Late August is when the backyard starts to look usable again. The afternoons are warm enough to sit outside, and someone in the house says the words "we should get a hammock". Then you walk out the back door and realise there is nowhere to hang it. That is the moment a hammock stand or a well-chosen pair of trees becomes the whole decision.
This guide covers the three ways Australians hang a hammock — a freestanding stand, two trees, or fixings into a building — and the spacing, clearance and load each one needs. It also covers when a hanging chair from our hanging egg and swing chairs collection makes more sense, and how to keep children safe around both. If you are still weighing up whether to hang anything at all, our hammock vs daybed comparison puts the swinging option up against a fixed teak daybed.
Hammock stand, trees or building fixings?
A hammock stand is the simplest option. It is freestanding, it needs no drilling and no approval from a body corporate, and it can be shifted as the shade moves.
Two trees are cheaper and more pleasant, provided the trees are genuinely up to the job. Fixings into a building look tidy and save floor space, but they carry the most risk, because you cannot see what sits behind the surface.
| Where you hang it | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Freestanding stand | Renters, courtyards and decks with no suitable trees | Needs level ground and full-length clearance |
| Two trees | Established gardens with healthy mature trunks | Tree health and thickness; bark damage; trees keep growing |
| Building fixings | Verandahs and alfresco areas where floor space is tight | Must reach structural framing; strata approval; hardest to assess yourself |
Tree spacing: how far apart should the anchor points be?
As a general rule, most rope and fabric hammocks are happiest with anchor points roughly 3 to 4.5 metres apart, measured trunk to trunk. Treat that as a typical range rather than a specification. The real number depends on the length of your hammock and its ropes or straps.
The shape of the hang matters as much as the distance. Aim for a relaxed curve rather than a taut line, because a tight hammock tips and a saggy one swallows you. Typical guidance is to fix the two suspension points around head height and let the lowest point sit a comfortable step off the ground.
Our cotton Hammock ($159) is the classic between-two-trees style, and it hangs equally well from a pair of posts. The page does not list a length, fittings or a weight limit, so check those details with us before you commit to a gap or a stand.
Anchor points must be sound and rated for the load
This is the part people skip, and it matters more than anything else. Every anchor point — tree, post, beam or stand — must be structurally sound and rated for the load it carries. That load is not simply body weight: a hammock multiplies the force at each end, and climbing in adds a shock load on top.
For a tree, it must be living, healthy and thick enough to take that load without flexing. Dead limbs above the hammock, hollow sections, fungal growth at the base or an obvious lean all rule a tree out. Use wide straps rather than rope or wire so the bark is not cut. If you are unsure about a tree's condition, an arborist is a cheap phone call.
For a building, fixings must land in structural framing — a post, a rafter, a beam or a bearer — never cladding, battens, plasterboard or decorative trim. Use hardware rated for the load. If you cannot confirm what sits behind the surface, have a builder check it before anyone sits down. Renters and apartment residents should ask the landlord, strata manager or body corporate first, since fixing into building structure normally needs written approval.
Children, hammocks and supervision
Kids love a hammock more than anyone, which is exactly why the load question gets more serious. The Kids Hammock ($224) is a nest swing with a round window in the middle. It hangs from a single suspension point, so it works off a sturdy branch outside or a fixed point in a playroom.
The page lists a weight capacity of 70 kg, and whatever you hang it from has to take that comfortably. Children should be supervised while using it, particularly when more than one wants a turn. Keep the swing arc clear of walls, posts, fences and glass. Hang it low enough that a slip is a short drop onto soft ground, and keep loose cords and drawstrings away from the hanging point. There is more seating for this end of the household in our kids furniture range.
No trees and no room? A hanging chair with its own stand
Plenty of Australian courtyards, townhouse decks and apartment balconies have no trees and no space for a three-metre stand. A hanging chair with its own base solves both problems, in roughly the floor area of an armchair.
The Hanging Pod Chair ($749) includes its own base and pole frame, so it needs no beam and no branch. It carries a 120 kg weight limit, sits on a base frame 110 cm in diameter and stands 200 cm tall, with hook and chain included. The frame is steel and susceptible to rust, so it belongs in a covered area away from water, salt and moisture. That matters if you live near the beach at Wollongong or Glenelg.
The Kakadu Pod Chair in grey ($874) is the same idea in a different finish. It uses woven double-thickness rattan on a powder-coated frame with a fitted 320gsm cushion, and holds approximately 120 kg. For a fuller walk-through of stands, weight ratings and swing clearance, read our pod and swing chairs buying guide.
Weather, sun and where it lives the rest of the year
A hammock lives outdoors, but it does not have to stay there year-round. Cotton holds moisture, so one left out through a wet Melbourne winter or a Cairns wet season will mildew and lose its colour long before the ropes give up. Take it down when a storm is forecast, and let it dry before it is stored.
Australian UV is punishing between about 10 am and 3 pm through spring and summer, and a hammock strung across an open lawn in full sun is one nobody uses. Hang it where a tree canopy, a pergola or an umbrella already does the work, and organise the spot for afternoon shade.
Hammock stands and tree spacing — frequently asked questions
How far apart do trees need to be for a hammock?
Typically somewhere between about 3 and 4.5 metres apart, though it depends on the length of your hammock and its ropes. Measure the gap between the trunks first, then match a hammock to it. If the trees sit further apart, extension straps rated for the load close the difference.
Do I need a hammock stand if I already have two trees?
No, but a stand is the safer choice if the trees are young, thin, unhealthy or the wrong distance apart. A stand also moves around the garden with you, which matters if you are renting.
Can you hang a hammock from a pergola or verandah?
Only if the fixings reach structural framing rated for the load, and a builder should confirm that if you are not certain. Posts, rafters and beams may be suitable; battens, cladding and lattice are not. In a strata building or a rental, get written approval before you drill.
Are hammocks safe for children?
They are, with supervision and a sensible setup. Keep the seat low so a slip is a short drop, clear the swing path of hard edges, and check the weight capacity against how many children will pile in.
Shop the range
Hammocks and hanging chairs like the Kakadu Pod Chair sit in our hanging egg and swing chairs collection. The wider sun lounges and bean bags range covers the rest of the shady corner. We deliver Australia-wide, and delivery is free on orders over $100. Measure your gap first, then talk to us if you are unsure.
