Trampoline Park vs. Backyard Trampolines (Pros and Cons)

Trampoline parks are a prime party-hosting place, with activities, refreshments and plenty of space to jump. 

Backyard trampolines provide a private and permanent place for your family and friends to experience the joy of jumping whenever the urge kicks in.  

Both trampoline parks and backyard trampolines meet the needs of those who wish to jump but offer two very different experiences. Because they each cost money, it’s important to know which one would be worth it for you before deciding.  

As a springless trampoline innovator and manufacturer, we have the proven experience and expertise to offer you the insight you need to make a final decision on whether you will be attending the trampoline park or buying your own backyard trampoline.  

To do this, we will last out an equal number of pros and cons for trampoline parks and backyard trampolines. After analyzing the pros and cons, we will provide a long-term cost assessment so you can compare the costs of trampolines parks and backyard trampolines. 

4 Pros of Trampoline Parks 

Let’s start with the main pros of going to the trampoline park: 

1. Smaller Upfront Cost 

Arguably the most tangible pro to trampoline parks is the short-term cost will usually be less than purchasing an outdoor trampoline. 

This depends on the type of outdoor trampoline you’re talking about: Some outdoor trampolines cost under $200, but a good or premium quality one can cost $500-$5,000. 

A one-time visit to the trampoline park is cheaper. For instance, at SkyZone—which has 200+ locations—has general admission prices as low as $16 per ticket but can go as high as $40+ depending on the location and the type of experience you buy (Standard Pass, All Day, Glow Night, etc.) 

Yearly trampoline park memberships are a different story. We will go over an in-depth cost assessment later, but at the Sky Zone in Toronto, ON, a membership costs $28.99/month for the “Basic” Package and $32.99/month for the “Elite” package.  

This can cost more depending on the location: In Whitby, ON, for example, the “Basic” Package is $26.99/month and the “Elite” Package is $30.99/month. More to come on cost later!  

SkyZone Trampoline Park, courtesy of SkyZone. 

 

2. Can Host Parties/Events 

The next pro to trampoline parks is they’re a great place to host birthday parties or group events. 

Trampoline parks will typically have birthday packages you can choose from. At SkyZone, they have three different Birthday Party Packages you can choose from for both their “Freestyle” and “Glow” Party Packages. See the picture below for an example:  

3. Available Activities 

With trampoline parks, you also get access to more activities and attractions than you would with an outdoor trampoline. 

A few examples at SkyZone include: 

• SkySlam 

• Ultimate Dodgeball 

• Foam Zone 

• SkyHoops  

• Ninja Warrior Course 

• SkyJoust   

4. Food and Drinks 

Trampoline parks will also typically have food and drinks available for purchase. At SkyZone, they have pizza, nachos, hot dogs, chips, fountain drinks, etc.  

4 Cons of Trampoline Parks 

Let’s flip it over and go through some of the main cons of trampoline parks: 

1. Crowded  

One of the major cons to trampoline parks is they can get crowded, especially on the weekends.  

On crowded days, you may have to wait to participate in certain activities. If you pay for a certain time period to jump, waiting can take up some of the jump time that you paid for.   

During busy times, trampoline parks may also have limited availability—meaning if you don’t book your tickets far enough in advance, they may run out on the day you were planning to go.  

Photo courtesy of Swiss Family Fun. 

2. Safety/Germs 

There are some major safety concerns at trampoline parks, mainly due to multiple kids jumping/running at the same time. This can lead to violent collisions, resulting in injury: The most common type of trampoline injuries happens with multiple people jumping at the same time (75% of injuries). 

There’s always the possibility, too, of landing awkwardly and suffering a strain, sprain or fracture.  

With potentially hundreds of people jumping in a day, germs can be easily spread, which can lead to getting sick. The mats/activities areas can also get dirty quickly. 

Unlike on backyard trampolines, parents must be hypervigilant with dozens of other kids running around. 

3. Commute Is Required 

A logistical con to trampoline parks is you must pack up the kids and drive to the location.  

Depending on how close you live to a trampoline park, this can either be a virtually non-existent issue or a major headache if you don’t live close by.  

4. Costs Can Add Up  

While trampoline parks have a smaller up-front cost, there are extraneous costs that can add up quickly. 

These include paying for exclusive activities, food and drinks, socks, gas to get there, etc. We will delve into specific numbers in the “Cost Assessment” Section!  

4 Pros of Backyard Trampolines 

So far, we’ve covered the pros and cons of trampoline parks. Now, let’s dive into the world of backyard trampolines, starting with the pros: 

1. Convenient and Accessible 

A major pro to having a backyard trampoline is… it’s in your backyard! This means it’s always accessible at your house to be used whenever you feel like jumping.  

There are also activities, like night jumping or trampoline sleepovers, that you might not be able to do at a trampoline park. You also don’t have to commute or pack up the kids to go anywhere.  

A backyard trampoline, courtesy of Springfree Trampoline.  

2. Private/Outdoors 

Another pro to backyard trampolines is they are private, and you don’t have to deal with other people running around as you would in a trampoline park. 

Backyard trampolines are also outdoors and promote outside play for children. In a world filled with screens and technology, trampolines serve as a fun way for kids and adults to get outside and active.  

3. Permanent Structure  

Another advantage to backyard trampolines is they are a permanent backyard structure to be used throughout your children’s childhood (make sure to buy the right trampoline size first!) 

In that way, backyard trampolines are investments, whereas trampoline parks are temporary excursions.   

4. Long-Term Cost Savings 

The last pro we will discuss is that buying an outdoor trampoline can yield cost savings in the long run. 

This point will be expanded on later on, but frequent trips to the trampoline park—or investments in monthly memberships—can add up to be more than you paid upfront for a backyard trampoline. 

4 Cons of Backyard Trampolines 

Let’s now go over the cons of backyard trampolines: 

1. Higher Short-Term Cost 

While backyard trampolines can provide long-term cost savings, the upfront price for a quality backyard trampoline can be significant.  

Financing is offered for some trampolines to help offset some of the cost. But if you pay full price for a trampoline, it can be a considerable expense if you buy a premium trampoline.  

There are also less expensive backyard trampolines, some of which are under $200. But these come with a litany of problems and may not last for longer than 1-3 years.   

2. Must Have the Space  

In addition to having the budget for a backyard trampoline, you also must be able to safely accommodate the trampoline’s size into your yard. 

If you don’t have enough space for the trampoline, it could lead to potential safety concerns from external surroundings—like trees, sheds, etc. 

Springfree Trampolines’ recommendation for trampoline clearance space: 

3. Safety Concerns 

Just like trampoline parks, trampolines come with safety concerns—especially cheaper trampolines made from inexpensive materials.  

Falling injuries, collisions, landing on the metal springs or frame or suffering a sprain/fracture are all possible on backyard trampolines. 

However, trampoline injuries can largely be prevented if you buy a safer trampoline and follow basic trampoline rules.   

4. Must Install and Maintain the Trampoline 

A final con to backyard trampolines is you must install the trampoline at your house. Some companies (like ours at Springfree Trampoline) offer professional trampoline installation, but you may have to assemble the trampoline yourself if buying another brand.  

You also must take some time to maintain the trampoline to ensure its longevity. This could mean periodically cleaning your trampoline with soap and water or having to replace certain parts of the trampoline—like the net, springs and padding.  

Trampoline Park vs. Backyard Trampoline (Cost Assessment) 

Cost is a big factor when purchasing a trampoline, so it’s helpful to see the price differences between a trampoline park and a backyard trampoline over time.  

We’re going to use the SkyZone location in Toronto, ON, and our Springfree Trampolines for this example: 

SkyZone Trampoline Park vs. Springfree Trampoline 

To illustrate long-term pricing, we’re going to use what a SkyZone membership would cost over five and 10 years vs. what a Springfree Trampoline would cost to buy and maintain for the same amount of time. 

A SkyZone Basic Membership ($28.99) in Toronto, ON, for five years would equal $1,739.40. But that doesn’t include the extra expenses like socks, food & drinks, special activities (like glow-in-the-dark jumping) and the gas money to get there.  

Let’s say you spent an average of $20 going to the trampoline park once a month for five years. That would add up to $1,200. Add the membership + extra expenses for SkyZone = $2,939.40. 

SkyZone Trampoline Park in Toronto, ON, courtesy of TripAdvisor: 

You could buy a Springfree Large Square Trampoline, which is considered the safest and highest quality Trampoline, for $2,299 and add a Trampoline Basketball Hoop for $249 and still be under the price it would cost for the trampoline park over five years. The price would be $2,548 for a Large Square Trampoline and Basketball Hoop. 

The Springfree Large Square Trampoline: 

Because Springfree Trampolines are premium made, you likely won’t have to replace many, if any, trampoline parts within those five years. If you do, the cost would likely be minimal or covered under a 10-year warranty. Springfree’s 10-Year Warranty covers all parts of the trampoline for manufacturer defects.  

The other element to this is Springfree Trampolines are built to last for 10+ years under reasonable use. When you add up the cost of a trampoline park for 10 years vs. a Springfree Trampoline, the numbers are even more staggering.  

So, when you put it all together, the costs look like this over a five years: 

5-Year SkyZone Trampoline Park Cost

***Membership + Expenses = $2,939.40 

5-Year Springfree Large Square Trampoline Cost

***Trampoline Price + Accessory = $2,548  

Here’s what it would look it over 10 years: 

10-Year SkyZone Trampoline Park Cost 

(Using the same $28.99 membership and an average of $20 in extra expenses going at a cadence of once per month).  

***Membership + Expenses = $5,878.80

10-Year Springfree Large Square Trampoline Cost

(We’ll allocate $600 for extra accessories/replacement parts not covered under warranty for 10 years. In this example, you bought the Trampoline and Basketball Hoop for $2,548). 

***Trampoline Price + Accessories + Replacement Parts = $3,148 

The numbers above are educated estimates: Prices will vary at trampoline parks depending on spending hours, the location of the park, the number of members, faculties and games/special activities you partake in.  

The cost of a backyard trampoline will depend on the type of trampoline, quality, design size and extra accessories you want to add.  

Both trampoline parks and backyard trampolines run promotions, too, so you might be able to get a better price at certain times of the year. 

Should You Go to a Trampoline Park or Buy a Backyard Trampoline? 

After seeing the main pros and cons of trampoline parks and backyard trampolines, and analyzing a realistic cost assessment between the two, you should be set up to decide how you want to meet your jumping ambitions. 

Here is our expertise on which one to go with: 

• Jumpers that want a short-term jumping experience with more activities to do should consider attending the trampoline park.  

• Jumpers that want a long-term jumping experience that is convenient, accessible, private and safer should consider going with a backyard trampoline. 

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how you want to jump. At Springfree Trampoline, we believe in the power of trampolines to inspire joyful moments—whether it’s at the trampoline park or at home on your backyard trampoline.  

If you’re curious about purchasing a trampoline, check out our article on what to look for when buying a trampoline to help set your goals as you research which trampoline is right for your family.