If you’re looking to spend more time outside, a great source of encouragement is to spruce up your space so you look forward to chilling by the water, eating under an umbrella, grilling on the patio, or reading on the lounger. Luckily for you, there are plenty of things you can do that bring the awesome to your backyard without spending a small fortune. I found ways to make your space comfier, less buggy, and well lit. And who can forget your barbecue experience? So sit back, relax, and check out these 40 awesome things for your backyard that are so freaking cheap.
These nonstick mesh grill bags that keep small bites contained
Mountain Grillers BBQ Mesh Grilling Bags (2-Pack)
Make grilling veggies, shrimp, and other smaller, more delicate items a breeze when you use these mesh pouches. They’re heat resistant up to 500 degrees, food safe, and feature a snap-button closure that keeps your food from falling through the grill’s grates. They’re nonstick and super easy to clean for a mess-free barbecue experience.
These super cool rocks that charge in the sun & light up at night
Graham Products 450 Pieces Glow in The Dark Rocks | Indoor & Outdoor Use - Garden, Fish Tank Pebbles, Planter, Walkway, Driveway Decoration & More | for Kids Aged 6 & Up | Powered by Sunlight - White
Create an unforgettable backyard when you put these glow-in-the-dark rocks in your flower bed, pond, pool, and more. After charging these white stones in the light of the sun for at least two hours, they light up blue in the dark all night. Each pebble is about 1 inch in diameter, and they’re made of non-toxic resin that’s safe for the environment.
An outdoor tiki torch with 10 hours of burn time per refill
TIKI Island King Outdoor Tiki Torch
This live-flame tiki torch can instantly elevate the vibes of your outdoor party. Not only does it make a statement at 65 inches tall, but at this price you can snag a few and line the perimeter of your pool, patio, or outdoor dining area. It uses twist and pour technology so adding fuel is easy, and it has a weather-resistant frame in a gunmetal finish that’s effortlessly stylish.
This mosquito repellent lantern that works for 15 feet
Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Lantern
If live-flame citronella candles aren’t your thing but you still want to get rid of pesky mosquitos, check out this flameless repellent lantern. Great to place in the center of your outdoor dining table, the lantern comes with four repellant mats that each work up to 4 hours to keep mosquitos away for up to 15 feet.
These cool globe lights that are solar powered
Jkimk Solar Globe Lights (2-Pack)
Set out these super cool globe lights to charge around your flower bed, garden, walkways, and more — as long as they’re in the sun — and you’ll have up to 10 hours of light when it’s dark out. They have a stunning cracked glass design that adds a pretty glow to your yard. Best of all, they’re waterproof and weatherproof so you don’t need to be afraid to use them.
The best-selling sented citronella candle with a crackling wood wick
Coleman Pine Scented Citronella Candle
“Love these candles!” one reviewer raved. “I use them all summer long on my patio to keep bugs at bay. They seem to work well & I love all the fun scents.” At only 6 ounces, this candle is portable and great for shooing away bugs thanks to the citronella, but it has a refreshing pine scent. It burns for up to 25 hours and features a wooden wick so you get a satisfying crackling sound.
A heavy-duty knife for all your gardening needs
Garden Guru Hori Hori Garden Knife Deluxe Set for Weeding, Digging, Pruning, and Cultivating - Stainless Steel Full Tang Blade | Marks for Measuring Planting Depth | Nylon Sheath for Storage
This heavy-duty knife is so versatile you can use it for almost all your gardening needs — weeding, pruning, sawing, planting, probing, cultivating, and more. It’s made of super durable, rust-resistant stainless steel with one concave edge that’s great for scooping and digging and one flat edge for cutting. Plus, it’s etched with inches and millimeters for even planting.
This popular garden hose nozzle with 10 spraying patterns
INNAV8 Garden Hose Nozzle Sprayer
It’s finally time to upgrade your builder-grade hose by adding on this nozzle. First off, it’s controlled with a thumb button instead of a trigger to make it more ergonomic and comfortable for your hand. Secondly, there are 10 spraying pattern options — from a gentle mist to a powerful jet stream — so you can always find what you need. It’s a popular buy on Amazon with over 16,000 five-star reviews.
This handblown glass hummingbird feeder with a built-in perch
Rezipo Hummingbird Feeder with Perch
Fill this gorgeous handblown glass feeder with sugar water and attract all your neighborhood’s hummingbirds. It has a mote to prevent pesky ants from getting to the food, a metal hook and cotton lanyard to hang it from a tree or post, and a wide mouth opening that makes filling it easy. Plus, it has a sturdy metal base with four perches and feeder ports for easy access.
A large silicone mat to hold your grilling tools
ISSEVE Silicone Grill Tools Mat
Place this large silicone mat on the shelf next to your grill and you have the perfect spot to hold all your tools while you’re cooking up something delicious. It has a ribbed, textured surface with a drip pad that catches excess grease, oil, and crumbs so cleaning after you’re done is a breeze. And it’s heat resistant so you can put the tools straight from the grill to the mat.
These magical packets that give your fire bright colors
Magical Flames Fire Color Changing Packets (25 Pack)
Why settle for an ordinary bonfire when you can add this packet of magic and create colorful and vibrant flames? Simply add one entire packet directly to the fire and watch it transform before your eyes and burn in bright, vibrant colors for up to one hour. Then, when it’s over, you can add another packet and make it last as long as you like.
This 2-pack of roasting racks for the best beer can chicken
Coobbar Chicken Roaster Rack (2-Pack)
Add your favorite beer into the center of one of these stainless steel racks, place it inside the chicken cavity, and then sit back, relax, and have a juicy, tender chicken dinner cook in just 60 to 90 minutes. This genius roaster even has a built-in tray to collect juices and prevent them from getting into the fire. With two in a pack, you can even gift one to your favorite grill mate.
This large inflatable cooler with a fun palm tree design
JOYIN Inflatable Palm Tree Cooler
With an inflatable design and a fun, coconut-covered palm tree accent, this cooler is about to become the star of your next backyard pool party. Made of plastic, it’s super lightweight and easily transportable — unlike traditional coolers — and after it’s blown up it can hold up to 100 cans with ice in the base.
These oversized wooden dice to play over 20 yard games
SWOOC Games - Yardzee, Farkle & 20+ Games - Light-Weight Yard Dice Game Set (All Weather) with Collapsible Bucket, 5 Big Laminated Score Cards, and Marker (Choose 2.5in or 3.5in Dice) Yard Games
Despite their size, these large outdoor dice are super lightweight and great for tossing, rolling, and spinning your way through over 20 super fun yard games. They set comes with six dice, five scorecards for Yardzee and Farkle, a collapsible storage bucket, and a dry erase marker. They’re weather- and water-resistant so you can use them indoors and out regardless of weather.
A gorgeous copper watering can with an extra-long spout
Homarden 30 oz. Copper Watering Can - Metal Watering Can with Long Spout, Watering Can for Outdoor and Indoor Plants - Mini Watering Can, Long Spout Water Can, Plant Watering Can, Small Watering Can
This 30-ounce watering can is not only made of incredibly stylish and eye-catching copper, but it also has an extra long spout with a curved pourer to expertly water your plants without spilling. Its small design makes it effortlessly portable, and it’s rust-resistant, durable, and super easy to hold with the rounded handle.
This shallow inflatable pool that’s great for lounging & tanning
Jasonwell Inflatable Tanning Pool Lounger Float
Tan — with plenty of SPF, of course — and cool off at the same time when you have this inflatable pool. It has a super shallow base with raised edges that you can fill up with water and lounge in but still stay above the surface line. You can use it as a makeshift pool in your yard, or as a floaty in a real pool, because of course, it has a cupholder.
These party-worthy globe string lights with 49,000 5-star ratings
Brightown String Lights
Connect up to 60 strands of these string lights to create the balcony, backyard, patio, or porch of your dreams. Each 25-foot strand has 13 Edison plastic bulbs — including one spare — that are waterproof, heat resistant, frost resistant, and windproof to keep up all season long. Plus they’re dimmable and come with two hanging hooks, handy features that helped them get neatly 50,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
A best-selling spice set that’s designed specifically for grilling
Smokehouse by Thoughtfully Ultimate Grilling Spice Set (20-Pack)
This best-selling spice set includes 20 delicious seasonings, rubs, and salts specifically designed to elevate your grilling to the next level. It includes everything from lime chipotle rub to chili rosemary rub to Jamaican jerk rub, and much more. Each bottle is 0.21 ounces for multiple meals, and they’re adorably packaged so you can bring them anywhere.
These garden claws with an ergonomic handle for easy scooping
Garden Guru Leaf Scoops Rake Claws, Ergonomic, Large Hand Held Garden Rakes for Fast & Easy Leaf and Lawn Grass Snow Removal
Clean up all the leaves, branches, and debris in your yard with these yard claws so your hands and arms are protected from scratches, scrapes, and bugs. They have ergonomically designed handles that make grabbing and scooping super easy, and they’re made with wildly durable plastic that’s sturdy and long-lasting.
This highly rated wind chime in the shape of a galloping horse
Dawhud Direct 24" H Galloping Horse Wind Chimes for Outside Unique Horse Galloping Windchimes Outdoor Decorations Garden Decoration, Gift for Women, Mom, Grandma, Unisex
This delicate wind chime not only adds some gorgeous music to your porch as wind moves the falling harmonies, but it also has an adorable galloping horse design for a touch of whimsical excitement. It has a minimalist design that will blend right in and can be hung from a tree, post, lantern — you name it.
This best-selling package of seeds with over 30 plants
(32) Variety Pack Survival Gear Food Seeds | 15,000 Non GMO Heirloom Seeds for Planting Vegetables and Fruits. Survival Food for Your Survival kit, Gardening Gifts & Emergency Supplies | Garden vegetable seeds. by Open Seed Vault
Create the vegetable garden of your dreams when you plant this heirloom seed starter kit. It has over 32 varieties of fruits and veggies — from beets to kale to tomato to watermelon — for a total of over 15,000 seeds. It also comes with a step-by-step instruction booklet so you know exactly how to make your garden thrive.
This stainless steel hand trowel with a knife for slashing weeds
Garden Guru Hand Weeder Trowel with Ergonomic Handle – Stainless Steel Weeding & Digging Knife – Rust Resistant - Perfect for Weeding, Transplanting, Digging, Pruning, Cutting
Great for weeding, digging, pruning, and cutting, this hand trowel features a stainless steel knife with one straight edge and one perforated edge to meet a ton of your gardening needs. It has a two-pronged fork tip, ergonomic handle, and contoured finger grips for extra stability. It even has inch and millimeter measurements etched onto the surface.
These popular solar stick lights that look like fireflies
TONULAX Solar Garden Lights (2-Pack)
These solar lights sway and dance in the wind, so it looks like a bunch of fireflies have collected in your garden. Each 30-inch stake has eight lights on it, designed with a flexible iron wire to give them a ton of range of motion. They’re waterproof, heat-resistant, and moisture-resistant so they can stay in your garden all year round.
This handy magnetic meat temperature guide for grilling
Cave Tools Meat Temperature Food Magnet Sheet For Internal Temperatures Cooking Strategies and Caryover Cook Times - Pitmaster BBQ Accessories for Smokers, Refrigerators and Grills - Small
Whether you’re a professional griller or newbie on the barbecue, it can be super helpful to have a temperature guide handy. Whether you’re firing up the grill for red meat, poultry, fish, sausages, or burgers, this guide gives you guidance on food safe temperatures and where to read the meat. This convenient sheet is small and magnetic so you can stick it directly to the side of your grill to help get the perfect steak every time.
These adorable terra-cotta stakes to self-water your plants
Blazin Terra Cotta Plant-Watering Stakes (3-Pack)
Shaped like adorable cartoon mushrooms, these stakes help make watering your plants a breeze. Just fill them with water, and press them into the soil to keep your plants hydrated as they need it for up to five days, reducing the risk of overwatering or under-watering whether you’re home or on vacation.
This fun ring toss board with numbers for a variety of games
Elite Sportz Ring Toss Games
Don’t sleep on this fun ring toss game as a way to entertain the entire family during your next backyard party. It comes with a wooden board that can be installed on a tree or porch post, six red rubber rings, six black rubber rings, and 14 metal hooks with different numbers, allowing you to play a variety fo games. Now, split into teams and try to get as many rings on as many hooks as you can.
This clear bird feeder that sticks right on your window
Window Bird Feeder with Strong Suction Cups - (Upgraded 2024 Version) Bird House Window Bird Feeders for Viewing Squirrel Proof Clear Window Bird Feeders for Outside Transparent Bird Feeder Window
The greatest part about this bird feeder is that it’s totally see-through so you can sit and watch as birds come and go all day long. It uses super strong suction cups to adhere to the outside of your window and can hold 15 pounds of feed. It’s weatherproof to stay there all year round and comes with a removable seed tray so you don’t have to detach the entire thing to refill.
These best-selling color-coded trays that stack for easy storage
Cuisinart Grilling Prep Trays (2-Pack)
Because they come in a pack of two — one red and one black — these trays are great to keep cross-contamination at bay when you’re cooking meat. Use the red tray to prep, spice, and transport your raw meat from the kitchen to the grill. Then, when everything’s cooked, put the finished food on the black tray to serve. These trays stack for easy storage and are easy to clean, which is why they have a 4.8-star rating on Amazon.
This portable misting sprinkler with adjustable nozzles & height
Tesmotor Stand Misters
Keep yourself and your guests cool during your next backyard party with this standing sprinkler. It connects to a water source like a hose and uses five nozzles to send a light and misting spray around the area. You can adjust the nozzles to be at the angle you want and the height of the stand for optimal cooling.
This stunning glass birdbath with a super sturdy 4-prong stake
MUMTOP Glass Birdbath
Why settle for an ordinary concrete birdbath when you can use this one that literally looks like a work of art? It has a painted glass basin shaped like a stunning flower with metal accents throughout the bowl a curvy design on the long stem. And it has a four-prong stake to keep it firmly in place no matter how many birds decide to take a splash.
These mosquito repellent coils that burn up to 7 hours
W4W Mosquito Repellent Coils (3-Pack)
A great option to keep pesky mosquitos away from you when you’re trying to enjoy the outdoors are these clever citronella coils. Just place one of the coils on the the stand, light the corner, and it can burn from five to seven hours, covering up to 10 feet of surrounding area. “I am from Louisiana where the mosquitos are no joke so when I say these work, they do! I’ve tried other brands which do not come close to how these are! I have now purchased an order of these twice because they are the only ones that actually repel these bugs,” one reviewer wrote.
These solar-powered garden lights that are waterproof
GIGALUMI Solar Pathway Lights (12-Pack)
Available in a set of 12, these lights come on long, sturdy stakes that drive into the grass or dirt to light your pathways, garden beds, and more. They’re solar-powered with a sensor that absorbs sunlight during the day and automatically turns on at night. Plus, they’re made of strong stainless steel to be waterproof and super durable.
This stainless steel sauce pot that comes with a basting brush lid
Cuisinart Sauce Pot & Basting Brush Set
Made of durable and long-lasting stainless steel, this sauce pot holds up to 16 ounces and comes with a basting brush, making it super easy to coat even a large brisket. Plus the lid — which has a rubberized handle to protect your hands — is attached to the brush to prevent it from falling into the sauce while you’re working. It’s genius details like that which helped this little pot earn a 4.7-star rating on Amazon.
These clever stakes that hold your drink wherever you are
Cuisinart Drink Stakes (4 Pieces)
If your cornhole game is suffering because you’re playing with one hand and holding your drink in the other, check out these stakes. They drive into the ground — they even have a foot peg to help you get them deeper in there — and have a coiled cupholder at the top that fits bottles, cans, cups, and more for easy breezy sipping in the yard.
These plastic planter pots with built-in drainage holes
Utopia Home Plant Pots with Drainage
These basic planters are made of reinforced plastic and have built-in drainage holes and a convenient bottom drip tray. The set of planters comes with five different sizes of the same color that you can pick and choose depending on what your plant needs to best grow while still having a coordinated deck.
These rotating roasting sticks that extend to 34 inches
MalloMe Premium Marshmallow Roasting Sticks (Set of 5)
These marshmallow roasting sticks are amazing because they start off at 10 inches long — great for easily storing between camping trips — and then extend up to 34 inches to keep your hands, fingers, and face safe when you’re ready to use them. They have two stainless steel prongs with rounded tips and the handle has a notch that allows you to rotate the sticks for evenly toasted treats.
This easy-to-wipe tablecloth that perfectly fits a picnic table & benches
KENOBEE Picnic Table & Bench Fitted Tablecloth Covers (3 Pieces)
This fitted tablecloth comes with three pieces to snugly cover the picnic table and two accompanying benches. It’s made of heavy duty vinyl with a thick, flannel backed lining and an elastic edge that makes sure it won’t slip or slide around. And the surface is waterproof and spill resistant for super easy clean up.
This reusable stone grill cleaner that’s tough on grease & build-up
Better Grillin Scrubbin Stone Grill Cleaner
Made from recycled glass, this stone grill cleaner and won’t leave any metal bristles behind like traditional wire brushes. It’s tough on grease, dirt, and build-up, and can be used on your grill while it’s warm or totally cool. Over time, it will wear down with the grooves of your grill for an efficient clean.
This best-selling light that attaches to the inside of your umbrella
OYOCO LED Patio Umbrella Light
It can get so dark at an outdoor dining table underneath an umbrella at night, but not when you have this unbelievably clever LED light. It has a circular design that clamps around the top of your umbrella’s pole and provides three brightness modes to light up your space no matter how dark it gets outside. It’s a genius Amazon buy with bestseller status and over 33,000 five-star reviews.
This portable & compact charcoal grill with a dual venting system
Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill
At just 14 inches and only 2 pounds, this portable grill is small, compact, and convenient enough to take anywhere — from the backyard to the campsite. It has a built-in removable chrome-plated cooking rack that evenly distributes heat, and a dual venting system to better control the temperature.
