What actually makes up the price
A playground budget is more than the equipment. A realistic figure brings together everything needed to get a compliant, finished space children can use on day one:
- Play equipment — the structures themselves (the biggest single line)
- Softfall surfacing — mulch, sand, wet-pour rubber or synthetic turf, sized to the fall height (AS 4422)
- Site preparation — clearing, levelling, edging and drainage
- Delivery — freight, which rises for regional and remote sites
- Installation — a qualified crew, plus independent certification at handover
- Optional extras — shade sails, fencing, seating, signage and landscaping
Realistic budget ranges
Every site is different, so treat these as indicative starting points rather than fixed prices — the only accurate number is a quote for your space. Except where noted, these are delivered project figures: equipment, compliant softfall, site preparation, installation and certification. As a guide:
- Single freestanding items (a spring rider, a small swing set), equipment only: roughly $2,000–$10,000
- Toddler / early-years play space: about $30,000–$60,000 delivered
- Primary-school multi-activity system: about $60,000–$120,000 delivered
- Council or destination playground: $120,000 and up, depending on scale and theming
| Project type | Delivered cost range |
|---|---|
| Single freestanding pieces (equipment only) | about $2,000–$10,000 |
| Toddler / early-years space | about $30,000–$60,000 delivered |
| Primary-school multi-activity system | about $60,000–$120,000 delivered |
| Council / destination playground | from about $120,000 — large feature playgrounds regularly exceed $500,000 |
Indicative, ex GST, whole-project scope. Reviewed September 2026.
Cost per square metre by project scale
Another way to sanity-check a quote is cost per square metre of play area — useful once you know roughly how much space you have to work with.
| Project scale | Typical budget | Typical play area | Cost per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toddler / early-years play space | $10,000–$25,000 | 30–60 m² | $165–$835 |
| Primary-school multi-activity system | $60,000–$120,000 | 80–200 m² | $300–$1,500 |
| Council / destination playground | $100,000–$300,000 | 250–800 m² | $125–$1,200 |
Indicative, ex GST, whole-project scope. Reviewed September 2026.
Softfall surfacing cost per square metre
Surfacing is priced separately to equipment and scales with area, not with how much equipment sits on top of it.
| Surface | Rate per m² |
|---|---|
| Certified mulch or sand | About $60 |
| Synthetic turf on shock pad | About $110 |
| Wet-pour rubber | About $160 |
Indicative, ex GST, supplied and installed on a prepared site. Reviewed September 2026.
The costs people forget
The figure that blows budgets is rarely the equipment — it's the things around it. Build these into your thinking early:
- Site prep and drainage on a sloping or poorly-draining site
- Freight to regional or remote locations
- Ongoing softfall upkeep — loose-fill needs topping up to stay compliant
- Removing and disposing of old equipment
- Shade, which matters a lot under the Australian sun
How to get more playground for your money
A tighter budget doesn't have to mean a smaller vision. A few proven moves:
- Stage it — design the full playground, then build in phases as budget or grants allow
- Choose loose-fill softfall where it suits, and spend the saving on play value
- Mix a compact play system with a few freestanding pieces for maximum variety per dollar
- Move fast with our in-stock Quick Supply range when timing is tight
- Tap funding — many schools, councils and community groups are eligible for grants
Why we quote fixed prices
Vague “from” pricing helps no one plan. Every Kidzspace quote is fixed and itemised — equipment, surfacing, site works, delivery, installation and certification all spelled out — so you know exactly what's included before you commit, and there are no surprises at the end. If the full vision is beyond this year's budget, we'll design it to be built in stages.
Sources
Softfall depth and surfacing requirements are set by AS 4422 and AS 4685. For background on the standards themselves: