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Across the globe, kids love swinging, hanging, and climbing on monkey bars. And with the right tools and designs you can build monkey bars kids will love playing on for years to come. Playground Ideas has over 150 free DIY playground element designs that can be built anywhere in the world from locally sourced, low-cost, and recycled materials. These designs are free of common safety hazards and each design comes with downloadable step-by-step pictorial instructions. Here are three of our favorite DIY monkey bar sets from our design library:

1. Monkey Bars – Metal

Build these classic monkey bars from metal. Design instructions include two heights – one for 3-4 year olds and another for ages 5+.  

2. Monkey Bars – Timber

You can also build a classic set of monkey bars from timber or bamboo (although only very specific varieties are appropriate ). One important note: before building this element, ensure that termites or other wood eating insects are not a problem in your area. If they are, you’ll be better off building the frame from steel. You can learn more about selecting appropriate materials in our “Playground Builder’s Handbook.”

3. Rebar Igloo

The Rebar Igloo isn’t your typical set of monkey bars, but it serves the same purpose in a different form. It’s also a great element for different ages as the dome shape makes the height of the bars progressive, so little kids can play on the lower bars while older or more confident kids can climb up to the higher bars.

Looking for a full playground design? Check out our Playground Starter Kit. This playground design scheme puts together some of our favorite, time tested designs into a beautiful space that encourages active, imaginative, creative, and social play. Best of all, every element can be built from local, low-cost and recycled materials, commonly found tools, and local labor. And each design comes with full DIY step-by-step instructions.

Click here to download our free Playground Starter Kit.

Across the globe, outdoor swingsets are one of the most popular pieces of playground equipment. Unfortunately, many countries throughout the developing world do not have established playground safety regulations, so local builders often end up constructing poorly designed swingsets. This can lead to swingsets quickly falling into disrepair and children getting hurt on dangerous or unmaintained equipment.

For this reason, Playground Ideas has created several outdoor swingset designs that can be built anywhere in the world from locally sourced, low-cost, and recycled materials. These designs are free of common safety hazards and each design comes with downloadable step-by-step pictorial instructions. Here are a few of our favorite outdoor swingset designs from our design library:

1. Swing Double

The “Swing Double” is our DIY version of the classic outdoor swingset. It has been designed to be super low cost and can be built from timber, rope, steel chain, tire tread, and a few bolts and screws. One important note: before building this element, ensure that termites or other wood eating insects are not a problem in your area. If they are, you’ll be better off building the frame from steel. You can learn more about selecting appropriate materials in our “Playground Builder’s Handbook.”

Click here to get the free DIY step-by-step instructions to build your own “Swing Double.”

2. Swing Seat Best

In areas of the world where rubber swing seats are not easily available for purchase, metal swing seats are often used instead. These are a big safety hazard because young children can easily accidentally run in front of the swing and get hit on the head. Metal swing seats are also heavy and harder for young children to swing on.

The “Swing Seat Best” is a classic rubber swing seat constructed from a recycled tire tread and a few welded steel pieces. It’s very simple to build, safe to play on, and nearly indestructible.

Click here to get the free DIY step-by-step instructions to build your own “ Swing Seat Best.”

3. Swing Tractor Flat Maxi Hammock

The “Swing Tractor Flat Maxi Hammock” is a fun twist on the classic tire swing. This outdoor swingset can accommodate several children at once, making it a fun group element. Built from a large tractor tire and recycled tire sidewalls, and a motorbike tire, this element can be hung from a constructed frame or sturdy tree branches.

Click here to get the free DIY step-by-step instructions to build your own “Swing Tractor Flat Maxi Hammock.”

4. Swing Monkey

The “Swing Moneky” is an outdoor swingset designed by Playground Ideas design intern Wayne Tyler Sall, who took inspiration from the palm fronds he remembered swinging on as a kid in Panama. They’d hang down low from coconut trees and Tyler and his brother would swing around and around on them.

photo by Mathias Dür

Click here to get the free DIY step-by-step instructions to build your own “Swing Monkey.”

5. Swing Truck Tire Hammock

The “Swing Truck Tire Hammock” is one of our all-time favorite elements. Why? The whole thing can be built from just one nylon truck tire and a few bolts and little kids love rocking, swaying, and chatting with their friends in these peaceful hammock swings. Another benefit to the “Swing Truck Tire Hammock” is that since it remains so close to the ground, this element does not require a “safe fall zone” around it like traditional outdoor swingsets do, so it’s a great choice if you’re tight on space. You can learn more about “safe fall zones” and other common playground safety precautions in our “Playground Safety Handbook.”

Click here to get the free DIY step-by-step instructions to build your own “Swing Truck Tire Hammock.”

More Outdoor Swingset Resources:

– Explore all our swing designs as well as 150 other DIY playground elements in the Playground Ideas Design Library.

– Our “Playground Builder’s Handbook” will teach you everything you need to know to build a playground from start to finish using local tools and materials, and by accessing local skills.

– For all elements, be sure to check that they meet the local safety standards in your country. You can learn more about common playground safety hazards and how to avoid them in our pictorial “Playground Safety Handbook.”

With the right design, quality materials, and knowledge of playground safety, you’ll ensure your swingset will be well loved for years to come!

Since 2007, Playground Ideas has partnered with over 1400 communities in 85 countries to build spaces for children to play. Around the world, we’ve had the privilege of working with awesome community service groups who have enthusiastically volunteered their time, money, and passions to bring access to play to children in need. Check out a few of our favorite community service examples from across the globe:

Project Somos – Guatemala

Project Somos is an eco-sustainable community for at-risk mothers and children in Guatemala. In 2013, they hosted a group of high-school volunteers who came to build a playground on their site as a community service project.

 photos by Project Somos

East African Playgrounds – Uganda

East African Playgrounds is a playground building nonprofit based in Uganda. Each year, they host university students who fundraise for playground builds and then come to volunteer on the builds hands-on.

photos by East African Playgrounds

Salvation Army – Brazil

In 2012, we partnered with a Salvation Army community service group to build a playground at a school in São Paulo, Brazil. The team worked tirelessly to bring this beautiful site to life!

Is your community service group looking for a meaningful project to engage in? Consider building a playground together. Whether you’re already partnered with a school or community organization or you’re looking to help out on a project already in the work, we’re here to help every step of the way. Browse projects around the world, start your own, or contact us to get started.

Does your community need a park playground? Have you considered building one yourself? Playground Ideas supports communities around the world build playgrounds using only local tools, materials, and labor. We’ve put a “Playground Starter Kit,” which puts together eight of our favorite, time-tested designs into one amazing playspace. Check it out!