Wooden playhouses
A backyard playhouse turns the yard into a house, a café, a castle or a lookout. Here's how ground-level playhouses, raised playhouses with slides and playhouse swing sets compare, what suits each age and yard, and how to set one up so it lasts.
Shop wooden playhouses
The short answer
For pretend play, choose a ground-level wooden playhouse with a door, windows and a play kitchen, like the Casa or Saffron. For toddlers who want to climb and slide too, a small play tower like the Aloe works well. For older kids and bigger yards, a raised playhouse with a slide or a playhouse swing set adds active play to the clubhouse.
Types
Walk-in cottages with doors, windows and counters for pretend play.
A playhouse and mud kitchen in one, for cooking, serving and café play.
A clubhouse on a deck with stairs and a slide.
Low decks, short slides and sensory panels for ages 1 to 4.
A covered fort, slide and swings on one frame.
A stand-alone outdoor kitchen to set beside the playhouse.
Compare
| Playhouse | Type | Size | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saffron | Playhouse kitchen | 43 x 43 in | Chalkboard menu, play sink and cooking area |
| Casa | Ground-level cottage | Walk-in, 39.4" door | Indoor or outdoor, ages 3 and up |
| Aloe | Toddler play tower | Compact | Slide, water wheel and sandbox base |
| Mimosa | Raised playhouse | About 105 x 47 x 91 in | 37.5" deck and 71" wavy slide |
| Forest Small | Playhouse swing set | Tower 69.2 x 69.2 in, 153.3 in long with swings | Scaled for toddlers |
| Forest | Playhouse swing set | 198.5 x 100.1 x 98.8 in | Fort, rock wall, trapeze, ages 3 to 12 |
By age
Typical ranges. Check the age range for each product.
| Age | How they play | What works best |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 years | Climbing steps, short slides, water and sand | A toddler play tower like the Aloe or the Forest Small |
| 3 to 5 years | Playing house, running a café, cooking mud pies | A walk-in playhouse like the Casa or the Saffron, plus a mud kitchen |
| 5 years and up | Clubhouse games, climbing, swinging | A raised playhouse like the Mimosa or a playhouse swing set like the Forest |
Buying guide
Measure your yard, and leave clear space around slides and swings.
Doors, windows, counters and chalkboards give pretend play more to work with.
Walk-in playhouses and open windows let several kids play together.
Stairs, slides and swings add climbing to the clubhouse.
Solid, weather-resistant wood holds up better than plastic that fades and cracks.
Choose a playhouse your child can grow into, not just one that fits today.
Set up and care
Set the playhouse on flat, level ground with good drainage.
Under raised decks, slides and swings, use wood mulch, rubber mulch or sand at least 9 inches deep.
Keep about 6 feet clear around raised playhouses, with more room in front of and behind swings.
Shade keeps the playhouse and slide cooler on hot days.
Cover the playhouse or bring smaller ones inside during winter and long wet spells.
Tighten hardware and check the finish at the start of every season.
Shop
Wooden playhouses, playhouse kitchens and playhouse swing sets for the backyard.
Shop all outdoor playhousesA cottage clubhouse on a 37.5" deck with climbing stairs, a 71" wavy slide and a gear panel. About 105 x 47 x 91 inches.
Shop nowA walk-in cottage with a 39.4" door, serving counters and a play kitchen. Weather-resistant finish for indoors or out. Ages 3 and up.
Shop nowA playhouse, mud kitchen and café in one 43 x 43 inch footprint, with a chalkboard menu and play sink.
Shop nowA toddler play tower with a canopy deck, wavy slide, water wheel station and a sandbox base.
Shop nowA compact playhouse tower with a slide and swing beam, scaled for toddlers and smaller yards.
Shop nowA covered fort, wave slide, swings, rock wall and trapeze bar for ages 3 to 12.
Shop nowA hand-pump faucet, sink and chalkboard for mud pies next to the playhouse. 15.8" counter height.
Shop nowFAQs
For toddlers, look for a playhouse with a low deck, easy steps and a short slide, such as the Aloe or the Forest Small. A ground-level playhouse like the Casa or Saffron is great for pretend play once kids are about 3.
Ground-level playhouses suit toddlers and preschoolers, while raised playhouses with slides and playhouse swing sets suit ages 3 and up. The Casa is recommended for 3 and up, and the Forest is made for ages 3 to 12. Check the age range for each product.
Measure the footprint and leave clear space around it. For raised playhouses with slides and swings, plan for about 6 feet of clear space on every side and more in front of and behind swings. The Saffron is only 43 x 43 inches, while the Mimosa is about 105 x 47 inches.
Ground-level playhouses need flat, level ground. Raised playhouses, slides and swing sets need a shock-absorbing surface such as wood mulch, rubber mulch or sand at least 9 inches deep, extending at least 6 feet around the set.
Wooden playhouses are sturdier, look better in a backyard and can include real details like doors, counters and windows. Plastic playhouses are lighter and cheaper but fade and crack in the sun. A wooden playhouse needs simple seasonal care to protect the finish.
Set it on level ground with good drainage, cover it or bring smaller playhouses inside during winter and long stretches of wet weather, and check the finish and hardware each season.
A playhouse swing set combines a raised clubhouse with swings and a slide on one frame, so kids get pretend play and active play together. The Forest and Forest Small are both playhouse swing sets.
Some are built for both. The Casa has a weather-resistant finish for indoor and outdoor play. For indoor-only options, see our indoor playhouse guide.
Keep reading
Wooden outdoor playhouses shipped free in the continental US.
Shop Outdoor Playhouses
