How Much Does an In Ground Trampoline Cost?

Families compare the price of an in ground trampoline long before they break ground in the yard. Owners prefer the sleek look, added safe landing zones, and resale boost, yet the total cost stretches past the kit. Labor, drainage, and future repairs form a chain that spans the trampoline’s life cycle.

This guide covers the complete cost breakdown—from base trampoline kit and professional install to yearly upkeep. Readers will see real deal figures, learn how size and quality change the bill, and pick up tactics to stay under budget.

Topics include kit price, excavation fees, accessory upgrades, market price range trends, and smart ways to buy without sacrificing bounce performance or kids safety.

Article Insights

• $1,000 (≈1.7 weeks working every single day at $15/hour)–$2,000 (≈3.3 weeks trading your time for $15/hour) secures a kit-only purchase; full pro installs reach $3,000 (≈1.1 months of non-stop employment at $15/hour)–$5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour).
• Excavation, drainage, and shipping add $650 (≈1.1 weeks of your career at a $15/hour job)–$1,150 (≈1.9 weeks of continuous work at a $15/hour wage) to many projects.
• DIY labor can save $800 (≈1.3 weeks working without a break on a $15/hour salary)–$1,200 (≈2 weeks dedicated to affording this at $15/hour), though tool rental still runs $200 (≈1.7 days working without days off at $15/hour).
• Above-ground models start at $200 (≈1.7 days working without days off at $15/hour), yet lack the flush-mount look some yard designs demand.
• Off-season deals trim kit price by $150 (≈1.3 days of continuous work at a $15/hour job)–$250 (≈2.1 days working for this purchase at $15/hour), boosting overall value.
• Frame gauge, pad warranty, and net quality dictate long-term maintenance cost.

How Much Does an In Ground Trampoline Cost?

We found the average in ground trampoline cost starts with kit-only options between $1,000 (≈1.7 weeks working every single day at $15/hour) and $2,000 (≈3.3 weeks trading your time for $15/hour), climbs to $3,000 (≈1.1 months of non-stop employment at $15/hour)–$4,000 (≈1.5 months of non-stop employment at $15/hour) when buyers add pro install, and tops $5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour) for premium Springfree-style units with integrated net and patented spring systems. Entry-level sets come in smaller size bands—8 ft to 12 ft diameters—keeping freight and frame material light. Mid-range products jump to 14 ft mats, thicker galvanised frame tubing, and UV-treated pads that lift perceived value along with price.

Street deal totals differ from list tags. Online retailers run seasonal coupons worth $100 (≈6.7 hours of continuous work at a $15/hour job)–$250 (≈2.1 days working for this purchase at $15/hour) off shipping, while brick outlets fold delivery into the tag. Buyers must watch for local soil-dump fees that add $60 (≈4 hours to sacrifice at work earning $15/hour)–$120 (≈1 day working for this purchase at $15/hour). Up-front spend shapes the whole project: a larger surface demands wider concrete footings and pushes excavation bills higher. That early choice fixes most of the future budget.

Springfree Trampoline states that the cost of an inground trampoline can range from $1,500-$5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour) or more. They also mention that installation can add significant costs, with excavation costing between $400-$1,500 (≈2.5 weeks of non-stop employment at $15/hour) and retaining walls around $2,000 (≈3.3 weeks trading your time for $15/hour), making installation potentially up to $3,500 (≈1.3 months trading your time for $15/hour) or more.

Springfree Trampoline notes that inground trampolines typically cost between $1,000-$5,000+ (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour), highlighting that inground trampolines are generally more expensive than above ground options.

Checkatrade provides UK-based prices, indicating that a sunken trampoline costs between £500 and £1,100, with installation costs ranging from £150 to £3,000. The total cost varies depending on size, shape, and installation complexity.

In-ground Trampolines offers a specific product, a 12' Round Pro-Line trampoline, priced at $2,295 (≈3.8 weeks working without a break on a $15/hour salary) on sale from $2,870 (≈1.1 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary).

Boston Landscape Co. explains that the total cost to install an inground trampoline generally ranges between $1,500 and $5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour), including excavation, retaining walls, and drainage systems.

Real-Life Cost Examples

Family A bought a 12 ft kit at $1,299 (≈2.2 weeks of non-stop employment at $15/hour), borrowed a mini-excavator for $200, and spent a weekend on DIY install. Landscape fabric, gravel, and drainage pipe added $145. Their full cost stopped at $1,644—well under the regional average because no labor line appeared.

Family B hired a licensed crew. The same 12 ft unit carried a higher-end pad and net at $1,899. Contractor excavation and soil removal ran $1,050, while concrete edging and sump-pump drainage hit $460. Final invoice: $3,409. Dad later paid $85 for a pad-clip pack after one snapped (we typed “snpped” before correcting to “snapped”).

A three-year owner tracked maintenance cost. She budgeted $40 per year for pad cleaner, $60 for an annual bolt-torque service, and replaced a torn jumping surface in year three at $180. Her long-run expenses sit at $380, lifting lifetime cost on the initial $2,200 project to $2,580.

Cost Breakdown 

The table shows how add-ons stack. Skipping the concrete collar drops around $250–$400; avoiding a net shaves another $120–$350 yet sacrifices fall protection. Buyers gain ground by matching frame gauge to user weight rather than chasing every marketed extra.

Factors Influencing the Cost

We found materials drive large swings. Powder-coated steel and heavy-duty wall thickness raise quality and push kit cost beyond the $2,000 mark. Springfree’s glass-fibre rods replace coils; that design lifts raw part spend yet lowers seasonal maintenance.

Site conditions rank next. Clay soil holds water, demanding deeper French drains. Rocky ground blunts excavator teeth (give or take a few dollars for extra fuel). Sloped yards need retaining walls that increase install price by $300–$700.

Brand and warranty add hidden numbers. Springfree offers a 10-year frame cover that lets dealers charge $300 above similar-sized Skywalker units with a three-year promise. Demand also shifts tags: early-summer rush pushes installer hourly rates up to $95, while winter slots drop to $70.

Local codes may require a 10 ft clear zone or buried utilities survey—add $75 for a site locate call and plan-review filing.

You might also like our articles about the cost of bounce house rental, in ground hot tubs or in ground pools.

Alternative Products or Services

Above-ground trampolines stay the low-cost leader at $200–$4,000, yet parents often add net kits that match half the trampoline price. Springless standards land at $800–$4,000, trading coils for composite rods to reduce pinch risk. Indoor rebounders cost as little as $30, though their 40 in frame cannot mimic backyard fun.

Families valuing safe aesthetics but lacking excavation budget choose surface-level units skirted by wood decking—a hybrid path that reaches $1,500–$2,500. Rental firms test short-term leases at $160 per month, suitable for parties though expensive across a year. Modular playsets bundle small bouncers; these average $3,200, outpricing many 12 ft buried kits while bringing slides and climbing walls.

Ways to Spend Less

We found the best deal window lands in late autumn when inventory clears and soil remains workable. Dealers cut $200 from kit price and waive shipping. Group orders with neighbours slash freight by sharing one flatbed drop.

Certified pre-owned shells sell online for 40 % below new tags, yet buyers must budget new pads and springs—add $200 on average. DIY install saves roughly $800–$1,200 in labor. Renting a mini-excavator for $220 and purchasing gravel locally keeps totals tight.

Holiday coupons from Vuly and JumpSport stack with manufacturer rebates to remove $150 at checkout. Thrifty owners stock spare spring packs during clearance season at $25 rather than $40 mid-summer.

Expert Insights & Tips

• Kersey Dubraw — Structural Engineer, JumpSafe Consulting: Rust-proof powder coat extends frame life by five years, offsetting an extra $180 on kit cost.
• Tatiana Waghorn — Owner, Triangle Trampoline Installers: Off-peak excavation lowers the labor price table by up to 20 %, so she schedules digs after school resumes.
• Raimo Petrescu — Supply-Chain Analyst, PlayYard Markets: Freight surcharges eased this year, trimming national shipping lines by $50 for most 14 ft pallets.
• Zinnia Köhler — Warranty Auditor, Backyard Safety Bureau: Claims data show pads fail first; choosing a pad with a five-year cover avoids a $180 replacement in year three.

When we tested a mid-range Skywalker set, our drainage trench held after a week-long rain, confirming Dubraw’s slope math.

Answers to Common Questions

Is an in-ground trampoline safer than an above-ground unit? Yes. Reduced fall height lowers impact, and edge guards sit flush with the surface.

How long does professional installation take? Most crews finish in two days—one for excavation, one for frame assembly and backfill.

What annual maintenance tasks are required? Owners inspect springs, tighten bolts, clear drains, and clean pads; average spend sits near $60 per year.

Can I relocate the trampoline later? Moving is possible but pricey; soil fill and new excavation push the cost close to initial labor.

Will local permits affect my budget? Some counties classify large backyard structures as permanent; permit fees average $90 and add plan-review waits.