The best place for a trampoline is on level firm ground with enough clearance around it for safe jumping. Bark or firm grass is perfect, whilst concrete or tarmac is not. The ground should be level, otherwise the jumper will bounce down the slope. It shouldn’t be next to a fence, or a swimming pool.
Let me elaborate…
In our quest for Mission: Backyard Adventure, you want to put your trampoline in the place that will give the greatest ability for fun combined with the highest level of safety.
Ideally, if your kids are old enough, they will be able to entertain themselves for hours outside. You’re trying to get them off the screens, and into the world of play.
So, let’s go through what you need in order to figure out where to put your trampoline in the yard.
Where to put your trampoline
1. There should be enough clear space around the trampoline
Once you’ve decided what shape and size your trampoline will be (see here to choose the best shape trampoline, and see here to choose the right size trampoline you need), you should now have an area that is around 3ft bigger on each side than your trampoline will be. For example, if you want a 12ft round trampoline, you will need at least 18ft clearance in your yard. That is, 3ft (one side) plus 12ft (trampoline) plus 3ft (the other side).
Most trampolines have a little give in their enclosure net. You want to have enough clearance at the sides so you can keep branches and shrubs from growing too close to the netting. The last thing you want is a twig at eye level.
2. There should be enough clear space above the trampoline
This is less of a guideline and more of a commandment. There should be at least 24 feet of clearance above the trampoline. If you have an enthusiastic teenager wander by, they will almost certainly want to try tricks and to see how high they can go. It’s quite reasonable for even a beginner teen to reach 16 feet.
Avoiding branches above will also help you maintain your trampoline. It will make it easier to keep the trampoline free of leaves in the fall. This is useful as clearing a trampoline of wet decaying leaves is painful. And you’ll even avoid squirrel mess on the mat of the trampoline.
3. The ground should be level
This is super important, as you want the kids to stay in the center of the trampoline when they jump. If you are on a slope, the way that the mat goes down and then back up will try to bounce them down the hill.
If you don’t have any space with suitable level ground, you can make a terraced area. You’ll end up with the flat area built into the hill and a small reinforcing wall. Just remember to include the space around the trampoline in your terrace so that the kids can get to the ladder safely, and no shrubs growing into the jump zone.
4. The ground should be even, as well as level
Even if the ground is level, you want to be sure there are no rocks or roots under the legs of the trampoline. You want every bounce to be solid.
If the ground is uneven, with each bounce, the trampoline might ‘walk’ itself across the yard. It is likely to end up some place you don’t want it.
5. The ground should be firm, but not solid
You want a surface that is impact-absorbing. This includes grass over firm soil (not swampy), rubber matting or even bark.
The ground should have a small amount of give in it, but not enough to lower stability. The trampoline shouldn’t go on concrete or tarmac. Very hard surfaces such as concrete can damage the frame and legs of the trampoline, as the impact of every bounce reverberates through the trampoline not the ground.
You also want to be able to anchor your trampoline, and you can’t easily install anchors into concrete.
6. The trampoline should not be placed near a swimming pool
Trampolines should not go next to the swimming pool. They shouldn’t even be close enough to be easily dragged to be next to the swimming pool. There is no planet where jumping from a trampoline into a pool is a good idea.
Even if the kids can get enough bounce clearance over the pool fence it’s not a good idea. Even if you have a very deep pool. And there is minimal coping around the pool. And even if the kids try to persuade you that it would be an excellent idea. It’s still not a good idea.
7. The outdoor trampoline shouldn’t go inside a house or regular garage
It almost goes without saying, because there is almost no indoor area in a residential house that would have enough clearance above the trampoline. Even if the kids promise not to jump too high, it’s still really not a good idea.
There are barns or industrial sheds that might have enough clearance. If you already have one of these in your yard, or you’ve been waiting for an excuse to get one, this might be suitable. Watch out for beams or lights across the headspace, and don’t place it directly next to a wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to check if the ground for your trampoline is level?
Put a stick at each side of the place you want your trampoline to be. Tie a piece of bricklayer’s string between each stick, measured 6 inches from the ground. Then get a spirit level, and put it against the string in the center. If the bubble is in the center of the two marks, then the ground is level.
Take the strings out of the ground, move a quarter-way around the space, and then measure how level the ground is in the other direction.
Will a trampoline kill grass?
Most likely. Trampoline mats are made of thick plastic mesh, often with a UV protection layer built in. This stops most sunlight from getting to the grass underneath. So yes, the trampoline will probably kill grass. Some people move their trampoline every week or two so that the grass gets a chance to recover. Others say that this is way too much work, and they’ll fix the lawn when the kids leave home.
Can I put the trampoline on a slope?
No, you shouldn’t put the trampoline on a slope. The kids bouncing on the trampoline will be bounced down the slope. And if the trampoline has any tendency to ‘walk’, it will also move itself down the slope. If you only have a slope in your yard, carve out a small flat level terrace (probably with a reinforced wall) for the trampoline to sit on.
Can I put a trampoline on a deck?
Possibly yes, but if you have anywhere else to put it, that would be better. There is a lot of force on the trampoline’s frame with each bounce, and ideally, the energy of this moves into an impact-absorbing surface so that the frame is not unduly stressed. If impact is going onto decking, then that energy will go into the decking wood as well as the structural supports. You want the supporting structure of the deck to be super strong, as well as the decking itself. Every piece of decking and supporting structure should be sound, with no rot or sagging.
You also want to watch out that you are not too close to the edge with a big drop just beyond. Finally, there should be nothing above the deck where you put the trampoline, including the eaves of the house, guttering or roofing.
Summary
By following the 7 Rules for Ideal trampoline Placement in the yard, you’ll set your kids up for hours of trampoline fun. I do hope this article has helped you decide where to put your trampoline.
