How Much is a Bounce House Rental versus Buying One?

How Much is a Bounce House Rental?

This ought to be a straightforward question with an easier answer, but it isn’t. How much is a bounce house rental? How much is it to rent a bounce house for a birthday party? 

That question has a whole lot of variables that factor into the answer. Where in the United States are you located? What time of year is it? How long do you need the rental for, and how many kids will be using it? Do you need a smaller, standard bounce house or a large bounce combo unit?

The national average cost of a bounce house rental in 2019 was approximately $240. Prices generally range from under $100 to over $400, depending on where you live; rentals in Brooklyn, New York average around $540 for a 6 to 8 hour rental. That’s nuts!

Given how much an average bounce house rental costs, are you better off buying your own? Well, there are a number of factors your family should consider before buying a bounce house. Cost is important, but it's only one of them.

How Much Does a Bounce House Cost?

There are essentially three tiers of bounce houses out there. They vary by price, but more importantly, by quality.

First off, you have cheap retail bounce houses made from nylon or polyester. These can cost anywhere from under $100 for toddler models to around $400 to $500 for larger ones. They're not really suited for teenagers or adults. And they won't last nearly as long as the higher tiers will, either.

Next, we have our Vinyl Crossover™ Inflatables. These are tougher, more durable bounce houses made from lighter commercial grade vinyl. Vinyl crossovers tend to cost between $600 and $1400. Unlike lower-tiered bounce houses, Vinyl Crossovers are built for more frequent consumer use and designed to last year after year.

Last but certainly not least, we have our Commercial Bounce Houses. Commercial bouncers are designed and built to hold up to the relentless onslaught of abuse rental companies put them through week after week. A commercial bounce house is made from heavy duty commercial grade vinyl. If a consumer takes good care of them, these bouncers can last several years—maybe even for life—though whether or not you need a commercial bounce house depends on how frequently you plan on using it, and how many people will be using it often.

Buying a Bounce House? There’s a Lot to Consider First

If bounce house rental prices are anything near the national average near you, buying a Vinyl Crossover bounce house probably seems like an appealing option. After all, you can rent a bounce house for a day for around $200, or own a bounce house for as many days as you want for $600 to $800. If you plan on using a bounce house five times in a summer or more, that Vinyl Crossover is probably the better option and would pay for itself, right?

There are, however, a number of factors you need to take into consideration before buying a bounce house. Here at Pogo, we pride ourselves on always trying to do right by our customers, and that means we need to let you know what’s involved in owning a vinyl crossover or commercial bounce house.

• Bounce Houses require Lots of TLC. You need to clean them regularly (ideally after each use). You’ll want to store them somewhere at a nice moderate temperature and make sure no one in your house is stacking things on top of them. And you’ll need to patch them using inflatable repair kits and parts should they get damaged, unless you can afford shipping them out to a third party for pricey repairs. 
• Bounce houses are heavy. Our vinyl crossovers can weigh 100 to 200 pounds or even more, while commercial bounce houses can weigh upwards of 500 pounds. You may want to invest in a hand truck and enlist the help of friends, family, or neighbors to help move these around.
• They need electricity. A bounce house requires a steady, uninterrupted stream of air blown into it by an external air blower. You’ll need to make sure you can supply adequate electricity to keep it fully operational and to NEVER unplug the air blower while the bounce house is in use.

That Sounds Like a Lot of Work! Is Owning a Bounce House Worth It?

In the end, owning a bounce house is sort of like owning a pool. You need to take care of it and be conscious of how it’s being used. You need to remain vigilant about safety and make sure it’s always being used properly. And otherwise? It’s just a whole lot of fun!

If you’re looking to buy a bounce house that will be used occasionally by one or two smaller kids, a retail bouncer is probably best for you. If you can only see yourself using a bounce house once or twice per year, renting is the better option. Anything more than that would require a vinyl crossover, or maybe even a commercial bounce house depending on how it’s being used.

Do you see your family using your bounce house once or twice per month? Do you host neighborhood parties, family reunions, or multiple warm weather birthdays? Are you in charge of organizing a church group or a youth program that would use a bounce house a few times per month? If you said yes to any of these, a vinyl crossover will suit you perfectly.

Meanwhile, if you’re a party animal hosting events weekly, or you’re organizing for a larger group with more frequent events, we strongly recommend browsing our commercial bounce houses. There’s serious daylight between the quality of a cheap retail bounce house and our vinyl crossovers; the crossover will last a lot longer. But they’re not really suited for constant use. They aren’t ideal for adult use, either. For that, you’ll definitely want to upgrade to a commercial option.

Not sure which type of bounce house is best for your needs? Give us a call at 1-716-566-5806 and we’ll help you find the perfect inflatable bounce house for your next big backyard bash!