Is It Better to Buy or Rent a Bounce House?

It Depends

We know… we’re supposed to say “renting is better!” However, we thought is might be interesting for you to see what goes into buying, storing, using, and maintaining inflatables. Let’s dive in…

Rent or Buy?

Unless you use a bounce house multiple times over the course of the year, it’s probably best to rent. However, if you are curious about purchasing a bounce house of your own, this article will give you some info to consider during your research.  Please see the links at the bottom of this article for more info regarding liability, operational, & safety considerations for inflatables. We are not endorsing the purchase of a bounce house. This article exists for informational purposes only.

What to Consider

“How often do I plan on using the bounce house?”: If you plan on using a bounce house multiple times per year (more than 4 or 5), purchasing a bounce house might be cost effective move.  Some 2^nd hand bounce houses can be found on Facebook Marketplace at a reasonable price. As with all online purchases, do your due diligence before making a purchase. Keep in mind that the initial cost of the bounce house is one consideration among many. Bounce houses, like all things, must be cleaned, maintained, and stored to help ensure safe operation and maximum lifespan. Which leads us to another question to consider:

“Do I have the storage space for a bounce house?”: A standard 14’ x 14’ x 14’ (L x W x H) bounce house will take up roughly 3’ x 3’ x 4.5’ (L x W x H) of space when it is rolled up properly. Plenty of videos exist on YouTube that can show you how to roll a bounce house correctly. Such bounce houses can be stored in a modest-sized shed or in the corner of a garage. Now, another item of consideration:

“What accessories and tools do I need to move, clean, and maintain a bounce house?”: This question doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. So, here are the core items you’ll want if you decide to buy a bounce house rather than rent:

• A hand truck
• A foam sprayer with a garden hose attachment (for cleaning)
• Bounce house cleaning solution
• Bounce house sanitizing solution
• A garden hose (if your inflatable can be used wet, i.e. water slides)
• A cordless vacuum
• 12 AWG extension cord (no longer than 100ft)
• A tarp large enough to accommodate your bounce house (if one isn’t included with your purchase)
• A patch kit (if one isn’t included with your purchase)
• A blower that meets your inflatables’ HP (horsepower) requirements (if one isn’t included with your purchase)
• Absorbent towels (to dry off the bounce house after a wash)
• Mouse & rodent repellent (to protect the inflatable when stored)
• Vinyl weight bags or stakes (to anchor the inflatable)
• A sledgehammer or tamper (to drive stakes into ground)
• A foam “impact” mat (for the entrance of the bounce house)

The accessories alone can be quite expensive (plus they too need to be stored)! Next, the final question of this article:

“Is it really worth it?”: That is up to you! Bounce houses are just as much work as they are fun. They, like anything else, require upkeep and effort. The benefits of renting are that you simply get to enjoy the bounce house. You can relax and let us handle the “heavy lifting” (trust us, it’s heavy lifting).

There may be other things to consider that are not covered in this article (this article should not be seen as comprehensive). Do your due diligence before you make any decisions. And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us here.

Disclaimers

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DECIDE TO BUY A BOUNCE HOUSE, THOROUGHLY REVIEW ANY OPERATIONAL & SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE ASTM and SIOTO. Here are a couple of helpful links:

F2374 Standard Practice for Design, Manufacture, Operation, and Maintenance of Inflatable Amusement Devices

Inflatable Safety Crash Course for Your Party Rental Company With SIOTO – YouTube

This article is not intended to be used as an endorsement or recommendation of any kind. Should you decide to purchase an inflatable, you are fully responsible for any purchase and operation of an inflatable device.

Have other questions? Visit our FAQ page!