Technically, you can put a normal trampoline into the ground, but I must warn you that this is generally a bad idea. While it may seem like a cost-saving strategy for budget-conscious homeowners, burying a standard frame is unsafe, immediately voids your manufacturer’s warranty, and results in poor jumping performance due to a lack of necessary airflow. Standard trampolines are not engineered to resist soil moisture or hold back earth, which often leads to rapid corrosion and dangerous pit collapse. For these reasons, it is much better and safer to purchase a purpose-built in-ground trampoline kit designed with integrated retaining walls and proper ventilation systems.

Hidden Danger Of Burying Standard Frame

Ordinary ground trampolines are designed to be placed on flat, level ground. Its leg structure has been engineered to withstand vertical downward gravity, but they are not designed to withstand lateral pressure-that is, the force of soil squeezing from all directions.

When you bury a standard frame in the ground, you lose the structural support needed to hold the earth back. Over time, rainwater infiltration and land subsidence will exert huge lateral pressure on those thin steel legs. This pressure often causes the potholes to collapse inward-what we call “pit Collapse. If this happens when someone is jumping on it, the consequences will be disastrous and serious injuries will easily occur. This shows the difference: unlike special kits, ordinary trampolines do not have their own retaining walls to prevent this danger.

Why Soil Moisture Causes Rapid Corrosion

Another reason why it is not recommended to bury ordinary trampolines directly is the material composition. Although most outdoor trampolines are galvanized, they are not designed for long-term contact with wet soil.

Moisture retention: Once buried in the ground, the metal legs are continuously exposed to wet soil. This completely loses the natural “breathing space” and dry environment of the ground installation.
Accelerated rust: The protective coating on a standard trampoline will degrade very quickly underground. This leads to rapid corrosion of the frame and joints, which directly destroys the safe load-bearing capacity of the trampoline.

Bounce Experience Greatly Reduced

A lot of people in the ordinary trampoline buried, often overlooked one of the most critical details: airflow. For a trampoline to play well, the air under the mat must be able to vent quickly when the jumper falls.

Ground installation: Air can easily escape from the side.
Buried in the ground (ordinary trampoline): If you bury a standard trampoline without modification, the air will be trapped in the pit. This will form an “air cushion” under the mat, resisting the downward force of the jumper, causing the rebound to become very “dead”, and the jump will feel hard and even shake the foot.
The solution is: the dedicated buried trampoline uses a protective pad with ventilation holes or a special jumping pad to allow air to pass through, thereby ensuring a high-quality bouncing experience. The ordinary trampoline does not have the design of these ventilation systems.

Warranty Lapses And Security Risks

The owner must understand that once you modify the product outside of its intended use, the manufacturer’s warranty is immediately voided. If you take a standard trampoline and bury it, the manufacturer is not responsible for frame breakage, surface tearing or rust problems.

What’s more, because you didn’t follow the instructions, you’re actually taking a huge security risk on your own. If the frame is bent and deformed due to soil pressure or rust, the responsibility for any accident caused by this lies with the owner himself.

Choose In-Ground Trampoline Kit

Although the answer to the question “can you bury an ordinary trampoline” is technically positive, the risks far outweigh the rewards. The only safe way is to invest in a specially designed in-ground trampoline kit. These kits solve every pain point caused by burying ordinary trampoline:

• Integrated retaining walls: They contain sturdy panels specifically designed to hold back earth and prevent pit walls from collapsing.
• Proper ventilation: They are equipped with an engineered ventilation system (usually exhausted through safety mats) to ensure high and sensitive bounce.
• Corrosion resistance: The frame is specially treated or designed to avoid direct contact with the soil and can adapt to the underground environment.

Author：Jay

Hi, I’m a professional trampoline installation specialist with over a decade of experience transforming backyards. Having installed hundreds of systems, I’ve seen firsthand why standard frames fail underground. I hope to help you avoid dangerous DIY mistakes and choose the right equipment for a safe, lasting bounce.