Is a 14-Foot Trampoline Big Enough For Your Kids & Garden?

Figuring out what size trampoline to get for your backyard can be challenging.

Garden trampolines are available from approximately 6ft and above, and many people wonder whether smaller or bigger is better.

A 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline is big enough if you have space in your backyard and are looking for a trampoline to entertain your children and their friends.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the considerations you should keep in mind when choosing a trampoline for your home. By the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll be able to easily decide how big your new trampoline should be.

How To Choose a Trampoline Size for Your Home

There are several considerations that are essential to keep in mind when determining what size trampoline you need for your home and whether a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline is big enough. Some of these include:

1. Size of Your Yard

There is no doubt that a 14 foot trampoline is pretty big, and that you will need a decent amount of room in your garden to accommodate it.

If your garden is on the smaller size we do sell trampolines starting from just over six feet.

2. The Age of Your Children

Older children need larger trampolines.

There’s no getting around this fact–having an 8-foot (2.43 m) trampoline for a 16-year-old will not only bore your child quickly, but it’s also a safety hazard.

Older kids need more space to bounce around on, and since they’re taller, they need more buffer space to reduce the risk of falling off a trampoline.

A 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline is big enough if you have children up to 12 years of age. Older children and adults can also use a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline relatively safely. However, for the greatest peace of mind, a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline may not be big enough.

Another reason that larger trampolines are better for older kids and adults is weight limits. Most trampolines have a weight limit, and the bigger they are, the higher the limit. Younger children are naturally lighter and don’t need the high weight limits of larger trampolines. However, if older kids try smaller trampolines, they’re highly likely to damage them and injure themselves as well.

For example, 8-10 foot (2.43-3.05 m) trampolines can accommodate about 150 pounds (68.04 kg) of weight. An average 16-year-old boy is 134 pounds (60.78 kg), which is just at the threshold of being too heavy for a small trampoline. If more than one 16-year-old is using the trampoline at the same time, it’s definitely not safe enough for them.

Number of Children Using the Trampoline

As mentioned above, smaller trampolines have lower weight limits. If your child enjoys having friends over and using the trampoline together, or you have more than one child, a larger trampoline is a much safer option.

The typical weight limit for a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline is 350-475 pounds (158.76-215.46 kg). This can accommodate about 3 16-year-old boys at once or about 2 adults simultaneously. If you expect more people to use the trampoline at the same time, a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline will not be big enough.

That said, it is essential to note that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that only one person use a trampoline at a time. More than one person using the trampoline simultaneously is highly unsafe and significantly increases the risk of injury and even death.

Purpose of the Trampoline

Do you plan on using your trampoline for recreational use, or is it a training tool for gymnastics?

Depending on how you’re using your trampoline, a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline may be too big, not big enough, or just right.

Recreational Use. If you’re using your trampoline for yourself or with your children, a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline should generally be big enough.
Entertaining/Parties. If you anticipate hosting large gatherings of family and friends at your home where the trampoline will be used by several other people, we recommend buying a larger trampoline. This significantly reduces the risk of your trampoline being unintentionally over the weight limit, which can result in damage to the trampoline itself, as well as increase the risk of serious injury to trampoline users.
Training. If you or your child are seriously training for gymnastics, a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline is too big. The standard size for an Olympic competition trampoline is 10 feet x 17 feet or 3.05 m x 5.18 m (an Olympic trampoline is rectangular), and your training trampoline should be sized accordingly.

If you aren’t able to get a rectangular trampoline for gymnastics training, a 15-foot (4.57 m) round trampoline or bigger is a good compromise. If you’re still unsure, speak to your (or your child’s) trainer and ask for their recommendation.

Options for the 14 Foot Trampoline

1. inground trampolines (with or without a safety net),

2. regular above ground trampolines from BERG, ETAN & Exit,

3. flatground trampolines (with or without a safety net).

Popular Alternatives to the 14 Foot Trampoline

1. Springfree Jumbo Trampoline - 13ft,

2. BERG oval trampolines - 16x10ft & 17x11ft

Other Considerations That Affect Which Trampoline Size You Should Buy

There are some other considerations that may affect which trampoline size you ultimately end up buying. These include:

Size of the jumping mat. Larger trampolines have bigger jumping mats, which means more space to jump on. A larger mat isn’t just preferable for gymnasts, it’s also the better option for cheerleaders practising tumbling on a trampoline. Additionally, larger mats give jumpers more space to spread their limbs.
The option to flip. The larger the trampoline you’re jumping on, the safer it is to practice flips on. If you have older children who enjoy flipping, a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline is the minimum size, though 15- and 16-foot (4.57-4.88 m) trampolines are even better.
Bounciness. Essentially, the larger the trampoline, the higher a jumper will be able to bounce. There are several reasons for this, including using more springs and mats when constructing larger trampolines. The extra bounce means that 14-foot (4.27 m) trampolines are perfect for both recreational and training use (though, as noted, there are other considerations when choosing a training trampoline).
Price. In general, larger trampolines are more expensive (though this differs from brand to brand). So, if all other things are equal and you have a limited budget, you may find that a 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline is big enough, and a larger option is outside your budget.

Can a Trampoline Be Too Big?

Generally, trampolines over 16 feet (4.88 m) are not suitable for home use. They’re usually too big to install safely in most backyards and are best suited for use in commercial trampoline parks.

Keep in mind that this does not mean you cannot buy a larger trampoline. If you find that a 17-foot (5.18 m) trampoline is suitable for your family’s needs, there are options available for home use.

Final Thoughts

A 14-foot (4.27 m) trampoline should be big enough for most people in Ireland, as long as you have enough space in your backyard to install it safely. However, there are several considerations that can impact what size trampoline you should buy, including the age and weight of the jumpers, the purpose of the trampoline, and your budget.