How To Hang a Hammock on a Balcony (4 Steps)

how to hang a hammock on a balcony

Hammocks are an amazing piece of equipment, and not just for camping. Sure, they’re great to hang from a couple of trees so you can get up off the ground and enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep, but they have so many other great uses.

You can hang up a hammock anywhere you want as long as you have two sturdy places to tie off either end. You could hang a hammock in your living room, patio, backyard, or even on your balcony. It’s a great way to enjoy the fresh air in comfort and style!

If you’ve never hung a hammock on a balcony before then you may be worried about the logistics of it. How do you go about hanging a hammock on a balcony? You’ll want to make sure that it’s properly secured and safe to use. Read on to learn how to hang a hammock on a balcony so you can enjoy the fresh air in style.

Choosing Your Hammock

Before you set about hanging a hammock on your balcony, you’ll need to choose the right one. There are a few different styles of hammocks out there, and each has it’s own unique look. Choosing the right hammock for your balcony may look different than the hammock you’ve got stored away in your hiking pack.

First of all, you’ll want to choose a hammock that’s sturdy and can comfortably hold your weight. This will look different depending on your size and if you’re a bigger person who’s had to adapt to camping while fat, you’ll understand the importance of finding a suitable hammock.

Next, you’ll want to find the best hammock that’s suitable for relaxing on your balcony. There are a ton of different types of hammocks out there for you to discover. Here’s a quick brief of the different types of hammocks and which is best for use on your balcony.

Rope Hammock

This is the hammock that most people think of when they hear the word ‘hammock’. It’s usually made with strong, criss-crossing ropes with a square pattern of gapes in between.

The ropes are generally made of cotton or polyester, and rope hammocks usually have a wooden spreader bar at either end to help them retain their flat shape. These are pretty comfortable, easy to clean, and could work well for your balcony.

Quilted Hammock

Quilted hammocks certainly look stylish as they’re usually made of a soft, vibrant colored fabric with some sort of soft material inside it for cushioning. It’s one of the most comfortable options, but not great for extended use outdoors.

Since quilted hammocks are made of fabric, they’re more easily susceptible to damage when exposed to rain and other conditions outside. If your balcony has an overhang or you can bring your hammock in each time it rains then this could be an option. However, this hammock would probably be better suited for indoor use such as in a sunroom.

Poolside Hammocks

As the name implies, these hammocks are made for you to hang up next to a pool. These are a good option for your balcony because they’re made to allow water to run over and through them easily, without damaging the materials.

They’re easy to clean, comfortable, and won’t get damaged by the rain. These types of hammocks are usually pretty easy to put up as well, so they could be the perfect option for your balcony.

Hanging Your Hammock

Once you’ve chosen the perfect hammock for you, it’s time to get it set up on your balcony so you can kick back and relax. There are a few different ways you can go about this, so read on to find the best method for hanging a hammock on your balcony.

Get A Stand

That’s right, there are hammock stands you can buy that will allow you to hang your hammock almost anywhere. All you need to do is assemble the stand and attach your hammock. You won’t have to worry about drilling holes into your balcony or dealing with screws.

When you’re ready to take your hammock down, all you have to do is remove it from the stand. This is a great option for balconies because it’s easy to set up and easy to move around.

Use Balcony or Roof Beams

If you can reach the roof or balcony beams then this is probably going to be the simplest and easiest way to hang your hammock on your balcony. You’ll need to pick up a pair of hammock straps first, and you can usually find these in camping stores and online for relatively cheap.

First, you’ll need to loop the straps around different points of the balcony or roof beams you’ve chosen. Then, attach the other end of the straps to an S-hook or carabiner. Then you simply attach the empty end of the carabiner or S-hook to the ends of your hammock.

This is a pretty easy way to hang your hammock, but you’ll want to make sure that the beams you’re using are safe to use. If you’re a homeowner then you should know if your beams are suitable for this purpose, but renters should check with their landlords just to be safe.

Use Vertical Posts or Beams

Some balconies have vertical posts or beams on either side of them to help keep the structure sturdy. If yours has some posts or beams that are easy to reach and safe to use, then they can make an excellent option for hanging your hammock.

You can hang your hammock between vertical posts or beams similarly to how you would position it between two trees. You’ll need hammock straps for this method as well as an S-hook or carabiner. 

Wrap the hammock straps around a vertical post or beam on either side of the balcony, and connect the other end of the straps to your S-hook or carabiner. Then, you attach the other side of the S-hook or carabiner to your hammock.

This is another easy method for hanging your hammock on a balcony but is also reliant on the structure of the beams. Make sure that they’re safe and able to hold the extra weight before trying this out.

Use A Drill

You can use a drill to help hang a hammock on a balcony, but you want to make sure that it’s safe to do this first. Renters should check with their landlords to make sure that they’re allowed to drill holes in the balcony, and homeowners should make sure that their balcony is stable enough to hold the extra weight.

Using a drill requires a few extra steps than the previous methods, but it’s still a relatively easy process. Here’s how you can go about hanging a hammock on a balcony by using a drill:

  1. Mark the Studs. First, you’ll need to find two studs on either end of your balcony that you want to drill into. You should mark the spot on both studs where you intend to drill a hole. This will help make sure that you drill holes in the same spot on both sides so that your hammock hangs evenly.
  2. Drill Where You Marked. For this method, you’ll want to use a drill bit that’s ⅜ in. This will help you drill a pilot hole, which will prevent the wooden beams from cracking. Simply drill a hole on each beam where you’ve previously marked it. 
  3. Screw in Your Eye Bolts. Eye bolts are screws that have a loop on the end so they’ll be the easiest screws to use for hanging your hammock. You’ll want to screw the eye bolts into each hole until they’re firmly in place. Give them both a tug to make sure that they can’t be dislodged easily.
  4. Hang Your Hammock. All that’s left now is to hang your hammock. You just hang either end of the hammock from the eye bolts with some rope or paracord. Make sure you’ve tied it tightly so the hammock is guaranteed to stay in place.

Hammock Care

Now that your hammock is in place, you’ll want to make sure you take the steps necessary to ensure it can be used for a long time to come. The best way to do this is to make sure that your hammock is properly cared for.

The first thing you should do is make sure that your hammock has plenty of ground clearance. You don’t want your hammock to scrape the bottom of your balcony when you go to relax in it. This would be uncomfortable for you and damage your hammock very quickly.

Your hammock should be at least 5 ½ feet off the ground. This will help keep it from touching the ground when you go to relax in it and will keep it out of reach of small children. Not that there should be any small children unattended on the balcony, of course!

You may think that you don’t need to do much to take care of your hammock aside from occasionally brushing leaves and other debris off of it, but there’s actually a little more to it than that.

Hammocks, especially the quilted ones, can get dirty and become a breeding ground for bacteria. If your hammock is exposed to rain frequently then it can also become a breeding ground for insects. None of that is going to create the relaxing situation you want when you go out on your balcony.

The best way to combat this is by cleaning your hammock regularly. You don’t need to wash it super frequently, even once a month would be enough to keep bacteria and other issues from building up.

You can wash your hammock in your yard by giving it a good spray with your garden hose and letting it dry in the sun. Hammocks with a lot of fabric, such as quilted hammocks, will require more gentle care and should be hand-washed in a sink with mild soap and warm water. 

Final Thoughts

There are a few different ways you can hang a hammock on a balcony, and which one you choose will depend on your personal preference and where you’re living. There are options for everyone, and once you’ve chosen the perfect hammock for you and learned how to care for it properly, you’re ready to set it up and get to relaxing.

About the Author

Hussain from Hiker Needs is a passionate hiker and traveler that loves the outdoors and enjoys what nature has to give, whenever he can he loves to write and give tips & honest reviews to help others get outdoors and just seek more unforgettable experiences. You can find him for more on Pinterest as well.