Category
Playground safety surfacing
Rubber tiles, poured rubber (wet pour), synthetic grass and other impact-absorbing surfaces for playgrounds, compared as each manufacturer publishes them.
24 surfacing products from 2 suppliers on Park Plan, as of October 2026.
Which playground surfacing is best?
It depends on the fall height of the equipment above it, the budget and the upkeep you can manage. Poured rubber and rubber tiles give a continuous, accessible surface with low upkeep but cost more to install. Loose fill such as bark or sand costs less to install but needs topping up and raking to keep its depth. Synthetic grass over a shock pad gives a natural look with an accessible surface.
In Australia, impact-absorbing playground surfacing is tested to AS 4422. Check each surface's published critical fall height against the highest fall height of the equipment it sits under.
Suppliers of surfacing
Examples
