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 |  | Metal A-Frame Swing Set: $80-$500 |  | Simple Wood Swing Set: $100-$1,200 |  | Elaborate Wood Swing/Play Set: $1,200-$10,000+ |
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Swing sets can range from a simple A-frame with one or two swings to elaborate play structures with swings, slides, gliders, climbing walls, decks and more. Most swing sets today are made of sturdy, weather-resistant wood.
Typical costs: | - A metal swing set typically costs $80-$500 for a standard backyard A-frame, or $500-$4,000 or more for a commercial-grade metal set. Prices depend on whether the set is just swings or whether it includes additional features like a slide, two-person glider, rings, trapeze or climbing gym. For example, the Flexible Flyer First Fun Swing Set[1] ($100 -$160) has two swings, a standing swing with rings and a 6' slide with ladder; the Lifetime 10' Swing Set[2] ($500-$600) has two belt swings and a trapeze bar and is advertized as heavy-duty, weather-resistant and maintenance-free; the Ultra Play Double Bay Bipod Swing Set[3] $(1,400 -$1,700) has two belt swings and two infant swings; and the Lifetime Deluxe Play Set[4] ($2,500-$3,500) has three swings, a trapeze bar with gym rings, a 9' slide, a look-out deck with ship's wheel and binoculars, and more.
- The most common type available, wood swing sets start at about $100-$500 for a basic, simple kit but average $500-$1,200 for a standard backyard unit and can cost $1,200-$10,000 or more for a set with multiple swings, slides, decks, awnings and imaginative touches like a movable ship's wheel. For example, Swing-N-Slide's Pine Bluff No-Cut Wooden Play Set Kit[5] with two swings costs $200 but the 6' slide is sold separately for $60-$200, and the customer has to supply the 4"x4" lumber needed for the slide; Gorilla Playsets' Congo Swing Station[6] ($550-$850) has two swings and a trapeze bar; Gorilla Playsets' Big Sky II Swing Set[7] ($3,200-$3,700) includes two swings, a trapeze bar, three slides, a rock wall, a periscope and more; and Kid's Creations' Big Ringer Wood Swing Set[8] ($9,400) is 45'x18' and 13' high, and includes five swings, a tire swing, spiral slide, two decks, a rock climbing wall and more.
- Another option is a molded plastic swing/play set designed for younger children (typically five or six and younger), which can cost $100-$1,200 or more, depending on size, number of swings and features like a slide or teeter-totter. For example, the Little Tikes Endless Adventures Variety Climber and Swing Set ($500-$560) has two swings, two slides, a bridge/tunnel, a climbing net and a steering wheel.
Related articles: Playhouse, Handyman
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What should be included: | - Most swing sets come unassembled. They often have thousands of hardware pieces and hundreds of wood parts, and many features must be pre-assembled before the main structure is built. Most require two workers and few sets can be assembled in a day or even in a single weekend, except with additional help. TheDallasHandyman.com lists tips for installing a swing set and recommends increasing the manufacturer's suggested assembly time by 50% for a team of two skilled people or doubling it for an inexperienced team.
- A time-lapse video[9] shows a two-man crew from Hands For You Assembly Services in Massachusetts constructing a typical wooden swing set.
Additional costs: | - Hiring a handyman or assembly service company to install a swing set starts at about $150-$250 for a simple A-frame with few parts or features, but more typically costs $300-$700 and can be $800-$1,200, depending on local rates, the brand and model of swing set and the distance from the installer to the customer. Some retail stores or dealers offer delivery and assembly for $100-$1,000 or more, depending on distance and complexity.
Discounts: | - Hardware-only kits with all the hardware -- swing, brackets, rings, etc. -- but no lumber for a wooden play set can cost $75-$500, depending on what is included. For example, the Swing-N-Slide Pioneer Custom DIY Play Set Hardware Kit[10] with four swing set designs costs $80-$100. HGTV provides instructions for building a custom A-Frame Wood Swing Set[11] from scratch.
Shopping for a swing set: | - Avoid sets with exposed moving parts that could pinch or crush fingers, and be sure the set is properly anchored when installed. Good Housekeeping lists safety tips[12] for buying, installing and maintaining backyard play equipment.
- Swing sets are available from big-box stores like Target[13] or Walmart[14] ; home improvement centers like Home Depot[15] or Lowe's[16] ; or online retailers like Amazon[17] .
- Some manufacturers offer links to dealers and installers on their website. For example, Kid's Creations lists installers by state and Swing-N-Slide provides links to retailers[18] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
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External Resources: | - www.flexible-flyer.com/swings.html
- www.lifetime.com/playground/playsets-and-swing-sets/10-foot-swing-set
- www.ultraplay.com/categories/swings.aspx
- www.lifetime.com/playground/playsets-and-swing-sets/deluxe-playset
- www.swing-n-slide.com/80-Pine-Bluff-No-Cut-Wooden-Play-Set-Kit.aspx
- www.gorillaplaysets.com/Swing-Station-Playset-p/01-0002.htm
- www.gorillaplaysets.com/Big-Skye-II-Swing-set-p/01-0008.htm
- www.kidscreations.com/categories/Wooden-Swing-Sets/Premier-Redwood-Swing-Sets/
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWbJx6dg7fo&feature=fvst
- www.swing-n-slide.com/Categories/1-DIY-Hardware-Kits.aspx
- www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/custom-a-frame-childrens-swing-set/index.html
- www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/consumer-protection/backyard-playset-0705
- www.target.com/s/swing+set#keywords=swing+set&searchNodeID=1038576|1287991011&ref=sr_bx...
- www.walmart.com/browse/outdoor-play/swing-sets/4171_14521_49400/?browsein=true&catNavId...
- www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Swings/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbxae/Ntk-All/Ntt-swing%2Bsets*/h_d2/Navi...
- www.lowes.com/pl_Outdoor+Play_4294857884_4294937087_?UserSearch=swing+set&langId=-1&sto...
- www.amazon.com/s/nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=swing+set&x=0&y=0
- www.swing-n-slide.com/FindARetailer.aspx
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