Clayey soils exhibit significant volumetric changes in response to variations in water content. The swelling pressure of clayey soils is a critical parameter for evaluating the stability and performance of structures built on them, facilitating the development of appropriate design methodologies and mitigation strategies to ensure their long-term integrity and safety. We present a dataset comprising maximum swelling pressure values from 759 compacted soil samples, compiled from 16 articles published between 1994 and 2022. The dataset is classified into two main groups: 463 samples of natural clays and 296 samples of bentonite and bentonite mixtures, providing data on various types of soils and their properties. Different swelling test methods, including zero swelling, swell consolidation, restrained swell, double oedometer, free swelling, constant volume oedometer, UPC isochoric cell, isochoric oedometer and consolidometer, were employed to measure the maximum swelling pressure. The comprehensive nature of the dataset enhances its applicability for geotechnical projects. The dataset is a valuable resource for understanding the complex interactions between soil properties and swelling behavior, contributing to advancements in soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering.