One of the best toys you can buy kids to encourage them to play outside is a trampoline.
There’s something ridiculously fun about jumping high up in the air and attempting to perform tricks.
There’s also no shortage of games that you can play on a trampoline.
If you’ve been considering buying a trampoline for your kids, then you may have noticed that they’re quite expensive.
You may wonder what it is about trampolines that make them so expensive.
Why Are Trampolines So Expensive? (10 Reasons)
The average price of a trampoline is around $400.
However, there are also trampolines that sell for $1,000 and more.
Certain factors like the trampoline’s size, shape, and materials it’s made of can quickly make it quite expensive.
Let’s look at these factors in more detail.
1. Size Of The Trampoline
One of the biggest factors that can make a trampoline quite expensive is its size.
Trampolines come in all different sizes.
There are small trampolines that can easily fit inside a playroom.
There are medium-sized trampolines that can maybe fit in a large room but tend to do better outside.
Then there are large trampolines that can easily take up a good portion of the yard.
There are also gymnastic-sized trampolines that gymnasts use to practice on.
Most homeowners typically buy a medium-sized or large-sized trampoline.
Small trampolines are great for toddlers and are generally more affordable.
Larger trampolines are better for older children and teenagers.
The problem with larger trampolines is that they cost more money.
The primary reason they’re more expensive is that they require more materials to produce.
The larger something is, the more materials are needed to make it.
Since production costs are higher on larger trampolines, the price is also going to be higher.
Trampolines are expensive when they’re large.
2. Safety Net
One of the extra features that some parents will buy for their trampolines is a safety net.
The safety net connects to the springs or certain joints on the trampoline.
Depending on the net that you buy, the supports either use foam or metal bars.
Foam tends to be a safer option for children.
When they’re bouncing all over, there’s a good chance that they’re going to run into one of the supports.
Foam supports ensure that when a jumper runs into one, they just bounce off unharmed.
Metal supports, on the other hand, provide more structure.
There’s less chance of the net collapsing in on itself.
However, they’re a bit more dangerous.
If a child bounces into a metal support, then it isn’t going to feel great.
Metal supports also hold up better than foam supports in the rain or other weather conditions.
Foam can become moldy as it absorbs the water.
It might sag and cause the net to fall.
Metal supports won’t absorb water and will remain in place provided they don’t become rusty.
Some supports mix the two materials.
They’ll use a metal support and cover it with foam.
Since this support is the best of both worlds, it tends to be the most expensive.
Nets on trampolines make them more expensive because you’re adding another part to them.
You’re buying more materials and more of a product.
Trampolines are expensive because some of them use safety nets which increases production costs.
3. Springs
The type of springs that the trampoline uses can also determine its price.
There are three main classes of trampoline springs.
These include:
- Steel springs
- Bungee rope springs
- Fiber rod springs
Steel springs are the type of springs most associated with recreational trampolines.
However, you can also find them in gymnastic trampolines.
Springs are responsible for creating the bounce after you jump on a trampoline.
They also stretch the mat.
The more you use a trampoline, the more wear and tear you put on the springs.
As such, it’s always a good idea to invest in a good trampoline that uses high-quality springs.
The quality of the spring is determined by the type of steel used and its size.
Some steel springs, for example, receive a chromium coat.
This helps them withstand certain weather conditions.
If you live in an area that sees a lot of rain or snow, then it might be worth investing in a chromium-coated pack of springs.
The coat can help reduce any rust or other weather-related damage to your springs.
The size also matters.
The longer the spring is, the better bounce you’ll receive.
That’s why springs on gymnastic trampolines are typically 10 inches.
Springs can determine how expensive your trampoline becomes.
Trampolines are expensive because springs, and their size, can increase the production costs of a trampoline.
4. Frame
The frame is another important feature of the trampoline that also impacts its price.
The best trampoline frames use some form of steel.
Because the trampoline has to carry the weight and impact of everyone jumping on it, it needs a sturdy frame.
If the frame uses cheap materials, then there’s a chance that it will break.
Anyone on the trampoline could fall to the ground when it collapses.
Like springs, some frames also receive some sort of coat to protect them from the weather.
The last thing you want to see is a rusty frame.
The rust can eat through the frame and cause it to collapse.
The size of the trampoline also determines the size of the frame.
When the trampoline is large, then the frame also has to be large.
That means that the manufacturer is going to need to use more materials to make the frame.
Trampolines are expensive because the costs associated with building the frame can be quite high.
5. Weather Coatings
Most trampolines are outside.
Even small trampolines are sometimes best suited for outdoor use.
The last thing you want is for a child to bounce on a trampoline and go sailing into a wall or a bookshelf, after all.
As such, trampolines are subject to all types of weather.
They might be exposed to rain, snow, or even the sun’s harmful rays.
Since that can rapidly decrease the lifespan of your trampoline, some companies choose to add weather coatings to certain parts of the trampoline.
For example, some might coat the padding that covers the springs.
This ensures that the padding protects the springs over time.
Without it, the padding might deteriorate and expose the springs to the elements.
Springs and the frame are also usually given weather coatings.
It helps them last longer which means your family can enjoy your trampoline for a few more years.
Of course, weather coatings don’t always come cheap.
Since it’s more of a convenience for consumers, manufacturers will charge a bit more for it.
Trampolines are expensive because some manufacturers put weather coatings on them to make them last longer.
6. Shape Of Trampoline
The shape of the trampoline can also impact its price.
One of the reasons most trampolines are circular or oval-shaped is that it’s cheaper for manufacturers.
A circle shape allows them to save on some materials.
As such, circular trampolines tend to be a bit cheaper.
The more expensive trampoline shapes are rectangles or squares.
These shapes don’t allow the manufacturers to save money.
They have to ensure that the corners of the trampoline all have the necessary support.
Otherwise, a corner can sag or even break and cause a person to fall.
A circular trampoline can disperse the tension all along the diameter.
With a rectangular-shaped trampoline, more of the stress occurs in the corners.
Since the manufacturers have to spend more money to give those corners support, they have to increase the price of the trampoline to offset those costs.
Trampolines are expensive because their shape can determine how much a manufacturer needs to spend on their production.
7. Mat Material
Another important part of a trampoline is the mat.
You can’t have a trampoline without something to jump on.
The mat material is another determining factor between an expensive trampoline and a cheap one.
Most trampolines use polypropylene to make their mats.
Polypropylene is a relatively inexpensive material.
However, some trampoline manufacturers add a few more materials to their mats to make them last longer.
Some will add an extra layer of waterproofing, for example, to ensure it holds up well against water.
Others will add an extra coat of UV protection to keep it safe from the sun’s rays.
Others might interweave carbon into the polypropylene to make the mat last longer and have better bounce.
All these additional details can make your trampoline mat last longer and provide better bouncing.
However, they also come at higher costs.
More expensive trampoline mats use nylon.
Gymnastic trampolines, for example, tend to use nylon mats.
They’re a bit more porous which provides a better bounce.
The shape of your trampoline and its size also determines how much the manufacturer needs to spend to make the mat.
Larger trampolines, for example, are going to need bigger mats.
That means more materials and other potential add-ons are needed.
That can make your mat quite expensive.
Trampolines are expensive because their mats sometimes come with extra features that add to the price tag.
8. Padding Materials
The padding materials are an important, but often overlooked, part of a trampoline.
You can buy a trampoline without padding, and it’s usually a bit cheaper.
However, padding provides quite a few benefits.
For one, it protects the skin and hair of children who might bounce on the springs.
It’s possible for them to get pinched or get their hair caught in the springs when bouncing on them.
The padding covers the springs and keeps children from accessing them easily.
The padding also protects the springs from the weather.
There are different materials used for this padding.
Some are better suited for certain weather conditions than others.
The more expensive the padding material is, the longer it tends to hold up in the weather.
Trampolines are expensive because padding materials can add more cost to their production.
9. Ladders
Trampolines tend to be high up off the ground.
That’s because the mat needs plenty of space to sink before launching the jumpers back up in the air.
For some children, the trampoline might be too high to easily climb up on.
That’s why some manufacturers build a ladder that goes with the trampoline.
Some ladders might attach to the trampoline while others are freestanding.
Since it costs the company a bit more money to make those ladders, they usually ask for a higher price for these trampolines.
Trampolines are expensive because some come with a ladder.
10. Brand Name
Finally, trampolines are also expensive when it comes to certain brands.
Like with other products, brand names can carry a lot of weight.
Big-name brands have built a reputation for making quality products.
Consumers are more likely to buy from them since they know that they’re going to receive a quality product.
Without a brand name attached to a product, there’s a good chance that it’ll have a cheaper price.
Trampolines are expensive when they are manufactured by big-name brands.
Conclusion
Trampolines provide a lot of fun for practically everyone in the family.
However, the shape, extra features, and certain materials used in their production can make buying a trampoline quite expensive.
