Backyard play area
Nine inches of playground mulch is what makes a fall a bruise instead of a break.
Size your project then pick a material on each shelf below. Your running total stays at the bottom of the screen and updates as you choose.
Play area length and width in feet, including 6 feet of clearance. Odd shape? Add the rectangles, or enter total square feet as length with width 1.
Under a swing set or play structure you want a deep, loose surface that cushions falls: engineered wood fiber playground mulch, or playground sand, inside a timber border. Depth matters more than anything: 9 inches settles to the 6 that fall-safety guidelines want under 6 foot equipment. Size the area here (the structure plus 6 feet on every side).
Safety surface
9 inches installed. Wood fiber is the standard; sand for toddlers who eat mulch.
Do not forget
How to build it
- Mark the structure plus 6 feet on every side and remove grass.
- Set timbers on edge and pin them; lay fabric inside.
- Fill with 9 inches of playground fiber, rake level, and hose it once so it settles.
- Rake it level under the swings every few weeks and top up yearly.
Questions
How deep should playground mulch be?
9 inches installed, which settles to about 6. Fall-safety guidelines call for 6 inches under equipment up to 6 feet high and 9 under taller.
Playground mulch or regular bark?
Playground fiber is screened for splinters and sized to lock together and cushion; landscape bark is not. Use the playground product.
How much do I need?
One cubic yard covers about 36 square feet at 9 inches. A 20 by 20 play area is about 11 yards; the calculator above does your size.