Can You Put a Trampoline on Concrete? (Is It Really Worth It?)

When I move to a new house, the first thing that I often look at is the backyard. Me, being a trampoline fanatic, always think about the size and design of the backyard and check whether it can support my 14 feet trampoline without any issue.

But not everyone has that luxury. Your house may not come with a backyard, and even if there is space out back, it might be paved with concrete. Does that mean you cannot experience the joy of owning and using a trampoline? Well, not necessarily.

The short answer is yes; there are ways to put a trampoline on concrete if you absolutely have to. But it also increases the risk and severity of trampoline-related accidents. Would I go for it? No, I guess not. But if you want to, it is my job to make sure you understand the risks fully before you proceed.

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And that is what brings me here today. I will cover everything that you should know about before you think about putting a trampoline on concrete.

Is It Safe to Have a Trampoline on Concrete?

A concrete surface is at the top of my list of places where you do NOT want to put a trampoline. Trampolines already get a bad rep because of the hundreds of injuries that are caused by them, and putting them on a concrete yard will simply increase the severity of the accidents.

If you ask me, the trampoline should only be placed on backyards with artificial grass or gardens with the softer ground. Putting a trampoline on decking or other hard surfaces like concrete is really not a wise idea.

Jumping on a trampoline is a fun activity, but even if there are safety nets around it, many kids and adults fall off the trampoline losing their balance.

If the trampoline is in a safe location, such as a grassy backyard, the chance of getting severely injured is much lower than what it would be if it were on concrete.

Besides, since the feet of the trampoline cannot dig into concrete, it can shift slightly after each jump.

Over time, the position of the trampoline will move quite a bit, or in the worst-case scenario, the trampoline might just topple over. Trust me, that is not something you want happening when you are jumping on top of it.

There are a lot of safety issues you need to know about if you are a trampoline user. But the most important thing to remember is to place it on a soft yet firm surface. Placing it in your backyard and using an artificial grass mat is the best way to go.

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So, if you are wondering whether it is safe to put on a trampoline, my answer would be a big “NO.” But if you are asking whether it can be done or not, the answer shifts to a definite “maybe.”

How To Level a Trampoline on Concrete?

If you are placing your trampoline on concrete and if it is slightly crooked, you are inviting a lot of trouble in your life. While a crooked grass yard can be a nuisance, there are ways you can fill the ground to counteract it.

With concrete, you cannot just buy more and level the entire block. Most people do not have the resources for that.

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So, your only other option is to level the trampoline and make it slanted the other way around so that it feels straight on the concrete. But that is not a good idea either, as it can be quite disorienting when you are jumping up and down on the trampoline.

However, I have seen people do crazy things to make the trampoline feel level on concrete.

For instance, some have used rubber feet on one side of the trampoline to make it feel less crooked when placed on a slanted concrete yard. While it may work, it is extremely risky.

My advice is to chuck the idea of leveling the trampoline on concrete to the trash where it belongs. If you have a crooked concrete yard, find some other use for it instead of placing a trampoline on it.

How To Weigh Down a Trampoline on Concrete

If you live in an area that is prone to a hurricane or strong gusts of wind, you might want to weigh down your trampoline. Otherwise, there is a good chance that your trampoline might get blown off during strong winds. Trampoline hooks are the best way to anchor it down, but those are best used when the trampoline is on grass.

Since you want to place your trampoline on concrete, there are a couple of things you can do. Firstly, you can use sandbags to hold down the trampoline and make the base more secure. The advantage of this method is not only will it protect the trampoline against the wind but also make the base stabler since it is on a hard surface.

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Another option is to use trampoline anchors. Similar to hooks, these work best on soil since you will be able to dig into the ground easily. If the ground is concrete and flat, it is still doable but takes a lot of extra effort. In fact, I would recommend hiring a professional for this type of project.

How Do You Anchor a Trampoline on Concrete?

The prospect of digging concrete and anchoring your trampoline to the ground is intimidating, and it should be.

I pride myself in being a do-it-yourself kind of guy, but even I will prefer not to take on this type of job on myself. Digging concrete is not as easy as digging dirt, and this task is better left to professionals.

I can still guide you through the process to some extent having tried it out for myself in the past.

Since there is no trampoline anchoring kit for concrete, you need a DIY solution. And my process, though a bit crude if I say so myself, works pretty well. But again, this is my personal solution, and you should take it with a grain of salt.

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You will need to use a power drill and drill bits that are strong enough to drill into the concrete without breaking. You also want to make sure you are wearing safety gear such as goggles, gloves, etc.

The idea is to create small pegs to attach some tethers to the concrete under the trampoline. I prefer installing small hooks on the ground where I can loop some straps around. For a 14 ft trampoline, about five to six hooks around it should suffice.

Once you have installed hooks on the ground, take a couple of long and sturdy straps and put one end through the loop of the hook. Then loop it through the frame of the trampoline and bring it back around the loop and tightly attach it to the hook. Do the same for the rest of the hooks on the ground around the trampoline.

With this method, if the wind suddenly picks up, your trampoline will be held down because of the straps attached to the hooks and will not get blown away.

What To Keep in Mind About Trampolines and Concrete?

Placing a trampoline on concrete can be done, but it comes with a lot of risks. I have given you plenty of warning, but if you still want to go ahead with your plan, I cannot stop you. But I can try to help you minimize accidents and injuries by giving you a couple of things to think about.

1. How the trampoline mat works

The mat of the trampoline is stretchy and contributes the most in allowing you to bounce higher. From the height of your jump, when you reach the mat, it sinks lower than the frame of the trampoline. This means you will be closer to whatever there is under the trampoline.

If you have your trampoline set up on the concrete, you need to be careful that the mat does not sink too far. After a certain point, there will be solid concrete under the trampoline. And if the person jumping on the trampoline manages to sink the trampoline mat to that point, it can lead to some pretty serious injuries.

2. Falling off the trampoline is a thing

Most of the trampoline injuries that I hear about involve people falling off the trampoline. Even if you have jumped on a trampoline before, and if there are safety nets around it, there is always a risk of someone falling off while jumping up and down on it.

If the trampoline is in a yard and there is grass underneath, you will have a soft landing. However, when the trampoline is on concrete, this can have dire consequences. Falling off the trampoline while jumping means you have a lot of momentum, and if you fall on concrete, the injury can be devastating.

3. Concrete cannot hold your trampoline down

Concrete is not as soft and flexible as grass or dirt. When your trampoline is on dirt, and you jump up and down on it, the legs sink deeper into the dirt. It gives your trampoline a natural anchor, and it typically does not move out of position when someone is using it.

However, concrete is much harder, and the trampoline legs cannot sink into it for support. Because of this, instead of becoming more secure, the trampoline shifts slightly in position each time you jump. Eventually, the position of the trampoline gets weird, which can cause accidents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to a couple of questions that I have seen people ask regarding trampoline placements.

Can you put a trampoline on a hard surface?

It depends on the type of surface you are talking about. For instance, a grassy backyard is a hard surface, but it is soft enough to break your fall if you fall off the trampoline. This makes it the ideal surface to place a trampoline.

Can you put a trampoline on paving stones/can you put a trampoline on the pavement?

Putting a trampoline on the pavement is not a wise idea. Pavements are made using concrete, and I have already discussed the risks of placing your trampoline on concrete above.

Can you put a trampoline on tiles?

Some people have tiled grounds in their backyard and can consider that as the ideal spot for their trampoline. But the issue is tiled floors can be slippery, and if you place a trampoline over it, there is a good chance that it will move out of position. You can, of course, use weights to hold it down, but I would suggest finding a better spot.

Can you put a trampoline on slabs?

No. Placing your trampoline on concrete slabs is a terrible idea. A slab implies that the ground is not stable, and you do not want to jump on an unstable surface.

The Bottom Line

I believe that your backyard is the only place where you should have your trampoline. But since not all houses have the luxury of having a full backyard big enough to support a trampoline, people need to come up with clever solutions if they want to get a new trampoline.

I understand your concern. But the truth is, putting it out on concrete pavement is really not the way to go. You can do it, but the risk that usually comes with such an undertaking is too big to overlook.

If you have a large front yard or garden, then I would suggest checking whether you can put that to use. Sure, there are some issues you might have to deal with, but it is still a better alternative to putting it on a concrete yard.

So, trampoline on concrete – high risk – not worth the reward – exercise safety before you think about taking this route. Good luck!