9 Bounce Houses for Kids to Entertain (and Exhaust) Your Little Ones

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Whether you’re tired of renting commercial-size bounce houses from a company that charges exorbitant prices, or you just want your kids to think you’re rad (which you obviously are), buying a residential bounce house for kids is a great choice. They're also a spectacular gift for your kids or grandkids if you're looking to make a big impression at the holidays or on birthdays.

Owning your own jumper means there will always be something for kids to do during a birthday party, backyard barbeque, or even on a normal day when your kids need to get some energy out and you can’t/don’t want to take them anywhere. Under parental supervision, kids will cure their boredom and might actually willingly put down their devices to get their jump on.

What to Consider

Safety

Bounce houses for kids should always be placed on a flat surface, clear of any trees or electrical wires, and secured to the ground with stakes that are often included. If it’s used inside, make sure it has open spaces on all sides so kids don’t run into walls or furniture. (A minimum of 2 feet, but more is better.)

It’s always recommended to jump barefoot or wear non-slip socks to avoid slipping. If you plan to set up the bounce house outside, avoid using it in adverse weather conditions like wind or rain since wet surfaces can increase the risk of injuries, and wind can cause a bounce house to deflate or come up off the ground — “Wizard of Oz style.” For added protection, you can add a padded surface to the exit to keep kids from injuring themselves as they jump out or slide down, as well as a tarp underneath to help it stay clean.

“Inflatables are powered by blowers which provide naturally soft and bouncy landings for all the jumpers inside,” says Luke Hemsley, operations manager at Orange County Jumpers. “Most importantly, the protective nets surrounding them ensure the safety of children and prevent any accidental falls. Parents will have peace of mind knowing that their kids can have fun in a safe environment.”

Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer at Radio Flyer, also weighed in on safety, advising, "Kids should only jump in bounce houses when they are fully inflated and abide by the max capacity rules for the product." And that "Parents should also assemble and stake the product properly by following the provided instructions." Check them, double-check them, and then check them a third time. Perhaps the most important thing parents should do to keep kids safe is to "monitor kids closely while they are jumping."

As for the safety of blowers, even though all bounce house blowers are equipped with childproof protective covers, it’s still important to talk to your kids about blower safety, which entails steering clear and letting a grownup handle turning it on and off. You also need to make sure that the wattage of the blower is appropriate for the plug you are using to cut down on the risk of blowing your outlet.

Type

There are two main types of residential bounce houses for kids: standard bounce houses and bouncer combos. Standard bounce houses are what you’d imagine they’d be: an inflatable structure that typically has three or four sides with mesh walls that are used for jumping. A bouncer combo is a blend of a bounce house, inflatable slide, ball pit, or climbing wall. Not all bouncer combos feature all of these components, but they at least have two of them.

No matter what type of bounce house you buy, it’s important to note that you might notice air leaking from the seams, which is totally normal and necessary. Jumpers have constant air flow, so minimal leakage stops them from becoming over-inflated. The majority of these bounce houses are made of polyester or nylon but not the same weave as say — your LuLu pants. This is more on par with parachutes and life rafts.

Age Range

Residential bounce houses are made from lighter-duty material than commercial bounce houses, which is why they’re designed for kids. You can buy smaller bounce houses for toddlers, like the Action Air bounce house, which features a compact size, safety nets for protection, a lower-to-the-ground slide, and a softer surface for landing.

Depending on their physical development, older kids between 4 and 10 years old tend to enjoy bouncer combos because there’s more built-in entertainment and usually more space to play. Keep in mind that any child older than 10 might exceed the bounce house weight limit if they’re jumping with other kids around the same age, which can cause the structure to become unstable, increasing the risk of accidents.

Capacity

Even though kids may think the whole neighborhood can fit inside a bounce house, most are designed to hold between two and six kids. Weight limits generally range from 150 to 500 pounds. More kids than the recommended capacity is truly a recipe for disaster in terms of safety — the last thing you want is for kids to get injured from bonking into each other. That's why if you're gifting this to someone, you should consider the number of kids who will want to head inside.

It’s also best to stick to the capacity recommendations to ensure your bounce house will stay in working shape for as long as possible. After all, they aren’t cheap.

Price

You’ll find a wide range of prices for bounce houses, but the ones I’ve included on this list range from around $75 to $700. The more affordable bounce houses tend to offer fewer bells and whistles but are still durable and fun, while the pricier ones are often bigger and feature a combo of activities, like slides and ball pits, in addition to a jumping area.

How We Selected

During the height of the pandemic, I bought my then toddlers the Little Tikes Jr. Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer. I don’t want to sound dramatic, but it was some of the best money I’ve ever spent. I did a ton of research on bouncers, and that one seemed to be the best fit for my kids — 3 years later, it’s still in great shape and going strong.

To put together this list, I revisited my deep dive into bounce houses and chose based on what I think my own kids would enjoy, as well as their safety, price, and reviews from shoppers.

Jump right into the list below (see what I did there?) to find the perfect bounce house for your family.

Jr. Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer

Straight out of the box, the Little Tikes Jr. Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer is practically ready to be inflated with no assembly required. All you have to do is tie the jumper’s air tunnel to the included blower, plug it in and turn it on, wait a few seconds for it to inflate, and watch your kids live their best lives.

While it does inflate really fast, it takes longer to deflate unless you or your kids jump all over it to get the air out. It’s good to go after a few minutes, though. The slide is the perfect size for little ones but steep enough for older kids to have a great time. To add to the fun, the slide is wide enough for two kids to go down together. (Yes, that is living on the edge a bit, but I dare you to try to get two kids not to do that. Thankfully, you're right there.)

Every time I bring out this jumper for my kids, they go wild as if it’s brand new. We either set it up in the backyard in the grass and use the included stakes, or we put it in a large playroom in the house so I can get stuff done around the house while keeping an eye on them. My kids are now 6 and 4, and it still feels like the perfect size for them, plus a small friend or two. One person can fold the jumper and fit it inside the bag to be stored in the garage or a large closet, and it’s easy to throw in the car to take on a play date.

Having said that, the jumper folds nicely and fits into an included carry bag that comes with stakes and a blower. While not a deal-breaker for me, the blower is quite loud if you have it inside. The plus side is that it kind of drowns out any excessive squealing from the kiddos.

Overall, it’s a great entry-level bouncer for families with young kids and can be used for years to come.

Inflatable Jump-O-Lene

If you’re looking for a small bounce house that will tire out your younger kids and can be used indoors or outdoors, you’ll love Intex’s Inflatable Jump-O-Lene. The compact bounce house has a maximum capacity of two kids, and the crawl-through door is so close to the ground that you don’t have to worry about kids getting hurt while exiting.

Since the price of the jumper is so low, it makes sense that it wouldn’t come with a blower, but it doesn’t make it any less annoying that it doesn’t. To inflate the jumper, you need an electrical pump (like an air mattress pump), and there are four different areas to inflate. While the inflation process isn’t ideal, once it’s inflated, you don’t have to deal with a blower or wasting electricity.

Intex has consistently made our lists for their outdoor products, including our inflatable pool lists. They are a value brand that knows their audience and provides exactly what you expect for both the price and history of the brand. If you're looking for an affordable gift that packs a maximum punch? This is the one you want.

Medieval Bounce Castle

There’s a lot to love about the Bounceland Medieval Bounce Castle. It features a spacious jumping area along with two slides, which means potentially less arguing about who gets to go down first. It also has a ball pit that comes with 30 plastic balls for you to pick up from all over the yard after your kids are done playing. (Just kidding… kind of.)

The bounce house comes with a safe UL blower, and a long fill tube allows the blower to be placed up to 6 feet away from the bouncer and out of the kid play zone. Also included are two Velcro dart game balls and a basketball hoop that’s a little flimsy but works.

While the company doesn’t list the exact material used, it shows that it’s heavy-duty, puncture-proof, commercial material reinforced with double to quadruple stitching to avoid large air leaks.

This bounce house was sent to a tester last year, and they have had nothing but rave reviews about it, noting how easy it is to clean (crucial) and how much their kids love it. They did mention that this behemoth bounce house takes some time to inflate, but that's to be expected with something this substantial.

Food Bouncy House

It’s not every day you see a burger, Ketchup, and fries-themed bounce house, but here we are. The jumping area and top of the slide area in this combo bounce house are surrounded by mesh walls for safety, and the slide has tall sides to ensure kids don’t fall out.

It’s more affordable than many bounce house options and, in my opinion, the most unique in terms of the design. It doesn’t lack in appearance, and it certainly doesn’t lack in features. A blower is included, and unlike the Little Tikes bounce house, this blower is as quiet as a hair dryer.

The balls aren’t included for the ball pit, and unfortunately, it requires a lot of them. So, if you want to make good use of the ball pit, it’ll be an extra investment. But that being said, reviewers love this model. They love that it doesn't seem to die quickly or deflate while kids are jumping, even at a very slow pace (which you expect). It's just an all-around good choice.

Bounce House Rainbow Racer

There’s something about obstacle courses that kids can’t get enough of, and this bounce house from Yard is definitely a top pick among kids and parents.

A powerful 950-watt blower inflates this baby in less than 2 minutes, so the bounce house and your kids can be up and running in no time. Parents appreciate the mesh walls that make the jumper a safe space for kids to move fast without falling over the side. Since this jumper is meant for racing, it’s best to stagger the start times to avoid accidental collisions.

The obstacle course itself consists of a tunnel, a bouncy castle area, a climbing wall, and a slide that multiple kids can slide down at once. Once kids are done, they can do it all over again forever — or until they’re completely worn out, whichever comes first. We're betting on forever.

Inflatable Bounce House

Since toddlers have more energy than any other humans, this inflatable toddler jumper from Action Air will give you the break you probably need by keeping your little one busy. Its compact size makes it safe for toddlers to jump around independently while being the right size to place indoors so you can get stuff done while keeping an eye on your child.

The material is extra thick and of great quality, so even though your child will outgrow the jumper once they’re out of the toddler stage, it should remain intact to pass along to a friend or resell. If you're gifting it to family, it might just come back to you if your kids age into it as they grow out of it!

As is the case with many blowers, the one that’s included is on the noisy side. Older kids might be bummed that they can’t participate in the fun, but this jumper really is too small for kids older than 3.

Reviewers note that this bounce house is the perfect antidote to a rainy day. The combination of size and quality makes it an exceptional choice for families of wee ones.

Backyard Bouncer Jr.

The Radio Flyer Backyard Bouncer Jr. is a great way for your kids to get their energy out safely without worrying about them falling off something like a trampoline or outdoor play structure. Three mesh walls enclose the jumper and are very helpful at keeping kids inside, while a wide slide gives them a place to climb up and slide down — or, if they’re anything like my kids, summersault down and land inside whatever pillow-heavy fort they’ve built.

Parents say the setup is quick and easy, and the jumper won’t go anywhere when the included stakes are inserted into the ground. Toddlers might have a hard time staying upright on this one when older kids are jumping, so supervision is required for the little ones (big ones, too, but you won’t have to keep such a close eye on them).

The customer service for Radio Flyer is second-to-none. Whether you need to troubleshoot, order more parts, or talk through installation, there is someone there for you to help you through the process to ensure a safe and easy installation. That, my friends, is very rare.

White Bounce House

Bold primary colors aren’t for everyone, so if you prefer a bounce house that matches the aesthetics of your home, party, or inner dialogue, you’ll very much appreciate this all-white bounce house.

Since the jumper comes with a fancy balloon kit that includes 100 balloons along with balloon glue, tape, sticks, and a pump to create a balloon arch, it’s a great choice for a birthday party and saves you money on decorations.

The ball pit and balls are a nice touch, although if you want to fill up the space, you’ll need to purchase more balls like these that also happen to come in colors that aren’t offensive. A great thing about the ball pit is being able to fill it with water in the summer.

This is an aesthetic choice, for sure, but Step4Fun has made a commitment to quality, and its design and materials show it. This bounce house for kids may appease adult owners, but it was made for kids.

Bounce House With Sunroof

A highlight of this fun combo bounce house, aside from it looking like an actual house, is that it features tons of activities, including a basketball hoop, darts, ring toss, and a ball pit with 30 plastic balls. There’s a slide, a climbing area, a tunnel, and a side entrance, as well as mesh walls for protection.

The slide has an extra layer of material for durability, but that makes it a little harder to wipe down than the rest of the bounce house. Compared to other bounce houses, the bottom part of the slide on this one is larger, which prevents kids from flying off and the need for additional cushion at the bottom.

The setup takes about 10 minutes, which can cause some impatience with the kiddos, but hey, waiting is a learning opportunity for them, right? The breakdown takes a little longer at around 15 minutes for full deflation.

Just note that reviewers say it's a bit on the heavier side when you go to store it and that it's really tricky to fold up as small as it was when it arrived.

You Might Also Like

• The Paris Hilton Housewares Collection Brings ‘That’s Hot’ Energy to Your Kitchen

• 16 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Perfect for Rocking Out in Quiet Bliss

• Beyoncé Uses This $26 Amazon Product for Her Glossy Blonde Hair