Top 10 Backyard Sandbox Ideas – The Best Outdoor Play Spaces for Kids

Backyard sandboxes make amazing outdoor sensory play spaces for kids. Other fantastic backyard play space ideas are outdoor chalkboards, mud kitchens, and fairy gardens.

Tips, tutorials, and hacks for 10 types of backyard sandbox ideas can be found below. Whether you prefer to DIY or Buy you will find what you are looking for!

 

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Backyard Sandbox Ideas for Kids

There is sure to be something that works for your needs in this awesome collection. Choose the one that you like best, or use these backyard sandbox ideas to come up with your own idea!

Backyard Play Spaces for kids: Top 10 Backyard Sandbox Ideas

1. Portable Backyard Sandboxes for Kids

Some of these portable sandboxes would be great for people that live in apartments with small outdoor spaces. The sand tables and sand and water tables listed below, would also be perfect for smaller yards and spaces.

• Sandbox on Wheels | Nonchalant Mom Blog
• Portable See-Thru Sensory Table
• Interlocking Sandbox
• Sand and Play Build a Box Sandbox
• Extra Large Portable Sand Tray with Lid

2. Backyard Sandbox Ideas & Hacks

There are hacks for everything and backyard sandboxes are no exception. Check out the fun sandbox hacks below!

• Tent Sandbox | Coconut Love
• Tractor Tire Sandbox | i Heart Naptime
• Pool Sandbox with Tutorial for Cover | What Shall We Do Today? Life as an Air Force Family

 

3. Backyard Sand Tables for Kids

Sand tables are a simple option for any backyard no matter the size. Most of these could be sand or water tables. You can always make or purchase more than one to use for sand, water, gravel, or any type of sensory play material. See #4 for sand and water tables.

• DIY Style #1 Sand Table | Prodigal Pieces
• Sandbox Table | Shanty 2 Chic
• DIY Sand (and/or water) Table | Boxy Colonial
• 30 Minute DIY Sensory Table | Teaching Mommy
• Kids Picnic Table and Sandbox Combo | DIY Projects & Ideas 2 Live 4
• Sand Table
• Wooden Picnic Table with Sandbox

4. Backyard Sand and Water Tables for Kids

Sand and water tables are a fun option to have instead of, or in addition to, a backyard sandbox. Of course, many of these could be used with just sand or water… or any other type of sensory material.

Click on the link to see my top 10 Sand and Water Tables. Most are DIY but there are also a few options that you could buy included in the collection.

5. Easy DIY Backyard Sandboxes

An easy way to make a simple backyard sandbox is to make a raised garden bed of any size, place a tarp underneath, and fill it with sand. Below are a few other options you can DIY, upcycle, or buy. Each can have covers made or purchased for them.

• Color Block Sandbox from a Bookcase | The Homes I Have Made
• DIY Sandbox Tutorial for Backyard |Kenarry Ideas for the Home
• Build Your Own Sandbox | Nana’s Petals
• Backyard Sandbox | Made Everyday
• Backyard Sandbox
• Square Sandbox Kit with Cover
• Hexagon Sandbox Kit (Cover available as separate purchase)

6. Backyards Sandboxes with a Surrounding Seat

These type of sandboxes have a seat that goes around the entire sandbox. Sandboxes like this serve the dual purpose of sitting on while playing in the sand or using as a place to sit while hanging out in the backyard.

• How to Build a Sandbox | Kaboom
• Wooden Sandbox with Seats | Dover Projects
• Mini Sandbox | Our Family Unit
• Sandbox Seat

7. Backyard Covered Sandboxes

There are so many fun ways people have come up with to cover a sandbox. The simple sandboxes in #5 above can be covered with a tarp, while most of the sandboxes below are constructed with covers attached.

You can build doors, flaps, roofs, and canopy’s of all kinds to cover a sandbox. You can even use a TeePee! Check out all of the fun ideas to DIY or buy below!

• How to Build a Sandbox with Cover Doors | Modern Parents Messy Kids
• Deluxe DIY Sandbox Tutorial | Small and Friendly
• DIY Sandbox with Cover | Design Dining and Diapers
• How to Build a Sandbox Part I and How to Build a Sandbox Part II (Cover) | Young House Love
• How to Build a Covered Sandbox | DIY Network
• Sandbox with Cover that Converts to Roof
• TeePee Sandbox | Apartment Therapy
• Play and Store Sandbox 
• Sandbox with Canopy

8. Backyard Sandboxes with Covers that turn into Bench Seats (Convertible)

This type of backyard sandbox has a lid that converts to seats when they are folded open! I found a few different options to DIY or buy.

• Covered Convertible Cedar Sandbox with two Bench Seats
• Sandbox with Built-in Seats | Ana White
• Build Your Own Sandbox | Utah Adventure Family
• Covered Convertible Cedar Sandbox with two Bench Seats with Canopy

 

9. Boat Sandbox Ideas for Kids

These are amazing! The outward explorer pirate ship play structure sandbox is my favorite!

• Old Boat Sandpit
• Sail Boat or Ship Sandbox | Ana White
• Pirate Ship Sandbox | Family Designs Inc.
• Outward Explorer Boat Sandbox with Canopy
• Pirate Ship Sandbox

 

10. Nature-Scape Sandbox Ideas for Kids

Uh-oh… you caught me! I’m still adding sandbox ideas to this glorious collection. It has been hard for me to find proper pictures with links for this type of sandbox so I need some more time.

I will create a photo square collage like the ones above when I’m all finished here. Be sure you bookmark this page and sign up for my newsletter below so you don’t miss anything!

I LOVE natural sandboxes that blend into the space that they are created in. There are a lot of photos of natural backyard sandbox ideas that don’t include tutorials. I hope these ideas spark your own creativity to design your own nature-scaped sandbox!

The Sandbox | We Play Outside

Backyard Bliss | Ana White

DIY and ready-made Backyard sandboxes are amazing outdoor sensory backyard play spaces for kids. Tips, tutorials, and hacks for several backyard sandbox ideas for kids are included.

 

For more backyard play space ideas check out the following articles:

• Top 10 Sand and Water Tables
• DIY Outdoor Chalkboard
• DIY Outdoor Art Table & Mud Kitchen
• Start Your Own Fairy Garden