The decision to buy a playset for your backyard requires thoughtful consideration. Aside from safety, budget, space, or HOA concerns, some homeowners worry that the addition of a playset can devalue their home. 

Using our Swing Kingdom backyard playset buying guide, we’ll help you find a structure that excites your family, increases your property value, and lasts your child’s entire childhood. 

Backyard Playsets with Towers

Tower playsets are also a great pick for any backyard, especially those where space is limited. They help reduce surface space by building upwards instead of out. 

Plus, they elevate (pun intended) playtime, offering your children a chance to see the world from a higher perspective. With tower accessories like ship wheels, bubble panels, and binoculars, these backyard playsets will keep your children entertained for hours. 

Small Playset Options 

Basecamp 22	Basecamp 55 Clubhouse	Climber 55

Medium Playset Options

Basecamp 55 Stargazer	Climber 35	Climber 55 Turbo Deluxe

Large Playset Options

Basecamp 55 Fitness	Basecamp 77 Honeycomb	Climber 55 Deluxe

Double Towers

Double the towers, double the fun! Take your playset to the next level with a unique double-tower structure.

Small Playset Options 

Super 48 Turbo	Super 48 Sidekick

Note: you may have to ask to request a smaller swing beam for these sets to help save space in yards with limited space. 

Medium Playset Options

Super 59 Adventure	Mega Climber 55

Large Playset Options

Super 59 Sports Tower	Mega Climber 55 Deluxe

Backyard Playsets with Playhouses

Can’t decide between a playset or a swing set? Swing Kingdom makes it easy to get both! Discover backyard playsets with classic features like swing and slides, but with the addition of a private, covered play area. We guarantee the playhouse will quickly become their favorite hideout. 

Small Playset Options

Cabin	Kingdom Lodge

Note: you may have to ask to request a smaller swing beam for these sets to help save space in yards with limited space. 

Medium Playset Options

Alpine Retreat	Cabin Deluxe

Large Playset Options

Cottage Escape	Kingdom Lodge Deluxe

Playset Buying Criteria to Consider

There are 3 primary items you should determine before even starting to shop for your playset: yard size, use zones, and playset materials.

Yard Size

Before you do anything, it’s crucial to determine how much space you even have. It’s no secret these structures take up a lot of space. Before you start browsing, measure how much yard space you have and how much you’re willing to reserve for your backyard playset. 

Keep these dimensions handy as you shop around to ensure you don’t end up with a playset that’s too big for your space. 

Use Zones

Not only do you have to plan to accommodate the size of the structure, but you must also consider the use zones (also called “usage space”) around the playset. 

Use zones are defined in the Public Playground Safety Handbook as the “surface under and around a piece of equipment … which a child falling from or exiting from the equipment would be expected to land.” 

The general rule of thumb is to allow at least 6 feet of space around the perimeter of all equipment. For swings, the recommended usage space is double the sum of the swing’s arc when fully extended from the front to the back.  

While this amount of space is strongly encouraged, it’s not a requirement for backyard playsets. If you’re having trouble making room for your playset plus the recommended usage space, we suggest reaching out to one of our team members to ensure your play area is safe. 

Materials

Finally, take time to consider the different kinds of playset materials. If you’re looking for a backyard playset that’s going to last your children their entire childhood, invest in a structure with real strength and safety.

Swing Kingdom playsets are the original, super heavyweight structures made with high-grade materials inside and out. We never compromise your family’s safety to save a buck on cheaper materials. 

Discover how our quality pressure-treated wood and durable hardware outranks the competition in our wood vs. vinyl playset blog!

Can Backyard Playsets Increase Your Property Value? 

With the proper care, your play structure can add value to your home instead of taking it away. Explore some of the homeowner benefits of investing in a backyard playset, plus some extra tips for keeping your investment looking as good as new!

Top 3 Playset Benefits For Property Owners 

As a homeowner, there are 3 primary advantages that backyard playsets can offer:

• Increased real estate value: in today’s market, curb appeal is highly attractive to buyers. A well-maintained playset and landscaping can make your yard stand out.
• Increased outdoor play value: a playset can give your kids an additional way to enjoy the backyard, upgrading their outdoor play experience.
• Increased family entertainment value: playsets can bring the family — especially those with multiple children — closer during the formative years of child development.

Stick with us to break down these benefits more below. 

1. Improving Your Real Estate Value with Playsets

When homebuyers are in search of a new house, a great-looking, quality playset can be appealing for many reasons. But determining if a playset will add value to your property depends on several factors. 

If you plan to sell your house in the future, we’ve outlined some of the elements buyers might be looking at when assessing your home. 

Appearance

Cosmetics are a huge deal for most homeowners — it’s why HOAs are common in so many developments and communities. Consider the design of the playset, including its colors. It’s best to avoid the flashy colors and stick to neutrals or single-color combinations. 

Ask yourself, will this playset clash with the exterior color of my or my neighbors’ homes? If yes, then you might want to take some time to reconsider. In this case, your playset might be hurting your property’s value more than helping it.  

Aside from the playset’s appearance, the landscaping around your playset can make the play area more appealing. Choosing the right playset surfacing material and landscaping timber can create an appealing boarding around the structure, giving your backyard a clean, polished look. 

Quality

Similar to appearance, quality matters. Backyard playsets are available in a variety of materials, Those with the most benefit for homebuyers will be made from the materials with the lowest maintenance. 

High-quality vinyl is weather- and rot-resistant, unlike others which will decay or crack over time. Swing Kingdom’s premiere vinyl playsets are built to last for up to 20 years of enjoyment!

Safety & Condition

An obvious, but essential quality-booster, is if the playset is safe to play on. A backyard playset is only going to be attractive to homebuyers if their children can actually play on it. Structures in poor condition, especially those with rotting wood or missing hardware, are not safe for playtime.

The good news is if you’ve purchased a playset made from high-quality materials and you keep up with occasional maintenance checks, your structure is probably in good condition and will be safe for children to play on without any extra work.  

2. Improving Outdoor Play Value

According to a survey from Porch.com, a large backyard is among the top outdoor features desired by homeowners. Between the size of the structure and the safety-required usage space around it, playsets can take a huge chunk of your backyard. 

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that investing in a backyard playset will deter buyers! You just have to be strategic. Try to avoid positioning your playset in the middle of your yard to keep some room for other outdoor play activities. 

This will boost your outdoor play value immensely in the eyes of buyers because it creates flexibility, offering some extra space to kick a soccer ball or play tag when children need a break from the playset. 

If your space is really limited, try to shop for a playset designed to fit small backyards. Swing Kingdom has plenty of smaller sets that don’t compromise the fun!

3. Boosting Family Entertainment Value

It’s important to be practical and think ahead before you invest in a swing set, but at the end of the day, you should make the decision that’s best for your family. And a backyard playset can offer endless family entertainment value. 

Increasing family pleasure is the #1 reason most people buy a playset. They are a stimulating source of enjoyment for children and they can bring the family together! The memories your kids create with your family or friends are some that will last a lifetime — and that’s invaluable as a parent. 

Aside from the fun, many families invest in playsets for the health benefits. In the age of technology, it can be tricky to get your kids away from the screen. A playset is a fool-proof way to encourage outdoor play and get their bodies moving in a way that doesn’t feel like exercise.

When done correctly, a playset can be a beautiful addition to your home and family. As with any investment, take your time and do your research to make the best selection possible, but keep in mind, your family’s happiness should be the main priority. 

If you’re worried your playset might deter buyers but you’re certain it will make your kids happy, invest in the structure. After all, you can always arrange a deal later on to remove the playset yourself if a future buyer sees it as more of a hassle than an advantage. 

Swing Kingdom makes selecting a property-boosting backyard playset simple! With over 30 residential models and custom-built options, our team of playset professionals has the expertise to help guide you through the buying process.

This blog was originally published in March 2011. It was updated in May 2024.