Sometimes there’s nothing like dancing under the open sky. Whether you’re at a family gathering, a boisterous backyard party, or a formal wedding reception, having a dance floor in your yard always ends up being the center of the show.
That said, what if you don’t actually have a dance floor in your backyard? Well, don’t worry, because we’ve compiled a list of nine clever and budget-friendly DIY outdoor dance floor ideas that will have your guests dancing well into the night without breaking your budget.
We’ve done our best to choose options that vary in terms of complexity and appearance, to give you the greatest variety to choose from, so you can create your own great-looking, cost-effective backyard dance floor.
1. Plywood sheets
If you’re looking for a super quick and easy solution to not having a dance floor, use plywood sheets is probably your best option. All you need is a few sheets of plywood, depending on the size of the dance floor you want to make, and you can create a large dance floor for a very limited cost.
Yes, the cost of lumber increases as the days and years go by, but using simple sheets of plywood is still much cheaper than most other options out there. To ensure great durability and safety, be sure to choose relatively thick plywood, so that the weight of your guests does not go through the floor.
Plywood doesn’t look the best, so you may want to sand down any rough edges, which is also good to prevent splinters. If you like a rustic appeal, you can leave the plywood as is, but if you want a more elegant and aesthetically appealing look, it is recommended to use a coat of varnish, paint, or even lacquer.
2. Rubber mats or floors
If one of your main concerns is safety and aesthetic appeal takes a backseat, then use rubber floor or interlocking rubber mats is an option. These are mats that in most cases can be joined together to create a large surface area, which is beneficial because you can customize the size to suit your needs.
However, the biggest benefit is that they are non-slip, which helps reduce accidents. This is a great option if you are having some type of family gathering or a children’s party, such as a birthday party, where you will have a lot of children running around and dancing.
Another benefit of these rubber mats is that they are very easy to set up and pack, making them ideal for last minute events. They also happen to be extremely durable and waterproof, meaning that no matter how much you dance on them and how much it rains, they should stay in one piece for quite a while.
3. Interlocking Tiles
If you want something that is more aesthetically pleasing and visually appealing, you can opt for interlocking tiles. Yes, interlocking tiles can be a little more expensive than rubber mats or plywood, but they also tend to look much better.
The good thing about interlocking tiles is that they are available in various materials such as wood and plastic, they come in many different sizes and can be assembled in such a way that they fit any size of space, whether small or large.
If you get the right type, you can also lay them on the grass instead of having to create some type of subfloor, as you might have to do with other materials. They’re also convenient because you just have to lock them in place when you want to use them and then detach them when you want to put them away again.
That said, the interlocking nature of the slabs means that they can break if excess weight is put on them, so this might not be the best option if you have a lot of people who will be putting a lot of weight on them. that dance floor.
4. Pallets and plywood
A truly innovative product and Environmentally friendly The idea is to use pallets. Pallets, used for shipping purposes, are often discarded once they are finished being used. There are many places, such as warehouses, where you can get as many pallets as you want at no cost, and some places charge minimal fees.
Either way, pallets shouldn’t cost you much. It’s also a great way to go green, because it allows you to reuse something that would otherwise have been thrown away. The convenience of using pallets is also that they provide a solid, stable and flat base.
We’ve already talked about using plywood sheets to make a dance floor, although the problem with using plywood sheets alone is that you may not be able to create a completely flat and level surface.
By using trowels, you can help level the floor to create a flatter surface for your guests to dance on. You can then lay the plywood on top, sand and paint it as needed, and create one of the most professional and cost-effective DIY backyard dance floors possible.
5. Vinyl Sheets
If you want something that looks good, is soft, is available in various colors and is very easy to clean, then use a thick vinyl sheet is probably your best option. Now, the thing to keep in mind with a vinyl sheet is that it is soft and flexible, not solid like the other materials we have talked about so far.
This means that vinyl sheets are not ideal for use on grass or uneven surfaces. Rather, a thick vinyl sheet is perfect for a surface that is already relatively flat and level, like if you have a concrete backyard.
That said, if you don’t mind a little unevenness, you can always place it on your garden as well. However, the great thing about vinyl sheets is that they are really slippery and smooth, and are great for dancing on. It lets you spin, twist, spin, and do any of those fancy dance moves you may have seen done in Grease.
6. Recycled materials
Okay, we know this is very vague, but that’s how it’s intended to be. The point is that we are here to promote not only profitability, but also sustainability.
You can look for old pieces of carpet, rugs, wood planks, pallets, and anything in between. Whatever the case, if you are a bit handy, you can always find old materials and reuse them as you see fit and, in this case, turn them into a dance floor.
7. Canvas or cloth
As with vinyl sheets, if you want a softer and more aesthetically appealing dance floor, it is recommended to use a large sheet of fabric or canvas. Now, just like with vinyl, a tarp or sheet of fabric is only ideal for a surface that is already flat and level. It’s not something you want to use in a bumpy, uneven backyard.
If you have concrete, or perhaps if you have already placed pallets, plywood, or plywood pallets on top, then stretching a fabric or tarp cover on top is a great idea. It helps add texture and color to the equation, and will help preserve subfloor material, such as plywood, from damage.
Just make sure to secure the fabric to the dance floor so it doesn’t fly up while people are dancing, as this can pose a safety risk. The nice thing is that the canvas and fabric also come in many different colors, so you can really match them to the occasion.
8. DIY Wooden Platform Dance Floor
If you’re looking to build something a little more permanent, want it to look fantastic, and are willing to spend a bit of money, then creating your own DIY wooden platform dance floor is the best option of all. Here, you’ll use 2x4s or other similar boards to create a base and frame for the dance floor, and then use high-quality plywood for the surface.
This allows you to create a raised surface and safe area for your guests to dance. It looks much more professional and will end up being more durable than virtually any of the other options on the current list.
Then, you can always put some vinyl, canvas, or fabric on the surface of the dance floor to make it look even better and increase its overall durability. Yes, this will be the most expensive option on the list, as well as the most labor-intensive, but it will also look better and last longer.
9. Buy a used dance floor
If all else fails, and doing things yourself is not exactly your forte, then you can always look for a second-hand or used dance floor. There are many marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, where you should be able to find a used dance floor for a relatively low price. That’s a good solution if you’re short on time and simply can’t build anything, and it allows you to reuse and recycle something that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden center helping people buy plants, gardening supplies and lawn care products. He has experience in real estate and is a homeowner. Jamie loves garden projects, finishing furniture and likes to share his knowledge online.
