Soft landings that last for years.
Certified, fall-height-tested rubber mulch that cushions playground falls — and keeps cushioning them for years. It stays soft and holds its shape — no yearly top-ups like wood chips.
Built to protect kids — and to stay that way.
Certified fall protection
IPEMA-certified and ASTM F1292 fall-height tested — the safety standard schools and parks require.
Stays soft
It won't pack down into a hard surface the way sand and pea gravel do, so it keeps cushioning year after year.
No splinters, bugs, or fungus
Unlike wood chips, it doesn't splinter or rot. It doesn't rot or soak up water, so it won't grow the mold and fungi that damp wood mulch does. It also gives termites and ants no place to live.
Almost no upkeep
It holds its color for 12 years and stays in place better than wood — far less raking, far less re-mulching.
Rubber mulch vs. wood chips, sand & pea gravel.
Every loose-fill surface has its place. Here's how they stack up for a play area you won't have to fuss over.
| Surface | Certified fall height | How long it lasts | You re-buy it? | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber mulch | 16 ft at 6″ | Decades — doesn't decompose | No — bought once | Rake level; top up ~10% for settling |
| Wood chips / engineered wood fiber | 7–10 ft at 9″ | Compresses 25%+; decomposes | Yes — to hold the 9″ depth | Rake back after use; add material to stay at 9″ |
| Sand | 4 ft at 9″ | Packs hard & scatters | Yes | Rake often; hides debris |
| Pea gravel | 5 ft at 9″ | Migrates; packs hard | Yes | Rake; a choking risk for toddlers |
Fall heights: our IPEMA-certified rubber mulch at 6″ (ASTM F1292-22); other materials per U.S. CPSC Pub. 325, Table 2 (at 9″ compressed). The same handbook states loose fill compresses at least 25% over time, so a bed that must hold 9″ of wood chips has to be filled to 12″ at the start and topped back up to stay there. Cushioning depends on installed depth — our calculator sizes it for you.
Safe for the kids you're protecting.
It's IPEMA-certified and fall-height tested. The EPA, the European Chemicals Agency, and independent researchers reviewed it — the facts and the certifications, in plain English.
Depth, heat & accessibility — the details.
The three questions every parent, school board, and park director asks before they buy.
How deep should it be?
Set the depth by your equipment's fall height. Home playsets aren't government-regulated and use about 3″ — 4″ for a taller set.
Public and commercial playgrounds match the depth to the equipment's fall height. At a certified depth, 4″ protects a 10-ft fall, 5″ a 12-ft fall, and 6″ a 16-ft fall. See the full depth chart below.
Home & backyardUpdated July 2026
| Where it’s going | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home & backyard playsets | 3″ | Right for most home swing sets and play structures. Home playgrounds aren’t government-regulated — this is the standard recommendation. |
| Taller home playsets | 4″ | A little extra cushion for a taller backyard structure. |
| Landscaping & garden beds | 2″ | Blocks weeds and holds soil moisture — a landscaping depth, not a safety depth. |
Home guidance follows the standard residential recommendation and the CPSC’s voluntary Home Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 324). Backyard playgrounds carry no federal depth requirement.
Schools, parks, daycares & commercial — by equipment fall heightUpdated July 2026
| Your equipment’s fall height | Rubber mulch depth | Certified rating |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 ft | 4″ | Certified critical fall height: 10 ft |
| Up to 12 ft | 5″ | Certified critical fall height: 12 ft |
| Up to 16 ftCovers the tallest commercial play towers. | 6″ | Certified critical fall height: 16 ft |
Public and commercial playgrounds follow the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325) and ASTM F1292. The depths above match the certified thickness-to-fall-height ratios for the IPEMA-certified recycled-rubber nugget mulch we ship, tested to ASTM F1292-22 and F3012-22. Loose fill settles when rolled, so spread about an inch over the target depth so it holds after it beds in. Figures reviewed July 2026.
Does it get hot?
In direct summer sun, yes — rubber mulch is one of the warmer playground surfaces, and darker colors warm up the most. Even so, in comparative testing at 101°F ambient, rubber mulch measured up to 20°F cooler than play sand.
Two things keep it comfortable: shade over the play area and a lighter color. In shade, or in spring and fall, it's a non-issue — and we'd rather say that up front than pretend it stays cool.
Comparative surface-temperature testing at 101°F ambient; full sourced heat data on our safety page.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, at the certified depth. Our nuggets are ASTM F1951-21 (ADA) certified at 4 inches compacted to 3.5, and at 7 inches compacted to 6. A wheelchair rolls over it far more easily than sand or pea gravel.
Because it's a loose fill, rake it level and top it up now and then to stay compliant. Tell us about your project and we'll help you plan the depth and layout.
Source: ASTM F1951 (accessibility of playground surface systems).
See your price. Buy right here.
Pick a color, drop in your delivery ZIP, and your exact delivered price appears — free curbside delivery, and the price you see is the price you pay.
How it ships
From a backyard swing set to a city park.
Home playsets
Size your play area with the calculator, pick a color, and have it delivered free, curbside. Most backyard sets take just a pallet or two.
Commercial & bulk
Get a fast, freight-optimized quote and the IPEMA certifications your board or inspector needs. We've supplied playgrounds since 2004.
Size it to the pallet in about a minute.
Enter your area and the depth you want. The calculator works out the pallets and shows your delivered price before you buy.
Six colors, one 12-year guarantee.
Every painted color holds its color for 12 years — including the blue and green kids pick for play areas.
Shop all colorsPlay areas, surfaced and protected.
Playground rubber mulch, answered.
Is rubber mulch safe for kids?
Yes. It's IPEMA-certified and ASTM F1292 fall-height tested, and the EPA, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), California's OEHHA, and independent researchers have reviewed it. We lay out the studies and certifications in plain English on our Is rubber mulch safe? page — sources and all.
How much do I need?
It depends on your area and the depth. Our calculator sizes the job to the pallet — each pallet covers about 75 cubic feet. Delivery to the 48 contiguous states (every state except Alaska and Hawaii) is free.
Does it wash or blow away?
No. Rubber mulch is heavier than wood mulch, so it stays put through wind and heavy rain instead of floating off. A simple edge border keeps it neatly contained in the play area.
Will it rot or attract bugs?
No. Unlike wood chips, rubber doesn't rot. It gives termites and ants no place to live — a top reason schools and parks switch to it.
Does it grow mold or fungus like wood mulch?
No. Damp wood and bark mulch host fungi like "artillery fungus," which a four-year Penn State study found thrives on decomposing wood mulch. Those spores can fire several feet onto nearby siding and cars. Because rubber doesn't decompose like wood or absorb water, it gives mold and fungi nothing to feed on.
How long does it last?
Years longer than wood. It doesn't break down like wood into dirt, so you top it up far less often. Our 12-year color guarantee covers every painted color.
What colors does it come in?
Six colors: brown, red, black, unpainted, blue, green — all six certified to the same standard. Every painted color holds its color for 12 years. See all six colors.
Can I buy it for a backyard, or just big projects?
Both. For a backyard set, size it with the calculator, pick a color, and buy online — most take a pallet or two. For a school, church, park, or HOA, request a quote and we'll handle the freight and the IPEMA certifications your board or inspector needs.
Give them a safer place to land.
Buy online and have it delivered free, or get a quote for a school, park, or big project.