Where To Put A Trampoline? 13 Best and Worst Places for Trampoline

Where to put a trampoline is a crucial aspect as that will determine the safety of anyone using the equipment – your kids, your family, or even yourself.

Putting your trampoline in the right place will minimize risk and help to keep everyone safe. However, putting it in the wrong place will increase risk and is essentially asking for trouble.

But most people don’t have an unlimited amount of space in their yard, so it’s normal to wonder where you should and shouldn’t put a trampoline.

Read on to find out the best place to put a trampoline and 13 best and worst places for trampoline placement. 

Where To Put A Trampoline?

The best overall place to put your trampoline is on an expanse of grass or soft ground that gives you eight feet of clearance on all sides.

If you don’t have grass, there are other materials you can use that will provide shock absorption for both the trampoline and anyone who falls off while jumping. These materials include wood chips, sand, rubber mulch, rubber pads, or even pea gravel. 

Thanks to enclosure nets, you can probably get away with not having the full eight feet of clearance around the trampoline, but this is still a risk.

Generally, it’s best to pay close attention to the guidelines outlined in your trampoline’s owner’s manual.

Can You Put a Trampoline on Concrete?

You shouldn’t put a trampoline on concrete. Not only does concrete pose a greater risk of injury for jumpers, but it can also damage the trampoline.

However, with proper precautions, you can turn your concrete slab into a great place for a trampoline. 

Concrete is hard. I’m not telling you anything new there. But when a concrete slab is the best place for your trampoline, you may think that the enclosure net around your trampoline is enough. While this is much better than not having the enclosure, it’s not enough. 

The best thing to do is put down some padding under and around the trampoline. This will protect any jumpers who (somehow) manage to get outside the net.

Plus, it will keep the trampoline from sliding around on the concrete, damaging the legs, and reducing the life of the equipment. There are plenty of inexpensive padding options, like these from Amazon.

Can You Put a Trampoline in Your Front Yard?

Provided you can meet all the desired safety requirements and aren’t violating any homeowner’s association guidelines or local laws, you’re free to place a trampoline in your front yard.

However, be aware of the risks that come with this placement and check with your home insurance company first. 

There aren’t many places with laws forbidding you to put a trampoline in your front yard. Homeowners associations are a different story, so it’s up to you to check if you have an HOA in your neighborhood.

It’s also a good idea to check with your home insurance company first, as a trampoline in the front yard can be seen as an invitation for neighborhood kids to come and jump on it, which can be a liability.

Also, don’t go too overboard with the idea and put multiple trampolines in your front yard, as this family did:

Can You Put a Trampoline on a Slope?

You can put a trampoline on a slope – but only if you make significant changes to the slope so the trampoline remains level.

You never want to allow people to jump on a trampoline that’s not level. Depending on the degree of slope you’re dealing with, this could be fairly easy or difficult. 

If all you have to work with is a sloped patch of yard, measure the slope. If it’s less than 15 degrees, you will be able to use it after digging a trench on the uphill side of the slope for the trampoline’s legs to sit.

But if the slope is greater than 15 degrees, you’re better off finding another place for the trampoline. 

Can You Put a Trampoline on a Deck?

If your deck is built to code, it can likely handle the weight of a trampoline and one or two people jumping on it.

However, there are other safety factors to consider before you put a trampoline on a deck, such as how to anchor it in place and proper clearances all around. 

There’s usually not much to worry about when it comes to the weight of a trampoline on a deck. But the movement of the trampoline and the safety clearances are also important factors.

A trampoline will probably move when it’s used on a deck, which can be dangerous and will likely damage the decking material if not anchored in place.

It’s also important to make sure the area over and around the trampoline is clear of anything that could cause injury. 

Always make sure the deck is structurally sound before placing a trampoline on it. If there’s any doubt that the deck can handle it, don’t risk it.  

Can You Put a Trampoline on Gravel?

Although not the most forgiving material to fall onto, putting a trampoline on gravel is actually preferable to other materials like concrete or asphalt.

Provided the gravel is thick enough, it will allow the trampoline to sink down into it, preventing the equipment from moving. 

Gravel on concrete or asphalt is not an ideal place for a trampoline. However, gravel over earth is a viable option.

However, it’s best to get a net enclosure if you’re placing your trampoline on gravel, as falling onto it can cause cuts, scrapes, and other injuries. 

Can You Put a Trampoline into the Ground?

You can definitely put a trampoline into the ground. This provides an added level of safety, and it also looks pretty cool.

But there are certain things to think about before digging up the yard, such as leaving room for air to escape and shoring up the sides so dirt doesn’t pile underneath. 

If you don’t have a trampoline that’s built to be installed in the ground, you can dig a hole that leaves the trampoline’s top four to six inches above the ground, leaving room for air to escape while people bounce.

You’ll want to place some kind of barrier around the trampoline so that dirt does fall away from the walls and pile up under the mat.

Also, keep in mind that moving the trampoline will be much harder once it’s in the ground.

Can You Put a Trampoline on a Septic Field?

Unfortunately, trampolines are too heavy to be placed on a septic field. The weight of the equipment and those jumping on it can crush percolation pipes. This is why it’s best to keep trampolines away from the septic tank and the septic drain field. 

Placing anything heavy on a septic field is a bad idea, and trampolines are no exception. They can cause expensive problems with the septic system, which isn’t something that anyone wants.

If you’re not sure where exactly your trampoline can be placed, consult an expert to see where your septic system is located. 

Can You Put a Trampoline Next to a Fence?

You can get away with putting a trampoline next to a fence if the trampoline has a tall enclosure net to prevent people from falling into the fence.

However, if your trampoline doesn’t have an enclosure net, you should definitely not place it within a minimum of eight feet of the fence. 

If your trampoline doesn’t have an enclosure net, the chances of someone falling into a nearby fence are pretty much guaranteed.

Even the most careful jumpers make mistakes, and falling into a fence is likely to be much worse than falling on flat ground.

Best to avoid this risk whenever possible, either by purchasing an enclosure or not placing the trampoline near the fence. 

Can You Put a Trampoline Next to a Building?

You should only consider putting your trampoline next to a building if you have an enclosure net. But even then, you’ll want to make sure that nothing, such as an awning or gutter, hangs out over the trampoline, as this can be a safety issue.

If you have a trampoline without an enclosure net, you’ll want to keep it at least eight feet from the side of the building. If you can manage ten or twelve feet, all the better.

The closer the trampoline is to any part of a building, the more likely someone will get injured by falling into the structure. If you don’t have enough room to keep the trampoline away from the building, get an enclosure net.

Can You Put a Trampoline Near a Pool?

Putting a trampoline near a pool is compounding the risk of injury. Invariably, someone will try to jump from the trampoline into the pool.

And when this happens, injuries are bound to happen sooner or later. A safer option is to place a trampoline in the ground near the pool, if possible.

There’s a lot that can go wrong when placing a trampoline near a pool. People trying to jump from the trampoline to the pool can accidentally get tangled up in the springs, which can cause sprains or breaks.

Also, trampolines tend to get slippery when they’re wet, which can make mishaps more likely. If you have the set up for it, placing a trampoline in the ground next to the pool is an option that can limit (but not eliminate) the risk of injury.

But if you can’t do this, it’s best to keep the two separate.  Otherwise, it may lead to a situation like this:

Can You Put a Trampoline Next to Bushes?

Placing a trampoline next to bushes should only be considered if the trampoline has an enclosure net.

Without a net, it’s only a matter of time until someone falls into the bushes and gets scraped up or even more seriously injured. Even “soft” bushes can cause an awkward landing and broken bones. 

Planting small bushes under the perimeter of a trampoline is a good way to make the equipment aesthetically pleasing. However, placing a trampoline next to bushes where someone can fall into them is never a good idea.

Of course, some small bushes may not be an issue, but larger bushes that have thicker branches can cause injury when someone falls into them. 

Can You Put a Trampoline Under a Tree?

It’s tempting to take advantage of the shade and relative protection of a tree by putting your trampoline underneath.

However, this is not usually the best idea. Falling branches could damage the trampoline or injure jumpers. Additionally, cleaning bird droppings could become a regular chore. 

Placing a trampoline under a tree is not the biggest risk, and it can provide shade from the sun for much of the day.

However, you must weigh the risk of injury or damage to the trampoline due to falling branches with the benefits of keeping the trampoline in the shade.

And since birds tend to hang out in trees, you should consider the presence of bird droppings appearing on the trampoline.

However, if the trees on your property are large enough, it should be possible to position your trampoline in such a way that it will enjoy the shade from the tree during the day without being directly under it. This way, you can enjoy the benefits without the drawbacks.

People Also Ask

Conclusion

It’s true that trampolines aren’t the safest pieces of equipment in the world. And while safety should be a concern for any trampoline owner, an overabundance of safety can prevent you from having some fun.

With a little common sense and a safety enclosure, you can enjoy a trampoline on your property.

You may need to make a couple of little adjustments, but most people can make a trampoline work well on their property, even if they don’t have a pristine patch of grass on which to place it. 

I hope this list of 13 places you should and shouldn’t put a trampoline has helped. Thanks for reading!

Wait, Read These Next

Since you’ve already made it till the end, I’m sure you want to know more about tramplines. Here are a few of our best articles to read next.

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