8 Best Bounce Houses in 2024

The best bounce houses provide awesome bouncing fun for kids while burning off loads of energy and helping develop their social skills. Why pay hundreds of dollars to rent one for a day when you can buy it for use all summer long!

But there are so many different models on the market that it’s hard to find the right one for your kids. Don’t worry, we’re here to help!

We have carefully reviewed dozens of inflatable bouncers to select the best 8 models in 2024. From small inflatables and water slides for toddlers to monster party houses for up to eight kids at a time, there’s a perfect bounce house here for every backyard.

You’ll find our three top picks below, followed by a quick comparison table of all 8 inflatables. Then a review of each model in more detail. After the reviews we have a Buying Guide on what you need to look for when buying a bounce house, then we answer your most popular FAQs.

Ultimate Choice

Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer

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Best Water Bouncer

Little Tikes Rocky Mountain

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Budget Choice

PicassoTiles Inflatable Bouncer

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Best Bounce House – Quick Comparison

The selected bounce houses below are in roughly ascending order of size and maximum number of users. After the table we then review each inflatable in the same order, to make comparing them easier.

If you’re on a small screen, click on the green plus sign, or the little picture of each bouncer, to see more features.

	Name	Max No. of Users	Max Total User Weight	Exterior Size When Inflated	Price
	PicassoTiles KC102	3	250 lbs	12′ D x 10′ 6″ W x 5′ 4″ H	$
	Blast Zone Magic Castle	3	300 lbs	11′ 4″ D x 8′ 8″ W x 7′ 7″ H	$$
	Little Tikes Shady Jump n Slide	3	250 lbs	12′ D x 9′ W x 6′ H	$$
	Little Tikes Rocky Mountain	4	350 lbs	13′ 5″ D x 14′ 1″ W x 8′ 7″ H	$$$$
	Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer	6	600 lbs	15′ D x 12′ W x 7′ H	$$$
	Blast Zone Pirate Bay	8	500 lbs	20′ D x 12′ W x 8′ H	$$$
	Cloud 9 Commercial Grade	8	800 lbs	17′ D x 13′ W x 14′ H	$$$$$
	Blast Zone Little Bopper	2	150 lbs	6′ D x 6′ W x 5′ H	$$

8 Best Bounce Houses in 2024 – Reviews

If you want to find the best bounce house for your backyard (or indoors in some cases) these reviews will help you make the right choice.

1. PicassoTiles KC102 12×10 Foot Inflatable Bounce House

Best Budget Bounce House

• Exterior size when inflated: 12′ D x 10′ 6″ W x 5′ 4″ H
• Max Total User Weight: 250 lbs
• Max number of users: 3
• Recommended Age: 3+ years

The PicassoTiles KC102 is a small inflatable jumper and usually the cheapest here. But it still has some neat extra features and is well constructed from high-quality toxic-free material. If you’re looking for a compact bouncer that won’t take up the whole backyard, it is great value for young kids (check price at Amazon).

When fully inflated it is only 12×10 foot and just over 5 foot tall which is a small footprint compared to many inflatable monsters. But this means it can easily be used indoors too if the weather is poor. Remember to allow some extra space in front of the slide so little ones don’t slide into a wall…

Although this is a budget option, there are still some cool features like a built-in basketball rim for dunking fun. 4 sports balls are included (basketball, baseball, football and soccer Ball) and a large side pocket provides somewhere to store shoes, water bottles or accessories.

It’s not lacking in safety features either. There is a retractable shade cover to provide little ones with some shade in the hot summer sun and the jumping area is surrounded by mesh netting walls for safety. Ground stakes are included to ensure the inflatable doesn’t go bouncing across the yard.

Set up is easy as the included 525W blower inflates it in under 2 minutes. It is equally easy to deflate after use and folds up into the included storage carry bag.

The manufacturer recommends this inflatable jump house for up to three children aged 3 plus. Most users say it is a fantastic size for 2 to 8 year olds and can accommodate more than 3 toddlers at once if their combined weight is under 250 lbs.

For several larger kids we’d recommend the heavier duty Blast Zone Magic Castle instead (see review no. 4 below) which has a 300 lbs weight limit. It can easily hold more than 3 toddlers at once but it is a bit bigger and more expensive.

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2. Blast Zone Magic Castle Inflatable Bounce House

Best Bounce House for Toddlers

• Exterior size when inflated: 11′ 4″ D x 8′ 8″ W x 7′ 7″ H
• Max Total User Weight: 300 lbs
• Max number of users: 3
• Recommended Age: 3 to 12 years

The Blast Zone Magic Castle is a very well made classic bounce castle with a front entry slide. Although the jump floor area is relatively small (7′ x 7′) it has super high ratings from many happy buyers, at a reasonable cost (check price at Amazon).

Kids won’t be kept waiting long to start playing as it inflates in under 2 minutes. Deflating takes just a little longer to get all the air out but it rolls up into the size of a sleeping bag, ready to store in the included carry case.

There are good reasons why so many buyers give it such awesome ratings. The bounce floor is made from reinforced, commercial-grade vinyl with double and quadruple stitching for longevity. Some users have owned one for 6 years and it is still going strong.

Ground stakes keep the structure stable even when the most energetic kids use it. The Magic Castle also has 4 mesh sides for safety – the front mesh opens and closes with Velcro strips and toddlers can use the front slide for easy entry.

The manufacturer recommends this bounce castle for up to three children aged 3 to 12. Most users say it is a good size for 2 to 10 year olds although older kids shouldn’t bounce at the same time as toddlers. As long as the total 300 lbs weight limit is not exceeded, it can easily accommodate more than 3 toddlers at once.

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3. Little Tikes Shady Jump n Slide Bouncer

Best Indoor or Outdoor Inflatable with Sun Shade

• Exterior size when inflated: 12′ D x 9′ W x 6′ H
• Max Total User Weight: 250 lbs
• Max number of users: 3
• Recommended Age: 3 to 8 years

The aptly named Little Tikes Shady Jump n Slide Bouncer has an arched shade canopy for safer bouncy fun in the sun! It is large enough for up to 3 young kids to enjoy playing on at the same time but small enough to fit in most backyards or indoors (check price at Amazon).

The heavy-duty blower with GFCI plug can inflate this bouncer in a couple of minutes. As it is only 12′ x 9′ and 6′ tall it will fit into a large indoor room for energetic bouncing on cold or wet days. Remember to allow extra space in front of the slide so toddlers have room to slide off safely.

The inside bounce zone is about 7′ by 6′ so has room for kids to jump along with several friends and is surrounded on 3 sides by mesh netting for safety. No mesh is needed at the front because the slide there is full width for an easy and safe exit. Ground stakes are included to ensure the bouncer stays where you put it.

Little Tikes recommend this inflatable bouncer for up to three kids aged 3 – 8 years old which is about right for the size of the bouncing area. Older kids can play on it but watch they don’t weigh more than the 250 lbs total weight capacity or they won’t bounce much at all!

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4. Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race Inflatable

Best Bounce House with Water Slides

• Exterior size when inflated: 13′ 5″ D x 14′ 1″ W x 8′ 7″ H
• Max Total User Weight: 350 lbs
• Max number of users: 4
• Recommended Age: 5 to 10 years

The Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race is an inflatable water bouncer with two slides, a climbing wall and a splash pool. There’s plenty to keep kids happy – a warm sunny day helps of course! It can hold 4 kids at once with up to 350 lbs total weight. For a water bouncer, you get good bang for your buck too (check price at Amazon).

Kids can climb up the central wall, watching out for the surprise dump bucket that pours water on them from the top 😉 Then they can race down one of the 2 slides, finishing up in the extra wide splash pool at the bottom. It can even be used dry too, but long trousers are a must to avoid fabric ‘rug’ burns.

The bouncer comes with ground stakes to keep it in place and a heavy-duty blower with a GFCI plug (a fast-acting circuit breaker for safety). You also receive a repair kit for any accidental punctures and a storage bag to protect the bouncer over winter.

As this inflatable bouncer has an 8 inch deep splash pool, for safety reasons the manufacturer recommends it for kids aged 5 – 10 years old. While many users say that their toddlers under 5 play happily on it, parents should supervise them at all times to avoid any risk of drowning.

There is one downside to a water slide bouncer – you need to be especially careful about storing it. After deflating and emptying all water, it is a good idea to leave it in the sun for a couple of hours to dry completely. If you store it damp it is likely to suffer from mold or rot.

The Rocky Mountain River Race is our top choice for an inflatable water slide. It’s an instant hit with enough fun features to keep little ones, and their friends, squealing with fun for hours.

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5. Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer Inflatable Moonwalk

Ultimate Choice

• Exterior size when inflated: 15′ D x 12′ W x 7′ H
• Max Total User Weight: 600 lbs
• Max number of users: 6
• Recommended Age: 3+

As the name suggests, the Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer bounce house is a very large inflatable. It is a semi-commercial grade for a longer lifespan and is our top pick for outdoor family bouncing fun. Up to 6 kids can enjoy it at the same time, including teens or even their ‘big kid’ parents!

While it costs more than some (check price at Amazon), it is great value for such a large and heavy duty bounce house. Compared to renting an inflatable this size, it should more than pay for itself after just a few days of use.

Setting up the Big Ol Bouncer is a breeze as the included 680W blower inflates it in under 2 minutes. It is equally easy to deflate after use and folds up into the included carrying case – the size of a large sleeping bag. If you have a large enough room or basement it could even be used indoors. But it is 7 foot tall so make sure you have spare headroom!

An instruction manual and DVD provide simple step by step setup and safety rules so you can get going quickly. Little ones won’t have to wait long before they can start jumping.

Kids will love the generous 10 square foot bounce zone as they can bounce along with several friends. Parents will love that it is fully enclosed by soft safety netting (to prevent abrasion if kids bounce into it). There is also a small slide/ramp at the front for safer entry.

With solid construction and enough weight capacity for plenty of kids to bounce on, this is sure to be a birthday party favorite for many years to come – it is the best bounce house for home use.

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6. Blast Zone Pirate Bay Inflatable Water Park

Biggest Water Slide Inflatable

• Exterior size when inflated: 20′ D x 12′ W x 8′ H
• Max Total User Weight: 500 lbs
• Max number of users: 8
• Recommended Age: 3+

The Blast Zone Pirate Bay is a huge inflatable water slide with a cool pirate theme. It does cost a lot more than the Little Tikes River Race (review no. 4 above). But this water park has many more features and a much larger number of kids can play on it at once (check price at Amazon).

It features 2 water spray canons that kids can target on marauding pirate attackers. Fortunately the spray isn’t powerful enough to upset little ones – it’s more like a small garden sprinkler. Built in flow-restriction helps minimize water wastage.

Kids will also have fun exploring the crawl tunnel and playing on the bouncer section (which has safety netting). They can whizz down the water slide and splash down into the extra large splash pool which is also great for paddling. The slide can easily support up to a 10 year old, maybe older.

Despite its name, this ‘water park’ can be used dry instead if the weather is too cold for toddlers to get wet, although the slide isn’t very slippery without water. Some parents throw bags of plastic balls in and kids have great fun playing in it. Long trousers are a good idea to avoid fabric ‘rug’ burns.

The bouncer comes with ground stakes to keep the structure in place although it is so large it doesn’t move too much on its own. Despite the size of this water park (20′ long), the heavy-duty blower with 25′ cord can inflate it in under 2 minutes.

As with the Little Tikes Water Slide, after emptying all the water, it is a good idea to leave it in the sun for a couple of hours to dry completely. If you store it damp it is likely to suffer from mold or rot.

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7. Cloud 9 Commercial Grade Sports Bounce House

Best Commercial Grade Inflatable

• Exterior size when inflated: 17′ D x 13′ W x 14′ H
• Max Total User Weight: 800 lbs
• Max number of users: 8
• Recommended Age: 3 to 11 years

This sports themed bounce house from Cloud 9 is an exceptionally heavy duty commercial grade inflatable, constructed from 100% PVC vinyl for extra strength. It is no surprise that it is the most expensive here but, compared to hiring one, it could pay for itself after just a few uses (check price at Amazon).

In fact many users report that it is just as good as similar sized inflatable houses that you can rent for $150 – $300 per day. Some buyers are small businesses such as daycare and pre-school who use it several times a week for dozens of kids, saving a fortune compared to renting.

Other buyers use it to set up their own small business and hire the bouncer out during the summer months, not just offsetting the cost but making a decent profit too.

But what about the bounce house itself? It is much heavier than the other inflatables here, weighing in at 147 lbs. You’ll likely need 2 adults to move it into position in the backyard. However it inflates just as quickly as the others, thanks to a hugely powerful 1200W blower.

Inside the inflatable, a 30″ tall mattress provides awesome springiness for higher bounces and there’s a basketball hoop for dunking. A full roof protects kids from the sun and, for extra safety, the roof features an escape hatch. This enables kids to get out quickly if there was a power failure and the house deflated around them.

But what really distinguishes it as a commercial grade is the huge maximum weight capacity of 800 pounds in total – two or three times as much as most inflatables here. This allows up to 8 children to play inside it at once – it’s fantastic for birthday parties and events with a large number of kids.

At 17′ x 13′ it’s not too big for backyards but the height of 14′ means it can’t be used indoors. Four 12″ heavy duty metal ground stakes help secure the bouncer to the ground and instructions plus a repair kit with patches are included.

The main rival here is our top pick – Blast Zone’s Big Ol Bouncer (see review no. 5 above). However the Cloud 9 is a fully commercial grade bouncer and is larger, much taller, has a higher weight capacity and a roof for protection from the sun.

The only reasons we haven’t made it our top choice are that it’s usually about $200 more expensive than the Big Ol Bouncer and it may be too heavy for a single person to set out and store.

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8. Blast Zone Little Bopper

Smallest Bouncer for Little Ones

• Exterior size when inflated: 6′ D x 6′ W x 5′ H
• Max Total User Weight: 150 lbs
• Max number of users: 2
• Recommended Age: 3 to 6 years

The Blast Zone Little Bopper bounce house is the most compact jump inflatable here and is super portable. It only weighs about 28 pounds so is easy for just one person to move around or put in the car. It offers a quick way for up to 2 toddlers to bounce around safely, either indoors or outdoors (check price at Amazon).

The jump area is relatively small at just 20 square foot but that’s large enough for two little ones to enjoy and the bounce floor is fully enclosed by soft safety netting. The front slide is also a safe height for toddlers at just 18″ high.

This bouncer is only 6′ x 6′ and 5′ high so is ideal for indoor bouncing, even in a small room, but is equally at home outdoors. Setting up is quick as it inflates in less than a minute and, when the blower is turned off, it deflates into the size of a rolled up sleeping bag.

Blast Zone recommends it for up to 2 children aged 3 to 6 with a weight capacity of 75 lbs per child. If you need something larger for kids parties then it’s not for you. But if you want a lightweight but strong inflatable for toddlers that is super portable and can be used all year round, this is a great choice.

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Bounce House Buying Guide

What You Need to Look For in a Bounce House

Some of the most important things to think about if you want to buy the best inflatable bouncer for your kids include:

How Large is it and How Many Kids can it Hold?

You’ll need to make sure it fits into your backyard (or room if using indoors). Remember to allow for some extra space all around, especially in front of a slide. Although all sizes are similarly quick to inflate and deflate, larger bounce houses weigh a lot more and are more bulky when stored so are not as easily portable.

The 8 models we have reviewed accommodate between 2 and 8 kids and support a maximum weight of 150 to 800 lbs. Buying one that is larger than you need right now isn’t a problem if you have the space and budget. But buying too small for the number or age/weight of kids who will use it in future is a false economy.

How Much Does a Bounce House Cost?

Most bounce houses for residential, backyard use cost about $250 to $500. The price depends mainly on their size, features and how many kids they can accommodate. The outliers are large semi-pro or pro commercial grade inflatables that cost $600 to $1,000 for a standard size or $2,000 to $3,000 for a really large model for parks or fairs.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to one, or you haven’t enough space, why not let your kids bounce away their energy on one of the awesome pogo sticks that we reviewed recently? We included pogos suitable for all ages but our top pick for 5 to 9 year olds was cheap and can be used anywhere.

Residential vs Commercial Grade Bounce Houses

In some respects you do get what you pay for. Commercial grade inflatable bouncers are designed for regular daily or rental use so they support more kids at once, are made of heavier duty fabric, have longer warranties and should last longer.

They can be an ideal ‘buy once, buy well’ purchase for large families, frequent kids parties, sharing the cost with friends or even setting up a small business and hiring one out yourself. But, apart from the higher price, they do have some disadvantages.

First, although they inflate and deflate as quickly as residential bouncers, they are typically much heavier. For example, the Cloud 9 Commercial Grade (review no. 7 above) weighs 147 lbs so may need two adults to move it around and packing it up is a real pain.

Second, the Cloud 9 also has a 1200W blower – more than twice the power of most residential units. This is good for durability (as the blower is less likely to burn out with regular use) but it does use twice the electricity…

Are Bounce Houses Safe?

We all love to see our kids enjoying themselves but are bounce houses safe? The answer is, it depends – mostly on us parents…

A study of bounce house injuries in 2018 by the Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics reported that the main risk factors were:

• Lack of effective adult supervision! Only 28% of parents said they were supervising while the child was jumping…
• Shared use of the bouncer by too many kids of different ages and weights

We don’t want to wrap kids up in cotton wool and there is an element of risk in all outdoor play. But there are easy ways for parents to greatly reduce the risk of injury to their kids:

1. Supervise kids using the bouncer at all times – to enforce the points below and also to stop kids taking silly risks such as somersaults and flips
2. Make sure that too many kids don’t use it at the same time – keep below the maximum number of users recommended by the manufacturer
3. Don’t allow kids of very different ages and weights to bounce together – energetic larger kids can easily bounce into little ones and injure them accidentally
4. Make sure the inflatable is properly staked down to flat ground – don’t set one up in high winds
5. If using indoors, weigh it down with sandbags to keep it fixed in place

Inflatable Bounce Houses FAQ