When it comes to buying a trampoline, there are so many factors to consider. Naturally, one of the most important considerations is size. After all, it’s not always easy to tell what size trampoline will be appropriate for your kids, your yard, or your purposes. So this article will cover all the information you need to find the perfect size trampoline for you.
What size trampoline you need will depend on several factors. Namely, the age of the people who will be using it, how much space you have in your yard, and whether it will be used more for athletic or recreation purposes. Some sizes and shapes may not be appropriate for all users or purposes.
Trampoline Sizes By Shape
The first thing to consider when looking at trampoline sizes is the shape of the trampoline. The shape will not only determine how much space the trampoline ultimately takes up in your yard, but it also makes a difference for what you’re using it for and how age-appropriate it may be.
So, in this section, I’ll give a brief rundown of the most popular trampoline shapes and their different sizes.
Round Trampolines
Round trampolines are by far the most popular shape and come in the widest range of sizes. They are also the least expensive, take up relatively little space, and are considered the safest bet for younger kids because their bounce height is relatively low and they naturally tend to keep the jumper in the center of the jumping pad.
The typical sizes for round trampolines are 3ft, 4ft, 5ft, 6ft, 7ft, 8ft, 10ft, 12ft, 14ft, 15ft, and 16ft.
Trampolines in the 3’-6’ range (often called mini trampolines or rebounders) are typically designed for toddlers or for use as adult exercise equipment. Those from 7’-12’ are usually intended for older kids (6-12 years old). 12’-16’ trampolines are more for multiple jumpers, teenagers, and adults.
Rectangular & Oval Trampolines
Rectangular trampolines are typically the most expensive and take up the most actual space. They also offer the biggest bounces and allow multiple jumpers to jump simultaneously without interfering with one another. Their higher jump potential and the fact that they don’t draw the jumper toward the center of the pad make rectangular trampolines better suited for older kids and adults.
The common sizes for rectangular trampolines are 4x6ft, 7x10ft, 8x14ft, 9x15ft, and 10x17ft.
Rectangular trampolines of all sizes are generally more geared toward exercise and gymnastics training, but they’re still highly popular for simple recreation. The smallest size is best for toddlers. The next two sizes up are generally meant for kids about 7-13 years old and are best with only one jumper at a time.
The 9x14ft models can usually accommodate two jumpers and are best for ages 7 and up. 10x17ft is the standard “Olympic” size, often used for gymnastics – this is more for teenagers and adults, but it can also be used by smaller children (no younger than 7) when enclosed with a safety net and under close supervision.
Rectangular trampolines tend to have a more firm bounce surface, so younger, lighter children may have difficulty getting very much altitude on their own – but supervision is still a necessity.
Oval trampolines typically come in the same or similar sizes as rectangular trampolines. They are less common but their prices are generally somewhere between those of round and rectangular trampolines. They are arguably the safest of all since they have a large surface area and tend to keep the jumpers close to the center. For this reason, the age limitations are a little more lenient – but it’s still best not to let kids 6 and under play on trampolines larger than 6ft (on any side).
Who Will Be Using It?
Now that we have a general understanding of the available trampoline sizes, the next step is to determine who the trampoline is for. This is perhaps the most important factor in the equation, at least from a safety standpoint. The key things to consider are the age of the jumper(s) and what kind of weight limit you’ll require.
Age
In general, children under 6 should be limited to trampolines that are 6-foot or smaller, since they tend to have less strength and coordination in those years. On the other hand, if your kids are older, you don’t want a trampoline so small that they don’t have much room to jump around. Not only will this diminish the fun of it, but it will also increase the likelihood that they’ll go over the edge – even a safety net doesn’t guarantee fall protection, especially on an undersized trampoline.
This part of selecting the right size can be a little tricky, as you’ll want to take into account how things will stand a few years from now. You don’t want your kids to outgrow your investment after only a few years! That’s why it’s usually a good idea to err on the larger side when selecting a trampoline for your kids, especially if they’re approaching the age of growth spurts. (Unless, of course, you’re selecting a trampoline for a toddler – but fortunately, those are usually a much smaller investment and don’t take up much space!)
Likewise, if you intend to hop on your trampoline with your kiddos, you’ll want one that’s safe for the youngsters but can accommodate the weight of adults as well.
Here’s a little chart to help match age groups with their recommended trampoline sizes. Keep in mind, however, that these are general guidelines and may not apply to everyone – it’s ultimately up to your discretion.
| Age | Trampoline Size |
| 1-3 | Mini/Toddler Trampoline – 3ft, 4ft |
| 4-5 | Mini or Small – 3ft, 4ft, 5ft, 6ft (4x6ft rectangle) |
| 6-9 | Average Size – 6ft, 8ft, 10ft, 12ft (7x10ft, 8x12ft, 9x14ft rectangle) |
| 10-13 | Medium-Large – 10ft, 12ft, 14ft, 15ft, 16ft (9x14ft, 10x17ft rectangle) |
| 13+ | Large – 12ft, 14ft, 15ft, 16ft (10x17ft or larger rectangle) |
Weight Limit
In general, the bigger the trampoline, the higher the weight limit. But this isn’t true for all models – it largely depends on the brand and the quality of construction. Most smaller trampolines (especially round ones) are meant for one jumper at a time and have fairly low weight limits. Larger ones may have a “per-person” weight limit along with a total maximum weight limit. Rectangular trampolines tend to have the highest weight limits of all.
In most cases, smaller trampolines (under 8ft) have weight limits ranging from 55-175lbs, average-sized trampolines (8-12ft) can handle around 200-375lbs, and larger trampolines (12ft+) have weight limits in the 350-500lb range.
If you intend to have multiple jumpers on at once – particularly older kids or adults – then a large trampoline with a high weight limit is your best bet to avoid overloading it and reduce the likelihood of collisions.
What Will It Be Used For?
Another important consideration is the purpose behind getting the trampoline. If you just want your kids to have fun outdoors and get a little exercise while they’re at it, a mid-size trampoline should suit you just fine. If you want to get your toddler working on developing motor skills, balance, and coordination (or just having fun and wearing themselves out), then a toddler trampoline or small indoor trampoline is probably the best bet.
Or, if you want to use it for fitness and athletic pursuits, anything from a mini rebounder to a full-sized Olympic rectangular trampoline may be right, depending on your routine and what you’re training for. If your son or daughter wants to be a dancer or a gymnast, then you’ll probably want to go with the latter, provided they’re old enough (you can always go with a somewhat smaller model for the younger aspiring athletes).
And even if it’s purely recreational, you’ll want to get a size that offers plenty of fun for whoever’s jumping on it. Bigger trampolines tend to offer higher bounces and have more room for acrobatics, while smaller ones will present less of a challenge to younger kids.
How Much Space Do You Have?
Naturally, none of the above matters much if you don’t have enough room to fit the trampoline in your yard!
It’s important to remember that you’ll need to provide adequate space around your trampoline, which you’ll need to factor into your measurements. In general, it’s best to keep your trampoline a minimum of 8 feet away from any walls or structures. If you can’t manage that, you can always put an enclosure net around your trampoline – but it’s still best to keep at least a few feet of empty space around your trampoline just in case.
As a rule of thumb, to figure out how much space you need, you can simply add 16 feet to the dimensions of the trampoline you want to buy – 8 feet on all sides. Or, if you intend to have a safety enclosure net, add 10 feet to the dimensions (5 feet on each side).
And even if you can squeeze a trampoline of your desired size into your yard without compromising safety, keep in mind what it will do to the aesthetic and feel of your yard. Will a trampoline take up half the lawn? Will it mean less space for other activities? Will you be sacrificing that vegetable garden you’ve always wanted to put in the corner? Will it look awkward or overbearing?
If you can, it’s a good idea to measure out the dimensions of the trampoline you want in the intended space in your yard, then arrange objects along the edges of the measured space – lawn chairs, garden stakes, tiki torches, or whatever you have on hand. The idea is to give yourself an approximation of how the trampoline will actually look in your yard – before you buy it.
In Conclusion
It may seem like a daunting task to find the right size trampoline to suit your needs, but once you figure out who it’s for, how it will be used, and how much space you have to work with, the decision becomes a lot easier. And since trampolines aren’t exactly cheap, the hardest part is selecting one that will keep on providing value and fun for years into the future!
I hope this article has helped make your search for the right size trampoline a little easier! Thanks for reading!