How to Build Monkey Bars

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: December 18, 2022 References

Monkey bars make great outdoor equipment for both kids and adults. While kids will have fun swinging across the bars with friends, you can also use them for strength training in your workout routine. If you want to make your own set of monkey bars, you can easily build them at home using a few tools. While you will have to permanently set your monkey bars in the ground to ensure they’re safe to use, you’ll be able to use and enjoy them for many years to come!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Setting the Support Posts

1
Find a grassy, level area away from other equipment. Try to put your monkey bars in a grassy spot so it doesn’t hurt as much as concrete or solid ground if you fall down. Check that the area is level so the vertical posts aren’t crooked, or else you’ll have trouble building the rest of the bars. Leave about 4–5 feet (1.2–1.5 m) of space between the area and other structures so you’re less likely to hit something if you’re swinging on the bars.^{[1]
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2
Stake off a 3 ft × 12 ft (0.91 m × 3.66 m) section of land. Push a wooden stake into the ground to mark the first corner of the monkey bars. Place another stake 3 feet (0.91 m) away, which will be the short side of the monkey bars with the steps. Measure 12 feet (3.7 m) out from the first stake to mark the length of the monkey bars, and push a third stake into the ground at your measurement. Put a final stake 3 feet (0.91 m) away from the third one to make the last corner.^{[2]
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- Your monkey bars will be 12 feet (3.7 m) long, 7 ¹⁄₂ feet (2.3 m) tall, and about 3 feet (0.91 m) wide when you’re finished.
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3
Dig a hole with a post hole digger at each of the stakes. Hold the handles of a post hole digger together and push the blades into the ground. Spread the handles apart and pull up to remove the dirt. Keep digging until the hole until it’s about 1 foot (30 cm) across and 3 feet (91 cm) deep. Continue digging the other holes at each of the other stakes.^{[3]
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- You can buy a post hole digger at a hardware or outdoor care store.
- if you don’t have a post hole digger, it’s okay to use a shovel instead.
4
Pour 6 in (15 cm) of gravel into the holes.^{[4]
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Research source} The bottoms of your holes won’t be perfectly level, so filling them with gravel can help provide a flat surface. Buy gravel from your local landscaping store and add it to the bottom of each hole. Tamp the gravel down firmly to level the surface so the monkey bars don’t slant.^{[5]
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- You will need about 3 cubic feet (0.085 m³) of gravel total for all of the holes.
- Gravel also helps improve drainage so water doesn’t cause the posts to rot.
5
Set 4 in × 4 in (10 cm × 10 cm) post in the center of each hole. Get 4 outdoor posts that are 10 feet (3.0 m) long and pressure-treated so they withstand the weather. Place your posts in the holes and stand them up in the center. Make sure they sit firmly without tipping or slanting so they remain sturdy during your build.^{[6]
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- Look for the straightest posts available so your monkey bars are less likely to bow or bend.
- Avoid using posts that aren’t made for outdoor use, or else they could rot when they get wet.
6
Fill the holes with quick-setting concrete. Concrete will stabilize the posts enough so they won’t move around while you’re using the monkey bars. You’ll need about four 50 lb (23 kg) bags of concrete to fill all of your holes. Mix the concrete with water in a wheelbarrow or large bucket using a hoe or trowel. Slowly pour the concrete into the hole around the post until it’s filled to the top. Add the concrete to the remaining holes in the same way.^{[7]
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- Check the specific instructions on the bags of concrete you’re using to see if there are any special mixing instructions.
- Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when you’re mixing the concrete so you don’t get any of the powder if your nose or eyes.
- Do not use monkey bars if they haven’t been stabilized in the ground since they could easily tip over while you’re swinging around.
7
Level your posts immediately after pouring the concrete.^{[8]
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Research source} Quick-setting concrete starts hardening within about 20–40 minutes, so you’ll need to work quickly. Set a level on top of the post and check that it’s not crooked or slanted. If the post isn’t level, slowly push the post to adjust it. Check the remaining posts to ensure they’re all level as well.^{[9]
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- If you need to, lean board, sticks, or stones against the side of the post to keep it in position.
8
Allow the concrete to cure for around 4 hours. While the concrete will feel dry to the touch within the hour, it takes longer for it to completely set.^{[10]
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Research source} Leave the posts alone for at least 4 hours so the concrete has time to firm up so it’s able to support weight without causing the post to move around.^{[11]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Installing the Steps and Horizontal Runs

1
Measure the distance between the outer edges of 2 posts for the steps. Choose the 2 posts on the short end of your monkey bars. Stand in front of the posts so one is on your left side and one is on your right. Start the tape measure on the leftmost edge on the left post. Extend the tape to the rightmost edge on the right post and write down your measurement so you don’t forget it.^{[12]
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- Both of the short ends will be about the same distance apart so you only have to measure one side.
2
Cut 2 in × 4 in (5.1 cm × 10.2 cm) boards to the length you just found. Multiply the measurement you found by 6 to find the total length you’ll need for your steps. Buy 2 in × 4 in (5.1 cm × 10.2 cm) boards that are 8 feet (2.4 m) long so you can cut them down to size. Make sure you buy pressure-treated outdoor lumber so it doesn’t rot. Mark the lengths on your boards and use a circular saw or hand saw to make your cuts.
- Save any scrap wood you have left since you may be able to use it later in the build.
- You’ll need approximately 18 feet (5.5 m) total for your steps.
3
Put the first steps on the posts so they're 12 in (30 cm) from the ground. Press the wide flat side of the step so the ends are flush with the outer edges of the posts. Position the step 12 inches (30 cm) up from the ground. Hold the step in place with your non-dominant hand so it stays level. Place a 3 in (7.6 cm) wood screw 2 inches (5.1 cm) from the step’s top corner. Use an electric screwdriver to put the screw through the board and into the post. Then place another screw 2 inches (5.1 cm) in from the bottom corner on the same end. Attach the other end of the step to the second post the same way.^{[13]
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4
Place additional steps 12 in (30 cm) apart. Measure 12 inches (30 cm) up from the top of your first step and make a mark on the post. Align the bottom edge of the next step with the mark you just made and add 2 screws to each side to secure it in place. After that, add a third step another 12 inches (30 cm) higher. Repeat the process on the other end of your monkey bars to finish the steps.^{[14]
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- You can adjust the distance between the steps if you need to. For example, you may shorten the gaps if you’re building them for smaller kids or make them larger if you’re building them for yourself. Just be sure you can easily reach the top of the post when you stand on the top bar.
5
Saw 2 in (5.1 cm) support pieces from your boards. Use the leftover scrap pieces you have from cutting your steps so you don’t waste any of your wood. Mark 4 sections that are 2 inches (5.1 cm) long along the length of the board. Use your circular saw or handsaw to make straight cuts through the board at each of your marks. When you’re finished, your 4 pieces will measure 2 by 4 by 2 inches (5.1 × 10.2 × 5.1 cm).^{[15]
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- These pieces will help support the weight of the horizontal runs and make them easier to install.
6
Attach the supports to each post 6 in (15 cm) from the top. Measure down 6 inches (15 cm) from the top of one of your posts. Place the support on the interior side of the post with the largest face pressed against it. Make sure the edges are flush before securing the support to the post with 2 outdoor screws that are 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. Place the other supports on the remaining posts so they’re level and directly across from one another.^{[16]
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- Always check that the supports are level, or else the horizontal runs won’t sit evenly on them.
7
Set the 2 in × 6 in (5.1 cm × 15.2 cm) runs on top of the supports. Get 2 pressure-treated boards that are each 2 in × 6 in (5.1 cm × 15.2 cm) and 12 feet (3.7 m) long. Hold the board so the long narrow edge is on the bottom. Lift the board up onto the supports and set it down so the ends are flush with the outer edges of the posts. Then set the second board on the other set of supports the same way.
- Ask a helper or two to hold the boards in place so they don’t move around or shift.
- You don’t need to cut the 2 in × 6 in (5.1 cm × 15.2 cm) board unless you shortened the distance between your posts.
8
Secure the runs to the posts using outdoor screws. Push the board firmly against the side of the post so there aren’t any gaps. Start the first 3 in (7.6 cm) screw 1 in (2.5 cm) in from the corner of and drive it through the board into the post. Add 4 more screws to the board in an X-shaped pattern to secure it. Secure the remaining end and board the same way.^{[17]
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- If the board doesn’t press against the post tightly, try using a C-clamp to hold the pieces together while you attach the screws.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Attaching the Bars

1
Get a set of monkey bars online or from an outdoor store. Monkey bar kits come with the bars and hardware you’ll need to attach them to your frame. Look for a set that has around 6–9 bars so you have enough to span the entire length. Aim to get monkey bars that are around 20 inches (51 cm) long so you have enough room to swing around and hold onto them.
- Monkey bar kits usually cost around $30 USD. You can use any style as long as they mount to a flat surface.
2
Divide the run length by the number of bars plus 1 to find the spacing. Find the total length of your horizontal run in inches and write the number down. Add 1 to the number of rungs you have and then divide the length by that number. Your answer will be the distance you’ll use between each bar.^{[18]
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- For example, if the horizontal run measures 144 inches (370 cm) and you have 9 rungs, your equation would be 144/(9 +1).
- Simplify the divisor: 144/(10).
- Solve the equation: 144/10 = 14.4. So the distance between each bar will be 14.4 in (37 cm).
- This is only a recommendation so you space your monkey bars across the entire length. Keep in mind how far you or the person using the monkey bars can reach since you may need to get more bars and set them closer to each other.
3
Mark the bars’ locations on the top narrow edges of the runs. Start at the end of the horizontal run and measure along its length by the distance you found. Use a pencil to draw a line across the top edge of the run at your measurement. Continue across the entire length of the run until you make a number of marks equal to the number of bars you’re adding. Then draw the marks on the second run so they line up with the ones on the first.
- You will not place bars at the ends of the runs, so you will have to reach out for the first one from the top step.
4
Screw the bars into the tops of the runs so that they’re perpendicular. Place a bar on the top narrow edges of the runs so the screw holes are centered on your marks. Set one of the screws that came with your monkey bar kit in the hole at the end of the monkey bar. Use an electric screwdriver to set the screw into the top of the run so it holds the bar in place. Then attach the other side of the bar to the top edge of the second run. Work your way down the length of the frame, adding your monkey bars on each mark. When you finish attaching the last one, you’re ready to use the bars!^{[19]
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- Some monkey bars come with screws that require a star-shaped bit, so you may need to buy one if you don’t already own it for your screwdriver.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I add a slide built in it?

Community Answer

Yes, but it may be quite hard. It would be easier to ask someone that has experience to build a slide.
Question

Do you think you could add circular hoops to also hold onto on the sides or do you think it would be a bit lopsided?

Community Answer

If you are doing two monkey bar sets, then that's a great idea! In one of my schools, there was a regular monkey bar set and another one with metal rings that could swing.

Warnings

Always be careful when using your monkey bars so you don’t injure yourself if you fall down.

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Use caution when working with power tools.

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