Best Metal Swing Sets for Backyards
Best High End
Lifetime Monkey Bar Adventure Swing Set with 9 Foot Wavy Slide
Best Mid Range
FITNESS REALITY KIDS ‘The Ultimate’ 8 Station Sports Series Metal Swing Set
Best Inexpensive
Lifetime Heavy Duty A-Frame Metal Swing Set
Last Updated: 10th Mar, 2023
Are you looking for the best metal swing sets for your kids or maybe for the whole family? Well, good news we've tried and tested several metal swings sets across different price ranges to determine which sets offer the best bang for your bucks.
Whether you're looking for a small or large swing set, durable or budget one, we got you covered.
Here are my top 5 picks for best-rated metal swing sets for the money.
Remember the days of playing in the backyard until the sun went down? Those were the days! Soaking up the sunshine and seeing who could swing the highest. It doesn't have to be a pastime. Kids these days are itching to explore the outdoors. My kids love going to the park specifically for the swings. There is just a sense of freedom a child feels with the breeze flowing through their hair and the ground far beneath their feet. Almost as if they are flying.
One of my favorite games to play on the swing set was "Underdog" (or Under Duck depending on location). This was the game where you pushed your friend on the swing and ran under it as they soared high above you. It has always been a favorite pastime of mine. I even taught my kids to play "Underdog." Little did we know that these silly kid games provided a ton of health benefits.
Many studies show proof kids should play outdoors often. Plus, it gives the parents a little free time to tidy up or prepare dinner. It's a win-win for the whole family when the kids get to expend all that pent up energy. These benefits are better served on a platter of convenience. Sure going to the park is fun and adventurous, but bringing the park to your backyard makes for a much simpler playdate.
Here are the top 6 swing sets I recommend for your backyard.
Our Top Picks for the Best Metal Swing Sets
- Lifetime Monkey Bar Adventure Swing Set with 9 Foot Wavy Slide- The best large-size metal swing set ever!
- Skywalker Sports Modular Jungle Gym with Accessories - Kid's very own Jungle Gym
- Lifetime Heavy Duty A-Frame Metal Swing Set - Best heavy duty swing set (ideal for older kids)
- FITNESS REALITY KIDS ‘The Ultimate’ 8 Station Sports Series Metal Swing Set - Budget Pick (comes with a slide)
- Sportspower My First Metal Swing Set with Slide - Best for younger kids (less than 7)
- KLB Sport A-Frame Metal Swing Set - Ideal for smaller yards
For budget buyer's we have also rounded up the best swing sets under $500. Check the reviews here.
1. Lifetime Monkey Bar Adventure Swing Set with 9 Foot Wavy Slide
Specs:
- Comes with: Fireman's Pole, 9-ft. Wavy Slide, Monkey Bars, 3 Belt Swings, Trapeze Bar with Gym Rings
- Recommended age: 3 to 12 years
- Dimensions: 18 ft. 10 in. L x 14 ft. W (5,7 m L x 4,3 m W)
- Weight capacity: 640 lb. (290 kg)
- Weight capacity of swings: 150 lb. (68 kg)
- Max Occupants: 6
- Assembly time: about 2 hours with two adults
- Warranty: 5 years
This is the best large-size swing set ever! It is really tall and really wide, which makes for a sturdy structure (dimensions are 13.8' W x 18.6' D). This means there is no need for boring holes and pouring cement, making maintenance a breeze.
This swing set boasts a huge 9 foot slide sure to excite kids of all ages. I'm talking little toddlers to older pre-teens. It also comes with three belt swings, a trapeze bar with gym rings, a fireman pole, and monkey bars.
It is made of high-strength low alloy steel, which is my favorite feature. This means it won't weather the way a wooden swing set would. I despised the splinters I got from wooden playsets as a kid. Ouch! There are also plastic caps on hard edges and rubber grips on the swing chains to protect from pinching. This swing set is truly designed with safety in mind.
Top Features:
- All-weather resistant
- Size appropriate for all ages
- Huge 9' wavy slide
- Easy assembly and maintenance
Final Note:
If you have kids of all ages hanging out in your back yard, this is the best large-size metal swing set on the market. You can assemble it in just one day and enjoy it for a lifetime. You can move it with a few helping hands if necessary, and the safety features are impeccable. Plus, the earth tone colors look great in just about any landscape. Rest assured that your children are safely enjoying the outdoors with this swing set for years to come.
2. Skywalker Sports Modular Jungle Gym with Accessories
Specs:
- Comes with: monkey bars, swings, and hanging bridge
- Recommended age: 4 to 8 years
- Dimensions: 227 inches (L) x 150.5 inches (W) x 82.6 inches (H)
- Weight capacity: 486 lb.
- Assembled weight: 360.23 lbs.
- Max Occupants: 5
- Assembly time: about 2 hours with two adults
- Warranty: 1 year on frame, 90-days on other material
The Skywalker is your kid's very own jungle gym. It comes equipped with all the best parts of the standard park equipment.
My favorite feature on this one is the hanging bridge attachment. There is nothing like a good ole fashioned game of "King of the Bridge". It also features a jungle gym attachment (of course), a swing set attachment, and a monkey bars attachment.
The Skywalker was designed to meet (if not exceed) all of the ASTM standards. It has plastic-coated chains and "no pinch" joint covers to protect your child's fingers.
It is truly built to last. This playset is weather and rust-resistant, with 2" powder-coated, 16 gauge steel tubing. It is made for essentially any climate.
Because it is so large with multiple attachments included, it takes a while to assemble. The average user requires less than 2 days to set it up and anchor it. But the fun and memories will be well worth the assembly time.
The only negative thing I could say about this jungle gym is the single swing on the swing set attachment. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker if your kids are more into climbing and playing on the hanging bridge. Overall, the Skywalker is a quality jungle gym created to inspire the heart of an adventurous kid.
Top Features:
- Meets/exceed all ASTM safety standards
- Jungle gym attachment
- Weather and rust-resistant
- Hanging bridge attachment
Final note:
If you're looking for more than just a standard swing set, the Skywalker will not disappoint. With multiple included attachments to meet every kid's fancy, you simply couldn't go wrong with this one. If safety is your mantra, this jungle gym will far exceed your requirements. Best of all, it's priced to sell for less than $800!
3. Lifetime Heavy-Duty A-Frame Metal Swing Set
Specs:
- Comes with: 1 Trapeze Bar and 2 Swings
- Recommended age: 3 to 12 years
- Dimensions: 162.5"L x 125.5"W x 112"H
- Weight capacity: 405 lb.
- Max Occupants: 3
- Assembly time: about 1 hours with two adults
- Warranty: 5-year
This is the best heavy-duty swing set on the market. It's ideal for older kids but built for ages 3-12 years of age. This is a free-standing swing set that requires zero anchoring or cement for support.
It comes with two belt swings and trapeze bar with gym rings. The belts for the swings are made of sturdy thick plastic with rubber grips on the chains to protect from pinching. The frame is comprised of all-weather, high strength low alloy steel.
My favorite thing about this swing set is the easy assembly. You don't have to be an engineer to put this one together. The average user can assemble this swing set in under 2 hours. This leaves plenty of time to enjoy it all in the same day.
Sure this swing set doesn't come with all the bells and whistles, but it is highly durable and pleasant to look at.
One thing Lifetime gets right is aesthetics. With the earth tone colors, you can put this swing set in your freshly landscaped backyard, and it will blend in nicely. Unlike other heavy-duty metal swing sets, this one won't stick out like a sore thumb amongst your roses and petunias.
Top Features:
- Heavy Duty (ideal for older kids)
- Easy assembly
- All-weather-resistant
- No need for anchoring or cement
Final Note:
Maybe you don't want just slides, monkey bars and jungle gyms. Maybe durability is what you have in mind when you think of investing in a swing set for the family. If that is what you're searching for, the Lifetime Heavy-Duty A-Frame Metal Swing Set should meet all of your needs quite nicely. It's simple but elegant and priced fairly below $600.
4. Fitness Reality Kids ‘The Ultimate’ 8 Stations Sport Series Metal Swing Set
Specs:
- Comes with: Trampoline, Flying saucer, a slide, a glider, a monkey bar, a swing, a basketball hoop and backboard
- Recommended age: 3 to 8 years
- Dimensions: 157.5" L x 107.5" W x 72" H (without trampoline)
- Weight capacity: 80 lb/seat
- Max Occupants: 4
- Assembly time: about 1 hours with two adults
- Warranty: 2-year on frame, 6-months on rest components
This is the "mother of all mothers" sports playset! It's also a budget pick priced for less than $300. If your child is a sports enthusiast, this may be just what you need to win that parent of the year award.
This swing set comes with 8 different stations that can occupy up to 9 kids at a time. These stations include a slide, a 32" flying saucer, a glider, a 36" trampoline, a swing and a trapeze bar with gym rings. With all of these features, the words "I'm bored" should never be heard again!
My favorite feature on this swing set is the basketball hoop and backboard and the soccer goal with the net. Oh! And it comes with a basketball and a soccer ball plus an air pump! Your children can have it all with this swing set.
This sports series swing set is designed for kids ages 3-8 with a weight capacity of 80 lbs for each station. The glider has a weight capacity of 80 lbs per seat.
It is made of 2" powder-coated steel tubes and meets ASTM and CPSIA safety standards.
Top Features:
- 8 Stations
- Sport Series stations for Soccer and Basketball
- Safety rated
- Budget pick.
Final Note: This is a multi-feature swing set for a budget conscience shopper. Just because it costs less doesn’t mean it should be less fun. This swing set surpasses even the most expensive ones when it comes to features. This offers so many different activities to keep your child engaged in physical activity for hours. If budget shopping is your forte, this swing set is right up your alley.
5. Sportspower My First Metal Swing Set with Slide
Specs:
- Comes with: 2 swing seats, 1 trapeze, and 1 slide
- Recommended age: 2 to 11 years
- Dimensions: 89"L x 89"W x 74"H
- Weight capacity: 100 lb/seat
- Max Occupants: 4
- Assembly time: about 1 hours with two adults
- Warranty: 1-year on frame
This swing set is made for kids 7 and under, as the name suggests. It's a great starter swing set for younger children. Don't let that fool you into thinking it's boring by any means.
The Sportspower is made a little less durable than the aforementioned swing sets for a good reason. It isn't meant to be permanent. Imagine putting something together that requires hours of labor and special tools with a lot of unforeseen maintenance. Tearing it down when your kids have outgrown, it would be devastating. You won't have that issue with this swing set.
It can be set up in less than 2 hours, and it comes with instructions that are easy to understand. This swing set comes with two belt swings, trapeze bar and a slide. It's made shorter for smaller kids to be able to use it safely and the chains for the swings are adjustable to account for some growing room.
The Sportspower is made of 2" weather-resistant heavy-duty steel tubes. The hardware is powder-coated to prevent weathering as well.
Top Features:
- Quick and easy set up
- Great price
- Comes with a slide
Final Note: For just under $100, this is the perfect starter swing set for your younger children. It still comes with some fun features like the slide and it's easy to assemble. It's also smaller, so you don't have to worry much about the stability of it, and when you're ready to upgrade, it won't take much to disassemble it. I think this option is perfect for young families with little ones that still have some growing to do.
6. KLB Sport A-Frame Metal Swing Set
Specs:
- Comes with: 2 swing seats
- Recommended age: 3 to 8 years
- Dimensions: 102"(W) x 74"(D) x 71"(H)
- Weight capacity: 100 lb/seat
- Max Occupants: 2
- Assembly time: about 1 hours with two adults
- Warranty: 2-year on frame
If you have a small backyard and feel like your hopes of owning a swing set are null and void, let me stop you there. This small swing set is ideal for smaller yards. You don't have to miss out on the fun and security of having your own swing set just because your yard doesn't have enough space for one. The dimensions are 102" (W) x 74" (D) x 71" (H).
The KLB comes with two sturdy plastic seat swings that are suitable for up to 2 children at a time. Each swing can support up to 100 lbs of weight at a time. This swing set is also more suitable for younger children ages 3-8 years of age.
The KLB is built with your child's safety in mind. It meets all ASTM requirements and passes the playground performance and safety standards.
From a maintenance standpoint, this swing set gets 5 gold stars. There is no need to anchor or cement the base and no maintenance necessary.
I love how simple this swing set is! When you think about how many kids fight over the swings at the park, you can easily see that they are the best part overall. Imagine being the cool kid on the block that has a swing set in their backyard. It boasts exclusivity as your child, and their best friend get to swing until their hearts are content in the protection and privacy of your backyard. There will be nobody there to kick them off so that they can have a turn as well.
Materials are important when children are involved. This swing set is made of weather-resistant sturdy steel — no splinters, no staining, and nowhere for paper wasps to build their nests.
Top Features:
- Easy to assemble
- Freestanding
- A great choice for smaller yards.
Final Note:
If simplicity is your mantra, this is your swing set. Priced right around $100 and meets the safety standards from top to bottom. Maybe you have a little one who isn't ready for the seated swings. No problem with the KLB. They offer multiple different attachments and add-ons for a very reasonable price. This is a swing set that can grow with your child, and there are simply no end to the possibilities because the swing attachments are user-friendly. This is the perfect swing set for a medium to a small yard.
Buyer's Guide to Metal Swing Sets
When you're in the market for a metal swing set, there are a few major factors to take into consideration before purchasing. Size, price, weight limits, and the number of activities/stations are the most important factors in making the best decision.
Metal vs. Wood Swing sets
Metal and wood are the most commonly used material for swing sets, and each has its own distinct advantage. Plastic is also used, but it's generally used in toddler or smaller swing sets.
You can't really say which one is better as it boils down to use case and preference. Metal swing sets are very durable, rust-resistant, can withstand weather elements and have more weight-bearing capacity. They're suitable for areas with harsh weather conditions as well as places where the swing set sees more traffic. It's also ideal for older children and adults. The downside to the metal sets is that the sharp edges or rust may pose a risk of injury. Most of the high-end metal sets come with rubber covering to soften the surface and limit chances of injury. Also, in hot weather, metal can really become hot and would be uncomfortable to sit. So, it's best to mount a metal swing set in shady areas.
Wooden swing sets look classy and have a traditional feel to it. They're also much safer in comparison to metal sets. However, they need regular care and maintenance for long term ownership. A well-built wooden set would be as durable as a metal one, but it would also be at least double the cost. Wooden swing sets have a lower capacity, and they don't do well under weather elements.
If you're looking for a durable and cost-effective swing set, choose metal one. But be wary of the fact that you need to constantly monitor the kids while playing. On the other hand, wooden swing sets are for those who're looking for those for whom aesthetics matter, and they don't mind spending extra for the same.
Key Considerations
<Size>
Yards come in all shapes and sizes, and so do swing sets. You wouldn't want to purchase a swing set that barely fits the dimensions of your yard.
Getting the swing set to fit in your yard is only a small part of the formula. You still need enough wiggle room for the children to enjoy it. Backing the swing set up to a fence isn't going to allow for the swings to be operated. You also want to ensure a proper safe distance at the end of a slide so that you don't end up with any nasty collisions.
Homesite.com suggests allowing for a minimum of 8 feet of clearance around every part of the structure and a minimum of 10 feet of clearance for the swings. This should help prevent any nasty falls or collisions caused by other obstacles in the yard.
<Price>
Many people have an unrealistic idea of how much they should spend on a swing set. Pricing is dependent upon many different factors.
Wood swing sets typically cost way more than metal mainly because they are more aesthetically pleasing; although, metal swing sets can still have a chic and elegant look as well.
With swing sets, you pay for quality. Metal swing sets can be less expensive just because the material they are made out of cost the manufacturer less. Swing sets that have multiple stations or activities will generally cost more as well.
A basic swing set can run you between $100-$300. Swing sets with multiple activities can get up a couple of thousand dollars, if not more. It all really depends on what your goals are with your swing set and what you're willing to pay to achieve those goals.
<Weight Limits>
Weight limits are important when it comes to a swing set. You wouldn't want to purchase a swing set made for toddlers and expect it to be safe and functional for your older children.
Most swing sets will have specs showing the allowable weight per station and for the whole structure at one time. It's important to take into account the entire structure because not following the safety guidelines diminishes the integrity of the structure's safety.
Pay attention to safety guidelines and weight limits, especially in structures that require balancing. For instance, be careful not to put all the weight on one side of a freestanding structure where the base is not balanced perfectly. This could cause the structure to tip over, and injuries could occur.
Weight limits per station are important to note as the materials may not be strong enough to hold much more than the limit. You wouldn't want to suffer that embarrassing moment when a swing belt breaks under your rear end, and you tumble to the ground. Both your bum and your ego will be bruised.
<Number of Stations/Activities>
If you're just looking for a basic swing set, then this section doesn't really pertain to you. If you are a back yard adventurist, you may be in store for much more than a few swings. There are so many features to add to the fun. Here are some of our favorites.
- Slides
- Monkey bars
- Jungle gyms
- Trampolines
- Basketball hoops
- Soccer Goals
- Trapeze bars
- Gym rings
- Single bars
- Double bars
- Gliders
- Rope bridges
- Rock walls
- Hanging bridges
- Fireman poles
The list could go on! There are so many different attachments out there to help you create the ultimate "American Ninja Warrior" obstacle course if that is what you want. Your swing set could be a simple as you desire or as detailed as your mind can fathom.
How to Anchor the swing set
Before you let your kids use the swing, you must ensure that it's properly anchored. There are primarily two ways to anchor. You can either permanently anchor the set using concrete or use ground anchors. I prefer using ground anchors because it's easy to put, and I still have the option to change the position of the swing if I ever want to in the future. Moreover, ground anchors securely hold the set in position.
I've put together a general guideline on how to anchor a swing set.
Materials required:
1) Ground anchors (4 or 6) - We recommend the CREATIVE CEDAR DESIGNS Playset Anchor Pack.
2) Screwdriver or metal bar
4) Angle grinder
3) Bolt cap
Step 1: Assemble the swing and put it in the desired position.
Step 2: Mark the leg contact points.
Step 3: Slightly dig the ground, so the contact points of that legs fit inside it. This step is optional but results in a much stable footing and anchoring.
Step 4: Near the legs of the swing, screw the ground anchors at approximately 45-degree angle. You can also use a metal bar or a screwdriver to drive the anchors in the ground.
Step 5: Similarly, put the anchors near the remaining legs.
Step 6: Attach the provided chain to the anchor and screw it to each of the legs using the metal strip.
Step 7: Using an angle grinder, cut off the protruding sections and put the bolt caps.
Step 8: Check if the swing set still wobbles or move around and tighten the ground anchor accordingly.
And this is it; you're done with the installation. You can be relieved your kids would be safer while they enjoy playing on the swing.
Let's Wrap Things Up:
Swing sets have been entertaining kids for years and always seem to be the highlight of many childhood memories. Investing in a sturdy and safe metal swing set for your family is something that requires a lot of thought and research. Once you make that decision, your children will have copious amounts of fun for many days to come. You can rest at ease, knowing they are safe and sound in your back yard having the time of their life!
