When we started looking for a bounce house to put in our backyard, we quickly got overwhelmed. We spent hours pouring through all the options available, to come up with this ultimate list of the best bounce houses.
Best Bounce Houses:
- Best Overall: Blast Zone Magic Castle
- Best For Toddlers: Action Air Bounce House
- Best For Kids: Big Ol Bouncer Blast Zone
- Best For Adults: Big Bubba Giant Bounce House
- Best Indoors: Little Tikes Jump N Slide
- Best Outdoors: Little Tikes Shady Jump N Slide
- Best With Ball Pit: Retro Jump With Ball Pit
- Best With Slide: Yard Bounce House With Slide
- Best For Water: Rocky Mountain River Race
- Best Budget: Intex Jump O Lene
- Best Mid Range: Heavy Duty Slide Bouncer
- Best High End: Wet Or Dry Mega Bounce House
Below I will show you these bounce houses in action. But before going into more detail about these bounce houses, I wanted to talk about the most important things to consider before you buy. Sure, I made a list of the best bounce houses by my standard, but let’s make sure the bounce house you pick will be the best choice for your needs.
What To Look For When Buying A Bounce House
There are few things to consider when buying a bounce house that may affect which option you decide to go with. After all, a decent bounce will cost you at least a couple hundred bucks, with the bigger models going above 1000. You want to make sure your bounce house is durable enough to last a long time, and can hold the weight of whoever will be using it.
Bounce House Material
The first thing I would look at is the material the bounce house is made out of. Typically, a residential bounce house will be made out of nylon or polyester oxford, sometimes referred to as oxford cloth. Here are some common bounce house materials:
- Nylon
- Vinyl
- Polyester Oxford
- Heavy Duty PVC Vinyl
The polyester oxford cloth is lighter and more easily portable than nylon, but is more prone to tears. Usually the nylon bounce houses will boasts a heavy duty nylon material, which is very durable. But the nylon is harder to dry out, it may seem dry buy nylon holds more water than polyester or vinyl. So you could end up seeing some mold growing after some time.
The heavy duty PVC vinyl is most commonly used for commercial bounce houses. The heavy duty PVC vinyl is very durable, will hardly ever tear, but is very bulky and heavy. Although they are the strongest built bounce houses, you won’t find many residential bounce houses made out of heavy duty PVC vinyl. The material makes them way to expensive for an average homeowner.
The polyester oxford or nylon bounce house materials are going to be your best bet. These types of bounce houses will typically be reinforced with some other stronger material like heavy PVC or 600D nylon.
Just keep in mind, the better and stronger the material, the higher price you will pay. If you just have some young ones jumping in the bounce house, you won’t need the expensive materials.
This shouldn’t be really an issue any more, but worth a mention here. Make sure the material is fire resistant. The vast majority of bounce houses sold now are made of fire resistant material. But you could be duped if you go with a cheap knock off brand.
Bounce House Size
It might seem obvious that you need to make sure the bounce house will fit where you’re planning on putting it. Keep in mind if you need the space for a blower and check the dimensions before you buy. A common size issue a lot of people overlook, is what size is the bounce house is when all rolled up for storage.
Many of the residential bounce houses will actually pack up pretty nicely. But keep that in mind if you have limited storage space. You will most likely want to pack up the bounce house and put it away if a storm is coming through, and store it all through winter as well.
Indoor Or Outdoor
Although many bounce houses will be able to be used indoor or outdoor. There are some popular models that are for indoor use only, and the warranty could be void if you use it outside. Of course, many of the larger outdoor bounce houses will most likely not even fit in your house. Just keep in mind that there are options that will work for indoor and outdoor use and what your preference is.
If you do plan on using the bounce house outside, there is reason to mindful of high heat temperatures. Make sure everyone stay hydrated and take water breaks while using the bounce house outside. A published article found an increased threat of heat exhaustion when using a bounce house in high heat temperatures. (source)
Peak heat index values exceeded ambient conditions by 4.5°C and “danger” conditions, where serious heat-related injuries such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke are possible, occurred much more frequently in the bounce house.
Do Inflatable Bounce Houses Pose Heat-Related Hazards to Children? Andrew Grundstein and J. Marshall Shepherd Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, Sarah Duzinski Trauma Services, Dell Children’s Medical Center, Austin, Texas
Weight Limit
Every bounce house has a weight limit. My advice is to make sure the bounce house will be able to hold all the kids at once, plus a little extra room for them to grow. Having kids wait and take turns never really works out the way you’d hope.
Most bounce houses will have a max occupancy limit as well, for safety reasons. Not necessarily because of the weight of more people, but the space available is too small for a certain amount of people to bounce around in.
A typical residential bounce house weight limit is around 300 pounds, with a maximum occupancy of 3 people. The larger bounce houses can have up to a 600 pound weight limit or more. Some of the smaller indoor bounce houses will only tolerate 200 pounds and 3 people at at time.
Bounce House Price
An average residential bounce house will cost between 200 and 600 dollars. The larger bounce houses and water park type bounce houses can range between 800 and 1200 dollars. A large commercial grade bounce house fit for adults can cost over 3000 dollars in most cases.
You can of course find cheaper options out there, but I caution against the low quality cheaply made options. It sounds like a good deal at half the price of something similar size, but spend some time to read the reviews, and most likely those bounce houses don’t last very long. They end up being a waste of money.
The bounce houses on our list are a combination of quality and ratings, at the most affordable price. I’m not saying these are the only bounce houses worth looking at, but we spent a considerable amount of time looking through the track records of many bounce houses.
Bounce House Equipment
The most important bounce equipment will be the blower. Make sure you know if the bounce house you’re ordering has a blower included, or if you have to purchase that separately. It’s really hit or miss for this one, some come with it and some don’t. Factor that into the total costs of the bounce house before settling on your pick.
You will also most likely need an extension cord to run the blower. A lot of the bounce houses require that the blower be connected and running continuously while the bounce house is in use. Plan accordingly and get a long enough extension cord before you setup. You may also consider putting down a tarp under the bounce house.
If you have a ball pit attached to the bounce house, you’ll want to check if the bounce house comes with balls for it. Even if it does come with some, you may want to get more eventually. You can usually find packs of 200 ball pit balls online for under 30 bucks. Consider adding a pack of those to your purchase.
Now that you know the type of things to look out for, let’s go into more detail about the bounce houses on our list. All of these bounce houses have high ratings, so we just need to find the right one for you.
1. Best Overall: Blast Zone Magic Castle
This bounce house is one of the most popular and highest rated bounce houses available. It has a max weight limit of 300 lbs and a maximum occupancy rating of 3 people. The blower is included with the bounce house, so when it arrives, you have everything you need to get it set up and using right away.
The company boasts a 2 minute inflate time, for quick and easy setup. It doesn’t take up too much storage space either, all rolled up, it will fit in a tote. This model can be used outdoors as well as indoors, if you have the space for it. Be careful with low ceilings though, as it is 8 feet tall full inflated.
Dimensions
8.5′ Wide by 11′ Length by 8′ Height
Material
The area where kids will be jumping is made out of durable commercial vinyl. The seams are double or quadruple stitched, making for an overall very sturdy bounce house. This bounce house can be used outdoors or indoors, if you have the space for it.
Pros
- Blower Included
- Safety Netting
- 2 Minute Inflate Time
- Easy To Set Up
- Minimal Storage Space Required
Cons
- Not Ideal For More Than 3 Kids
- Not For Heavier Kids
2. Best For Toddlers: Action Air Bounce House
This is one of the smaller bounce houses on the list, but it’s perfect for small children. The maximum weight limit is 200 lbs with a maximum occupancy of 2 people. This is one of the lighter bounce houses available and it comes with a carrying bag. This is one of the best options to have indoors because of its size.
Dimensions
6.8′ Wide by 9.2′ Length by 6.1′ Height
Material
The material isn’t the strongest most durable bounce house material. But, that’s what keeps it so light. Besides, it’s really made only for children, so if they jump with their shoes off, you shouldn’t have any problems. If you do get a hole or tear, the bounce house comes with patches just in case.
Pros
- Blower Included
- Safety Walls
- Quick Inflate Time
- Lightweight And Portable
- Includes Patches And Carrying Bag
Cons
- Max Weight Is 200 Lbs
- Only 2 Allowed At A Time
- Not The Strongest Material
3. Best For Kids: Big Ol Bouncer Blast Zone
This bounce house is a top pick for bigger families. It’s a little wide so you might have problems finding a room it will fit it, but it’s not so tall that it’s impossible to have indoors. The weight limit is 600 pounds with a maximum occupancy of 6 people. Plenty of room for everyone to join in the fun.
Dimensions
12′ Wide by 15′ Length by 7′ Height
Material
The impact surfaces the kids will actually be jumping on are made out of durable commercial vinyl. Of course keep sharp objects away from it and don’t let people jump on the sides. But this is a solid durable option if you have rowdy kids.
Pros
- Blower Included
- Fits 6 Kids
- Durable
- Safety Walls
- 1 Year Warranty Included
Cons
- Hard To Fit Indoors
- A Bit Heavy To Move Around
4. Best For Adults: Big Bubba Giant Bounce House
This is a large commercial grade inflatable backyard bouncer. This is the kind you would rent from a company. For multiple adults, there aren’t very many options. Even the bigger residential ones would pop and brake with just a few adults.
This is the recommendation for adults because it will take multiple adults of any size, unlike the residential options. It is pretty expensive though. Able to hold up to 10 people at a time, you get what you pay for. This will not fit inside unless you have a warehouse. It weighs 360 pounds so you will need a few people just to move it.
Dimensions
22′ Wide by 22′ Length by 18′ Height
Material
Made with commercial grade 15oz PVC vinyl. This is by far the most durable bounce house on the list. It’s made to be sold to companies that rent them out, it’s made for adults, it has to be this durable.
Pros
- Will Last A Very Long Time
- Can Fit 10 People
- Strict Safety Standards
- Commercial Quality
- Blower Included
Cons
- Very Heavy
- Hard To Set Up
- Takes Up A Lot Of Space
- Very Expensive
5. Best Indoors: Little Tikes Jump N Slide
This was almost the overall top pick, but is the top pick for indoor bounce houses for sure. At just about 6 feet tall, you’ll have no problem putting this in a kids play room. The maximum weight limit is 250 lbs with a maximum occupancy of 3 kids.
Dimensions
12′ Width by 9′ Length by 6′ Height
Material
Durable enough for a couple kids to play on, but this is not made for adults. There have been complaints of the seams tearing during the first few months of use with little help from the company.
Pros
- Blower Included
- Includes Stakes, Repair Patches, And Storage Bag
- Easy To Set Up
- Very Popular
Cons
- Blower Is Loud For Indoor Use
- A Few Seam Complaints
- 250 Lb Max Weight
6. Best Outdoors: Little Tikes Shady Jump N Slide
This pick is basically the same as the best indoor bounce house except it has a roof section to prevent sun exposure. It does come with stakes and a carrying bag, everything you need to setup outside. The maximum weight limit is 250 lbs with a maximum occupancy of 3 kids.
Dimensions
12′ Width by 9′ Length by 6′ Height
Material
Durable enough for kids to play on without shoes. Do not let adults on to this bounce house. There have been some complaints about seams ripping, but most people are getting a few good years out of this bounce house.
Pros
- Sun Shade Built In
- Blower Included
- Stakes And Patches Included
- Safety Screen Walls
Cons
- Only Holds 250 Lbs
- Not Recommended Indoors
- Sun Shade Is Not Removable
7. Best With Ball Pit: Retro Jump With Ball Pit
This bounce house has a decent jumping area for kids, and also a ball pit area attached to the side. It comes with 30 balls and 2 small basketballs for the built it hoop. The maximum weight limit is 300 pounds with a maximum occupancy of 4 kids. Can be used indoors or outdoors.
Dimensions
7.8′ Width by 8.8′ Length by 6.4′ Height
Material
This bounce house is made from puncture resistant and fire resistant material. I wouldn’t let the kids jump with their shoes on, but this is a durable bounce house.
Pros
- Blower Included
- Ball Pit Built In
- Mesh Safety Walls
- Comes With Some Ball Pit Balls
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
- 300 Lb Max Weight
- Need To Purchase More Ball Pit Balls
8. Best With Slide: Yard Bounce House With Slide
This bounce house will tough to fit indoors, and is only possible if your ceilings are more than 8 feet. Many of the bigger bounce houses with a slide are made for outdoor use only, and this on is too. The maximum weight limit is 700 pounds with a maximum occupancy of 7 kids.
Dimensions
12.5′ Width by 13.1′ Length by 8.2′ Height
Material
Made with 420D nylon and 15oz vinyl on the jumping surfaces, this is a durable bounce house. The company boasts commercial grade sewing of the seams, though this is a residential bounce house.
Pros
- Blower Included
- Patches, Stakes, And Carrying Bag Included
- Fits 7 Kids
- Easy To Set Up
- Durable
Cons
- A Bit Expensive
- Heavy To Move
9. Best For Water: Rocky Mountain River Race
The best bounce house to cool down on a hot day has to have a water slide built in. Well, this one has two water slides, and a splash pool at the base of the bouncer. The maximum weight limit is 350 pounds and the maximum occupancy is 4 kids.
Dimensions
13.4′ Width by 14′ Length by 8.5′ Height
Material
The bounce house is made out of a durable water proof material, but there have been complaints about the material becoming hardened after long storage. You have to completely dry this bounce house out before storage, this drying out stage of a water bounce house is extremely important.
Pros
- 2 Water Slides
- Water Splash Pool Built In
- Blower Included
- Stakes, Patches, And Carrying Case Included
Cons
- Difficult Set Up
- Difficult Take Down
- Must Wait Hours To Air Dry Before Storage
10. Best Budget: Intex Jump O Lene
The cheaper bounce houses are all going to be really small. It’s hard to find a good bounce house at a really cheap price point, but this one comes closest to checking all the boxes. The maximum weight limit is 120 pounds and the maximum occupancy is 2 kids.
This bounce house almost made the best for toddler spot because of it’s size, but there were just too many complaints about the quality. But for under 50 bucks, you get what you pay for, this is a budget buy.
Dimensions
5.75′ Width by 5.75 Height by 4.4′ Height
Material
The bounce house is made from vinyl material. I do not recommend letting kids use with shoes on. There have been complaints of holes being made too easily.
Pros
- No Blower Needed
- Very Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy To Store
- Very Inexpensive
Cons
- Only 2 Kids At A Time
- Not Very Durable
- Easy To Puncture
11. Best Mid Range: Heavy Duty Slide Bouncer
This bouncer has a climbing slope, a slide, and a bouncing area all in one. I would not recommend getting this bouncer for indoor use as the slide is over 9′ tall. The maximum weight limit is 250 pounds and the maximum occupancy is 3 kids.
Dimensions
10′ Width by 10′ Length by 9′ Height
Material
The jumping surface is made with durable material, but I wouldn’t let anyone jump with shoes on. Many people have reported they’re getting many years of use out of this bounce house.
Pros
- Blower Included
- Slide And Climbing Wall Built In
- Easy To Set Up
- Stakes, Repair Kit, And Carrying Case Included
Cons
- Takes Up Storage Space
- Only 3 Kids At A Time
12. Best High End: Wet Or Dry Mega Bounce House
This bounce house is a bit pricey, but it has all the bells and whistles. With 6 way box stitching in some areas, this is one durable bounce house. The weight limit is 1000 pounds and the maximum occupancy is 10 kids. Adults can even enjoy this bounce house. It comes with a sprinkler hose to turn the slide into a water slide.
Dimensions
29′ Width by 15′ Length by 15′ Height
Material
The bounce house is made out of highly durable PVC vinyl that has been double stitched with reinforced seams. Can withstand adults as well as kids.
Pros
- Very Durable
- Blower Included
- Repair Kit, Glue, And Stakes Included
- Fully Netted Safety Walls
- Inflates In Minutes
Cons
- Expensive
- Takes Up A Lot Of Storage Space