Measure your swing, choose safety margins. See clear zones for trees, beds, fences, paths nearby. Download neat reports to guide weekend garden upgrades confidently.
The swing behaves like a pendulum with length L (chain/rope length) and maximum angle θ from vertical.
| Scenario | Seat (W×D) | Chain | Angle | Safety | Sway | Safe-zone (L×W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tree swing near flower bed | 0.55×0.20 m | 2.10 m | 35° | 0.40 m | 5% | ~3.21×1.66 m |
| A-frame swing by fence | 0.60×0.22 m | 1.80 m | 30° | 0.30 m | 3% | ~2.62×1.44 m |
| Compact patio swing space | 0.50×0.18 m | 1.50 m | 25° | 0.25 m | 2% | ~2.05×1.18 m |
A garden swing behaves like a moving tool: it needs an exclusion zone that stays empty during use. This calculator converts seat size, chain length, and swing angle into a practical footprint you can mark on the ground. Treat the footprint as a “no-planting” rectangle so borders, pots, edging stones, and sprinkler heads are not struck. For children’s swings, consider impact surfacing and keep clearance away from thorny shrubs; for adult seats, widen side zones to accommodate momentum safely.
The arc grows quickly as angle increases. For the same chain length, moving from 25° to 45° raises horizontal travel by roughly 70%. Longer chains also increase travel, because horizontal movement is proportional to L×sin(θ). If your site is tight, reducing the permitted angle or shortening the hang length usually saves more space than shrinking the seat.
Users do not swing perfectly in one plane. A safety margin accounts for pushing, stopping, and uneven ground. In many home gardens, 0.30–0.60 m extra space per side is a sensible starting range. Increase the margin near hard features such as walls, trunks, raised beds, or water features.
Wind, twisting chains, and off-center sitting create lateral sway. The sway percentage adds an allowance based on chain length, which is useful beside hedges and fences. If the swing is under a canopy, check overhead clearance too: branches can enter the swing path as they grow seasonally.
After calculating, measure the recommended length and width on-site and place temporary markers. Walk the perimeter and identify trip hazards, irrigation lines, and fragile plantings. Use the pivot-height check to keep the seat comfortably above grade, especially over mulch that compacts. Export the report to share with installers or to store alongside your garden plan.
It is the minimum open distance from the pivot line to any obstacle in front or behind. It combines half the seat depth, horizontal travel, and your safety margin.
Use typical play behavior: 25–35° for gentle use, 35–45° for active swinging. If space is tight, reduce the angle; clearance shrinks quickly with angle.
Real swings twist and drift sideways from wind and off‑center loading. The sway setting adds side allowance based on chain length, helping prevent fence, hedge, and branch impacts.
The plan-view zone is unchanged, but pivot height helps check seat bottom height at rest. Use it to confirm comfortable ground clearance and to estimate a minimum pivot height.
No. Select one unit system and enter all dimensions in that unit. The calculator converts internally, then reports results back in your selected units.
Mark the safe-zone length and width on the ground, then inspect for roots, stones, edging, and irrigation lines. Keep the zone free of hard objects and export the report for records.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.