How to Hang a Porch Swing

Featured Pro: Eric Stromer
Category: Home Improvement
Time: 1:57


ERIC STROMER: Hey, I’m Eric Stromer, and this is your GMC Trade Secret.

Now, I’m going to show you how to hang a porch swing.

CARTER OOSTERHOUSE: And I’m Carter Oosterhouse. Now, after you’ve learned how to hang your porch swing, check out my trade secret on how to choose the right porch swing to match your house.

ERIC: Thanks, Carter.

Hanging a porch swing isn’t difficult. You just need a few guidelines. First, make sure your swing has enough room to move. Give it as much room as possible, at least 24 to 30 inches from the nearest wall or other solid object.

Now, the most critical component to hanging any porch swing is the surface that you hang it into. In our case, I’m using a 2x10. I wouldn’t recommend screwing into anything other than a 2x6 or above.

Our porch swing is about 54 inches. It’s recommended that you put your eye bolts two inches out on either side of that width. So we’re going to go ahead and make a 58”-wide screw on this side and a 58”-wide screw on that side. Our chains will come down from there.

The next thing I’m going to do is make the pilot hole to screw my eye bolt in. I find it’s really helpful to go ahead and use a screwdriver to put into the eye bolt to use to twist it into position.

Now, once your eye bolt is secure above, you’ll run your chain down to an S hook about three quarters of the way down the chain, where the chains will split so that you can attach your eye bolts here and here so you have stability from front to back. And if you want to go ahead and create your own porch swing out of a piece of furniture, you may have to install these eye bolts on that piece of furniture.

Now, the other thing to consider is level. If you want to have the porch swing level, all you have to do is adjust the level by taking a couple of links out from your chain. Use the level across the back horizontally. You’ll get a nice even swing.

Well, that’s it. I’m Eric Stromer. That’s your GMC Trade Secret. And also, find out how to choose the right porch swing from Carter Oosterhouse.