Jumping castle hire is the most requested hire item for kids' parties in South Africa. A supplier delivers the castle, a blower, anchor straps or sandbags and a safety mat, sets it up on your lawn, patio or hall and collects it afterwards. Prices depend on the size, whether it has a slide or a water feature, and the hire hours. Tell us your area, the party date, the number and ages of the children and the space you have, and jumping castle companies near you send a quote directly.
Sizes, types and what fits your space
Pick the castle by the space and the number of children, not only by the theme. As a guide:
- Small castle, about 3 x 3 m: fits a small garden or townhouse yard, with four to six small children at a time. You need about 4 x 4 m of flat ground, plus space for the blower.
- Standard castle, about 4 x 4 or 4 x 5 m: six to eight children at a time, and the most common choice for birthday parties.
- Combo or slide castle: 5 x 6 m or larger, with a jumping area and a slide, suited to bigger gardens, schools and church events.
- Water slide castles: a slide with a splash pool or water feed, which needs a tap and drainage.
- Adult castles and obstacle courses: larger, stronger units for teens and adults, rated for heavier users.
Ages, numbers and supervision
Castles have a maximum number of users and a height limit, and the supplier will tell you what applies. Keep toddlers separate from big kids, as the older ones bounce harder and can hurt small children. Roughly, a 4 x 4 m castle takes six children of similar size at once. An adult must watch the castle at all times, and no shoes, sharp objects, food, chewing gum or face paint should go in. Stop the session if the weather turns or a child is hurt. Most suppliers include a set of rules to put up at the entrance; for a bigger party add a party planner or a few helpers.
Anchoring, wind, power and ground
A castle must be properly anchored: straps tied to pegs driven into the lawn, or sandbags and water bags on paving or in a hall. Never use one in strong wind or rain, as a loose castle can lift and roll. Most suppliers say wind above about 25 to 30 km/h means stop, and they will not set up in a storm. You need a plug point within about 20 m of the castle, a flat area clear of branches, power lines, pools and walls, and a reliable supply: a blower stops during load shedding, and the castle deflates slowly. Ask whether the price includes a safety mat, a long extension cord and an attendant, and whether the supplier holds public liability insurance.
Prices and booking
Hire is priced per day or per party, normally four to six hours. A small castle costs less than a combo, and water slides and adult castles cost the most. Delivery over about 20 km, an attendant and extra hours are added. Book early for Saturdays, school holidays and December, because castles are rented out several times a day. Combine with party decor hire and table and chair hire for a complete kids' party. Ask about the damage deposit, the cancellation policy for rain and the setup time.
What to include in your request
- Party date, start and end times, and your suburb
- Number and ages of the children
- Space available, flat or paved, measured in metres
- Castle type: small, combo, water slide or adult
- Plug point distance and whether you need an attendant
Jumping Castle Hire for different events
- Weddings and traditional ceremonies: a small castle in a garden corner to keep the children busy while the adults enjoy the reception
- Corporate functions and year-end parties: a family day castle or obstacle course for a staff fun day, with an attendant
- Conferences, launches and expos: an adult obstacle course or inflatable game for a team-building break outdoors
- Birthdays and private parties: a themed castle for a child's party, and an adult castle for a 21st or 40th with the right limits
- Kids' parties and baby showers: a small or standard castle, a combo or a water slide for a birthday party in the garden
- School events and matric dances: several castles, slides and obstacle courses for fun days and sports days, with teacher supervision
- Funerals, church and cultural gatherings: castles for church family days, community fetes and year-end gatherings, usually on the field
- Festivals, markets and sports days: a children's play zone at a market or festival, with several castles and attendants
Frequently asked questions
How much does jumping castle hire cost?
What size jumping castle do I need for a small garden?
What ages are jumping castles safe for?
Can a jumping castle be used on paving or in a hall?
Jumping Castle Hire by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg