Should You Buy a Commercial Inflatable for Personal Use? What Homeowners Should Know

Sep 30

5 min read

Buying your own commercial bounce house, inflatable combo, obstacle course, or water slide may sound like a great idea at first.

Instead of renting every year, why not buy one and use it whenever you want?

For some families, purchasing a commercial inflatable may make sense. But before placing that order, there are several things homeowners should consider that aren't always obvious when looking at a colorful inflatable online.

Commercial inflatables are designed to withstand repeated use—but that durability also means they can be large, extremely heavy, difficult to move, time-consuming to set up, and challenging to store.

Before buying one for your backyard, here are a few questions worth asking.

1. Where Are You Going to Store It?

This may be the biggest issue homeowners overlook.

A commercial inflatable doesn't simply fold into a small box that you can put on a garage shelf. When properly rolled, it can still be a very large, heavy bundle that takes up considerable floor space.

Manufacturers recommend storing commercial inflatables in a dry, protected location, with enough room to clean, inspect and completely dry the unit. Moisture left inside a rolled inflatable can contribute to mold, mildew, odors and staining.

That means you'll need to consider:

Garage, shed or other indoor storage space
Protection from moisture and pests
Space for the inflatable itself
A blower
Stakes and anchoring equipment
Tarps
Extension cords
Repair supplies
A heavy-duty hand truck or dolly

Suddenly, owning a bounce house can require a lot more space than expected.

2. Commercial Inflatables Are HEAVY

This is probably the biggest surprise for homeowners.

Commercial-grade inflatables use much heavier materials than inexpensive residential backyard bounce houses.

For perspective, current commercial units from one major manufacturer include a 238-pound inflatable combo, a 280-pound combo, a 320-pound sports combo, and larger combination units weighing 350 pounds or more. Some commercial models approach 400 pounds before accessories are added.

That weight has to be moved from storage, transported across your property, positioned in the yard—and then moved back again after the party.

One commercial inflatable instruction manual specifically warns that inflatables can be extremely heavy and advises against attempting to roll or move them alone.

And remember: a wet inflatable can be even more difficult to handle.

3. You May Need a Commercial-Grade Hand Truck

You're probably not moving a 300-pound rolled inflatable across your lawn with the little hand truck sitting in your garage.

Companies that supply the inflatable industry sell specialized heavy-duty dollies specifically because moving these units is such a significant part of the job. Commercial options currently include models rated for 600, 750, 1,000 pounds or more.

So the cost of ownership isn't necessarily just the inflatable.

You may also need to purchase:

A heavy-duty dolly, blower, tarp, stakes, straps, extension cords and other setup equipment.

And then you need somewhere to store all of that equipment too.

4. Setup Is More Than Turning on a Blower

One misconception is that setting up a commercial inflatable means:

Unroll it → plug it in → party.

The actual process involves considerably more.

Manufacturer setup guidance includes selecting an appropriate flat area, checking the site for hazards, positioning and unrolling the inflatable, attaching inflation tubes, anchoring the inflatable properly, connecting the blower, checking tethers and inspecting the unit before use. Outdoor installations also require proper anchoring.

Interestingly, once everything is prepared, the actual inflation may take only 2–5 minutes. The work is everything surrounding those few minutes.

When you rent from a professional inflatable company, this is somebody else's job.

When you own the inflatable, it's yours.

5. Taking It Down Can Be Harder Than Setting It Up

Then the party ends.

Everyone goes home.

You're tired.

And that giant inflatable still has to be taken down.

A proper commercial inflatable teardown can involve removing water, drying the inflatable, disconnecting the blower, opening deflation vents, removing anchors, forcing trapped air from the inflatable, carefully folding it, rolling it tightly and securing the finished roll with straps.

Manufacturer instructions for large commercial water slides even describe having additional people help roll larger units while others force trapped air out of the vinyl.

A poorly rolled inflatable can become an enormous, loose bundle that's even harder to move and store.

Professional rental companies do this repeatedly. For a homeowner doing it once or twice a year, it can turn into the least enjoyable part of the party very quickly.

6. What Happens When It Rains?

Rain creates another challenge.

You generally shouldn't simply roll up a soaked inflatable and forget about it until next summer.

Manufacturers emphasize that commercial inflatables should be completely dry before storage because trapped moisture can encourage mold and mildew. Seams, corners, slide lanes and folds can all retain water.

That may mean reinflating the unit later on a dry day, allowing it to dry thoroughly, and then going through the entire deflation and rolling process again.

For a rental company, that's part of operating the business.

For a homeowner, that's another Saturday afternoon spent dealing with a 300-pound inflatable.

7. Will Your Children Still Want the Same Inflatable Next Year?

This is another question that's easy to overlook.

Your four-year-old may absolutely love a princess castle today.

Will she want the same one at age seven?

Your son may love dinosaurs this year and want sports, superheroes or an obstacle course next year.

Children's interests change quickly.

When you rent an inflatable, you can choose something different for every event.

One year it can be a traditional bounce house.

The next year it can be a bounce-and-slide combo.

Then an obstacle course.

Then a giant water slide.

Then a dunk tank.

Instead of owning one inflatable, renting gives your children access to an entire inventory.

8. Consider the Actual Cost of Ownership

Commercial inflatables aren't inexpensive.

Current commercial examples include traditional bounce houses around $1,800–$2,700, while commercial water slides can cost roughly $2,300–$5,500 or more, depending on size and design. That's before considering additional equipment or long-term maintenance.

You may also eventually deal with:

Repairs and patches
Cleaning
Mold or mildew prevention
Replacement blowers
Storage
Dolly or hand-truck expenses
Electrical equipment
Stakes and anchoring equipment
Transportation
Resale when your children outgrow it

If you're going to use the inflatable constantly, buying may make financial sense.

But if you're primarily buying it for one or two birthday parties per year, renting becomes much easier to justify.

Renting an Inflatable: Let Someone Else Do the Heavy Work

For most families, the greatest advantage of renting isn't simply saving money.

It's convenience.

You select the inflatable you want.

The rental company transports it.

The rental company moves it into your yard.

The rental company sets it up.

The rental company anchors it.

And when the event is finished, the rental company comes back and takes it away.

You don't need permanent storage space.

You don't need to move a 300-pound roll.

You don't need to buy a commercial hand truck.

You don't need to figure out how to roll it.

And your children can choose something completely different for their next party.

That's why renting a commercial inflatable often makes more sense for homeowners who simply want their children to enjoy a great party.

Let Party Authority Handle the Work

At Party Authority, we've been providing bounce house and inflatable rentals to families throughout Marlboro, Manalapan, Monmouth County and surrounding New Jersey communities since 1997.

Instead of spending your weekend moving, rolling and storing a commercial inflatable, let us handle the heavy work.

Choose from bounce houses, bounce-and-slide combos, obstacle courses, water slides, dunk tanks and other exciting options for birthdays, backyard parties, school events and special occasions.

We'll bring the fun.

You enjoy the party.