DIY Swing Set vs Kit

Whether you’re looking to add a few swings for your grandkids or you’re a property manager in charge of your local community playground, you have a few options to bring a play set to life.

There’s one critical decision you need to weigh: DIY swing set vs kits. 

You’ll learn everything you need to know in this guide. We created this guide using our extensive knowledge, gained from over 35 years of serving families and playground managers worldwide.

At Swing Set Mall, you’ll find all of the products, accessories, and tools you need to transform your outdoor spaces. We sell heavy duty swing sets that you can install in just 1 day, plus swing structures and standalone swing hangers for DIY projects.

Feel free to contact our team at any time for advice and guidance on building or installing a new play set.

What Goes Into Building Your Own Swing Set From Scratch?

Before we explore the details of the DIY swing set vs kit debate, you’ll need to know the requirements for each route.

DIY swing sets can be a challenging project, especially if you don’t have experience with similar projects. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you might spend weeks or even months only to end up with an unsafe and unstable mess.

Planning Your Design and Layout

Every aspect of a swing set requires careful planning and consideration. You need to create a load-bearing and stable platform that meets clearance requirements. If that wasn’t complicated enough, you also need to create a design that appeals to kids and families, allowing for safe and social play.

Let’s look at swing spacing. For safe motion, swings need to be a certain distance apart, so that even the most chaotic and adventurous kids don’t crash into another swing or a support beam.

You’ll need an 8” minimum above the ground and in a horizontal direction. If you’re using a swing that can move in a 360-degree motion like a disk swing, or plan to add one in the future, you instead need a 24” clearance area.

Swing spacing requirements get more complex for commercial playgrounds and baby swings. You need 24” of space between the ground and the swing, 20 to 24” between other swings, and 30” from support structures.

This is just one small aspect of planning a DIY swing set, yet failure to adhere to it will have disastrous consequences. 

The US-based Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has comprehensive guidelines for every aspect of play sets, including what to put under swing sets for a safe landing area (usually wood chips or rubber mulch), the height of monkey bars, and the spacing of slides.

You may also have stricter requirements in your local jurisdiction, especially if you’re building on a commercial property.

Choosing and Sourcing Materials Individually

Is it cheaper to build a swing set or buy one from a manufacturer? At first glance, it may be the case. You’re buying lumber and/or metal individually, allowing you to seek out the best deals compared to a pre-built kit.

However, the reality of the situation is that sourcing materials yourself can be a frustrating and time-consuming option.

You must choose between wood and metal as the base. There are several types of material. Do you choose white cedar, red cedar, pine, redwood, or oak for your set? Each one has different levels of durability, toxicity, and upkeep requirements.

The same is true of metal. How can you decide if you require powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel, zinc coating, or galvanized steel? Unless you already have experience working with these materials, you will likely become lost quickly.

Tools and Skills Required for a Full DIY Build

Planning and material sourcing can be frustrating enough with wasted time and excessive spending. All that effort will be for nothing if you don’t have the skillset and tools needed to put together your swing set.

Some DIY swing set tweaks are relatively straightforward. Installing a tire swing swivel on a sturdy tree requires only a few tools and a handful of easy steps.

But if you’re creating an entire swing set from scratch, you’ll need a substantial amount of equipment. Drills, saws, wrenches, sockets, shovels, sanders, concrete mixing tools, and levels are just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll often need multiple types of each tool as well, like circular saws and jigsaws for different cuts of lumber.

Equally important to your DIY dreams are the skill requirements. You’ll need to know how to use all of those tools efficiently, including measuring and cutting materials, drilling clean holes, creating sturdy posts in the ground, sanding, staining, painting, and accounting for soil erosion over time.

Time Commitment and Learning Curve

We could sum up the DIY swing set vs kit debate in a straightforward sentence: DIY swing sets are a gigantic strain on your time. Each of the skills we’ve described, from material sourcing and planning to drilling a stable hole, can take days or weeks to learn.

As you learn these skills, you’re likely going to waste materials, especially your lumber or metal. It may take you 50 to 100 hours just to acquire the knowledge to build the DIY set, plus another week or two of effort to put it all together.

If you already possess the necessary skills, you can shorten the time commitment.  However, there are certain aspects, such as waiting for material orders and planning your design, that will inevitably occupy your schedule.

The Appeal of Swing Set Kits

The other half of the DIY swing set vs kit decision is an excellent choice for homeowners and commercial playground managers alike.

All-In-One Convenience and Fewer Decisions

DIY projects can be fun, but there’s no denying they can be stressful. Swing set kits eliminate decision-making fatigue by giving you an all-in-one product with clear guidelines.

You’ll have most of the parts and tools you need from the start, without worrying about the thickness of your metal, where to source it, or whether it'll be compatible with your connecting pieces.

Instead, you have the peace of mind knowing a team of professional engineers has already created a safe and fun playground experience. All you have to do is put it all together!

Faster Assembly With Pre-Measured Parts

Another area that sets apart a DIY swing set vs kits is installation speed. Every part in a swing set kit is pre-designed, allowing you to quickly assemble it without hours of measuring, marking, and cutting.

Swing set kits also help you avoid mistakes in the measuring and cutting process, saving you time and money. A professional swing set kit installation should take no more than a couple of days for residential sets, far quicker than the weeks or months it can take for a DIY job.

Still Some Room for Customization

When you hear the word “DIY”, the idea of limitless customization comes to mind. The good news is that swing set kits still offer customization potential.

For example, you can swap out different types of swings over time. You can upgrade an infant swing to a flat swing as your kids grow with just a simple fix. The same is true for slides and monkey bars, so long as you follow CPSC standards for safe landing areas.

Many swing set companies encourage customization, producing compatible accessories that allow for easy swaps. You can also paint or stain a swing set kit to match your desired aesthetic, all while maintaining the pre-built structural stability.

DIY Swing Set vs Kit: Which Approach is Right For You?

Let’s take a closer look at the DIY swing set vs kit debate.

Cost Comparison

First off, is it cheaper to build a swing set or buy one?

DIY swing sets are cheaper on paper, but reality tells a different story. Material sourcing, purchasing new tools, and wasted components from experimentation or lack of compatibility can quickly add up with a DIY build.

Pre-built kits will cost anywhere from 10% to 20% more than buying raw materials, but that’s assuming you can find the same wholesale prices as the swing set company. 

The engineering work and stable design found in swing set kits are worth the small premium, especially when considering the time you save.

Do You Enjoy Building?

You can settle the DIY swing set vs kit debate by answering one question: Do you enjoy building things from scratch?

If you don’t love the DIY process, do yourself a favor and skip the stress. Swing set kits still allow you to experience the fun of putting something together, but with clear instructions that minimize wasted time and frustration.

How Much Time Can You Commit?

Between work, appointments, and socializing, do you have room in your schedule for a complete DIY build? DIY swing sets can take 100+ hours, especially if you have zero experience. That doesn’t include the time spent waiting for material orders or the hours it takes to learn how to build a swing set for adults or kids.

Swing set kits are pre-drilled and pre-cut, saving you several weeks of work. You can install most swing set kits in a couple of days.

Skill Level, Safety, and Confidence

Do you want to risk the safety of children in the hands of your ability to watch DIY YouTube videos? If you misjudge the load-bearing of your design, children may get injured, and the entire set may collapse.

With a swing set kit, you don’t need fancy construction skills. You just follow the instructions, spending a small amount of time aligning hardware and ensuring a level playing area. The peace of mind you get from trusting a professional swing set brand’s safety standards is worth it.

Long-Term Durability and Maintenance

Professional swing set kits have proven track records for the long term. The high-quality materials used are resistant to rust and decay, with standardized maintenance tasks that are easy to perform.

With complete DIY builds, long-term durability can be a concern. You must select the ideal materials and connective components to prevent deterioration and determine the best methods for their maintenance.

Bring Your Vision to Life With Help From Swing Set Mall!

The truth is that a complete DIY swing set build just doesn’t compare to the convenience, safety, and long-term durability of a commercial or backyard swing set kit.

If you want to upgrade your outdoor spaces into a launching pad for imaginative and cooperative play for your children, you’ll find all the equipment you need at Swing Set Mall! For over 35 years, we’ve been the one-stop shop for families, schools, and park managers worldwide.

We offer 1,000+ products, including commercial swing set kits from top brands like Lifetime. We hand-select every item in our inventory to ensure safety, durability, and affordability.

All of our swing set kits come with simple instructions, allowing for installation in a matter of days, not weeks. You can also rely on the expertise of our friendly staff, who will guide you through the installation process, from planning and leveling your outdoor area to adding the finishing touches.

We also offer a selection of unique swing set accessories and DIY kits, including monkey bars, tire swing kits, zip lines, and climbing domes. You can add these to your existing set or as part of your new installation for a personalized and unique setup that kids will love.

You can shop risk-free at our store – we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and a price-matching guarantee to ensure you have the best possible experience.

Parting Thoughts on DIY Swing Sets vs Kits

Should you choose a DIY swing set or a pre-built kit? And is it cheaper to build a swing set or buy one?

DIY is only a viable option if you have extensive experience in several niche skill sets and ample time to spare. Swing set kits are cheaper in the long term, easy to install, and provide peace of mind.

You’ll find the best swing sets that are simple to install right here at Swing Set Mall. Browse our extensive store of over 1,000 products or speak with our team for personalized recommendations and guidance on finding the right kit today!