7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Updated December 17, 2024 | Reading time: 4 minutes
Advertiser Disclosure
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.
Bouncing on a backyard trampoline can be excellent exercise and a lot of fun, but it can also be dangerous. Trampolines caused more than 111,000 injuries in 2023, with children younger than 15 accounting for nearly 90% of these incidents, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.[1]
Beyond the clear safety concerns for your kids, trampolines also affect your homeowners insurance — having one can make your premiums bounce sky high.
Find Cheap Home Insurance Near You
Check quotes from 100+ top insurance companies
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Coverage considerations for trampolines
Whether homeowners insurance covers trampolines isn’t always a simple yes or no.
Trampolines fall into what insurers call high-risk territory, and homeowners insurance companies typically handle high-risk situations in one of two ways:
A strict “no-trampolines” rule: These policies won’t cover trampolines at all, leaving you with zero protection for trampoline accidents.[2]
Trampolines are allowed with precautions: Some insurers cover your trampoline if you follow specific safety rules, like installing nets or padding, limiting jumpers, or sinking the trampoline to ground level.
If you get a trampoline, you’ll need to work with your agent to get appropriate coverage. This often means adding riders or endorsements to your standard homeowners policy. It’s an additional cost, but it typically includes:
Liability coverage
Liability insurance protects you against trampoline-related claims if someone gets hurt and sues you.
Medical payments coverage
Medical payments insurance helps cover immediate medical bills.
Remember, your trampoline insurance coverage only works if your insurer knows about your trampoline and agrees to cover trampoline-related injuries. Skipping a call to your insurance agent could lead to losing your entire policy — including your coverage for things that aren’t trampoline claims.
Potential legal liabilities and attractive nuisance
Your trampoline poses more than physical risks. It creates legal ones, too. The law considers trampolines an attractive nuisance. An attractive nuisance is something that might entice children to come onto your property and potentially harm them.
For example, suppose a few neighborhood kids sneak into your yard to jump on your trampoline without your permission. In this case, you could be legally responsible if the kids get hurt.
To protect yourself, you’ll need to take reasonable steps to keep uninvited guests away. Otherwise, you could face expensive lawsuits and legal expenses if someone gets injured, whether you invited them to jump or not.[3]
How to secure coverage for trampolines
A backyard trampoline can provide your family with lots of entertainment, but securing appropriate insurance coverage should come first.
Here’s a closer look at how property owners can safeguard against liability risks:
1. Call your insurance company
Contact your home insurer before you buy the trampoline. Ask directly if your policy allows trampolines, and get details about the company’s safety requirements.
2. Install safety precautions
If your insurer offers trampoline coverage, review the safety must-haves and set them up before the trampoline arrives. Get the details in writing from your insurer.
3. Add a trampoline rider to your policy
Work with your agent to get the right protection. The extra coverage can bump up your premium, but it’s worth the cost for the reassurance it gives you if someone gets hurt.
4. Consider a personal umbrella insurance policy
An umbrella policy is personal liability coverage that picks up where your standard policy leaves off, adding an extra layer of protection for your assets.
Safety tips for trampoline owners
A little effort goes a long way to keep your family’s backyard bouncing fun and worry-free. Consider these trampoline safety tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:
Ensure proper setup and equipment. Use a sturdy safety net around the trampoline and add padding to cover hard surfaces, such as the springs and frame. Place the trampoline on ground level and far from trees, fences, or anything that could pose a hazard.
Inspect and maintain regularly. Keep an eye out for wear and tear. Look for rust, loose screws, frayed nets, or damaged pads, and fix them before letting anyone jump.
Set clear rules and stick to them. Limit jumping to one person at a time to prevent collisions. You may need to be firm about this since eager kids can make enforcing it tough.
Control access when not in use. Remove the trampoline ladder if you have one, and consider installing a lockable gate. You might even zip tie the safety net shut. This way, little ones can’t sneak in when no one’s around to supervise.
Know the age limits. Trampolines aren’t safe for kids younger than 6.
Say no to risky moves. Tricks like flips and somersaults can lead to serious injuries. Save them for supervised sessions with safety equipment.
Save on Your Next Home Insurance Policy
Compare rates from the nation’s leading insurance companies
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Homeowners insurance and trampoline FAQs
If you still have questions about homeowners insurance and trampolines, check out the additional information below.
What types of trampoline-related incidents does homeowners insurance typically cover?
If your policy includes trampolines, it usually covers guest injuries and accident-related lawsuits. This may involve liability coverage for legal fees and medical payments coverage for emergency room medical costs.
Do you need to inform your insurance company if you install a trampoline on your property?
Yes. Your insurer needs to know about your trampoline before you install it. If you don’t disclose this information, it could void your coverage — not just for trampoline-related injuries but potentially for any insurance claim you make.
How can a trampoline affect your homeowners insurance premiums or coverage options?
Adding a trampoline will likely increase your premium because insurers consider it a high-risk item. Some home insurance companies might require additional riders or higher liability claim limits, while others might decline coverage altogether, forcing you to shop for a new insurance company.
Are there any specific safety guidelines or requirements that you must follow to maintain insurance coverage for a trampoline?
It’s possible. Insurance companies can require safety measures like nets, padding, secure fencing, and correct ground placement. Make sure to get these requirements in writing and follow them strictly to keep your policy in place.
Can having a trampoline result in your homeowners insurance policy being canceled or denied?
Yes. Some insurance companies consider trampolines a dealbreaker and will cancel or refuse to renew your home insurance policy if you get one. If you’re applying for new coverage, insurers might deny your application if you already have a trampoline.
Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.
Amy has been a contributor at Insurify since September 2023.
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)