, sets should be at least 6 feet from any obstacle. This might include a house, fence, low-hanging branches, or wires. Within the set, a slide should never exit in front of a swing or other moving piece of equipment.

Anchor the swing set to the ground: Swing sets need to be anchored to the ground according to the manufacturer's instructions. Additionally, Crosswhite recommends burying or covering anchors so they don't become a tripping hazard.

Place the swing set on a soft, level surface: Grass, dirt, and other hard surfaces are not recommended for swing sets. ASTM F1148 recommends using wood or mulch chips, engineered wood fiber, or rubber mulch as loose fill. The fill should be at least 9 inches deep. When initially filling the area, it should reach 12 inches deep because the fill will settle over time.

The fill material should extend 6 feet around the set, and the area should be level and cleared of obstacles such as stumps, large rocks, or roots.

Prevent burns from hot materials: When possible, place your swing set in the shade or an area that does not get direct sunlight. If the set has been in direct sunlight, feel each surface, especially slides and any metal on the set, before you allow your child on the set. This will reduce the risk of burns.  

Perform routine swing set maintenance: ASTM F1148 recommends performing routine maintenance at the beginning of the season, every two months during the season, and at the end of the season. Maintenance includes:

• Tighten screws and hardware.
• Lubricate metallic moving parts per manufacturer's instructions.
• Check protective coverings on bolts, pipes, edges, and corners and replace if necessary.
• Check moving parts for wear, rust, and deterioration. Replace as needed.
• Check metal for rust and wood for deterioration and splinters. Repair as needed.
• Rake and check loose fill depth. Add more if needed.

What to consider when shopping for a swing set

After safety, the most important thing to consider for a swing set is your child's interests. Consider letting them take part in the purchasing decision so they can select features they will love and play on again and again.

Additionally, think about what features your kids might like a few years from now so they can grow into the set and get use out of it for years. "Consider your children's ages and abilities to get something that your family can grow with over the years," occupational therapist Ingrid M. Kanics told Insider Reviews.

Don't forget the size of your yard. You might have big swing set dreams, but if you don't have enough level space with a 6-foot perimeter around the set, it won't be safe.

How swing sets benefit children

Swing sets provide immense benefits to children. They help children develop physically and socially, and they're just plain fun. Here are some of the biggest benefits of swing sets.

Sensory regulation: As explained in "How we selected brands," swing sets provide children with both vestibular and proprioceptive input. As they swing, slide, and climb, children develop and regulate these sensory systems. These movements can help kids feel calm and focused as well.

Motor planning and coordination: Playing on a swing set helps kids learn where their body is in space, how to move their muscles, and how much force they need to complete an activity.

Physical activity: Swing sets require kids to be active. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), kids ages 3 to 5 should be active throughout the day, and kids ages 6 to 17 should engage in one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Physical activity helps kids develop their strength, balance, and coordination.

Social skills: When playing cooperatively on a swing set, kids practice taking turns, communicating, and problem solving. They also learn to be aware of their surroundings as they check to make sure nobody is in the way before they start swinging or sliding.

Unstructured play: Swing sets provide an opportunity for independent, unstructured play. Cindy Miles, a pediatric physical therapist, explained that unstructured play can increase confidence, imagination, and adventurous spirit.

Our sources

• Roseann Capanna-Hodge is a psychologist, pediatric mental health expert, and the founder of Dr. Roseann and Associates and the Global Institute of Children's Mental Health. 
• Karla Crosswhite is a spokesperson from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. She specializes in baby safety and playgrounds, among other areas.
• Alescia Ford-Lanza, OTR/L, ATP, is an occupational therapist and assistive technology partner. As the owner of Adapt & Learn, LLC, she helps connect families with products that are created with development in mind.
• Alisha Grogan, MOT OTR/L, is a licensed pediatric occupational therapist. She is the owner of Your Kids Table where she helps parents find solutions to all things feeding and sensory. 
• Ingrid M. Kanics, OTR/L, FAOTA, is an occupational therapist who specializes in Universal Design. In her work with Kanics Inclusive Design Services, she helps communities create places where everyone can play.
• Amber Lee, MS, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist who has a strong passion for working with children. She works in the school system as an occupational therapist as well as at the Sensory Zone Gym for Children.
• Jennifer Lynch is the Toy Trends Specialist for The Toy Association.
• Cindy Miles, PT, PhD, PCS, is a board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy as well as the president of the American Physical Therapy Association's Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy.

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