How Many Pieces Are There In Backyard Jenga?

How Many Pieces Are There In Backyard Jenga?

There are 54 pieces in a backyard Jenga set. The pieces resemble the traditional household game of Jenga but their measurements are in inches, rather than cm.

Enjoying backyard Jenga
Have fun with the backyard Jenga

Read this article to find out more about the sizes of backyard Jenga, if it’s easy to make at home and how to play the game correctly.

How Big are the Pieces in a Backyard Jenga Set?

The backyard pieces are usually 1.5 inches thick, 2.5 inches wide and 7.5 inches long.

They are just enlarged versions of the household Jenga set.

The household set pieces are 1.5 cm thick, 2.5 cm wide and 7.5 cm long.

The pieces are big enough to be played outside without the risk of losing them or without them breaking during the game.

Playing Backyard Jenga pieces
Backyard Jenga

They are also relatively light so older children can join in this game without adults having to carry or move the pieces for them.


From Experience: It is recommended to play the game away from other objects and people. For example, in the middle of a patio and away from doors, windows and outdoor furniture. 


Can You Easily Make a Backyard Jenga Set?

It is relatively easy to make a backyard Jenga set, many people have done it very successfully.

Sometimes a pre-made set can be difficult to order or even get to your home, so making one is a perfect idea if you have the right tools.

You only need 5 of the 2”x3”x8” boards.

Backyard Jenga set pieces wooden
Backyard Jenga set pieces

You need to use a circular saw to cut these boards into pieces that are 7.5 inches long. From each board, you should get 12 7.5 inch long pieces.

Once you’ve done this you should have 60 pieces, you only need 54 so this leaves a few extra.

Then it’s up to you if you want to sand and paint them, sanding is advised for safety, but painting is optional. 

Are All Backyard Jenga Pieces the Same Size?

All pieces in a backyard Jenga set are the same size, they have to be for the game to be able to work.

A piece lengthways has to be able to fit 3 other pieces that have been turned 90 degrees along the side.

Playing backyard jenga pieces
Playing backyard Jenga

This is how the pieces should be stacked and therefore the sizes must match up, otherwise, they won’t stack currently and your game will be flawed from the start.


As a Result: If the stack isn’t secure, as soon as someone pulls a piece out then the stack is likely to fall way before it should, equalling in an unfair game.


How Do You Play Backyard Jenga?

Once you have your pieces of backyard Jenga ready, whether you have bought the set or made it yourself, you need to stack it before you can play.

Paint Jenga Blocks
Painting Jenga Blocks

Ensure you have at least 54 pieces, that’s how many you need for each game:

  • Lay 3 pieces down on a flat surface, grass is not ideal as the stack will not be secure. It’s better to use a patio or decking area that is flat and doesn’t move, this way your stack will be stable.
  • Once you have 3 pieces laid down side by side, lay another 3 pieces on top, but at a 90-degree angle.
  • For the third layer, set another 3 pieces down but again turn them at a 90-degree angle, they should be facing the same way as the first layer.

Repeat this process until the stack is complete.

Then to play, take turns to pull out pieces from the stack, if the stack falls while or after you pull out your piece, you lose.


Who Is The Winner? The person who wins is the one with the most pieces that they have pulled out, without the stack falling during their turn. 


Is Backyard Jenga Safe to Play With Kids?

This is a game that is safe to play with kids, however adult supervision would be needed for several reasons.

Small children won’t be able to take pieces from higher up the stack so an adult would need to assist them with that.

Backyard Jenga kids in winter
Backyard Jenga for kids

Also, if the stack falls, small children are at risk of it falling on top of them which could be quite dangerous.

Keep In Mind – The pieces are not heavy but have sharp corners that could cause some damage if not careful.

Adults don’t need to directly participate in the game but should be watching the game in play in case a child needs assistance.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, how many pieces in jenga?

There are  54 pieces in a set and it can be bought from game shops all around the world but is also relatively easy to make at home as long as you have the right equipment and knowledge on how to use the necessary tools.

The game shouldn’t be played with children without adult supervision as the pieces are large and the stack could fall on smaller children and cause an injury, having said that, it’s a popular summertime game played by many around the globe.

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