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Bounce & Bolt

Trampolines Comparison

In-Ground vs Above-Ground Trampoline: What Sinking It Actually Changes

An in-ground trampoline removes the drop to the ground and the ladder, and adds a pit edge, an excavation bill and a drainage problem. The on-mat injuries the AAP counts do not change. Two kits and two above-ground picks compared.

By Mike M.Updated How we rate
Round trampolines set flush into the ground beside wooden seats under trees
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Side by side

The picks on each side

Side by side

SpecZupapa 15 ft No-Gap TrampolineTrampolines Down Under Classic 14 ft In-Ground Trampoline System
EnclosureEnclosure net and jumping mat sewn together (no gap); 6 ft high netTop frame pre-drilled for the safety net system, sold separately
Weight limitMax weight capacity 425 lb (12, 14 and 15 ft models)Up to 600 lb weight limit; TDU recommends no more than one jumper at a time
CertificationTUV (Germany) and ASTM certifications stated for each trampolineNot published
Springs7-inch hot-dip galvanized springs on the 12/14/15/16 ft models104 springs, 8.5 in long, 1.25 in diameter, galvanized before forming, tapered ends
FrameHot-dip galvanized steel; steel poles up to 1.5 mm thick; W-shaped legsIn-ground specific double-ring full frame; 12-gauge 55,000 psi steel, galvanized inside and out, powder coated
PaddingNot publishedPatented vented safety pad, 20 oz vinyl and mesh; drains beneath the foam
AnchoringWind stakes includedNot published
IncludedNot published14 ft frame, 104 springs, 14 ft jumping mat, 14 ft vented pad, 14 ft retaining wall system
Warranty10 years frame; 2 years mat, pad, net and springs; lifetime on other accessories3 years on mat and pad; lifetime on the retaining wall system
Figures as published by each maker (or the named retailer); each value links to its source. "Not published" means the figure isn't in our cited sources.

What sinking it changes

Fall height. A jumper who leaves an above-ground mat without a net falls about 3 ft to the lawn (Jumpflex publishes 2.9 ft floor-to-mat; ACON 35.8-43 in). At lawn level that drop is gone, though the pit edge and the retaining wall are new things to land on. The ladder. CPSC says not to use a ladder because it gives small children unsupervised access; an in-ground trampoline needs none, which also means any child can walk onto it. Wind. A frame inside a retaining wall cannot lift, which is why the in-ground kits score high on anchoring without a single stake. Airflow. A mat over a sealed hole traps air; TDU and Capital Play use a patented vented pad and TDU says a trampoline without one is not meant to be in the ground.

What it does not change

The AAP's statement is that most injuries occur with multiple simultaneous users on the mat, and that cervical spine injuries come from falls off the trampoline or attempted somersaults. Lawn level removes one of those and none of the others. CPSC's guidance (one jumper, no somersaults, pads over springs, no child under 6, enclosures help) reads the same for both. The makers agree: TDU pre-drills for a net and BERG will not sell the Champion InGround without one. Buy the net either way. The hospital numbers behind this are on trampoline injury statistics.

The pit, the wall and the bill

The kit is the cheaper half. A 14 ft round needs a hole roughly the diameter of the frame, a retaining wall (TDU includes one with a lifetime warranty; BERG's dealer page does not mention one), drainage so the pit does not become a pond, and a level rim. Most owners hire the dig. We do not print prices, but the line items and who does what are on in-ground trampoline cost and installation. An above-ground frame's equivalent cost is a set of anchors (best trampoline anchors) and an hour with a mallet.

Choose in-ground if / choose above-ground if

  • Choose in-ground if you own the yard for the long term, can drain the pit, want it out of sight, and will buy the net anyway.
  • Choose above-ground if you rent, might move the trampoline, want a published per-jumper limit and named standard, or want the safety package (sewn net, curved poles, stakes) in one box.

The kits are ranked on best in-ground trampoline kits; the above-ground field is on best trampolines.

In detail

Every contender, in full

Stock photo: young child in overalls standing on a round backyard trampolineStock photo

Pick above-ground for the complete safety package

Zupapa 15 ft No-Gap Trampoline

8.5 / 10

Scored on the trampolines rubric

Sewn net, curved foam poles, stakes in the box, 10-year frame: everything the in-ground kits leave out, without a shovel.

Published specs (tap for source)

Enclosure:Enclosure net and jumping mat sewn together (no gap); 6 ft high netPoles:Outwardly curved net poles wrapped in 10 mm foam; long poles reach the groundWeight limit:Max weight capacity 425 lb (12, 14 and 15 ft models)Certification:TUV (Germany) and ASTM certifications stated for each trampolineFrame:Hot-dip galvanized steel; steel poles up to 1.5 mm thick; W-shaped legsSprings:7-inch hot-dip galvanized springs on the 12/14/15/16 ft modelsAnchoring:Wind stakes includedAssembly:Self-locking frame with no screws; tools included; video tutorialWarranty:10 years frame; 2 years mat, pad, net and springs; lifetime on other accessories
Enclosure & edge design (30%)
9
Anchoring provision (20%)
9
Rated capacity & structure (20%)
7
Certification & standards (15%)
9
Install reality (15%)
8

What it gets right

  • Net sewn to the mat, so there is no gap for a foot to slip between net and springs
  • Wind stakes are in the box, not a separate purchase
  • Both TUV and ASTM certification stated, with a 425 lb published capacity

What it doesn't

  • Zupapa publishes one 425 lb figure and does not separate a single-jumper limit from a structural limit
  • Spring pad thickness is not published on the product page
  • Frame height and net-to-ground clearance are not published on the listing

Skip it if…

…you want a separately published single-jumper limit; Zupapa gives one headline capacity only.

Check price on Amazon

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Stock photo: young child in overalls standing on a round backyard trampolineStock photo

Pick above-ground for the printed limit

Jumpflex HERO 14 ft Trampoline

8.3 / 10

Scored on the trampolines rubric

350 lb per jumper and every dimension published; add the anchor kit.

Published specs (tap for source)

Weight limit:Max individual user weight 350 lb; total weight rating 550 lbEnclosure:360-degree net clips down to the jumping mat all the way around (SafeSeal); self-closing entrance; 6 ft net heightPoles:Patented poles curve away from the trampolineCertification:Built to ASTM and CE safety certification standardsSprings:88 springs, 7.1 in longFrame:Dual-ring frame; 1.7 in frame tube; galvanized inside and out with UV-resistant black powder coat; zero bolts, no weldsSize:15.1 ft overall diameter; 12.1 ft jumping mat; 2.9 ft floor to mat; 8.9 ft total heightClearance:Allow 15.1 ft plus 3.3 ft of clear space all aroundWarranty:10-year frame warranty (USA)
Enclosure & edge design (30%)
9
Anchoring provision (20%)
6
Rated capacity & structure (20%)
10
Certification & standards (15%)
8
Install reality (15%)
8

What it gets right

  • Separate single-jumper (350 lb) and total (550 lb) ratings published
  • Net clips to the mat around the full circle; poles curve outward
  • Every dimension a yard plan needs is published, including required clearance

What it doesn't

  • Anchor kit is a separate accessory, not in the box
  • Net height is 6 ft, at the lower end of this group
  • Warranty beyond the frame is not itemized on the product page

Skip it if…

…you want wind stakes included; Jumpflex sells the ANCHORKIT separately.

Check price on Amazon

#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to Jumpflex HERO 14 ft Trampoline

Stock photo: round trampolines set flush into the ground beside wooden seats under treesStock photo

Pick in-ground for a complete kit with the wall

Trampolines Down Under Classic 14 ft In-Ground Trampoline System

6.3 / 10

Scored on the trampolines rubric

12-gauge double-ring frame, 104 springs, vented pad and retaining wall included; net optional.

Published specs (tap for source)

Included:14 ft frame, 104 springs, 14 ft jumping mat, 14 ft vented pad, 14 ft retaining wall systemSprings:104 springs, 8.5 in long, 1.25 in diameter, galvanized before forming, tapered endsFrame:In-ground specific double-ring full frame; 12-gauge 55,000 psi steel, galvanized inside and out, powder coatedWeight limit:Up to 600 lb weight limit; TDU recommends no more than one jumper at a timePadding:Patented vented safety pad, 20 oz vinyl and mesh; drains beneath the foamEnclosure:Top frame pre-drilled for the safety net system, sold separatelyWarranty:3 years on mat and pad; lifetime on the retaining wall system
Enclosure & edge design (30%)
6
Anchoring provision (20%)
8
Rated capacity & structure (20%)
6
Certification & standards (15%)
4
Install reality (15%)
7

What it gets right

  • Retaining wall is in the kit, which most in-ground listings omit
  • Frame gauge, spring size and count all published
  • Vented pad designed for the airflow an in-ground pit needs

What it doesn't

  • Safety net is an extra
  • 600 lb is a structural figure; no single-jumper limit
  • Requires excavation, drainage planning and, usually, a professional dig

Skip it if…

…you assumed in-ground means no net; TDU pre-drills for one and CPSC still recommends enclosures.

Check price on Amazon

#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to Trampolines Down Under Classic 14 ft In-Ground Trampoline System

Stock photo: round trampolines set flush into the ground beside wooden seats under treesStock photo

Pick in-ground with the net included

BERG Champion 14 ft Round In-Ground Trampoline with Safety Enclosure

6.1 / 10

Scored on the trampolines rubric

The only kit here that ships its enclosure; 10-year warranty plus 3 on registration.

Published specs (tap for source)

Enclosure:Safety net enclosure included; not available without enclosureDesign:TwinSpring Gold springs placed at an angle; Airflow jump mat; thick PVC protective edgeWarranty:10-year limited warranty, plus 3 additional years when the InGround trampoline is registered with BERGInstall:Patented frame described as easy to assemble and install; sunk into the ground
Enclosure & edge design (30%)
8
Anchoring provision (20%)
8
Rated capacity & structure (20%)
3
Certification & standards (15%)
3
Install reality (15%)
7

What it gets right

  • Net is standard, not an add-on
  • Longest warranty of the in-ground kits
  • Angled springs keep the full mat area

What it doesn't

  • Weight limit not published on the dealer page
  • Retaining wall is not described as included
  • Sold mainly through dealers; Amazon stock varies

Skip it if…

…your budget stops at the trampoline; the pit, drainage and any retaining wall are on top.

Check price on Amazon

#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to BERG Champion 14 ft Round In-Ground Trampoline with Safety Enclosure

How we picked

Scored on paper, and we say so

Most review sites say they tested everything. We didn't test these, and we say so. Every pick is scored from the maker's published specs, manual and warranty terms on a safety rubric we publish (net and edge design, anchoring, rated capacity, standards, install reality), and the sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Scores are editorial judgments from that published information, not field or lab results. Nobody pays for placement, and an unpublished spec is never guessed upward. See every rubric and weight.

Trampolines rubric

Enclosure & edge design
30%
Anchoring provision
20%
Rated capacity & structure
20%
Certification & standards
15%
Install reality
15%

FAQ

Questions parents ask

Are in-ground trampolines safer than above ground?
They remove the drop to the ground and the ladder and cannot blow away. They do not address on-mat collisions or flips, and they add a pit edge. With a net, both can be used to CPSC's rules.
Do you need a net on an in-ground trampoline?
The makers here think so: TDU pre-drills for one, BERG includes one. CPSC's guidance that enclosures help prevent falls does not change with the mat height.
Can you put an above-ground trampoline in the ground?
TDU's position is that a trampoline without a vented pad is not meant to be in the ground. In-ground kits also use short-leg frames designed for a retaining wall.
How deep is an in-ground trampoline pit?
Deep enough that the mat sits at lawn level with clearance beneath for the bounce; the kit maker's instructions give the figure for each frame. See in-ground installation.

Related

Keep reading

Update log

What changed

  • First published.

Receipts

Sources

  1. 1.CPSC Publication 085, Trampoline Safety (PDF; fetched Sep 22, 2026)
  2. 2.PubMed abstract (PMID 23008455) of the AAP trampoline policy statement (retrieved Sep 22, 2026)
  3. 3.Trampolines Down Under: The Classic 14' In-Ground Trampoline System (checked Sep 22, 2026)
  4. 4.In-Ground Trampolines (BERG dealer): BERG Champion 14' Round In-ground (checked Sep 22, 2026)
  5. 5.Zupapa: 1500LBS No-Gap Design Trampoline product page (checked Sep 22, 2026)
  6. 6.Jumpflex USA: HERO 14ft Trampoline specs (checked Sep 22, 2026)

We don't lab-test trampolines, swing sets or their parts, and we don't pretend to. Capacities, materials, anchoring provisions and warranty terms come from the maker's own listings and manuals (or a named retailer's listing where the maker doesn't publish them). Safety guidance is linked to CPSC, the AAP, ASTM or the study it came from. Prices are set by Amazon and change often, so we don't print them. Where a figure isn't published, we say so. Read the full method.