Backyard Sandbox Ideas for Kids: The Best Outdoor Sandboxes

An outdoor sandbox is a fantastic outdoor play area for children perfect for the backyard. Below you will find a cool collection of backyard sandbox ideas for kids. Follow any one of the step by step tutorials to make your own DIY sandbox or purchase one of the ready-made outdoor sandbox options in each category.

Backyard sandboxes are amazing outdoor sensory play spaces for kids. An outdoor sandbox is a fantastic place for children to engage in sensory or imaginative play. Outdoor sandboxes are also a great place to try some STEM and STEAM activities.

A few more cool backyard play space ideas for kids are outdoor chalkboards, mud kitchens, and fairy gardens. Click on the links to learn how to make your own!

Outdoor 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!

The Best Backyard Sandbox Ideas for Kids

1. Portable 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.

2. Outdoor Sandbox Hacks

There are hacks for everything and backyard sandboxes are no exception. Check out the fun outdoor 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

Outdoor 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, slime, or any type of sensory play material.

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.

DIY Sandbox Tutorial for Backyard |Kenarry Ideas for the Home
Color Block Sandbox from a Bookcase | The Homes I Have Made
Build Your Own Sandbox | Nana’s Petals
Backyard Sandbox | Made Everyday
Backyard Sandbox
Sqare sandbox with cover
Hexagon sandbox with cover

6. Outdoor 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.

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

7. Covered Outdoor Sandboxes

There are so many fun ways people have come up with to cover a sandbox. 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
Play and Store Sandbox
Sandbox with Canopy
TeePee Sandbox | Apartment Therapy

8. Backyard Sandboxes with Convertable Bench Seat Covers

This type of backyard sandbox has a lid that converts to seats when they are folded open! I found a few different cool backyard sandbox options of this type 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 Bench Seats and Canopy

Related: DIY Rainbow Peg Dolls for Kids

9. Boat Sandbox Ideas for Kids

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

Old Boat Sandpit | Two Little Pirates
Sail Boat or Ship Sandbox | Ana White
Pirate Ship Sandbox | Family Designs Inc.
Pirate Ship Sandbox

Related: How to Make a Fairy Garden

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 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.

Don’t forget to check out our summer bucket list seasonal family guide for lots of fun ideas to try with the kids.

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