Playhouses Reviews

Backyard Discovery Review: Playhouses

We've analyzed the best Playhouses to help you find the right solution for your needs.

2025 Playhouse Reviews

Where Can You Find the Best Playhouses?  Parents are always looking for ways to keep their children entertained for hours while nurturing their imagination. Playhouses are a great way to allow a kid to explore new worlds by playing store, kitchen, princesses, knights, or whatever their limitless minds come up with. They're plenty of fun for one kid alone or a bunch of siblings and friends who join in too.

3.5

GOOD

6

Good

  • Prices starting at $249
  • 10 playhouse choices
  • Free shipping
  • 4-5 day shipping
  • $50 off your order of $499 with email signup
  • Professional assembly available on some playhouses
  • 30-day return policy
  • "A+" Better Business Bureau rating

GOOD

3.5

On the Backyard Discovery website

Backyard Discovery is home to hundreds of different types of products to help you create the most entertaining, dreamiest, most luxurious backyard. This includes swing sets, gazebos, pergolas, greenhouses, carports, kitchens, patio accents, and of course, playhouses. The company is based out of Pittsburg, Kansas with global distribution throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK.

Simple, cute selection

There are 10 playhouses sold by Backyard Discovery, all of which are primarily designed to be outdoors. This company creates their own playsets, so here you'll find their own playhouses, not ones that are made by other brands. Some products in the playhouse inventory from Backyard Discovery are identical to each other in build and features, but they come in different colors so that you can find something that best fits your aesthetic. They have a cute cottage that comes in two colors with a little flower box in the window, a swinging half door, mailbox, and little chalkboard to play with. Their Aspen playhouse looks more like a small cabin with a seat at the windowsill, a little fence and mailbox, pretend indoor sink, and big windows all around. If you prefer an elevated playhouse with stairs to the top and a slide coming down, they have that too. There aren't a ton of different options, but what they have is cute and no doubt kids would love them.

Everything under $1,000

The prices here range from just $249 for a simple cedar wood playhouse with a half door, indoor kitchen, and fun accents to $849 for a pretty black and white playhouse with a slide. This playhouse has a little lookout deck around the playhouse with an indoor kitchen and ladder to get to the top. Shipping is free for all the playhouses here, so you don't have to worry about delivery costs.

Best Playhouses

Sign up and save

If you sign up for marketing emails from Backyard Discovery, they'll send you a code for $50 off any purchase of $499 or more. If you're spending a lot of money on a playhouse here, a $50 savings may not seem like much, but it's something. You might as well take any discount that you can get.

4-5 day shipping

When you're viewing a playhouse, you can select the "Check Arrival Dates" button to see how long it would take for the playhouse to get to your home. We noticed that most of them said 4-5 days, which really isn't bad. There were two new playhouse designs that were still in a preorder phase, so those would take a little longer to arrive, but typically everything else is in-stock. If you want Backyard Discovery to arrange for assembly of your playhouse, you can pay an extra $450 - $600 depending on the playhouse.

30-day returns plus restocking fees

If you receive your playhouse from Backyard Discovery and want to return it, you can contact the company within 30 days of receipt. You'll be responsible to pay for returning the playhouse, and expect a 15% restocking fee to be deducted from your refund. If it is missing parts when you return it, the cost for the company to make the set like new again will also be deducted from your refund.

Best Playhouses

Unfiltered reviews

The Better Business Bureau gives Backyard Discovery an "A+" score. Maybe even more importantly, the customer reviews of their products are really high. We appreciate that Backyard Discovery has unfiltered reviews on their products for you to read through. Most of them have between 60 and 150 reviews, so there is more than enough to be helpful in making a buying decision. Customers often leave lengthy descriptions of their experience and add photos of the playhouse in their own yards for you to see. Nearly every product has close to 5 out of 5 stars, so it's clear that Backyard Discovery makes good playhouses that customers are happy with.

Small outdoor selection

We have no concerns about the quality of the playhouses from Backyard Discovery or the legitimacy of the company. We like that they offer fast, free shipping and their playhouses are really cute. They do have a small selection, so we don't expect that everyone will find what they had in mind here. Plus, if you want more indoor playhouse options, you won't find that here. Backyard Discovery has earned a good review from us and a better-than-average rating, but it's a little too limited in selection to land any higher on our list.

On the Backyard Discovery website

Continued from above...

Where Can You Find the Best Playhouses?

Parents are always looking for ways to keep their children entertained for hours while nurturing their imagination. Playhouses are a great way to allow a kid to explore new worlds by playing store, kitchen, princesses, knights, or whatever their limitless minds come up with. They're plenty of fun for one kid alone or a bunch of siblings and friends who join in too.

Playhouses are one of those toys that never goes out of style and is enjoyed by those young and old - sure to be a huge hit for a birthday present, Christmas gift, or just for fun. And, there are plenty of different types of playhouses to fit the space you have and the style you're going for.

Some people like having an indoor playhouse while others prefer to have one outdoors. You could even choose to move your playhouse indoors and then outdoors as the weather changes, to switch things up throughout the seasons. Be sure to consider the type of materials your playhouse is made out of if you choose to do this, to ensure it can withstand the elements on rainy, windy, or snowy days.

For simplicity, you may choose to buy a pop-up type playhouse. This requires almost no assembly and could even be stored away as your kid gets older or for times when you need a little breathing room and want some of your space back for a while. Others are made of wood, which gives the playhouse a beautiful, classic look, but may require some repainting over the years, especially if left outside. Plastic materials are popular since they often are good for all types of weather and are easy to clean.

Consider the ages of the kids who will be using the playhouse. Do you want something with a tall tower or rock climbing wall and big slide to add a challenge to playtime? Or would you rather stick with a simple structure with a play table and sink that's safe and fun for all ages? Some have water tables connected, a sandbox, little shelves for displaying trinkets, or bridges connecting separate spaces. These are great additions for kids young and old.

These days you can get so many types of features included with a playhouse, even super-realistic ones that resemble a home with flower boxes, drapes, a mailbox, and a front porch. Think about how mobile you'll want the playhouse to be, who will be using it, and what types of weather it will be exposed to to help you start narrowing the hundreds of fun choices you're about to explore.

There are many places online that sell playhouses. Some are stores you may be familiar with while others are smaller, family brands that have a fun variety of products. So who do you choose? Consider these key areas when shopping for a playhouse:

The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched the best, most fun playhouses available online. We hope this information helps unlock your inner child and find something that your own children will love and spend years playing with!

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Playhouse FAQ

What are playhouses used for?
Playhouses are used for having fun! They are a place where children can make memories and use their imagination. They might pretend to be adults and make meals, take care of babies, and have sleepovers with siblings or friends. Playhouses often look like mini replicas of real homes and can be as simple or fancy as you want them to be. The selection available online for children's playhouses is extremely impressive.
Where is the best place to put a playhouse?
It's not uncommon to put a children's playhouse in your backyard or playroom. As long as you have plenty of space and a good area for adult supervision when necessary, a playhouse could really go anywhere. Just make sure it's on level ground to ensure doors can open freely so that kids can play safely!
How big are playhouses?
The simple answer is that playhouses should be big enough for children to easily walk in and out and play inside without feeling too constrained. Most people don't have an area in or outside of their house for a giant playhouse, so it just needs to be big enough to play comfortably. The technical answer is that some experts say playhouses should be between 50 and 100 square feet with a maximum wall height of 6 feet.
What are playhouses made of?
When buying a playhouse, you could either go with a wood exterior or an all-weather durable plastic. Wood is easy to paint and customize whereas plastic won't show as much wear and tear overtime like dents, paint chips, or scratches. When deciding what you want your playhouse to be made of, consider the weather in your area, how hard your kids will be on it, and if it will be inside or outside. You also might decide just based on the style.
Is it expensive to buy a playhouse?
Playhouses can be expensive if you want your children to have a mini mansion in the backyard! If you want a multi-level, fully accessorized playhouse, you can easily spend a few thousand dollars. This is definitely not necessary though. You can get a fun, long-lasting playhouse your kids will love for barely over $150. The end cost will really be determined by the style and size of the playhouse you choose.
What ages are playhouses fun for?
Playhouses are most commonly used by kids between the ages of 1 and 12. But let's be honest, adults have a blast playing with children in the playhouses too! They are a staple "toy" that everyone can enjoy and they'll entertain children for hours on end. Whether you have boys or girls, playhouses are one of the most fun purchases you'll ever make for your kids.
Can a playhouse be returned if I change my mind about it?
Most retailers allow you to return playhouses within 30 days if it is in new condition. However, you'll probably pay hefty shipping costs that might deter you from deciding to send the playhouse back. If it comes damaged or has missing parts, you'll be able to exchange it for a new playhouse at the expense of the company you purchased the playhouse from.
How long will my playhouse last?
Playhouses are built to last for years! It's not uncommon for parents to buy a playhouse for their children and hang onto it for their grandchildren to use as well. As long as it is well taken care of, your playhouse will probably be around longer than you will, and the memories too! It's a purchase that will be worth the cost tenfold.

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