Those huge, lumbering wooden backyard playsets you see in suburban back yards aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. They’re giant beasts, heavy and expensive, and they’re not the easiest things to put together. Not everyone is willing to risk their sanity on the complicated, hours-long assembly required—and not everyone is willing to shell out a couple grand for an elaborate wooden outdoor playset their kids will abandon someday, leaving a faded monstrosity jacking up the backyard view.

Happily, backyard playsets come in myriad shapes, sizes, materials, and prices. Even if you’re on a tight budget, low on space, or can’t assemble your way out of a paper bag, there’s something for you. The fact is, you can create a spectacular backyard playground with one or more playsets that won’t cost you an arm, a leg, and a few billion brain cells.

Here, then, are 11 playsets you can get on Amazon for anywhere between $100 and $300. If you click on one of the links and make a purchase, I may see a small percentage of that sale. It won’t pay the rent, but it helps offset the time I spend pouring over specs and reviews on Amazon (even though I’d do it anyway!)

Swing Sets

1. Simple Wooden Playset

This wooden swingset is super easy to assemble and includes two swings and a ring/trapeze combination. All three components feature coated, pinch-free chains to protect little fingers. Made of cedar lumber and clocking in at 104” long, this backyard playset is super versatile—you can swap out the included swings for other playthings, such as a bench swing, baby swing, or toddler swing. When the kids grow out of this playset, you can hang a platform swing with lots of pillows to prop you up while you sip wine and read.

4.6/5 stars, 2,607+ ratings
Weight capacity: Each swing included with this swing set supports up to 115 pounds.

2. Saucer Swing Set

Who doesn’t love a saucer swing? Nobody, that’s who doesn’t. This saucer swing combo set includes the frame, the swing, the adjustable ropes, and all hanging hardware. The saucer is 40 inches in diameter, big enough for a couple of kids or a kid and a grownup. The nylon hanging ropes are super strong and durable and feature steel rings that connect to the frame, which is made from 2”, heavy-duty steel tubes with weather-resistant, powder-coated paint. The frame is 70.9” tall and 86.6” long.

4.2/5 stars, 1,681+ ratings
Weight capacity: 440 pounds

3. Big Heavy-Duty Swingset

This epic backyard swingset is 157” (13 feet!) long and 79” high. Its powder-coated steel frame is sturdy and rust-resistant. The set is designed for kids aged 3 to 12 and includes a classic swing, a platform swing, a trapeze bar, a climbing ladder, a climbing net, and a basketball hoop. It comes with 4 ground anchors and everything you need to assemble it quickly.

4.6/5 stars, 92+ ratings
Weight capacity: 440 pounds

Climbing Sets

4. Geometric Dome Jungle Gym

This fun, domed climbing structure is an American classic. Made from powder-coated steel, it’s weather- and rust-resistant and features high-density polyethylene climbing grips for slip-free fun. This jungle gym is 10 feet in diameter and 5 feet tall and suitable for children aged 3 to 10.

Positive reviewers cite the sturdiness, ease of assembly, and lack of rusting after three years. One reviewer said she purchased a 20-foot play parachute and tossed it over the structure to create an awesome fort. Another reviewer installed a swing on the top bars.

4.8/5 stars, 5,402+ ratings
Weight capacity: 600 pounds

5. Toddler Climbing Dome with Slide

This 8-foot diameter climbing playset for the backyard is 3 feet tall and made for kids aged 3 and up. The sturdy slide is attached to a small platform inside the dome, which is made of coated, weather-resistant steel. Assembly is easy, if a little time consuming, and it comes with 4 ground stakes for added security.

4.4/5 stars, 77+ ratings
Weight capacity: Dome - 330 pounds; Slide - 88 pounds

6. Backyard Obstacle Course

This epic 50-foot obstacle course for kids includes 10 accessories that promote balance and ninja-like agility. Accessories include a saucer swing, climbing net, ladder, ninja wheel, 4 gymnastic rings, and 2 monkey bars—and you can add more as you wish! Assembly is easy: accessories attach to the sturdy nylon rope with durable buckles and galvanized iron carabiners, and you can adjust the distance between obstacles to suit kids of any age. Up to 6 kids can play at once.

4.6/5 stars, 405+ ratings
Weight capacity: 250 pounds per accessory

7. Climbing Cargo Net

This awesome climbing net is 6.5’ x 9.8’ and can hold up to 5 kids at once. The mesh size is 2” x 2” and made of soft, durable polyester with reinforcement around the edges. String it up on the low branches of a tree or between two or more trees or climbing structures. It comes with 6 carabiners, 8 decorative bells, and 3 feet of fix rope.

4.5/5 stars, 47+ ratings
Weight capacity: 600 pounds

8. Jungle Gym with Platform & Tent

This cool platform climbing playset makes me think of a space ship—or a lander. It features an adjustable, galvanized steel climbing frame with a minimum height of 22” and a maximum height of 82.5”. The mesh vinyl platform is super sturdy, and the canopy is made from polyester and features round windows and a roll-up door. This is a lightweight, inexpensive, and good-lookin’ backyard playset designed for ages three to 12.

4.1/5 stars, 424+ ratings
Weight capacity: 220 pounds

Teeter Totters

9. Spinning Teeter-Totter

This fun teeter totter playset spins 360 degrees, a perfect marriage between the teeter-totter and the merry-go-round. The bottoms of the seats have wheels that let it keep spinning even when it hits the ground (which may or may not work, depending on the surface beneath). The wheels also act as shock absorbers so the kids don’t risk whiplash when their jerk playmate suddenly jumps off mid-teeter. The heavy-duty frame features a weather-resistant powder coat that protects against rust and corrosion. Cushioned seats soften the landing, and soft rubber grips on the ergonomic handlebars help kids hold on tight. The length of this teeter totter is 57.2 inches.

Overwhelmingly positive reviews cite how solid this backyard playset is and how easy it is to put together. The kids adore it. One reviewer describes how all seven of her children pile up on it. Another said that their 14-year-old and her friends kick the 5- and 6-year olds off and spin really fast on it.

4.7/5 stars, 884+ ratings
Weight capacity: 300 pounds

10. Toddler Teeter Totter

This rocking toddler seesaw is made with 3 seats so more can play! The outside seats have ergonomic backrests, making it ideal for little kids who need extra support. When it’s raining outside, bring it indoors—the non-slip EVA foam-covered bottom rails will protect your floors and keep the teeter totter in place. The whole thing is 53.5” long and features a powder-coated frame that’s rust- and weather-resistant.

4.4/5 stars, 522+ ratings
Weight capacity: 200 pounds

11. Four-Seat Spinning Teeter Totter

This spinning teeter totter seats 4 kids at once and swivels around as it moves up and down. Made from heavy-duty steel pipe, this teeter totter is easy to assemble and rust-resistant. It’s recommended for kids 3 to 8 years. The seats feature a stopper pole underneath to prevent shock-filled collisions with the ground.

4.4/5 stars, 82+ ratings
Weight capacity: 88 pounds per seat

The Benefits of Backyard Playsets

Backyard playsets do more for your kids than just keep them out of your hair so you can eat lots of bonbons and binge-watch Netflix. (JK, we all know you’re mopping the kitchen.) Playsets in the back yard help kids develop gross motor skills, including coordination, balance, reaction time, body awareness, and physical strength. They promote healthy social skills, such as taking turns, collaborating, and cooperating. And of course, they foster creativity—don’t be surprised when the kids pull the slide over to a mud puddle, jump out of the swing aiming for the kiddie pool, or turn a swing and a two-by-four into a teeter totter. These things may be unsettling to the parent, but they’re actually really, really good for the kids.

Considerations for Buying a Playset for Backyard Fun

Before you purchase backyard playground equipment, keep these considerations in mind:

Maintenance

Playsets made for the backyard obviously won’t be as sturdy or durable as the equipment installed on the school playground or public park. But rest assured backyard playsets are required to meet certain safety standards set forth by ASTM International.

While outdoor playsets are generally weather-resistant, they’re not weather-proof. To prevent rust on metal playsets, give them a protective coat of clear Rustoleum every spring or fall to help them better weather the elements. You can use the clear coat on plastic, too.

The playground surface

Think about where the kids are gonna fall off the equipment when they inevitably do, and make sure the landing will be as safe as possible. It’s obviously best to avoid putting backyard playsets on concrete. Grass is the surface most often used, but if you want to boost the safety of outdoor play and make the backyard playground more cohesive and attractive, there are a number of playground flooring options for all aesthetics and budgets.

Clearance around the playset

The specs of the playground equipment will tell you how much clearance you should give the playset on all sides for optimal safety. Before you purchase, make sure you can spare the recommended space.

Get Creative with Your Backyard Play Area

The backyard playground can be anything you want it to be. You know your kids best of all, and you know what they’d probably enjoy in backyard playsets. Go with your instincts to create a play space in your back yard that’ll rival the neighborhood park and keep the kids busy and active outside.