How to Anchor a Trampoline | Keep It From Flying Away

Anchor a trampoline properly by driving stakes or augers into the ground at every leg, securing straps tightly, and checking them regularly.

A loose trampoline is a hazard. Strong gusts can lift and toss an unsecured frame, turning your backyard toy into a projectile. The good news is that anchoring takes under an hour with basic tools. This guide covers the three main anchoring methods, the exact installation steps that work, and the mistakes that cause anchors to fail in the first storm.

Why Anchoring Matters More Than You Think

Wind doesn’t need to be hurricane-strength to move a trampoline.

Anchors also keep the trampoline stable during normal use. Kids bouncing near the edge create uneven forces; a well-anchored frame stays put instead of shifting with each jump.

The Three Ways To Anchor a Trampoline

You have three proven options, and the right one depends on your soil and budget.

• Ground stakes (peg-style anchors): U-shaped or L-shaped metal pegs driven into the ground. The cheapest and most common option, best for moderate wind areas with soft soil.
• Auger-style anchors: Corkscrew-shaped stakes that twist into the ground. They grip far better than flat stakes, especially in heavier soil, and resist pulling forces from multiple directions.
• Strap and cable anchors: Heavy-duty webbing straps or steel cables connecting the frame to fixed ground points. Often part of manufacturer anchor kits; some models pair straps with stakes or augers.

The correct position depends on your trampoline’s shape. Round and oval frames take anchors on both sides of each leg; square frames take them at opposite corners, per the manufacturer installation guides. Some specific models require a set number — one common configuration uses 4 anchors total.

How To Install Trampoline Anchors: Step-by-Step

Check for underground gas, power, water, telephone, and other utility lines before you drive anything into the ground. One call to your local utility locating service prevents a dangerous and expensive mistake.

For stake-style anchors, place the first peg over the middle of the trampoline leg. Position the second anchor on the opposite side of that same leg — the leg should sit between the two stakes. Drive the pegs in with a rubber mallet, alternating front and back so the anchor stays tight against the leg. Repeat at every leg, then secure any straps to the frame and tighten them so the frame can’t shift.

For auger-style anchors, position them about 1–1.5 feet out from the vertical leg. Turn clockwise until only the upper loop remains visible above ground, then clamp or strap the loop around the leg. Web-buckle kits wrap around the horizontal bar of the foot frame itself for extra grip.

Rocky terrain that won’t let stakes go to full depth is a real problem — a half-buried stake can work loose in the first storm. Anchors should always be installed to their full depth.

Anchor Maintenance and Common Mistakes

Anchors aren’t set-and-forget. Soil shifts with rain and frost, and straps stretch with tension. Check all anchors before each use and after any heavy wind. Re-tighten any slack straps, and re-seat any stakes that have worked their way up.

Most anchor failures come down to fixable errors:

• Not driving stakes to full depth, leaving them with exposed loops that can bend or pull free.
• Leaving slack in the straps — the frame moves before the anchor ever takes the load.
• Placing anchors too close to the leg or in the wrong spots for the trampoline’s shape (sides for round and oval, corners for square).
• Ignoring soil type and underground obstacles during setup.

When high winds are forecast, consider taking the jumping mat off and folding the frame — the safest option available.

If you’re outfitting the trampoline you just finished anchoring, the best trampoline accessories to buy this season can help you pick covers, ladders, and safety enclosures that fit your frame.