The Best Inflatable Bouncers

Buying Guide

What kid wouldn’t want their own bounce house? These days, they are pretty easy to come by, but it helps to do some research.

Like with any other children’s toy, the most important consideration with inflatable bouncers is safety. They can provide hours of fun, but it is vital to use them correctly. These inflatable toys are not inexpensive, but you may want to pay a little extra to get the best safety features.

Look for mesh siding to prevent falls on taller ones, thick, puncture-resistant materials and an easy installation. Some also include extras like soft dart boards and integrated basketball hoops.

Inflatable bouncers made for at-home use are generally designed for kids ages 3 to 12, but if the child is 3 or under, you shouldn’t have pit balls because they are choking hazards. Read the product description to see if it is designed for indoor use, outdoor use or both.

Also, look at the measurements; some are much larger than others, and the ones with slides take up more space. Bounce houses also have weight limits, so if you have more than one child, the inflatable should be large enough to accommodate everyone or else you’ll likely be in for some arguments!

The larger bounce houses come equipped with blowers, which are large fans that keep them inflated. You have to plug these into an outlet, so be aware of that when figuring out where your bounce house will be set up.

Most blowers are rated at 115 volts, so you can plug them into standard electrical outlets. The one-horsepower size is fine for small residential bouncy houses, but bigger ones may require a two-horsepower blower.

• You might be surprised to know it’s not expensive to run the blower for a bouncy house: It’s estimated to cost 13 to 15 cents an hour.
• Don’t let kids wear shoes, watches, jewelry or belts inside inflatable bouncers, and be sure they don’t have sharp objects like pins or keys.
• If a small group of kids is inside, they should be of a similar size and age to best avoid injury. Parental supervision is always recommended when young children are in bouncy houses.
• Somersaults, flips and other tricks inside inflatables are dangerous and should be avoided.
• If it is very windy outside, deflate the bouncy house and put it away until things calm down. Never use them when the winds are 20 mph or higher as they can get carried away in a gust.