Put a trampoline in your yard and you could find it attracting kids from far and wide in the summer.
Then of course, you might want to have a cheeky go on it yourself.
This could well lead to you having all sorts of questions about how much weight your trampoline can hold.
Does it have a weight limit? How accurate is it? What happens if you go over it?
We will look at all that and more in our blog today.
Do Trampolines Have A Weight Limit?
Yes every trampoline has a weight limit which should be clearly stated, but it will vary depending upon the size and shape of the trampoline and a few other factors. As a general rule of thumb, rectangular and oval-shaped trampolines are usually capable of taking more weight than square or circular trampolines. Trampolines that meet the ASTM standards have been tested up to four times their specified weight limit.
As you might expect, every trampoline has a weight limit.
This will vary depending upon a number of factors that we will go into more detail about later.
To make things slightly more confusing, trampoline manufacturers might list any combination of three weight limits:
- A user weight limit
- A structural weight limit
- A maximum weight limit
The user limit is pretty self-explanatory.
If a trampoline has a user weight limit of 220 lbs, then it is not safe for anyone over that weight to use it.
A maximum weight limit refers to the total weight jumping on the trampoline at any one time.
So if the maximum weight limit was 520 lbs, you would be ok to have five 100 lb children jumping around on it, but if a sixth child of the same weight was to join them it would be considered unsafe.
The structural weight limit is the maximum static weight the trampoline can hold. So the weight of someone on it but not jumping. This will often be much higher.
What is the Maximum Weight A Trampoline Can Take?
So as alluded to above, all trampolines are different and have different weight limits, but it is always good to have some practical examples of trampoline weight limits.
So below is a list of some of the most popular trampoline manufacturers and weight limits of their trampolines:
| Name | Shape | Size | Weight Limit 1 | Weight Limit 2 |
| Flex120 | Circular | 12ft diameter | 198lbs UWL | 550 lb MWL |
| Flex140 | Circular | 14ft diameter | 198lbs UWL | 550 lb MWL |
| Flex150 | Circular | 15ft diameter | 198lbs UWL | 550 lb MWL |
| Name | Shape | Size | Weight Limit 1 | Weight Limit 2 |
| 15ft Rectangle | Rectangle | 10ft x 15ft | 220 lbs UWL | |
| 18ft Rectangle | Rectangle | 10ft x 18ft | 400 lbs UWL | |
| 14ft Round | Circle | 14ft diameter | 200 lbs UWL | |
| 15ft Round | Circle | 15ft diameter | 300 lbs UWL | |
| Mini Oval | Oval | 3ft x 5.5ft | 110 lbs UWL | |
| Hex ZorbPod | Hexagon | 7ft | 180 lbs UWL |
| Name | Shape | Size | Weight Limit 1 | Weight Limit 2 |
| AlleyOOP 17ft | Rectangle | 10ft x 17ft | 225 lbs / 350 lbs UWL* | |
| AlleyOOP DoubleBounce | Circle | 14ft diameter | 250 lbs UWL | |
| AlleyOOP 12ft | Circle | 12ft diameter | 240 lbs UWL | |
| StagedBounce | Rectangle | 10ft x 17ft | 225 lbs UWL | |
| Elite | Circle | 14ft | 245 lbs UWL |
| Name | Shape | Size | Weight Limit 1 | Weight Limit 2 |
| 10ft Circle | Circle | 10ft diameter | 175 lbs UWL | |
| 15ft Circle | Circle | 15ft diameter | 275 lbs UWL | |
| 14ft Rectangle | Rectangle | 8ft x 14ft | 200 lbs UWL | |
| Olympic Rectangle | Rectangle | 10ft x 17ft | 625 lbs UWL | |
| 13ft Square | Square | 13ft x 13ft | 250 lbs UWL | |
| Colossal Square | Square | 16ft x 16ft | 350 lbs UWL | |
| 15ft Oval | Oval | 13ft x 15ft | 200 lbs UWL | |
| 17ft Circle | Circle | 17ft diameter | 200 lbs UWL |
| Name | Shape | Size | Weight Limit 1 | Weight Limit 2 |
| R30 Mini | Circle | 6ft diameter | 175 lbs UWL | 838lbs SWL |
| R54 Compact | Circle | 8ft diameter | 175 lbs UWL | 838lbs SWL |
| O47 Compact | Oval | 6ft x 9ft | 175 lbs UWL | 838lbs SWL |
| R79 Medium | Circle | 10ft diameter | 220lbs UWL | 1100 lbs SWL |
| R132 Jumbo | Circle | 13ft diameter | 220lbs UWL | 1100 lbs SWL |
| O77 Medium | Oval | 8ft x 11ft | 220lbs UWL | 1100 lbs SWL |
| O92 Large | Oval | 8ft x 13ft | 220lbs UWL | 1100 lbs SWL |
| S113 Large | Square | 11ft x 11ft | 220lbs UWL | 1100 lbs SWL |
| S155 Jumbo | Square | 13ft x 13ft | 220lbs UWL | 1100 lbs SWL |
Key:
- UWL = User Weight Limit
- MWL = Maximum Weight Limit
- SWL = Structural Weight Limit
What Factors Affect the Maximum Weight a Trampoline Can Hold?
So as you can see the maximum weight limit varies from trampoline to trampoline, and this is due to a number of factors:
Size
As you might expect there is a correlation between size and weight limits.
Unsurprisingly, the larger a trampoline the more surface area there is and the more weight it can hold.
Shape
The shape of a trampoline also affects how much weight it can hold.
Rectangular and oval trampolines tend to have higher weight limits. This is due to the way they disperse the weight of anyone on them.
When you bounce on a circular or square trampoline the weight is distributed fairly evenly around the frame.
However, on a rectangular or oval-shaped trampoline there are likely to be parts of the frame that don’t feel the stress as much due to their size.
The Mat
For many years trampoline mats were made out of standard rubber.
Now jumping mats are made almost universally out of polypropylene, as it is able to withstand a lot of pressure, has a good tensile strength which makes it great for bouncing on, and is weather resistant as well.
Trampolines with higher weight limits often have thicker jumping mats, which have multiple layers of polypropylene fabric woven together.
Springs
The number and length of springs play an important role in the weight a trampoline can hold.
Generally the more springs, the higher the weight limit.
Then longer springs make for a bouncier trampoline, but with a lower weight limit. Shorter springs work in the opposite way, less bounce, but a higher weight limit.
Galvanized steel springs, with a zinc finish, have a longer life span and are more weather resistant.
Either way, too many people on a trampoline can cause springs to break or holes to form.
Some companies are even moving away from springs altogether.
The manufacturer Springfree, for example, uses patented flexible rods rather than springs to generate bounce.
The Frame
There is no point having a high-quality mat and super strong springs if the frame holding the unit together is flimsy.
The thicker the gauge of steel used for the frame, the more sturdy it will be.
How Accurate Are Trampoline Weight Limits?
Trampoline weight limits are there for safety reasons.
Exceeding the weight limit can lead to a torn or stretched mat, stressed and occasionally snapped springs and a buckled frame.
It can also result in injury to anyone on the trampoline when this happens.
So on top of the inconvenience and expense of possibly having to replace your trampoline, a trip to ER might be in order as well!
But as for how accurate the weight limits are, it is worth noting that the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) requires that trampolines withstand four times the maximum recommended user weight.
Therefore if your trampoline has a user weight limit of 220 lbs, and the manufacturer states its products are tested to ASTM safety standards, then it has actually been tested up to 880 lbs.
However please don’t take this as a challenge and see if it really will hold up to that amount!
It is always best to er on the side of caution, and not risk injury by overloading your trampoline.
Final Thoughts
Yes trampolines do have a weight limit, and it varies depending upon the size and shape of the trampoline along with a few other factors.
Most often it is expressed as a user weight limit, with it not deemed safe for anyone over that weight limit to use the trampoline.
However, if a trampoline has been tested to the American Society for Testing and Materials standards, it means in testing it was able to hold four times the maximum weight limit.
That said, if you exceed the stated weight limit on a trampoline you risk breaking the trampoline, denting your bank balance and most importantly causing an injury to whoever is on it at the time.
So be careful!