10+ Year Lifespan
Won't rot, fade or break down
Low Maintenance
No annual top-ups or raking
Free-Draining
No mud, no waterlogging
Free UK Delivery
5–10 working day pallet delivery
Playground safety depth calculator
Pick your equipment or set a custom fall height — we'll show the minimum mulch depth required to meet BS EN 1177.
Industry-standard guidance for SBR loose-fill rubber mulch under BS EN 1177. For commercial playgrounds, schools and nurseries, verify against documented Critical Fall Height and conduct a site-specific risk assessment.
Real UK installations
Playgrounds, gardens and pathways across the country
Want to feel the texture before committing to a bulk bag?
Rubber Chippings vs Bark vs Real Grass
Each surface has its place — but for play areas with high foot traffic and year-round use, the differences add up fast. Here's how they compare:
| Feature | Recommended Rubber Chippings |
Bark Mulch | Real Grass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | ✓10+ years | ✗1–2 years | −Permanent with care |
| Impact cushioning | ✓High | −Medium | ✗Low |
| Free-draining | ✓Yes | −Partial | ✗Waterlogs |
| No annual top-ups | ✓Yes | ✗Top up yearly | ✗Reseeding |
| Mud-free in wet weather | ✓Yes | ✗No | ✗No |
| Doesn't rot or decompose | ✓Yes | ✗Rots over time | −Partial |
| Pest-resistant | ✓Yes | ✗Attracts insects | −Partial |
| Pet-friendly | ✓Yes | ✗Some types toxic | −Patchy & muddy |
| Low maintenance | ✓Yes | ✗Topping & raking | ✗Mowing & watering |
Want the full breakdown? Read our in-depth comparison: rubber chippings vs bark for play areas.
Not sure yet? Order a £1 sample
Feel the texture, check the colour and see the depth before committing to a bulk bag. Posted to your door in 2–4 working days — no minimum order.
Straight to secure checkout · 2–4 working day UK delivery · No minimum order
Our playground rubber chippings — also known as rubber mulch — are a durable, low-maintenance and impact-absorbing surfacing solution for play areas, playgrounds, gardens, schools, nurseries and commercial landscaping across the UK. Made from recycled rubber, these 10–20mm rubber chippings are a longer-lasting alternative to bark mulch that won't rot, break down or need constant topping up.
Rubber Mulch UK — Bulk Bags from 300kg to 5 Tonnes
Our recycled rubber mulch is supplied in UK bulk bags from 300kg up to a 5-tonne single-drop — the biggest single-bag size on the market. Widely used as a durable, low-maintenance ground cover for playgrounds, garden borders, pathway edging, tree surrounds, safety surfacing and landscape feature beds. Every bag delivers the same free-draining, pest-resistant, colour-stable rubber material used across UK schools, nurseries, councils and landscape projects, with prices dropping sharply per tonne as bag size goes up. Same product as our rubber chippings — the two terms are interchangeable across the UK trade.
Rubber Mulch for Playgrounds — Safety Surfacing
Rubber mulch for playgrounds is the certified safety alternative to bark and pea gravel. Tested under BS EN 1177:2018+A1:2023 for Critical Fall Heights up to 3m, our playground rubber mulch is specified by schools, nurseries and play area operators where bark can't meet the fall-protection standard. At a 100mm depth it protects against falls from swings and low climbers; 150-200mm is standard beneath higher play equipment. Send us the equipment height and we'll calculate the tonnage and depth for your play area.
Rubber Chippings and Rubber Mulch Explained
Rubber chippings and rubber mulch are the same recycled rubber surfacing — the terms are used interchangeably across the UK. Both describe shredded recycled rubber used as a soft, free-draining ground cover for play areas, gardens and pathways. Unlike loose gravel or soil, a rubber mulch surface stays cleaner underfoot, drains freely and holds up year-round in high-use areas.
Why Choose Rubber Chippings or Rubber Mulch as a Surface?
- Recycled and sustainable — Made from 100% recycled UK tyres, shredded into 10–20mm chippings. Around 120 tyres go into every tonne — landfill diverted, green credentials earned.
- Soft and impact-absorbing — Tested under BS EN 1177:2018+A1:2023 for Critical Fall Heights up to 3m. Schools, nurseries and play operators specify rubber chippings where bark can't deliver certified protection.
- Low-maintenance and long-lasting — Holds shape and colour for 10+ years where bark decomposes within 1–2. No annual topping-up, no raking, no replacement budget — install once, walk away.
- Free-draining year-round — Water drains straight through to the soil beneath. Mud-free and puddle-free through every UK winter, no special drainage prep needed.
- Pest-resistant — Doesn't attract slugs, mice, rats or wood-boring insects the way damp bark does. No mould or fungal growth either.
- Versatile — Playgrounds, school grounds, garden borders, equestrian arenas, ornamental beds and pathways. Decorative or high-traffic, indoor or outdoor — one bag, multiple use cases.
Rubber Mulch for Garden Use — Borders, Beds & Pathways
Rubber mulch for garden use is the low-maintenance ground cover that outlasts bark. Spread 50mm deep across ornamental beds, tree surrounds and pathway edges: it suppresses weed growth, retains soil moisture, drains freely, and doesn't rot into your topsoil. Because rubber mulch doesn't decompose, you're not adding acidity to the soil the way bark chippings do — better for planting mixed beds where soil pH matters. For a coloured decorative finish, see our coloured rubber mulch range in seven UK shades.
Rubber Mulch Calculator — How Much Do You Need?
Our tonnage rule of thumb: rubber chippings cover about 20kg per m² at 50mm, so 1 tonne covers roughly 50m² at 50mm depth, or about 25m² at 100mm playground depth. For garden borders (50mm), a 300kg bulk bag covers about 15m²; a 1000kg bag covers ~50m². For playground safety surfacing at 100mm, a 1000kg bag covers ~25m². Use our rubber chippings coverage calculator, or send us your area and required depth and we'll confirm the exact tonnage — no over-ordering, no shortfall on the day of installation.