The bouncy house is a plastic structure resembling a house that takes shape after pumping gas into it. It is also known as a bouncy castle, a bouncy castle, a closed inflatable trampoline (CIT) or a bouncy castle. It requires a permanent blower system that plugs into the mains and pumps air into the castle to keep it upright while in use. Usually installed outdoors, bouncy castles are primarily used for recreational purposes, especially to entertain children. However, they are also hired for social functions such as village festivals, church events and school functions. Most of the best bouncy castle models are shaped like a real fortress, with pillars, towers and flexible walls.

However, there is no shortage of models on the market. To narrow it down to 5 of the best bouncy castle models on the market, we have reviewed 40 castles that perform really well on the market and on comparison sites. The best model and, of course, the editor’s choice is the Blast Zone Magic Castle. We chose it for its high load capacity of 300lbs, quality stitching, 2 minute inflation time and more. To help you get the best, we offer 4 other bounce house models in our review section.

Important features we considered in our review, as you will see in the buying guide, include age and number of users, size, inflation time and the option of a fan. Sources used include expert opinions, user reviews, manufacturer/vendor information and other research. Divided into four sections, it includes a comparison table, detailed product reviews, a buying guide and, finally, a final recommendation or verdict on the best products.

The 5 best bouncy houses

Blast Zone Magic Castle

The Blast Zone Magic Castle is constructed from high-strength polyester. The manufacturer supplements it with commercial-standard impact PVC in high-traffic areas such as the drop zone. This provides nine times the strength of an ordinary residential inflatable. Blastzone also incorporates two- and four-thread seams, a seven-step quality control process and a unique threading system for superior durability in the event of a break.

It is indeed designed for the entertainment of the little ones in the house. The Blastzone model is an ideal inflatable for yards, gardens or indoor rooms. With it, children can enjoy any type of gathering with their friends to play and have fun in complete safety. It is recommended for children from 3 to 8 years old.

The play castle comes with a complete set of accessories to facilitate the use of the inflatable. It comes with a repair kit with patches and wire and a state-of-the-art 50hz 480w inflator. In addition, it comes with 4 pegs and a strong bag for transport.

It is very easy to set up, so you can do it yourself and store it once it has been used. The size of the deflated product corresponds to a rolled up sleeping bag, making it easy to store. It can hold up to 300lbs. It is recommended to be used for up to 3 children at a time, the maximum weight per child being 100lbs. Its small size makes it one of the best indoor bouncy castle models.

PicassoTiles

PicassoTiles is not just a bouncy castle. It is a real playground with several activities that will be very interesting for your children. Thanks to this, your little ones will be able to enjoy the sensations of jumping on the trampoline and sliding down the slide. This will keep them entertained for a long time as summer arrives.

These activities are ideal for children over 3 years old. The dimensions of this playground are 12 feet long, 10 feet wide and 7 feet high and are suitable for this age group. This product is neither too big nor too small to fit properly in your garden. Capable of supporting loads of 250lbs, it can accommodate three children simultaneously. In addition, the equipment also comes with its own permanent blower, which ensures that the structure will not collapse on children or become unbalanced during use.

For safety’s sake, you may prefer to dismantle the castle when the day is over. The manufacturer has thought of this too. What sets this model apart from other bouncy castles is that it is very quick and easy to set up and take down. Without much effort, you can set it up in just a few minutes. The impatient ones will be delighted. And when the children are no longer using it, it doesn’t take long to uninstall it either. Once disassembled, the playground can be easily stored in the bag that is provided with the product.

The brand also offers a repair kit, just in case. This product is also very robust thanks to its resistant manufacturing material. It is made of reinforced plastic fabric that will withstand frequent jumping and sliding by children. It has a built-in basketball ring for children who like to dunk and slam. In addition, it comes with four sports balls, a football, a baseball, a basketball and a football ball.

Little Tikes Jr. Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer

The Little Tikes Jump n’ Slide is a bouncy castle that has a slide at the same time. It is a fun place where children can adopt many ideas. Suitable for two children, the bouncy castle is designed so that two children can jump and slide down the slide simultaneously. For safety reasons, it has high walls with mesh for ventilation. It has a 7×7 inch jumping area which may not be suitable for more than two children.

The installation of this house is simple and takes only a few minutes. You don’t need to be a professional or have any specific experience to do it. Suitable for installation outside the home, this model is powered by a continuous electric blower. This product can accommodate up to 2 children simultaneously so they can have fun together.

Its dimensions indicate a length of 10 feet, a width equivalent to 7 feet and a height that is only 5 feet. This shows that the model is not too bulky. Although it is designed for outdoor use, its dimensions and user recommendations show that it is the best bouncy house for home use, especially in winter, if you have the space. To ensure practical storage, this equipment comes with a bag. This makes it easier to move or store when not in use.

Overall, this is one of the best bouncy houses with a slide model you can get for your children.

Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer+

The largest bouncy castle with the most occupancy, the Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer is the best commercial bouncy castle in this pack. Available in commercial grade sizes and vinyl materials, the bouncer is designed to accommodate at least 6 children at a time.

When your children play, they have a relaxing, entertaining and fun time with the option of choosing between several games.

Despite its size, the item can be inflated in a maximum of 3 minutes as it is provided with a blower. The maximum load it can carry is 600lbs. This means that you can fit about 6 children between the ages of 3 and 10 in it.

In addition, it has an overall length of 12 feet, a width of 15 feet and a height of only 7 feet. Its moderate height allows it to be used indoors. Keep in mind that this is a bouncy castle that can also be deployed for commercial and outdoor use. It can be used at festivals, as well as for school events.

The bouncer is reinforced with X-fabric and double and quadruple stitches to prevent gas leaks. The bouncy castle is surrounded by a safety net. It has a soft texture to prevent abrasion. Finally, the set comes with a blower, an instructional kit available as a manual and DVD, carrying straps, a spray system and anchor pegs.

YARD Bounce House Dual Slide

The YARD Dual Slide bouncy house is a bouncy castle with the best bouncy floor among the best bouncy house reviews here. However, what makes it different from the other items in this guide is that it comes with various features that can make the fun feel more interesting. You can buy it if you are looking for a model that comes with a double slide and rails.

It is easier to install or repair if necessary. Its dimensions are 12.1 feet long, 8.5 feet wide and 6.9 feet high. These values show that this material offers plenty of space to entertain up to 4 children over the age of 3. This makes it a commercial grade bounce house. It has a weight capacity of 250lbs with a play area of 6.5×6.5 inches.

Although it is a residential bounce house, the moonwalk has high quality nylon-polyester materials and seams, making it easy to move anywhere without fear of damage. It is ideal for use outdoors, inside the house, in a large living room or in the backyard. It can be used at a family reunion, school party, birthday party or any event you want to keep the kids occupied. You can even invite the kids next door for extra fun.

The set includes a blower, user manual, repair kit, carry bag and pegs.

Advantages and disadvantages of bouncers

There are many advantages to buying a bouncy castle for your children. But there are also some disadvantages that you should consider before you buy one. Will these discourage you from getting one for your child? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of letting your children enjoy some playtime in a bouncy castle with an objective analysis.

The pros

Improving balance and coordination

The bouncy castle is one of the best ways for children to develop their physical performance while enjoying an outdoor play area. The bouncy castle is a flexible structure that allows children to work on their balance and strengthen their leg muscles. It is also a structure that incorporates different types of activities that will allow them to walk, run, jump, climb, slide and jump into a ball pool or water pool. What could be better for children than to effectively practice a physical activity that combines leisure, personal and mental development?

Safe fun

Most of the best bouncy castles are fully safe, high quality and certified, and are safe for children, provided of course that they are within the age range indicated on the model. It’s a structure that will easily take place in your garden. In the summer, your children will enjoy playing outside while enjoying the sun. In winter, most are suitable for indoor use. This makes it easier for you to keep an eye on them. With a bouncy castle, you can avoid taking them to the park, at least not as regularly as before. Indoors, you can also keep an eye on their activities while you do your chores. It’s also a completely plush structure, with no hard or sharp parts that could hurt the little ones. And for their safety, some models have side nets that prevent them from falling off the bouncing surface when jumping. Examples of safe inflatables with side nets for protection and ventilation include the Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer and the YARD Bounce House Dual Slide.

Promotes social interaction

Bouncing on an inflatable is an activity where children can have fun on their own; however, it’s also perfect for getting together with friends to play. It’s a form of socialising, and a bouncy castle is a great value for parties and celebrations. You can invite children from the neighbourhood or family. With a bouncy castle, children will be entertained and play together, slowly learning some social skills.

The disadvantages

Possibility of accidents, although rare

Without supervision, a bouncy castle may not be safe for hyperactive children. There have been reports of children jumping off the bouncy castle, resulting in injury. That’s why you need to make sure they meet safety standards, such as the option of side fencing. In addition, the entrance should be as small as possible to avoid such problems. Finally, make sure you keep an eye on them when they are playing in a bouncy castle.

Features to consider when buying the best bouncy castle

This special part of the buying guide will help you to decide which model is best suited to your needs. In this section, we will focus more on the age of your children, the size, the number of users and the weight capacity, among others.

Age

As our reviews of residential bouncers have shown, bouncy castles are primarily play structures for children. Although we have seen some adult users say they can’t resist joining in the fun. Although most castles are recommended for children aged 3 and over, you may find one for a younger age group. For example, if you have a 2 year old, you don’t need to make him wait until he reaches his third year. The Little Tikes Jr. Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer is one of the best bouncy houses for children aged 2 years and above. Meanwhile, many castle manufacturers will list the 3 to 8 year old range as qualified users. However, there are models that can occupy children up to the age of 10.

Occupancy

In addition to age, the occupancy details of your bouncy castle are there to check if you are within the ideal weight capacity range set by the manufacturer. When choosing a bouncy castle, the right number of occupants depends on how many children you have. There are bouncy castles that are designed to hold 2 children. Commercial bouncy castles, which can accommodate birthday parties and reunions, are generally larger. These can accommodate up to 4 to 8 children at a time. The Blast Zone Big Ol bouncy castle really does fall into the category of high occupancy bouncy castle (up to 6).

Size

The size of your bouncy castle will depend mainly on the space you have in your garden. The bigger your yard, the more room you have for a giant bouncy castle that will delight your little ones. However, you should also think about the number of children who will enjoy it at the same time. In general, the larger the structure, the more users it will be able to accommodate. The smallest models are usually the simplest or those designed for babies aged 3 years. They are just under 3 metres long. Then there are the medium-sized models, like the PicassoTiles bouncy castle, which can be up to 12 feet long and 10 feet wide. And finally, there are the giant castles that are between 13 and 17 feet long and wide, with a height of almost 2 metres. In all cases, we advise you to always refer to the maximum load supported by the equipment, as well as the age indicated on it.

Blower and other accessories

In order not to end up with a structure bought at an exorbitant price and yet difficult to install, use, repair or even of poor quality, it is essential to check its accessories.

Weight capacity

As mentioned earlier, the weight capacity of a bouncy castle is closely related to the size and number of occupants. For use at home by up to 4 children, choose a model that indicates a weight capacity of up to 400lbs. Manufacturers often recommend that each child using the product should weigh no more than 100lbs. So, with this in mind, you can easily have more children if they weigh less than the recommended weight for each user. However, this will depend on the dimensions of the castle. Anyway, for residential use, depending on the number of users, you can find models weighing between 250 and 400 pounds. However, if you need a commercial or professional grade bouncy castle, there are models that can handle a maximum weight of 400 kg. It all depends on how many children you have, for example, on our list the Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer has a maximum weight capacity of 600lbs, which can already be considered a commercial grade bounce house.

Safety features

Safety is certainly the most important consideration for parents when it comes to recreational equipment for their children. This is why, before you decide on a particular model, we recommend that you make sure there are side nets around the edges of the structure, the same precautions apply to trampolines. This is to prevent little ones from being accidentally thrown out of it while jumping.

The best bouncy castle for babies is also one that has a roof that can protect them from the sun’s rays, especially when it is too hot. You should also look at the quality of the blowing system to prevent the structure from deflating and trapping your children inside. As for the models equipped with a water pool, you should keep a watchful eye on the little ones.

Guarantee

We have encountered many models that have started to develop air leaks after a few days of use. They should be returned, repaired or thrown away. The first solution is always preferable for every consumer. Bouncers are playhouses that can break down at any time, especially if you buy a product from an unreliable and unpopular brand. So, to save your money in the event of a mishap, make sure the model you choose has at least a one-year warranty – limited or full, as you’ll see with the Big Ol Bouncer from Blast Zone. The latter is rarely offered, but can be found in higher quality inflatables. A 90-day warranty can still be considered a good deal, but don’t consider a product without a warranty. In addition to warranty offers, read customer reviews of the brand. Try to find out what they say about the responsiveness of its customer service. A warranty offer from a non-responsive brand is just as useless as a model without a warranty.

Price

Like any other type of product, the price of almost all bouncy castles generally reflects the quality, type and capacity. Most of the products in this review are reasonably priced. However, the quality of the bouncy castle will largely determine the price you pay. If you have a small budget and between two and three children, the best residential bouncy castle for you would be the Magic Castle from Blast Zone, for example. Do you need a commercial grade castle or do you want the best water bounce house with a slide or park? Then be prepared to pay double the normal price.

Additional Features

The full product features and necessary accessories should be included in the package. But apart from that, you may need to check some additional features. These can be considered as the swinging features for your children. They will always enjoy, for example, bouncy houses with integrated hoops, sports balls, as you can see on the PicassoTiles bouncy castle, a ball pool, a water pool and a slide.

How to maintain a bouncy castle

Like other inflatables, the bouncy castle is exposed to rain, high temperatures and the immediate environment. These factors influence its lifespan. It therefore requires regular cleaning to keep it looking its best. Here are some practical tips for cleaning your bouncy castle.

Washing the surface of the bouncy castle

The bouncy castle should be cleaned while it is inflated. Use an antibacterial cleaning product to clean the surface. Avoid corrosive soaps. Most bouncers have a protective layer. This protects them from fire. The use of corrosive soap will destroy this layer irreversibly.

It is best to combine your cleaning product with lukewarm water. You can use a sponge to obtain a better shine. Some stains can be difficult to remove, especially mould. In this case, the method to use is as follows:

Get an anti-mould product;

Spray the product on the affected area;

Leave the product to work for a few minutes;

Clean the sprayed area with a sponge and water;

Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

Cleaning the corners of the castle

Children will tend to bring objects inside the giant bouncy castle. These include leaves, bits of plastic, rubbish, etc. These should be removed with a hose or a rake. These should be removed with a simple broom or telescopic handle. Concentrate on the nooks and crannies as well. Dust settles quickly in these inaccessible areas. With a hoover, you can remove sand and dirt from these parts of the bouncy castle.

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You can then use a garden hose to wet the inside of the bouncy castle. Sponge and cleaning products can also be used to a lesser extent. It is important not to damage the painted decorations. If you are renting, this may result in additional costs.

Dry with a clean cloth

Once you have finished cleaning the interior and exterior of your castle, you should dry it. To do this, use a clean, dry cloth. Run it over the different parts to reduce the moisture. We strongly advise against dismantling your castle without allowing it to dry. This can lead to the development of mould.

After drying and deflating your bouncy castle, you can sprinkle it with a little baking soda. This is an effective technique for preventing mould. Your bouncy castle should be cleaned regularly. It can be done just before dismantling.

What should I remember? To clean your bouncy castle, you must take care of the surface and the corners. It is important to choose non-abrasive products to avoid damaging the structure. After washing, the bouncy castle should be dried before being dismantled.

Our verdict

Bounce houses can have different designs dedicated to personal development and children’s entertainment. It can be a bouncing surface, a slide, climbing walls, a ball pool, a basketball hoop or even a water pool. So our verdict on the best models in this review is: the Blast Zone Magic Castle is the best bounce house model we have found on the market. This is due to its high quality construction material and seams, its medium size and its weight capacity, which can support up to three children. However, if you want a model with popular features, then your children will love the PicassoTiles bouncy castle which comes with a hoop and sports balls. Finally, if you’re on a budget but want a durable bouncy castle that can accommodate 2 children for fun, choose the Little Tikes model.