Hiring guide

Bouncy castle party planning checklist: from booking to clear-up

Everything to sort for a bouncy castle party, in order, from the moment you pick a date to the morning after, including what to do if someone gets hurt.

As soon as you have a date

Popular weekends go quickly, so the booking is the first job. Everything else can follow.

Measure the space and the route in, and find the nearest outdoor socket.
Shortlist hirers that deliver to your area.
Ask for the PIPA tag or ADIPS DoC number for your chosen unit and check it online.
Ask for a copy of the hirer's public liability insurance.
Read the terms, including deposit, cancellation and weather policy, before paying.
Contact your home insurer to ask whether your policy covers hired equipment or injuries to guests. Some policies may and some may not, so check rather than assume.

Two to three weeks before

Send invitations. Mention the bouncy castle and suggest socks and comfortable clothes.
Tell your neighbours: the date, roughly when the van will arrive and leave, and that the blower hums all the time it runs.
Decide where food and drink will be served, well away from the castle.
Draw up a supervision rota so a named adult is watching the castle for every part of the party.
Check your first aid kit and restock it.
Think about a plan B for wind or rain, such as indoor games or a hall.

The week before

Confirm the delivery window and collection time with the hirer.
Check the forecast, especially for wind and gusts.
Test the outdoor socket. NICEIC advises that outdoor sockets should be RCD-protected.
Remind the adults on the rota of their time slots.
Make a simple rules sign for the castle.

The day before

Mow the lawn and clear stones, sticks, toys and dog mess.
Take down any rotary washing line and move garden furniture and barbecues away.
Clear the side gate or passage and move your car so the van can park.
Charge your phone and save the hirer's number.

On the day, before guests arrive

Be there when the castle is set up, and use the time to get a proper briefing. HSE says every inflatable should come with operating instructions, and the installer should be able to explain them.

Check the tag on the castle matches the number you were given.
Ask for the maximum number of users, any height limit and the wind limit.
Ask how to get everyone off and deflate the castle in an emergency.
Check the blower and cables are out of children's reach and cables are covered.
Put up your rules sign near the entrance.

During the party

Under HSE guidance, a suitably trained person should be watching the castle the entire time it is in use. Stick to your rota, and make sure whoever is on duty is not also running the barbecue or cutting the cake.

Keep to the user limit and put similar sizes on together.
Shoes and glasses off, pockets emptied.
No food, drinks, sweets or chewing gum on the castle.
Check the anchors every so often.
Keep an eye on the wind and stop if it gets up or starts to rain.

Food and drink

Council guidance, including Merthyr Tydfil's and Rother's, says users should not eat, drink or chew gum on an inflatable. Set up the food table somewhere that does not share a path with the castle entrance, so drinks and plates are not carried past it. A clear break for food also gives the supervising adults a rest.

If someone is hurt

Most bumps are minor, but have a plan so nobody has to think on their feet.

Stop the castle and get everyone else off.
Give first aid, and call 999 if the injury is serious.
Tell the child's parent or carer straight away if they are not with you.
Write down what happened, when, and who saw it, while it is fresh.
If the castle may have been part of the cause, such as a loose anchor or a split seam, keep everyone off it.
Tell the hirer as soon as you reasonably can. They need to know so they can check the equipment and keep their own records.
If you think you may need to claim, contact your insurer.

The day after

Make sure someone is home for collection and the castle is clear of debris.
Tell the hirer about any damage or incidents.
Thank the neighbours for their patience.
Leave the hirer a fair review to help other parents.

Questions

Does home insurance cover a hired bouncy castle?

It varies between policies. Some may cover hired equipment or injuries to guests and some may not, so ask your insurer before the party.

How many adults should supervise a bouncy castle?

HSE's guidance calls for constant supervision by at least one suitably trained person. For bigger parties a rota of adults makes this easier, and the hirer may recommend more.

Should I tell the hirer about a minor accident?

Yes. Even if no one needed treatment, the hirer will want to know so they can check the castle before its next booking.

Sources and further reading

This guide is general information for people hiring inflatables in the UK, not legal or safety advice. Your hirer is responsible for safe set-up, so always follow their instructions. Last reviewed November 2026.