Written by Luke
Thinking about hiring an inflatable? Whether you’re hiring indoors or outside, the size of the inflatable is important.
A lot of people don’t realise just how big a commercial bouncy castle can be. It’s important to check the available space before booking, not just the size of the inflatable itself.
Why Does a Bouncy Castle Have Different Sizes?
A single bouncy castle can have two or three different sizes listed. Yes, it’s an odd thing in our industry, and it can be very confusing.
The first measurement is the bounce area. Businesses don’t really talk about the bounce area very often, but it is used when an inflatable is tested to help work out how many users can be on the inflatable at once.
Then there’s the size of the castle itself. Sometimes this measurement includes the fan, sometimes it includes the mats, but a lot of the time it is simply the outside dimensions of the inflatable. This is what we use for our “Unit Size”.
Finally, there’s the most important measurement, which a lot of businesses don’t seem to include: the “Required Space”.
The Required Space is the size of the inflatable plus the additional space needed to operate it safely. BS EN 14960 includes different requirements depending on factors such as whether the inflatable is being used on grass or hard standing, and whether it is a bouncy castle or a slide.
For example, an impact area of 1.2 metres is required around open sides of an inflatable.
Will a bouncy castle fit in my garden?
Well, you’ll need to measure the area first, but we’ve made the rest easy. Every inflatable on our website has a Size tab showing both the Unit Size and the Required Space.
Please make sure you have enough room for the full Required Space, not just the size of the inflatable itself.
Don’t forget about the height either. Overhead trees, branches and cables must be above the minimum required height.
If you’re not sure whether an inflatable will fit, we also offer a measuring service.
The Venue Has Had Bouncy Castles Before – Will Mine Fit?
We hear this a lot, but bouncy castles come in such a wide range of sizes that going off someone else’s word isn’t a great idea.
At the end of the day, if we arrive to set up an inflatable and it doesn’t fit, we won’t be able to give you a refund, so it’s always best to make sure before booking.
Fortunately, we know the venues across Warwickshire very well, so we can often point out any potential issues when you book.
How do I measure for a bouncy castle?
Measure your available area’s width, length and height, making sure the space is clear of objects.
Our website gives you the option to view the Required Space in either feet or metres, so use whichever measurement works best for you.
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