Wooden Swing Sets & Cedar Playsets

Wooden Playsets Built From Real Cedar

Wood has been the classic choice for backyard play for generations. A well-built wooden swing set feels solid underfoot, and its natural look blends into the trees and garden around it. It gives children a fort, a lookout and a launch point for imaginative play all in one structure, and creates a play space the whole family can enjoy. You'll also often see wooden swing sets described as supporting more weight than lightweight metal sets.

The wooden playsets we carry are made from cedar, not pine. Cedar naturally resists rot, decay and insect damage, and its natural oils act as a preservative, so it doesn't rely on harsh chemical treatments. Pine lumber, by comparison, typically needs more frequent sealing and weatherproofing to keep rot away. Cedar also splinters less than many other woods, which matters when little hands are on the rails and ladders every day. The result is a safe, long lasting play set constructed to handle years of outdoor fun.

Two cedar brands, one local team

• Playground One builds its sets from solid beam Pacific cedar. Its forts and playcenters come in series that step up in size and features, from the Original and Turbo Original lines to the Deluxe, Supreme and Extreme sets, in combo layouts that pair a fort with a swing beam. Space Saver designs give smaller yards a full play set in a compact design.
• Backyard Adventures makes modular cedar play systems with bolt-through construction. Its Outlook, Summit, Peak and Treehouse lines range from single-deck swing sets to bridged, multi-level forts. The brand calls its Treehouse swing sets its most customizable option, and many sets can be built with a wood roof or a cabin package for an enclosed upper fort.

Both brands make it easy to customize your set and let it grow with your family. Swap slides, add monkey bars, a picnic table or a playhouse, choose a wood roof or a tarp canopy, and add new pieces as your kids get older. Swing set accessories like tire swings, trapeze bars and extra slides are a simple way to add new features later. See every add-on in our accessories collection.

How to choose the right wooden swing sets for kids

Use the filters on this page to narrow the collection by brand, size, deck height, number of decks and roof material. A few things to think about as you compare:

• Your play space. Measure the play space in your backyard, then leave room for a safety zone around the swings and slide exit. A level spot works best. Our guide to wooden playsets for small backyards covers compact options.
• Your children's ages. Lower decks and shorter slides suit toddlers and preschoolers, while taller decks, longer slides and monkey bars keep older kids challenged. See our take on the best age to get a swing set.
• How they like to play. Climbers will want rock climbing walls and rope ladders. Swingers will want a longer beam with belt swings, a tire swing or a trapeze bar. Kids who love imaginative play gravitate to forts with a lower enclosure, a picnic table or a playhouse.
• Room to grow. A modular cedar playset can be expanded later, so you can start with the core structure and add on over time.

Active play right in your backyard

A swing set brings active play home, without a drive to the park. Swinging, climbing and sliding help kids build strong muscles and balance, burn off extra energy and play together with siblings and friends. It's endless fun that gets them off screens and outside. For parents, safety is the top priority. Look for a set held to the highest safety standards for home playgrounds, including ASTM and CPSC guidance, add impact-absorbing surfacing underneath, and inspect the set regularly. Our guide on what to put under a swing set compares mulch, rubber and other options.

Caring for a cedar playset

Cedar is durable in Chicago weather, but like any wood it lasts longest with a little care. Routine maintenance means a periodic seal or stain, a hardware check each spring and fall, and keeping the area around the set clear of debris.

See wooden swing sets near you

Shopping online only shows you so much. At our Northbrook showroom, you can see cedar playsets up close, compare finishes and talk through layouts with a local, family-owned team instead of a call center. We can help you choose the right set, plan where it goes in your yard, and arrange professional installation across Chicagoland and the North Shore suburbs, with a lifetime limited labor warranty on our installations. Product warranties vary by manufacturer, and we'll walk you through the warranty for your set. Request a free estimate to get started.