Building a trampoline park requires a significant upfront investment, typically over $1 million when you factor in equipment, facility construction, and all the supporting infrastructure. The process involves securing the right building, meeting strict safety standards, obtaining specialized insurance, and designing a space that generates enough foot traffic to sustain high operating costs. Here’s what the full process looks like from concept to opening day.
Budgeting for the Full Project
The two biggest line items are equipment and facility build-out. Trampoline equipment alone runs around $750,000, and that covers the trampoline courts, foam pits, padding, and related attractions. The facility build-out, which includes construction, HVAC, flooring, lighting, and lobby/check-in areas, adds roughly $500,000. Together, that puts your core investment at approximately $1.25 million before you account for lease deposits, insurance, staffing, marketing, point-of-sale systems, furniture, and working capital to cover the first few months of operations.
Most trampoline park owners should plan for $1.5 million to $2.5 million in total startup costs depending on market size and the number of attractions. Smaller parks in lower-cost markets can come in on the lower end, while parks with advanced features like ninja courses, climbing walls, or performance trampolines push toward the higher end. If you’re considering a franchise model, expect additional franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments on top of these figures.
Finding the Right Building
Your building choice will make or break the project. ASTM F2970, the industry’s primary safety standard, requires 17 feet of clear ceiling height from the floor to the lowest obstruction for standard trampoline courts. If you plan to include stunt airbags, foam pits, or performance trampolines, that minimum jumps to 20 feet. Most standard retail spaces won’t work. You’re looking at warehouses, former big-box stores, or purpose-built commercial spaces with high ceilings and open floor plans.
In terms of square footage, parks have been built in spaces as small as 12,000 square feet with a 1,000-square-foot mezzanine for a lobby or party area. That’s a bare minimum, though. Most competitive parks run 20,000 to 40,000 square feet to offer enough variety in attractions and accommodate group events. When evaluating a building, check for column spacing (columns in the middle of your jump floor create dead zones), adequate parking, and zoning that permits recreational or amusement use. Negotiating a long-term lease with favorable terms is critical since the build-out cost is too high to risk a short lease or an unfavorable renewal clause.
Meeting ASTM Safety Standards
ASTM F2970 is the governing standard for commercial trampoline courts used for amusement, entertainment, or recreation. It covers everything from design and manufacturing to installation, operation, maintenance, and inspection. Your equipment manufacturer, facility design, and daily operations all need to comply with this standard.
Key areas the standard addresses include quality of construction and installation, general court design, performance criteria for the equipment, patron education requirements, designated children’s zones, injury classification and notification protocols, and defined responsibilities for both the manufacturer and the owner/operator. You are responsible for ensuring your facility meets these requirements before opening and maintaining compliance throughout the life of the business. Many jurisdictions also have their own amusement ride or recreational facility regulations that layer on top of ASTM standards, so check your local and state requirements early in the planning process.
Working with an experienced trampoline court manufacturer is the most reliable way to ensure your equipment and layout meet ASTM F2970. Reputable manufacturers design their products to comply with the standard and can guide your floor plan to meet clearance, padding, and spacing requirements.
Securing Insurance Coverage
Insurance is one of the most challenging parts of opening a trampoline park. General liability coverage is expensive and difficult to obtain because the industry is relatively new, and many insurance carriers haven’t fully quantified the risk profile. Some specialty insurers don’t even offer coverage for trampoline parks at all.
At a minimum, you’ll need general liability insurance with an each-occurrence limit of at least $1 million from a carrier rated A- or better by A.M. Best. Beyond general liability, plan on carrying workers’ compensation, commercial property insurance, commercial auto coverage if you operate any vehicles, and crime insurance. You’ll likely need to work with a broker who specializes in sports, recreation, or amusement industry insurance to find a carrier willing to write a policy. Budget generously for premiums, as they will be one of your larger ongoing operating costs. Demonstrating ASTM compliance, having documented safety protocols, and requiring signed liability waivers from all patrons can help you negotiate better terms.
Designing Your Attraction Mix
The core of any trampoline park is the open-jump trampoline court, but that alone won’t generate the revenue you need. The industry’s primary income comes from three streams: general admission fees, private party bookings, and accessory sales (grip socks, snacks, drinks, merchandise). A strong attraction mix increases the time visitors spend in your facility and gives you more reasons to charge premium pricing.
Beyond standard trampoline courts, popular additions include foam pits, dodgeball courts, basketball dunk lanes, ninja warrior courses, climbing walls, and toddler zones. Each attraction adds to your equipment cost and space requirements, but they also broaden your customer base. A toddler zone draws families with young children during weekday mornings. A ninja course appeals to older kids and adults. Dodgeball courts work well for corporate team-building events.
Private party rooms are essential. Birthday parties and group events command higher per-person pricing and can be booked during off-peak hours. Dedicate space for at least two or three party rooms, and design them so groups have a clear path between the party area and the jump floor without crossing through the lobby.
Permits, Zoning, and Local Approvals
Before signing a lease, confirm that your intended location is zoned for indoor recreation or amusement use. Some commercial zones restrict this type of business, and rezoning requests can take months with no guarantee of approval. You’ll need building permits for your construction and build-out, and your plans will need to pass fire code, occupancy, and ADA accessibility inspections.
Some states and municipalities classify trampoline parks under amusement ride regulations, which may require periodic inspections, operator certifications, or registration with a state agency. Research your local requirements early because these can affect your timeline and budget. The permitting and inspection process alone can take three to six months, so factor that into your opening timeline.
Staffing and Training
Trampoline parks are labor-intensive operations. You need front desk staff, court monitors, party hosts, maintenance technicians, and management. Court monitors are especially important because they enforce safety rules, watch for dangerous behavior, and respond to injuries. Understaffing the jump floor is a liability risk and an insurance concern.
ASTM F2970 includes patron education requirements, which means your staff needs formal training on safety rules, emergency procedures, and equipment inspection protocols. Build a training program that covers first aid, CPR, conflict de-escalation, and your specific house rules. Document everything. Consistent, well-trained staff reduce injury rates, improve customer experience, and strengthen your position if a liability claim ever arises.
Timeline From Concept to Opening
Plan for 9 to 18 months from the start of your planning to opening day. The first few months go toward market research, business planning, securing financing, and scouting locations. Once you sign a lease, the build-out phase typically takes four to eight months depending on the condition of the building, the complexity of your design, and how quickly permits move through your local process. Equipment manufacturing and delivery can take 8 to 16 weeks, so place your order as early as possible to avoid delays.
Use the construction period to hire and train staff, build your website, launch pre-opening marketing campaigns, and set up your booking and point-of-sale systems. Many parks run a soft opening with friends, family, and local influencers before the public grand opening to test operations, identify bottlenecks, and build early word-of-mouth buzz.