Have you always dreamed of having your own man cave, but you have limited space in your house? You don’t have to settle for a less than perfect man cave.
If you don’t have a spare room in your house for a man cave, your backyard could be the perfect place to set one up. Whether you don’t have space for a man cave inside your house or you would just rather spend your time outside, building your man cave in your backyard can be a great idea.
Depending on where you live, your backyard retreat might be a seasonal thing or it could be used all year long.
No matter why you want an outside man cave or where you live, here are 22 backyard man cave ideas with pictures to inspire your own outdoor oasis.
Golfers, be sure to check out number 7 on the list.
1. Outdoor Home Theater
A lot of man caves double as a home theater and having an outdoor man cave is no different.
Outdoor movie projector technology has advanced to the point that the picture looks just as good as an HD TV – at a fraction of the cost.
You can get an outdoor movie screen projector package with screen sizes over 100″ for just a couple hundred bucks.
Whether you want to watch the big game outside or host movie night in your backyard, having a movie projector set up is a perfect addition to your outdoor man cave.
2. Outdoor Bar Area
There’s nothing better than sitting on some bar stools with friends and knocking back a few beers at an outdoor bar on a warm summer evening.
Incorporating a kick-ass bar into your backyard will ensure that your house is the summer hangout spot for all of your friends.
The backyard bar below looks like it could be in a tropical paradise. If you need some more inspiration, check out our article on how to build a man cave bar.
3. Outdoor TV
Every man cave needs a TV – even outdoor ones. Sports fans are going to want to watch the game no matter where they are. This set up in Ann Arbor, Michigan features an outdoor TV perfect for watching some football in the fall.
What makes an outdoor TV different from a regular flat screen? Well, the main difference is they are weather-proof. Regular TV’s aren’t built to withstand extreme heat, cold, snow and rain. They also aren’t meant to be watched in bright sun light. Outdoor TV’s are much brighter and have features like anti-glare and anti-reflective screens.
If you’re going to put a TV outside, make sure it’s an outdoor TV. Trying to skimp by with a TV meant for indoor use will not end well.
4. Outdoor Ping Pong and Pool Tables
Remember the Drew Carey Show where he had a pool table out in his yard? Well, there actually are billiards tables that are made to be left outside.
The same goes for table tennis tables. While these games are usually thought of as indoor activities, there’s no reason you can’t have these popular man cave items in your backyard.
If you want a game table in your backyard, check out our article on the best outdoor ping pong tables to get started.
5. Cornhole and Other Lawn Games
As the host of the man cave, you want to make sure that you provide entertainment for your guests. Being outdoors gives you a lot more options than being indoors.
Cornhole, lawn darts, horseshoes, ladder toss, and bocce ball are just a few games that are better played outside.
6. Putting Green
Of course, if you’re a golfer the best lawn game is a putting green. Bring the course to you and work on your golf game while relaxing in your backyard.
The green pictured below was custom made for a homeowner in Portland, but for a couple hundred bucks you can set up your own personal putting green that simulates real green speeds.
7. Outdoor Golf Simulator
Ok, I stand corrected. If you’re a golfer the best lawn game is not a putting green; it’s a full golf simulator.
A golf simulator is the ultimate addition to any golfer’s man cave. You and your golf buddies can play 18 holes without having to leave the yard. And the best thing about a simulator is that you never have to waste time looking for your ball.
The simulator featured in the video below is the FlightScope Mevo+.
8. Backyard Shed
Let’s face it. No matter where you live, sometimes you’re going to want a little shelter from the elements.
Luckily, that doesn’t mean you have to go back to hanging out in the living room. Sheds make the perfect shelters to incorporate into your backyard man cave.
You might have heard the term “she shed,” but there’s no reason you can’t turn a storage shed into a man cave.
9. Hot Tub
While you could have a hot tub installed for your man cave inside your house, it just seems to make more sense to have one in your backyard.
Regardless of the weather, hot tubs can be used all year around and can allow you to get more use out of your outdoor man cave. While hot tubs can easily cost several thousand dollars, you can also get affordable ones for under $500.
Depending on what type of hot tub you choose, it can actually increase your home’s resale value.
10. Lounge Chairs
Whether you have a pool or not, a set of good lounge chairs is a must have for any backyard hangout.
Grab a beer, kick back, and relax.
11. Hammock
Lounge chairs are nice, but the best way to relax is in a hammock.
Find a couple of trees to hang up your hammock or get one with a built in stand. Either way, afternoon naps just got a whole lot more appealing.
12. Firepit
Who doesn’t love hanging out by a fire? Extend the outdoor season well into the fall by adding a firepit to your outdoor man cave.
13. Propane Fire Pit Table
If you’re not a fan of chopping wood and building a fire in traditional fire pit, we recommend a propane fire pit table.
The table is made out of steel with a black powder coating and includes lava rocks in the fire pit. It will give your backyard hangout a more refined look than a standard fire pit.
Plus, it’s much easier to get a fire going (just turn it on) and is completely smokeless.
14. Patio Heater
Another option to keep warm on a cool fall night is a patio heater. You’ve probably bumped into one on the patio of a restaurant in the outdoor seating area.
The big industrial look makes them seem expensive, but they are actually surprisingly affordable.
15. Grill and Smoker
When you think man cave, you probably don’t think about grilling. But if you plan to set up your man cave in your backyard, a grill is an absolute must-have item.
A standard grill will work, but this Royal Gourmet grill comes with an offset smoker to smoke your meat or side dishes. It’s perfect for hosting a neighborhood BBQ.
16. Wood Fired Pizza Oven
If you prefer pizza over burgers and hot dogs, you could build your own wood fire pizza oven.
It will take a long day of work, but when you finish you’ll have a statement piece for your man cave… and be able to make some delicious pizza.
17. Outdoor Kitchen
Having a grill or pizza oven is great, but if you love to cook why not step it up a notch with an entire outdoor kitchen?
This backyard brick patio kitchen in Houston is a great example of how to do an outdoor kitchen. It includes a grill, smoker, oven, and even cabinets with a kitchen sink.
If you are into DIY projects, this might be something that you could do yourself. Just make sure to install weather-proof kitchen cabinets that are meant for outdoor use.
18. Outdoor Sound System
Sound systems are a great way to add some liveliness to your outdoor space. Whether you are playing music or you want booming bass for an authentic movie theatre experience, these waterproof Bluetooth speakers will do the trick.
19. Outdoor Sectional Sofa
Inside or outside, couches are an important part of a man cave if you want your guests to be comfortable.
There are actually a ton of options for all-weather outdoor sectionals that can be left outside all year long – although it is recommended to store them inside to extend their life if you won’t be using them in the winter.
The furniture frames are weather-resistant and any metal is rust-resistant powder coated. The fabric on outdoor cushions are treated to prevent mildew from any moisture.
20. Gazebo
If you need some shade for your backyard man cave, a gazebo is a great option. Many gazebos also come with sidewalls for privacy and screens to keep the mosquitos and other bugs out.
When setting up a man cave in an open space like a yard, it can be difficult to delineate boundaries. Another great benefit of a gazebo is it serves to define your personal space.
21. Solar Powered Lights
Of course you’ll need lights for your backyard man cave if you’re going to be hanging out at night.
We recommend going with solar powered lights to save on your electric bill, but even more so you don’t have to worry about running extension cords.
Solar powered string lights are an easy way to get the lighting necessary to see at night.
22. Security Camera
If you’re going to have all this awesome stuff sitting outside in your backyard man cave, you’ll want to make sure it’s protected.
An outdoor security camera is not only for catching thieves in the act, but might actually be more useful as a deterrent. In fact 50% of burglars said that if they saw a security camera they would leave.
Backyard Man Cave Ideas Wrap Up
If you don’t have extra space in your house, you can still have your ultimate man cave. A backyard man cave is the perfect way to create your own space.
Man caves got their name because they used to only be thought of as a small room for guys to play video games. And while that’s certainly still true in some cases, a modern man cave can be so much more.
Even if you already have an indoor man cave, you can still add an outdoor hangout space to use in the summer.
If you don’t have the space in your house and you’d rather have an indoor man cave, you may also consider a garage man cave.
