Bounce houses make your event fun. But how much to rent a bounce house or should I just buy one is a common question. Read on to get the answer.
Did your last event flop, and your guests’ kids were all over the place, disrupting the party?
That’s enough reason to look for a better way to keep the kids engaged at your next event.
Well, if that’s your aim, you should try a bounce house. It’s one way you can add extra fun to your party.
You could either rent or buy one for the event, whichever way you want it.
But you have to know how much to rent a bounce house and how much it costs to buy one, so you know what your budget can go for.
In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the cost of a bounce house rental and whether you should buy one for your event!
How Much to Rent a Bounce House?
Bounce houses are very common and are mostly used at large events.
But the good thing is that you can rent a bounce house for any reason!
If your family is planning special occasions, like a birthday party or a family reunion, you can decide to rent bounce houses.
Also, if you are planning a DIY wedding, running child-friendly weddings, or just want to make the bachelor’s/bachelorette party have some flair of fun, a bounce house is a good idea for such.
We’ve outlined several situations where they can be useful, but regardless, knowing the cost is what is more important.
That’s why the first question bounce house rental businesses get is how much to rent a bounce house.
The cost for renting actually depends on the type of inflatable you choose.
Generally, it should cost between $100 and $500 per day, excluding delivery and set-up.
According to Beyond Tent, it costs an average rental fee of $202.3. Also, the cost differs based on the state you’re in.
For instance, here are the rental costs for these states in the US for up to 6 hours:
- Los Angeles, CA: $220
- Miami, FL: $209
- Manhattan, NY: $215
- Cheyenne, WY: $195
- Austin, TX: $199
- Missoula, MT: $179
Types of Bounce Houses for Parties and Their Rental Prices
Some special or themed bounce houses are more expensive, and they cost about $800 per day.
You don’t need to rent a specialty or themed bounce house for most parties and events.
To save cost, here are the kinds of inflatable bounce houses you can rent for events, like birthday parties and so on:
1. Regular Bounce Houses
These are walled inflatables that are primarily designed for bouncing and jumping, a classic and direct way to add fun to a kids’ event.
Expect to pay between $100 – $500 per day. They naturally come with four inflatable walls and a roof-like structure.
They’re usually the safest option for children of all ages. These are classic for straightforward fun at any kid-centric event.
2. Combo Bounce Houses
They combine the usual features of a regular bounce house with extra elements like slides, castles, tunnels, or climbing areas.
They cost about $250 – $500 per day.
This kind of bounce house with slides takes up more space than a traditional bounce house!
This is why they are perfect for larger events or parties with a lot of space.
3. Obstacle Course Inflatables
They cost about $380 – $900 per day. Interactive setups that include several competitive challenges like climbing walls, slides, tunnels, and other barriers.
These courses encourage physical activity and can be competitive among kids.
4. Dry/Water Slides
Versatile inflatable slides that can be used either as a traditional dry slide or as a water slide.
These inflatables can be operated in two ways.
For example, during warmer weather, you can connect a water hose to it to create a fun and refreshing water slide experience.
You can complete it by adding splashes and a pool at the base for landing. This one costs between $200 – $600.
There are several online stores, like Walmart, where you can check prices for any kind of bounce house you might like.
These online stores offer the chance to order online and get it delivered to you wherever you are.
Should I Buy a Bounce House Instead?
If you always host events and parties where a lot of kids will be present, you might want to know how much it costs to buy a bounce house.
And if it’s even necessary to get one, or just stick to renting.
Well, a lot of people, especially party and event planners, think buying a bounce house simply doesn’t make sense if you’re not using it to run a business.
But there are exceptions to this rule. Let’s consider 2 reasons:
1. High cost
Even if you find a bounce house you can buy on clearance, you’ll be spending at least $1,500 for just one bounce house.
Buying just one bounce house means you’ll have to use it for different events. This means the same theme every time you host a party.
Looks boring already.
To get another one with a different theme for a new occasion, be prepared to cough out another couple of thousand dollars.
And be ready to do this every single time you want a different theme.
2. Storage and maintenance
Owning a bounce house comes with continuous stress and commitments.
You’ll need a bigger space to store a large inflatable. Usually, most standard homes or garages don’t have the space we’re talking about.
Also, regular maintenance, like cleaning, repairs, and safety inspections, is important if you want it to serve you for as long as possible.
Since this isn’t a business for you, over time, these maintenance tasks and requirements can eat into a major part of your time.
And as you’d have thought, you’ll spend more money on it over the years.
At this point, considering all these, you may as well start your own inflatable rental business!
When is The Right Time to Buy a Bounce House?
Okay, maybe you’re now reconsidering starting your own bounce house party rental business.
Here are scenarios where it makes sense to buy.
1. Commercial use
Do you run a business that focuses on children’s entertainment or event planning?
Instead of always renting, it’s best to buy your own equipment.
This is because it can save you money on rental fees in the long run.
If you own your bounce houses, it means you can immediately use them because they are available.
By doing this, you’ll be increasing your profit potential.
2. Frequent large-scale community events
Organizations that host regular large events, like churches, schools, or community centers, it’s better for them to buy a bounce house.
If they’re always having these events, it can justify the money spent on the inflatables.
Because over time, the investment can pay off with free activities for kids at each event.
3. Rental business
You can start a bounce house rental business after buying the equipment.
Then, rent them out. You’d be surprised how they can turn into a revenue-generating asset.
If entering the event rentals market is what you have in mind, invest in high-quality inflatables.
This could provide a steady income stream.
How to Calculate a Bounce House Rental Price
If you think you would rather buy a bounce house instead of renting because of your regular event hosting, that’s fine.
Maybe later in the future, you may think of renting it out to make more money.
But, how do you know what to charge?
When it comes to pricing out the rental fees for your bounce houses and inflatables, there is a calculation you can use to give you a head start.
Here it is:
{Cost of bounce house} / 10 = Rental Fee (without any extra costs)
This is how it works: Take the amount you bought the inflatable for and divide it by ten. You’ll get the rental fee you can charge your customers.
For example, if you bought your bounce house for $2,500, divide that amount by 10. This gives you a rental fee of $250.
This calculation is just to guide you for a start.
As you go on, there are other factors, like physical location, type of bounce house, type of party, and number of guests, that can influence the rental cost.
Conclusion
So, how much to rent a bounce house? Get ready to pay between $150 and $800, depending on your needs.
You’ll possibly need to budget around $300 for your bounce house rental if it’s a small event.
But for larger events, you may need to prepare to spend up to $1,000.
When you want to rent a bounce house, don’t just look at the price.
Cheaper ones might sound like a good deal, but they could have extra hidden costs, easily get bad, or not be very safe.
We’d advise checking things like what the bounce house is made of, how safe it is, what services come with it, and what people say about the company.
If you can do all these right, you can pick one that’s really worth your money.
Also, if you always host events, it means you’ll be renting a lot. It might be better to just buy your own bounce house and water slides.
It’ll save you more money in the long run.
