3 Best Backyard Ice Rinks for 2025 (Honest Analysis)

Buying a backyard ice rink can be a significant investment - and a complicated one at that.

There’s a lot to consider (cost, ease of setup, durability, aesthetics, maintenance, playability), and you don’t want to waste your hard-earned money on a rink that doesn’t fit your unique goals.

As a leading backyard ice rink manufacturer, we are constantly studying the competition, and after comparing the top options, we’ve ranked the best backyard hockey rinks to buy this year.

Top 3 Best Backyard Ice Rinks for This Year (By Brand)

To create this list, we identified the leading backyard rink brands through quantitative market research. We objectively assessed the three major brands  - YardRink, EZ ICE and NiceRink - in the backyard ice rink industry, and ranked them by category in the following order:

1. Best for Hockey Play 

2. Best for Aesthetics

3. Best for DIY Owners

Our experts will tell you what selection of rinks and accessories each brand sells, and explain the strengths and weaknesses of their products, so you can decide which rink fits your family best. 

 

(EZ Ice price includes shipping.)

1. Best for Hockey Play - YardRink

What Rinks Do They Sell?

• Backyard Ice Rinks sizes from 17’ x 17’ to 50’ x 101’ (price range from $1,810 - $7,235) in 3’ increments.  

• Price for Standard Rink (26’ x 53’): $3,799 (includes Puck Retention Nets on both ends and rounded corners)
• Price per square foot for this configuration: $2.76
• 5 Preferred sizes (Junior, Starter, Medium, Standard, Large) are the most cost-effective and typically arrive within a week of order. 

Price range shows the smallest Custom size to the largest Custom size. All YardRink backyard ice rinks come with everything needed for assembly, including 18” Panels, smoothly curved corners, and large Puck Retention Nets for each end of the rink.

Brand Strengths

• Premium rink design optimized for hockey play, featuring smoothly curved panels for large radius rounded corners, plus aesthetics resembling a professional rink—built without the need for brackets, straps, kick plates or foam bumpers.

• Custom-made, three-layer, rip-stop, rounded tarp with sewn-in grommets is placed on the outside of the Panels – the only backyard rink brand to offer this feature – which means it stays out of the way of pucks, sticks, skates, and shovels. The ice goes right up to the wall, so there is no ripped tarp or slush getting in the way of smooth puck movement.

• YardRink’s 18-inch-tall panels (2 inches taller than EZ ICE) are filled with water and frozen —delivering authentic board play. They’re the lightest when empty and, by far, the sturdiest when frozen.

• Easy assembly process, with no measuring, brackets, or special tools required. Rinks can be set up on any level surface.

• Once set up, YardRink requires minimal maintenance —its exterior tarp placement lets you shovel or snow plow right up to the panels without causing damage.

• Officially licensed product of the NHL - you can add your favorite team and NHL decals to your rink for free:

• Every rink comes with two puck retention nets to help prevent lost pucks and protect your property - the only brand to include nets with every rink purchase.

• Reasonably priced in line with its premium design and performance features.

• Rink size can be expanded over the years with the purchase of additional straight panels and a larger tarp. 

Brand Weaknesses 

• Using cable ties to attach the tarp to the panels can be a tedious process. Assembly also requires hammering stakes into the ground.  The good news - YardRink's fiberglass stakes are durable and designed for ease of driving.
  

• The tarp on the outside can be vulnerable to nicks from skates as kids climb into the rink (the company recommends placing a mat over the entry area to prevent this from occurring and recommends FlexTape or a similar patch to easily repair any rare leak). 

• Offers fewer accessories, like lights and resurfacers, than EZ ICE and NiceRink.

The Verdict 

In terms of design, playability, and maintenance, YardRink outpaces the competition in providing the best backyard ice rink for an authentic hockey experience. 

This is backed up by Hockey Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky, who said, "I grew up playing backyard hockey. I wish YardRink were around back then!" 

The custom tarp placed outside the panels is a feature no other rink offers for hockey players as of this writing. The frozen and filled heavy-duty panels are also best-in-class and stand out among the competition for serious hockey play. 

Although the assembly process is seamless for most, attaching the tarp with the cable ties and hammering stakes can be tedious parts of the assembly process.

Key Insights

• 80% of hockey is played within three feet of the boards – YardRink offers the best board play for training on puck retrieval, board passing, and rimming behind the net.

• Hockey is unique among major sports in its absolute reliance on a smooth playing surface and clean ice-wall edge – YardRink allows easy maintenance of both.  

• While assembling a YardRink should be quick for most, attaching the tarp and hammering stakes might be tedious for some.

2. Best Aesthetics - EZ ICE

What Rinks Do They Sell?

• Backyard Ice Rinks sizes from 10’ x 10’ to 100’ x 200’ ($1,480 - $51,610) in 5’ increments.

• Price for 25’ x 55’’ rink: $9,650 (Arena Height and Netting on both ends, rounded corners, foam bumpers)
• Price per square foot for this configuration: $7.02
• Price for 25’ x 55’’ rink: $4,780 (Classic Height with no Netting, includes rounded corners, foam bumpers)
• Price per square foot for this configuration: $3.48

Price range shows the smallest size with a Classic Height Rink style and no upgrades to the largest size with the Arena Height + Full Netting style, and includes up-charges for rounded corners and foam bumpers.

Brand Strengths

• Quick assembly process, using a strap-based system with no tools or measuring to snap the panels together. They are marketed as the “60 Minute Backyard Rink” and can be assembled on any surface.

• Below are the parts included in one of their Classic Height backyard ice rink kits to give you a sense of the components used during the assembly process. Adding Double Height, Arena Height, Nets, Rounded Corners, and/or Foam Bumpers requires additional parts to assemble.

   

  
  

  

• Aesthetically pleasing design with attractive color schemes that can integrate well with most backyard landscaping.

• Offers the most (8) preset sizes of the brands on this list (from Kiddie Rinks to NHL Size). You can also choose from 6 preset rink styles. 

• Includes various expansion configurations, like add-on panels, if you’re looking to upgrade your rink in the future.

Brand Weaknesses 

• Rinks can get very expensive, especially the larger models with double (32”) or arena (48”) height panels or nets.

• Standard 16-inch panel height (in classic configurations) limits how much yard slope the rink can accommodate. Taller board upgrades are available but may be less stable in high winds without additional anchoring.  EZ ICE sells Stability Kits, including water buckets and large water drums, to stabilize taller boards and netting:

• Potential durability concerns have been raised, particularly on steep slopes, including reports of blowouts and board failures for multiple users on the Facebook groups Backyard Ice Rinks and Backyard Ice Hockey Rinks.

• The external bracket system that supports the panels sits outside the rink perimeter, which can create a tripping hazard when entering or exiting the ice, especially in crowded backyard setups.

• Curved Panels do not come standard, and liner clips and foam bumpers are required to keep the tarp from flapping and ripping.

The Verdict 

EZ ICE stands out for its fast setup and attractive design. 

It's ideal for first-time rink builders, especially those with limited time and willingness to pay a premium.

Some users have reported structural issues on sloped terrain.

The Classic offering comes with shorter (16-inch) panels than those sold by the competition.  Taller panels, curved panels, and nets are offered as upsells.

(Photos courtesy of EZ ICE.)

Key insights: 

• EZ ICE rinks are marketed as the "60 Minute Backyard Rink" thanks to a no-tools-required strap-and-panel system.

• EZ ICE's aesthetically clean design is attractive, reflecting its premium positioning.

• Structural durability has been flagged in some user communities—particularly on sloped terrain—with reports of board blowouts. 

3. Best for DIY Owners - NiceRink

What Rinks Do They Sell?

• Backyard Ice Rinks sizes from 20’ x 20’ to 112’ x 260’ ($887 - $23,722) in 4’ increments.

• Price for 24’ x 56’ rink: $4,229 (Tall Boards on ends; no netting; no rounded corners; includes basic tarp, bumper caps and kickplates)
• Price per square foot for this configuration: $3.15
• Price for 24’ x 56’ rink: $2,614 (regular height boards; no netting; no rounded corners; includes basic tarp, bumper caps and kickplates)
• Price per square foot for this configuration: $1.94

The Price range shown is from their smallest preset size (choosing the Essentials Package) with no add-ons to their largest preset size (choosing the Gold Package) with 48” tall boards and all the most expensive add-ons included.

Brand Strengths

• Most customizable backyard rink - you can choose your type of brackets, board height, liner quality, etc. They also sell pre-set packages. You can choose from basic to commercial-grade materials with their array of selections.

• Less expensive than competitors, especially if you choose the DIY route where you purchase lumber for the boards on your own. These Rink-in-a-Box Kits cost around $400-$500 for smaller sizes, not including the sheets of plywood.

• Full kits ship with 18-inch panels and a sturdy bracket system that reportedly holds up well under typical use conditions.

• Available for sale at over 100 North American dealers, which is a plus for those who want to buy locally. 

• NiceRink has been around longer than any brand in the backyard rink industry with solid reputability. 

• Sells unique accessories, like under-ice lighting and resurfacers that the other two leading brands on this list don’t offer.

Brand Weaknesses 

• The mix-and-match setup of NiceRink requires significantly more planning, measuring, and manual assembly than the streamlined, plug-and-play designs of YardRink and EZ ICE - making it a challenging build for rink owners.

• NiceRink doesn’t come with curved panels included, which means your rink won’t provide the smooth, rounded corner play of YardRink and EZ ICE.  They do sell 18" tall flexible plastic in 8' lengths for $80 per piece. 

• Aesthetics can vary depending on the materials chosen. Entry-level kits (with exposed plywood and brackets) may not have the modern, polished look of YardRink or EZ ICE — although pro-style upgrades are available.

• Some accessories—such as kick plates (which protect the tarp) and bumper pads (which prevent flapping in the wind)—may be necessary for enhanced performance, but can increase the overall cost. Users have also reported issues with the kick plates rising above the ice level (exposing the tarp) during freeze/thaw cycles.

The Verdict 

NiceRink is the best backyard ice rink for those wanting to dive into a DIY rink project or those seeking the most flexibility of component configurations.

They have been around the longest in the backyard rink industry, and have an extensive history of customer experience. 

NiceRink kits are much more challenging to assemble than EZ ICE and YardRink, and although they do offer pro-style upgrades, the performance and aesthetics of a NiceRink may not meet the standards of YardRink for serious hockey play. 

(Photos courtesy of NiceRink.)

Key insights:

• NiceRink offers the most customizable system among leading brands—you can choose the quality of boards, liners, brackets, and accessories, or select from pre-set kits for a more guided experience.

• NiceRink is the longest-standing brand in the backyard rink industry and has a trusted reputation.

• Their DIY-friendly pricing comes with a tradeoff: the setup is more labor-intensive and less intuitive than the user-friendly systems offered by EZ ICE or YardRink. 

Which Is the Best Backyard Ice Rink for Your Family?

If you’re spending the effort, money and space to invest in a backyard ice rink, it’s worth taking the time to fully understand your options before purchasing.

We hope this analysis helps you get started (and excited) planning your future rink and one step closer to the joy of outdoor skating in your own backyard.

If you have questions about anything you read today or need assistance finding your perfect rink, reach out to us. 

Our experts will kindly guide you toward your ideal ice rink.