Best Badminton Sets in Australia (2026)

Why a badminton set is the easiest backyard win this summer

A badminton set is one of the few things you can buy for a new backyard that everyone from a five year old to a grandparent will actually use. There is no court to mark out, no membership, and no skill barrier. You clip the net between two poles, hand out rackets, and the game runs itself until the sun goes down. For a first home with a strip of lawn or a bit of paving out the back, it turns dead space into the reason people stay for one more drink. The catch is that "badminton set" covers everything from a two racket combo in a zip cover to a full freestanding net kit, and the cheap ones bend, sag or blow over the first windy afternoon. This guide sorts the sets that survive an Australian summer from the ones that end up in the shed by Christmas.

We looked at complete net sets, racket only combos, and the portable freestanding kits that stand up on paving without stakes, then narrowed the field to seven that hold up on ratings, build and price. Every price, star rating and review count below was pulled fresh at the time of writing, because Amazon stock and pricing for outdoor gear moves fast in spring.

The quick answer

If you want one box that has the net, the poles, the rackets and the shuttles ready for the backyard, the Franklin Sports Badminton Net Starter Set is the set most families should buy: four steel rackets, an adjustable net and ground stakes, backed by thousands of ratings. If you would rather a set that folds back into its own storage box between games, the ENOVI EasyGo Badminton Set is the tidy pick and the highest rated of our three headline sets. And if you already have a net and just need honest rackets without spending much, the Yonex GR 303 Combo is the cheapest of our seven picks and the most reviewed by a wide margin.

The other four picks below cover the rest of the map: a premium freestanding kit for hard surfaces, a highly rated four racket family set, a simple two player Yonex, and a brand name full net kit. Prices sit from about $60 for a bare racket combo up to about $175 for the portable freestanding set.

Compare the best badminton sets at a glance

Every set here is in stock at an Australian price, sits in the Sports department, and has real ratings behind it. Tap a name to see the current listing.

How we chose these badminton sets

NestPath researches and studies listings, spec sheets and owner reviews rather than making badge or ranking claims. Here is what mattered for this category.

• Complete over clever. For a backyard set, the net, poles and shuttles matter more than fancy racket branding, so full kits earned their place first.
• Ratings with weight behind them. We favoured sets with a strong star average across a real volume of reviews, not a perfect score from a handful of buyers.
• Wind and surface honesty. Australian backyards are windy and often paved, so we noted which kits stake into grass and which stand freely on hard ground.
• Sane pricing. Every price was captured fresh from Amazon Australia, and any listing that looked like a reseller markup was left out.

The complete backyard set most families should buy

The Franklin Sports Badminton Net Starter Set is the one to grab if you want to open a box on Saturday and be playing by lunch. It ships with four steel rackets, two shuttles, an adjustable net and the ground stakes to pin it into the lawn, so nothing else is needed for a first game.

What makes it the default pick is the weight of feedback behind it. It carries a 4.1 star average across more than four thousand ratings, which for outdoor gear is a lot of backyards reporting back. The steel rackets are not going to impress a club player, but for social rallies they are stiff enough to place a shot and cheap enough that you are not precious about them getting dropped on concrete. The net is the real value here: it is full width, tensions between two poles, and stakes down so a gust does not fold it flat mid game.

Setup is the usual backyard drill of pushing the poles in, running the net across and pegging the guy lines, which takes a few minutes the first time and less once you know it. Packed down it fits in a cupboard rather than needing the garage. At a street price of around $95 it sits in the sweet spot where you get a real net and a real racket count without paying for a premium freestanding base you may not need on grass. For most new homeowners with a lawn, this is the set that gets the summer started.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The steel rackets are heavier than aluminium or carbon and the strings are basic, so keen players will want to upgrade the rackets down the track while keeping the net. The stakes rely on soft ground, so this is a grass set first and a paving set a distant second.

The set that folds back into its own box

The ENOVI EasyGo Badminton Set answers the single biggest complaint about backyard nets, which is where to put the thing when the game is over. It comes with four rackets, four birdies, a net and a hard portable storage box that the whole kit packs back into, so it lives on a shelf instead of tangled in the shed.

It is the highest rated of our three headline picks at 4.4 stars, and owners consistently call out how quick it is to pull out and put away. The storage box doubles as the thing you carry to the park or the beach, which is where a lot of these sets actually get the most use. Four rackets means two on two straight out of the box, and four shuttles gives you a buffer for the one that inevitably ends up on the roof.

The trade off is price. It is the dearest of our three headline sets, and you are paying partly for the case and the tidier presentation rather than a dramatically better net. But if the reason your last set died was that it got left out in the weather or crushed at the bottom of the garage, the box is the feature that keeps this one alive for years. For renters and first home buyers who move house and want the set to travel intact, it is the most sensible full kit here. Setup is tool free and fast, and everything has a labelled place in the box so nothing wanders off.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Its review count is still small next to the Franklin and Yonex sets, so there is less long term feedback to lean on. The rackets are recreational grade, fine for rallies but not for anyone chasing power.

The budget rackets to buy when you already have a net

The Yonex GR 303 Combo is not a net set, it is a pair of proper Yonex rackets with a full cover, and it is here because it solves a real problem: your old set is fine but the rackets have bent or the grips have gone. It is the cheapest of our seven picks and by far the most reviewed, with more than seven thousand ratings.

Yonex is the name club players actually use, and even at this entry level the GR 303 feels a cut above the no name rackets that come bundled in bargain kits. The aluminium blend frame is light, the balance is even, and the full cover means they survive being thrown in a boot or a beach bag. At around $60 for the pair, they are the obvious upgrade for a family that has a working net but wants rackets that place a shot instead of flapping at it.

Because there is no net in the box, this is the pick to pair with a bare net or with one of the full sets above once the original rackets wear out. Two rackets covers a singles game or a casual hit, and if you want four you simply buy two sets. The 4.1 star average across that huge review base tells you these are a known quantity, not a gamble. For anyone who already owns totem tennis or a net and just wants better bats, this is the smart, low cost move.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

You get two rackets and no shuttles or net, so it is a component rather than a complete backyard solution. The strings are factory strung at a low tension, which suits social play but not anyone stepping up to a club.

The portable set for paving, decking and driveways

The Zume Games Portable Badminton Set is the premium answer for the many Australian homes where the flat space out the back is concrete, tile or decking rather than lawn. It is the only pick here that stands up without stakes or ground anchors, using a weighted freestanding base that sets up on any surface in seconds with no tools.

That single design choice is why it costs more. It is the dearest of our seven picks, and at around $175 it earns it if you have nowhere to peg a net. The base carries the poles upright, the net tensions across, and the whole thing collapses into a carry bag you can move between the courtyard, the park and the beach without rebuilding it each time. Across more than three thousand ratings it holds a 4.1 star average, which for a portable freestanding system is a strong showing.

The convenience is the story here. There are no guy lines to trip over, no stakes to lose, and no soft ground required, so it works on a rental balcony courtyard or a paved entertaining area where a staked net simply is not an option. If your backyard is more hardscape than grass, or you want a set that lives in the car for weekends away, this is the one built for it. It is heavier packed down than a basic staked kit because of the base, which is the price of standing on its own.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The freestanding base makes it the priciest and the bulkiest of our picks to carry. In strong wind a weighted base can still shift on very smooth surfaces, so it is happiest in a sheltered courtyard rather than an exposed field.

The highest rated set for a family of four

The AboveGenius Lightweight Badminton Set carries the highest star rating of any pick in this guide at 4.5, and it is built around family play with four lightweight rackets and six nylon birdies in the box.

Six shuttles is a genuinely useful count, because the two things that end a backyard game are a lost bird and a broken one, and this set gives you a stack of spares before you need to reorder. The rackets are deliberately light, which suits kids and casual adults who tire of a heavy frame, and the whole kit skews toward easy fun rather than competitive play. At around $70 it sits in the affordable middle of the field while carrying the best rating here.

Like the Yonex combo it is a racket and shuttle package rather than a net set, so you supply the net or pair it with a full kit. Where it shines is as the four racket upgrade for a household that wants everyone playing at once and values a big shuttle count over a branded frame. The strong star average across several hundred ratings suggests owners get what they expect, which is a cheerful, low fuss set the whole family can pick up. If your priority is highest satisfaction for the least fuss, this is the one that scored best.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

There is no net included, so it is not a standalone backyard solution. The lightweight rackets trade power for comfort, so a stronger player will find them a touch soft on a hard clear.

The simple two player Yonex for a quick hit

The Yonex GR 505 2 Player Badminton Set is the minimalist pick: two Yonex rackets and two shuttles in one tidy pack, meant for grabbing when someone says let us have a hit. It holds a 4.2 star average and carries the Yonex name at an accessible price of around $75.

This is the set for a couple, or for a parent and one child, who do not need a full four racket kit cluttering the cupboard. Two rackets, two birds, done. The GR 505 frames are a small step up in feel from the entry GR 303, and the pairing of rackets and matched shuttles in one box means there is nothing else to think about for a singles rally over a rope, a totem pole or a borrowed net.

It sits in the same racket first camp as the GR 303 and the AboveGenius, so you are buying quality bats and shuttles rather than a net system. For a small household that plays now and then and wants the reassurance of a known brand without the four racket price, it is a clean, uncomplicated choice. The moderate review count means it is less proven than the big sellers, but Yonex consistency does a lot of the reassuring here.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Only two rackets means it is not the one for a family game night without buying a second pack. There is no net, so you are supplying the barrier yourself.

The brand name full net kit

The Yonex Badminton Set is the full kit for buyers who want the net, the posts and four rackets all under the Yonex badge. It bundles four rackets with posts, a net and the bits to get a proper court up, holding a 4.0 star average at around $110.

If brand matters to you and you would rather not mix a bargain net with better rackets, this keeps everything in one family. Four rackets covers doubles straight away, and having Yonex on the frames means the bats are a known quantity rather than the flimsy inclusions in some cheaper complete sets. It carries the full Yonex kit at a mid-field price while offering the reassurance of a single trusted maker across the whole kit.

The trade off is that its review base is modest next to the Franklin net set and the Yonex racket combos, so there is less collective feedback to lean on, and the 4.0 average is solid rather than standout. Still, for a household that wants a complete staked net set and cares about the name on the gear, it is a sensible full kit that avoids the mix and match approach. Setup follows the familiar staked net routine, so it wants soft ground like the Franklin does.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It has a similar staked format to the Franklin net set and fewer ratings behind it. Like the other net kits it relies on stakes, so it is a grass set rather than a paving one.

Which badminton set should you buy?

Match your backyard and your household to the pick that fits, then check the current price on its card.

What to look for in a badminton set

The difference between a set that lasts and one that gets binned comes down to a few honest questions before you buy.

Net set or racket set. Decide first whether you need the net. A complete kit like the Franklin gives you poles, net and stakes, while a racket combo like the Yonex GR 303 assumes you already have somewhere to string a net. If your yard has a totem tennis pole or a fence line, a racket only set can be the smarter buy.

Grass or hard surface. Staked nets need soft ground. If your flat space is concrete or decking, a freestanding weighted base like the Zume is the only kind that will stand up, so match the kit to your surface before anything else.

Racket material. Steel rackets are cheap and tough but heavy. Aluminium and light frames like the Yonex and AboveGenius sets are easier on the wrist for kids and long rallies. Carbon is a step up for keen players and rarely comes in a backyard bundle. If a paddle sport appeals more than a racket one, our guide to pickleball paddles covers the fastest growing backyard alternative.

Shuttle count and type. Nylon shuttles last far longer outdoors and cope with wind better than feather ones, which is what you want for the backyard. A set that includes several spares, like the six in the AboveGenius, saves an early reorder. If you want to compare other backyard net games, our guide to totem tennis sets covers the pole and rope style that needs no stakes at all.

Storage. A case or box, as on the EasyGo, is the single feature most likely to keep a set alive, because gear that has a home does not get crushed or weathered.

How do you care for a badminton set?

A badminton set asks for very little, but a few habits stretch its life across several summers.

Bring the net in when you are done, or at least when rain and heavy dew are due. Nylon nets handle sun and showers far better than they handle being left staked out for weeks, where UV slowly makes them brittle. Loosen the tension before you pack a net away so the cord and poles are not stressed in storage.

Store rackets in their cover and out of a hot car boot, since sustained heat can warp cheaper frames and soften grips. Keep shuttles in their tube so the skirts do not get bent, and rotate a couple through play rather than flogging one until it dies. Push bent nylon skirts gently back into shape with warm water and they often recover.

Wipe grips down when they get slick with sweat or sunscreen, and replace an overgrip when it goes shiny rather than buying new rackets. For staked sets, rinse grass and mud off the stakes before they go in the bag so they slide into the ground cleanly next time. None of this takes long, and it is the difference between a set that lasts one season and one that lasts five.

You'll also want these

The one thing every badminton set eats through is shuttles, so a spare tube is the accessory to buy alongside any pick above.

• Yonex Mavis 200i nylon shuttlecocks for durable, wind tolerant birds that outlast the ones in most kits.
• Senston nylon shuttlecocks 6 or 12 pack as low cost spares for backyard play.
• Yonex Mavis 350 nylon shuttlecocks for a faster flight when there is a breeze about.
• Goose feather shuttlecocks 12 pack for the truer flight of a real feather bird on a still evening.
• Yonex nylon shuttlecock tube as a reliable bulk restock for a set that gets daily use.
• SPP feather shuttlecock trial pack to sample grades before committing to a dozen.

The competition

A few sets came up in research and did not make the final seven. The EastPoint Sports 2 in 1 volleyball and badminton set is a good value combo, but its badminton is a secondary function and we wanted sets built for badminton first. The Haokelball professional badminton set is well rated but sits at a higher price with a smaller review base, so it is a strong option to watch rather than a first recommendation. Several sub $20 racket pairs in the pool had too few reviews to judge, and the pattern of very cheap complete kits with sagging nets is exactly what steered us toward the staked and freestanding sets above.

Badminton set FAQs

Which badminton set is the best quality?

For a complete backyard kit, the Franklin Sports Badminton Net Starter Set is the best all round quality pick, because it pairs a proper staked net with four rackets and thousands of positive ratings. If quality means the rackets themselves rather than the net, the Yonex sets carry the brand club players trust.

What should be in a good badminton set?

A good complete set includes a full width net, two poles, ground stakes or a freestanding base, at least two rackets and a couple of shuttles. Family sets add four rackets and extra shuttles. Racket only combos skip the net and assume you have somewhere to string one.

Are nylon or feather shuttlecocks better for backyard play?

Nylon shuttles are better for the backyard. They last far longer, cope with wind and rough surfaces, and survive being trodden on, while feather shuttles fly truer but wear out quickly and hate a breeze. Most backyard sets include nylon birds for exactly this reason.

How much should I spend on a badminton set?

You can get honest rackets from about $60 and a complete staked net set from about $90. A freestanding kit that stands on paving without stakes runs to about $175. Spending more mainly buys you a better net system and storage, not dramatically better rackets.

Can you set up a badminton net on grass and hard surfaces?

Staked net sets need soft ground like a lawn to peg into and will not stand on concrete. For paving, decking or a driveway you need a freestanding set with a weighted base, such as the Zume Games portable set, which stands on any surface without stakes.

More outdoor guides for your place

Setting up the backyard for summer? These NestPath guides pair naturally with a badminton set.

• Best totem tennis sets in Australia
• Best volleyball nets in Australia
• Best table tennis tables in Australia
• Best backyard cricket sets in Australia
• Best soccer goals in Australia
• Best trampolines in Australia

About the author

Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first-home-buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first-home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au