What to Put Under Monkey Bars

In backyards and playgrounds worldwide, monkey bars have remained a timeless classic. Monkey bars give children a fun and engaging developmental activity as a launching pad for imaginative social play.

For safety, you must know what to put under monkey bars when you install them on your property. Play areas must meet regulatory standards, especially if you plan to place them on a public property like a school, church, or local park.

We’ll explain all the details to help you guarantee a secure play experience for kids. You’ll learn how to choose a child-friendly landing surface, such as sand, rubber mats, or mulch, and what dimensions to consider for installation.

If you’re wondering where you can find monkey bars to install or need personalized advice on monkey bar installation, visit our online store here at Swing Set Mall! We sell easy-to-use DIY monkey bar kits for both homes and playgrounds. 

For over thirty years, we’ve helped families and community managers transform their outdoor spaces into exciting play areas, giving us the know-how we need to help you, too.

Why Do You Need to Put Something Under the Monkey Bars?

Before we dive into the nuances between pea gravel and rubber mulch, let’s first address an essential question: What is the purpose of figuring out what to put under monkey bars?

As any caretaker knows, when you’re teaching children how to do monkey bars, you have to expect them to fall. Kids may not have a fully developed sense of danger, so it's up to you to ensure their carefree play is a safe experience.

Many potential outcomes exist when a child grasps monkey bars and suddenly falls. Injuries are almost inevitable if the child lands on hard surfaces like concrete, packed dirt, bricks, or hardwood.

Conversely, with a cushioned material like mulch, sand, or a rubber mat, they should be able to pick themselves up and try again.

Monkey bar injuries are nothing to play around with. European studies in the 1990s confirmed that cushioned surfaces like bark cut the injury rate by 1/5th compared to concrete.

Injury rates are much lower when monkey bars are installed at an age-appropriate height and with a standardized, safe fall surface.

Given all the incredible developmental benefits of monkey bars, they are well worth the extra preparation work. 

If you’re wondering what muscles monkey bars work, the list includes everything from finger grip strength to core muscles. Plus, monkey bars help children develop confidence, problem-solving abilities, and social skills.

You encourage children to be more adventurous with their play when installing proper, safe surfacing. They are more likely to take extra risks knowing they have a cushioned landing area, vital to their physical development.

What to Put Under Monkey Bars

We’ve discussed why it's critical to determine what to put under monkey bars. The right material can help prevent injury, encourage children to push their limits, and give parents and caretakers peace of mind.

This brings us to the following question: what material should you choose?

The answer depends on your local climate, budget, and play area layout. However, you can always include multiple protective surfaces, such as a protective mat over a layer of mulch or sand for extra cushioning.

Playground Mulch

Mulch is a classic choice for background and playground swing sets. It’s an affordable option that also works aesthetically with most playsets.

Note that there is a difference between ‘playground’ mulch and the mulch you may find in a landscaping store. The former is specifically made to minimize splinters and maximize shock absorption.

You’ll generally want to fill up 12 inches of mulch in a radius of 6 feet (or higher, depending on the height of your monkey bars) for a safe landing area. Playground mulch often needs raking and refilling, as it can shift significantly during regular play.

When performing upkeep, you should also look for dropped objects, which can sometimes hide within the mulch.

Sand

Choosing what to put under monkey bars is not just about safety. The right material also enhances the children's play experience.

Creating a large sandbox around the monkey bars is an excellent choice. Sand with a depth of 12 inches or more has fantastic shock absorption properties and is generally affordable.

There are a couple of minor drawbacks to using sand. First, wet sand becomes compacted, creating a more rigid surface that is less safe than when it is dry.

Sand also requires extra replenishment compared to mulch. We also recommend installing a fabric or cloth to block weeds from poking through, as they can disrupt the fall-absorbing nature of sand if they poke through.

Placing a large tarp over your play area–or at least the sand–can help mitigate these issues and keep out local animals.

Pea Gravel

Pea-sized gravel is an interesting choice in its own right. It has excellent drainage and doesn’t decompose like mulch or sand. It also tends not to shift as much, requiring less upkeep.

However, it’s slightly less shock-absorbing than the previous options. To get the same level of protection, you’ll need extra depth, around 14 inches.

Depending on your preferences, that can be worth it for the trade-off of less upkeep. Look for rounded pea gravel around ⅜ to ¾ of an inch in diameter for the smoothest play experience.

Rubber Mats or Tiles

Rubber cushioned mats are a fantastic choice to maximize safety and minimize upkeep. Unlike mulch and sand, rubber mats don’t degrade much over time. They’re also accessible to many mobility devices, helping create an ADA-friendly play area.

However, they can be slightly more expensive if you cover your entire playground. We recommend pairing smaller rubber mats with one of the other cushioned surfaces for the best budget-friendly results. 

You can place a residential rubber safety mat or commercial beveled swing mat directly under the monkey bars and the surrounding areas without worrying about hiring professional installers.

Artificial Turf

When deciding what to put under monkey bars, park designers and homeowners generally stick with the classics.

However, artificial turf has become more prevalent and affordable in recent years, making it a realistic option for play areas. Artificial turf blends with the grass on your property, creating an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Playground turf also features padding underneath. This turf typically stays cool, even during the hot summer. Ensure your turf is rated under ASTM-F1292, a safety standard for shock absorption established by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Although turf is cheaper now than a decade ago, it’s still relatively expensive compared to the other options. It requires professional installation and some basic upkeep tasks.

While it may be out of reach for most homeowners, it’s an excellent choice for local playgrounds.

More Tips on Keeping the Monkey Bars Safe and Fun

Ultimately, choosing what to put under monkey bars is a vital decision. However, it isn’t the only part of the safety equation for your property. You’ll also need to check for adequate surface depth and verify that the monkey bars are placed at a safe height off the ground.

Ensuring Proper Depth and Maintenance of Surfacing

Regardless of which material you choose, you need specific amounts to create proper shock absorption.

The CPSC sets basic standards for depth:

 

• Minimum 9 inches for all materials except recycled rubber (6 Inches)

• 25% extra to account for compression/decay (e.g., 12 inches for a minimum 9 inch material)

• 3-6 inches of loose gravel directly over hard surfaces (concrete, asphalt)

• A geotextile cloth in between the gravel and your fill material to mitigate displacement

 

The material you choose will determine the maintenance of your surfacing. We recommend inspecting your play area at least weekly and raking any high-traffic areas. You should also check the depth with a ruler or similar tool each month and consider replenishing the material quarterly or annually.

Every inch of protective material matters when a child falls, so don’t put off these crucial maintenance tasks.

Checking for Tripping Hazards

Some monkey bar injuries aren’t directly related to the fall itself–instead, they result from the child tripping on a nearby object while trying to get on the equipment.

Before installing monkey bars, clear the area of vegetation, rocks, tree roots, and weeds. Then, install the geotextile cloth we mentioned in the previous section, which will help prevent tripping hazards from popping out of the fill material.

As part of your weekly inspections, look for any emergent tripping hazards. This could be new tree roots, weeds, rocks, or trash. These should be removed promptly so that kids can roam freely and safely.

Proper Monkey Bar Installation

Following the manufacturer’s instructions and safety standards is a must to create a safe play experience.

Eye tests aren’t enough when installing monkey bars–you must follow CPSC standards.

If you’re using a standalone structure, make sure that your monkey bars are correctly anchored in the ground. The concrete footing should extend below the frost line and have adequate drainage to avoid shifting due to seasonal changes.

Children aged 2 to 5 need monkey bars a maximum of 5 feet above the ground, while older children can use monkey bars up to 7 feet high. 

Do not exceed this height, as even with adequate floor cushioning, it will significantly increase the risk of injury.

The distance between monkey bars also matters. You want it large enough to avoid children getting stuck in the bars but not too far to make traversing the set too tricky. A distance of 9 to 12 inches is the usual standard.

Once your installation is done, test the monkey bars before allowing children to play on them. If you notice excessive movement of the bars, check your attachment points for any vulnerabilities.

Take the Next Step at Swing Set Mall!

There’s plenty to learn when placing monkey bars on your property. But it’s well worth the effort–a correctly installed set has substantial developmental benefits for children and can serve as the backdrop for lifelong memories.

Adding monkey bars to your property safely is easy with the right equipment. Swing Set Mall has the best monkey bars for backyards and playgrounds!

We have standalone sets and DIY monkey bar kits that are simple to install. 

We’ve been in the business for over 3 decades, beginning as a small family retailer. Over time, we’ve helped thousands of families and local park managers bring life and joy to their outdoor spaces.

When you shop with us, you’ll quickly figure out why we call ourselves a “Mall”; we have over 1000 cultivated products from top playset brands known for safety, aesthetics, and affordability. In addition to monkey bars, you’ll find playground rope ladders for kids, metal climbing domes, climbing playsets, and other accessories. We also sell all the tools and equipment you need to get the job done without requiring a professional installation crew.

Our friendly team is here to help you every step of the way. Whether you want our advice on fill materials, help choosing between two different styles of monkey bars, or just want to share pictures of how your DIY kit turned out, we’re here for you.

You’ll also have complete peace of mind shopping with us, thanks to our best price match and 30-day money-back guarantees. 

Unlike big-box retailers or marketplaces like Amazon, Swing Set Mall provides the in-depth knowledge and support to transform your playground or backyard into a magical play area.

Final Words on What to Put Under Monkey Bars

Monkey bars are one of the best ways to get children active and foster their development. As they swing from bar to bar, they build core strength, learn to solve puzzles, and share joy with others.

To create a safe play experience, place safe fill materials, such as sand, mulch, or rubber mats, around your monkey bars in a 6’ radius. This will help kids get right back up when they fall, encouraging them to keep playing and growing.

If you’re ready to upgrade your outdoor play area, check out Swing Set Mall. With over 1,000 products and tailored customer support, we make the entire process from order to installation a breeze. Contact us today to learn more!