Yards don’t have to be big to be fun. (Just ask your kids!) But shopping for outdoor play structures can be tough if you don’t have a ton of room to spare in your yard. No worries, friends. We’ve got your guide to big fun in little spaces with these outdoor toys for small yards!
Small Footprint Swing Sets & Play Sets
Love the idea of a swing set for your kids but not sure if you have the room? Check out these small footprint swing sets before you decide for sure! Remember, when you’re measuring your yard, it’s not just the dimension of the swing set you’ll need to account for. The real deciding factor is the “safety zone” – an obstacle-free area around the swing set that’s covered with protective surfacing like wood chips. We’ve done the work for you by calculating exactly how much space your kids will need to play safely on their swing set.
Ainsley Outdoor Playset
The Ainsley’s dimensions and design make it great for small yards. The slide faces in the same direction as the swings (as opposed to facing to the side), so your safety zone doesn’t have to stretch quite as far.
Safety Zone Size: 22’ 3” x 28’
Appleton Swing Set
The Appleton Swing Set is another small footprint swing set made with tiny yards in mind. A built-in sandbox saves even more space, giving your little one another classic outdoor toy without taking up any more space.
Safety Zone Size: 22’ 3” x 28’
Windale Wooden Playset
Like the Ainsley, the Windale’s slide and swings face in the same direction, minimizing the space you need for your safety zone. The Windale also has the added benefit of a multi-level playhouse area. A working door, windows, and a picnic bench give the Windale the feel and fun of a standalone play house… with the added cool factor of a slide and rock wall.
Safety Zone Size: 24’ 11” x 26’
Hampton Wooden Playset
The Hampton packs in a lot of fun in a small space: two belt swings, a glider swing, rock wall, slide, monkey bars, and play deck, a sandbox, and a water table area. With so many features, this playset is a space-saving all-in-one play solution for small yards.
Safety Zone Size: 25’ x 26’ 6”
Climbers
No room to run around? Head upwards instead! If you’re buying a swing set or playset for your small yard, consider one with built-in climbing features (nearly all of our playsets have at least one!) Or opt for our standalone climber for toddlers and preschoolers:
A-Frame Hideaway & Climber
Coming in at just 41” x 27.5,” this little climber fits almost anywhere and doubles as a play tent.
Safety Zone Size: 15’ 6” x 14’ 4”
Playhouses
Big fun in a small space, playhouses are an ideal outdoor toy for small yards. Playhouses don’t vary in size as much as swing sets do, so even the bigger, deluxe playhouses still fit just fine in most small yards. Here are some of our favorite picks for small spaces:
Hillcrest Wooden Outdoor Playhouse
When every inch counts, the Cooper Playhouse is where it’s at. It offers some of our smallest dimensions without sacrificing quality or fun.
Dimensions: 53.9" x 53.86" x 56.46"
Fairmeadow Wooden Playhouse
With an indoor play kitchen and spacious side window, the Fairmeadow Playhouse takes up a little more space than the Hillcrest… but only a little! If you’ve got a couple of square feet to spare, you and your kiddo will love cooking up pretend meals in the kitchen and playing drive through by the side window!
Dimensions: 54.72" x 51.97" x 68.9"
White Modern Outdoor Playhouse
One of our most popular playhouses, the White Modern Playhouse is primed and ready to be customized – plus, it’s just the right size for small yards! The cute attached picnic table gives you even more fun per square foot, providing the perfect spot for backyard picnics.
Dimensions: 70.08" x 48.9" x 62.24"
Sandboxes
Sandboxes are another great outdoor toy for small spaces. Since they enable constructive and sensory play instead of highly active play, they’re an excellent way to let kids enjoy the outdoors even when they don’t have room to run around. And with no required safety zone, you only need to account for the measurement of the sandbox itself.
Browse through our entire outdoor collection to find the outdoor toys right for your kiddos and your yard. Not sure if the toy you’ve got your eye in will fit in your space? Click on Technical Information and/or Assembly Instructions for product dimensions and safety zone measurements.