Want the occasional useful email?
New calculators, updated cost data, and the occasional money-saving guide. No account needed, and you can leave any time.
By Alex Diaz · How we calculate this
An in-ground trampoline can run two to three times what a comparable above-ground model costs, mostly because putting one below grade means digging a pit, lining it, and building in drainage before the frame ever goes down. The pitch is that there's no fall height off the edge, but pediatric safety guidance still calls for a net or padding around the rim whether the trampoline sits in a hole or up on legs.
These key factors affect in-ground trampoline affordability
Excavation cost
Digging a pit deep and wide enough for the frame is what sets an in-ground install apart from just buying a trampoline and setting it on the lawn. Expect $1,500 to $4,000 depending on soil type and whether a crew brings in a machine or does it by hand. Rocky or heavy clay soil tends to land at the top of that range.
Drainage system
A hole in the ground collects water unless someone plans for it. A proper install lines the pit and adds a French drain or gravel bed underneath so rain doesn't pool beneath the mat and rot the frame. Skipping that step is one of the easiest corners to cut for a lower quote, and one of the more expensive ones to fix after the fact.
Trampoline quality and durability
Springs, mat, and padding together run from around $500 for a basic setup to $2,000 or more for heavy-duty gear built to survive years of ground-level moisture. Sitting flush with the lawn removes the risk of falling off the edge, which is the main safety argument for going in-ground, but it doesn't remove the risk of a bad landing on the mat itself - that's still down to a net or perimeter padding.
How to use your results
- Get a firm quote for excavation before committing to a total budget, since soil conditions can swing that portion of the cost substantially.
- Ask specifically about the drainage system included in the price, since skipping proper drainage is a common way installers cut costs but leads to bigger repairs later.
- Compare the total against an above-ground trampoline with a safety enclosure, which delivers similar bounce for a fraction of the price if budget is tight.
Ways to make an in-ground trampoline more affordable
- Get multiple excavation quotes, since digging costs vary widely based on soil type and whether it's done by hand or with equipment.
- Choose a mid-size trampoline instead of the largest available, which reduces both the hole size and the trampoline cost together.
- Do some of the site prep yourself, like marking the area and clearing sod, to reduce the labor portion of the excavation quote.
- Consider an above-ground model with in-ground styling skirting as a lower-cost alternative that still hides the frame.
More home improvement calculators
Peer comparison data
Bureau of Labor Statistics (median income by age), Experian (credit score by age)
Used by the “how you compare” figures in the sidebar, not by the costs on this page.
Every figure on this site, with its source and the date it was last verified
How you compare
Income
Credit score
Nothing added yet - add something to see your risk.