Top 10 Tips For Renting a Bouncy Castle

Includes how to choose the right inflatable, safety information and preparations you will need to make for the big day.

1: How many children are you expecting to attend and what are their age ranges?

When selecting your inflatable it’s important that it can cope with the number of children expected. For example, a standard 11x15ft bouncy castle will hold up to 7 children at any one time. With no other entertainment present, this would be suitable for a party of around 10 children as not all the children will be on the inflatable at once. For larger parties you may wish to consider a party package. These are aimed at keeping upwards of 15 children entertained at once.

2: How much space do you have?

Each inflatable requires different amounts of space to operate safely. If for example the inflatable is advertised as a 11x15ft it would need 15x23ft. Most inflatables require around 2ft either side of the inflatable and 5ft behind for the blower tube and blower with an additional 3ft in front for safety mats. All our inflatables include the size and required space on each product under suitability.

Top Tip: If you are looking for a hall to hire check the ceiling height of the venue.

3:Are you looking for a particular theme?

If you are having a themed party you are probably looking to hire a matching bouncy castle. We offer many different themes as well as un-themed bouncy castles suitable for both boys and girls.

4: What type of Inflatable are you looking for?

There are many different types of inflatables such as standard bouncy castles, inflatable slides, disco domes, bouncy castle combo’s inflatables games and assault courses. Make sure you choose something suitable for age range of your party. For the toddlers soft play is a great alterative to a bouncy castle.

5: Choosing the right supplier

There are many bouncy castle hire suppliers to choose from. We’d recommend choosing a reputable company, you can do this by reading reviews from there Facebook pages or Google business pages and looking at pictures of previous work. As a long established inflatable hire company Airplay Inflatables have a 100% track record and have never let any of our customers down. Over the years we've had many phone calls from people saying that another bouncy castle company hasn’t turned up for their party and could we deliver something asap. Organising a party or event can be stressful, you don’t need the added stress of an unreliable company, so booking the right supplier to start with is very important.

Remember! Cheapest isn’t always best and in most cases you get what you pay for.

6:Picking an inflatable

Once you’ve found a supplier you are happy with, have a look through their website to find an inflatable that catches your eye, don’t forget to look through pages such as packages, themes or party extras as these are normally where the deals are!

Top Tip!! Check their social media pages for any special offers.

7: Check for test certificates, insurance documents & weather the inflatable complies to BS EN 14960.

By law all inflatables must be tested annually to BS EN 14960 (2013), this is the British Standard that regulates the inflatable hire industry here in the UK. These tests generally come in the form of RPII or PIPA. Much like a car MOT inflatables need to be inspected annually to ensure they are fit for purpose. It is strongly advised that the company you choose has public liability insurance in place, this ensures that their staff are insured to set up inflatables correctly and safety in line with the British Standard and you are covered in the event of an accident caused by incorrect installation or faulty equipment.
Check that the inflatable you choose complies to BS EN 14960. Sadly in the last few years we have seen an increment of companies hiring Chinese inflatables. Although these bouncy castles may look unique they will in many cases not pass a Pipa/RpII test and would need to undergo extensive alterations to compile. In the unfortunate event of a accident caused by equipment failure or negligence you would not be covered as their insurance, if any, would most likely be void due to non-compliance.

8: Booking your inflatable

Now you have chosen the right company and favourite bouncy castle to suit your event, you can now go on to booking your inflatable. Most professional companies will offer online booking, however you can also ring and book over the phone.

9: Preparations for the big day!

On the day make sure there is a clear access route for your chosen inflatable, please be aware that most inflatables are heavy and will be moved using a sack truck which requires around 2.5ft width. At the time of booking you should make your supplier aware of any tight doorways, gates or stairs. Ensure the space where the inflatable is to be sited is not overgrown and clear of shape objects, rubbish and animal waste or any other items that may be in the way. Ensure that power for the inflatable is within easy reach.

10: Enjoy your day!

Now that your inflatable has been delivered let the fun begin! For safe play make sure an adult is supervising the inflatable at all times while in use and follow the safety instructions given at the time of installation.

Updated on 20th May 2025