How Much Does It Cost to Install a Playground or Swing Set?

Playground Equipment Costs

On average, the price of playground equipment ranges between $100 and $5,000. In rare residential cases, it can be much more. Where on that range you fall depends on what kind of playset or swing set you want.

Most playground equipment comes in one of three materials: wood, metal, or plastic. You can find options as simple as a single swing or as complex as a tower with multiple slides. Playsets, sandboxes, and water tables round out your options.

Playground Installation Cost

Most experts charge between $150 and $900 to install your playground equipment. You can expect to pay a local handyperson $150 to $250 or hire a team of specialists between $300 and $900.

Many retailers that sell this playground equipment also offer installation for a $200 to $800 fee.

Playset Installation Costs by Brand

There are many different brands of playground equipment, with different product offerings, installation costs, and overall prices.

Swing Set Cost

Expect to pay between $80 and $1,500 for a swing set excluding additional attachments and assembly. How much you'll spend depends on what equipment you purchase, the brand you buy, and the installation cost. While you can DIY the setup if you know what you're doing, for the sake of safety, many parents choose to have a pro set up their playground equipment. 

Swing Set Installation Costs

Professional installation of a new swing set typically ranges between $150 and $500. Most come in prefab kids and take just a few hours to put together. You might pay more if it's a custom piece, the ground needs to be leveled, or you need to pay for a soft surface.

Playset Prices

Playsets or jungle gyms cost between $200 and $5,000 or more. Material, features, and brand all play a major role in price. A custom set featuring premium wood can easily reach $10,000.

Jungle gyms are swing sets that come with something extra attached, like a slide, lookout deck, awning, or trampoline. Most, but not all come in prefab kits that include all materials.

Playset Assembly Cost

Professionals charge between $200 and $900 to assemble a prefab playset kit. The more complex the structure, the more you pay for assembly. Some larger sets might require two assemblers to get it done, in which case the price typically ranges between $300 and $900.

Sandbox or Water Table Costs

Most installation prices for projects other swing sets or jungle gyms are minimal. Sandboxes themselves range between $40 and $300. However, digging out ground for a sandbox might cost between $100 and $200. They can be ready-to-play plastic boxes or custom wood constructions that anchor underground. 

Water tables can cost as little as $30 at your local home improvement store or as much as $500 for a custom, permanent wooden structure. Building a water table ranges between $50 and $150.

Slide Costs

You can buy a playground slide for $100 to $800at most major retailers and home improvement stores. It's useful if you want to build onto your existing structure or have an area of your yard (like a deck) that kids can slide down from. 

Cost Factors to Building a Swing Set or Playset

Materials, kits, and assembly are only part of the full cost of installation. The surface and paperwork also play a major role in your budget.

Securing Permits

Depending on where you live, you might need permission to construct a backyard playground. Your budget will likely fall on the lower end of the$450 to $2,300 price for a building permit. Although you might think about installing a simple swing set or small play equipment on your own, the reality is that some cities require a structural work permit first.

Cost to Level Your Yard for a Playset

If you have a hilly or uneven yard, you might have to budget for the price to clear the land at about $1,200 to $4,200. Many homeowners don't expect site preparation to be as lengthy or as expensive as it can end up.

Larger projects with lots of backyard vegetation might require you to budget for land excavation, at $1,500 to $5,000. You can do your own site prep, but enlisting professionals makes sense when the task gets complex. 

You might need to dig up the soil, remove rocks, roots, and trees, or replace topsoil. You will need to build the play structure on level ground that won't shift over time. The area where the playground goes needs to be cleared of all debris and structures, graded to be level and then covered in topsoil if necessary.

Compare Playground Surfaces & Costs

You can select from multiple options like grass, soft rubber tiles, wood chips, and sand, at a cost between free and $3,500. Choosing the right base for your outdoor play area is vital.

Rubberized playground surface costs between $1,800 and $3,500 and tends to be your most comprehensive option. Soft rubber tiles are kid-friendly, relatively easy to install, slip-resistant and ideal for rainy areas where drainage is a concern

Grass is the cheapest option since you may have a backyard full of it already. Just be sure to keep it healthy and free of sharp objects and pet souvenirs.

Sand is another base material popular in outdoor play areas. It can absorb falls, protect children, and be quite affordable, but you might find it a hassle to contain. Use these numbers as an internal playground sand calculator:

• Sand costs between $5 and $8 per cubic foot.

• You need about 100 cubic feet for a small swing set about 10 feet long.

• Each foot of equipment requires about 10 cubic feet of sand.

• Therefore, each foot of equipment costs between $50 and $80 to cover.

Playground mulch is essentially a mix of soft wood chips with dull ends. It's certified for child safety. Wood chips are also expensive and attract insects like ants and termites.

Type of Material

Material is the biggest cost variable, but it also impacts durability, longevity, and the maximum user weight.

Plastic playground equipment is often the cheapest but also the least durable. It's the most likely to have its colors fade in sunlight and doesn't hold up for older children. Metal is more durable but can get hot in the sun. Wood is the most expensive but also comes with the most aesthetic and functional advantages.

Custom Construction

Custom construction playsets cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000. While prefab kits are the most affordable option and are available at any big box store, you can also go with a custom design. For example, suppose your kids love fairy tales, princesses, knights, and dragons. In that case, you could have a carpenter put together a fantasy-themed playground with a castle that houses a slide and a climbing frame or wall, finished with a bridge, monkey bars, and a swing set. There's no limit to the possibilities of a custom playground setup, but the more elaborate you go, the more it'll cost.

DIY vs. Hiring Swing Set Installation Services

On average, you can save around 11% of the cost if you install the playground yourself. That's because you won't need to pay the $150 to $900 price for professional assembly and installation if you build your own swing set. However, to ensure safety, many people prefer to pay the typical handyperson rates and let a professional complete the job.

Assembling the playground equipment is the final step, but it can be complex. Many sets come pre-made and only need assembling with clear-cut instructions rather than measuring, cutting, and drilling from scratch. These DIY swing sets come in plastic, metal or wood parts, and they typically require minimal labor and tools.

A true DIY playground involves building your own play equipment. This is a major task, and some larger structures could require an additional permit or safety check to ensure that it’s sound for child or adult use. Due to the heavy nature of timber and metal rods, building the structure from scratch might need to be a two or three-person job. 

For complex projects, look for professional playground installation services nearby or local swing set installers. Going with an expert can also give you peace of mind about the stability of slides, forts, or any other structures.