Backyard ice rinks hit a 3-year internet search high last winter (according to Google Trends), and a survey of dozens of rink owners reveals exactly why families are buying them.

We asked YardRink owners to share their experiences on key rink topics over the past couple years.

A summary of the results is below, along with our insider analysis on the most notable findings.

Summary: Key Backyard Ice Rink Data for 2026

The results below are sourced from a comprehensive survey among current YardRink owners. The surveys were sent in 2025 and 2026 to analyze the previous winter seasons. We encourage you to reach out for more information about our methodology or findings. 

  • The average number of skatable days – which is the number of days where the weather/ice thickness allows for skating – was 55 over the last two seasons.

  • Backyard rink owners tend to have multiple (often younger) children. Children/friends and teammates of children were the most frequent users of the rink. 

  • Improving children’s hockey skills was the most common reason families bought a rink, followed by having a convenient place for children to burn off energy after school/weekends and getting away from screens.

  • Most respondents used the rink at least a few times a week.

  • 26’ x 53’ was the most common rink size that owners purchased.

  • ~7” was the average slope of respondents’ yards.

  • The majority of respondents purchased a rink within a month of initial consideration.

  • November was the most common month respondents purchased a rink.  

  • YardRink’s outdoor rinks ranked first in perception of value and ease of assembly among competing brands (EZ ICE, NiceRink and Iron Sleek). 

Read below for more insights from the surveys. 

Average Number of Skatable Days was 55 Over the Last Two Seasons 

A survey data slide featuring a YardRink logo and an arc gauge chart that illustrates an average of 53 "skate-able" ice days for the season, accompanied by a core statistics summary table.

The number of skatable days for respondents was 53 in 2025 and 57 in 2024. 

Eight respondents reported 80 or more skatable days last year. 

Skatable days are heavily determined by location. 54% of respondents this year were from the United States, with the remaining 46% from Canada.

Tip: Check out our “Extra Skating Days” method to see how you can reliably increase the number of days you can spend on the ice in the video below.

The Top Reason to Buy a Backyard Rink? Hockey Skill Improvement

A colorful horizontal bar chart displaying consumer motivations for purchasing an outdoor rink, revealing that improving children's hockey skills and giving them a place to burn energy are tied as the top reasons at 92% each.

Respondents cited improving their children’s hockey skills as a top reason for wanting an outdoor rink. 

Hockey has seen a massive spike in interest over the past year, and families with children looking to get into the sport commonly turn to backyard rinks as an accessible training ground to perform drills and play games with their friends/teammates. 

Having a place for children to spend energy after school and on the weekends was the other leading reason cited for buying a rink. 

Respondents also referenced getting their children away from screens and encouraging their family to exercise as other primary reasons they invested in a backyard rink. 

Young Families Are The Most Common Demographic Among Backyard Rink Owners

A survey results slide with the YardRink logo featuring a segmented horizontal bar chart that details the number of children per household across four distinct age groups, highlighting the 5-to-10-year-old bracket in red text as "A Key Demographic."

Nearly half of backyard rink owners had two kids between the ages of five and 10 years old, the highest percentage among the demographics surveyed this year. Just over 22% of respondents had multiple children between 11 and 15 years old. 

While their child/friends or teammates of the child are the most frequent users of the rink, 63% of adults also use the rink. 

Every Respondent Considered Multiple Brands Before Buying. YardRink Ranked First.

A horizontal bar chart slide bearing the YardRink logo that ranks outdoor rink brands on their perception of value relative to price, showing YardRink ranked in the top position at number 1.

Among the brands considered, all respondents of the survey conducted this year considered other brands/building a rink themselves before settling on YardRink. 

Of the brands listed – YardRink, EZ ICE, NiceRink and Iron Sleek – YardRink was ranked 1st on the perceived ease of assembly and value you get for the price (both in the 2025 and 2026 surveys). 

The tarp being on the outside of the rink (the only brand to offer this) and the panels being filled and frozen were the most influential factors in respondents’ decisions to purchase YardRink.

The Best Moments Shared on the Ice

Here are a few moments respondents shared as their single best moment owning a backyard ice rink:

  • “Skating with my family in the snow after school one night. A simple night turned into so much joy.”

  • “Watching my kids gain confidence in their skating and the progress my 4 year old made.”

  • “Sitting under an outdoor heater in a lawn chair watching our son navigate pylons.”

  • “My kid and his friends playing for hours and having fun!”

  • “We added LED lights underneath for night skating. Watching my boys do drills with one another in the backyard.”

Have any questions or experiences you want to share? Drop us a note. We’d love to hear your takeaways and stories.

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