Hiring guide

Bouncy castles in wind and rain: when to carry on and when to stop

British weather rarely behaves on party day. Here is what the guidance says about wind and rain, how to judge conditions in your garden and how to keep the party going if the castle has to stop.

The wind limit

HSE's guidance puts the ceiling at 24 mph (38 km/h): above that, no inflatable should be in use, which is Force 5 on the Beaufort scale. Some manufacturers set a lower maximum, so the figure for your unit may be less than 24 mph. HSENI gives the same limit for Northern Ireland.

Ask your hirer for the maximum wind speed for the castle you have booked, and write it down. It is the number that matters on the day.

What Force 5 looks like

The Royal Meteorological Society describes Force 5, a fresh breeze of 19 to 24 mph, as the point where small trees in leaf begin to sway. At Force 6, 25 to 31 mph, large branches move and umbrellas become hard to use.

These descriptions help you spot when conditions are getting close, but they are not a measurement. If small trees nearby are swaying, it is time to check properly.

Measuring the wind in your garden

HSE expects the wind to be checked in the garden itself with an anemometer, a hand-held wind meter, at regular intervals, with the readings recorded. It specifically warns against relying on smartphone weather apps, because they do not account for local conditions. If no anemometer is available, HSE says the inflatable should not be used outdoors.

Gardens on hills, by the coast or between houses can be much gustier than a forecast suggests. HSE also advises taking readings facing into the wind and watching for changes in direction, for example in the way trees are moving.

Ask whether the hirer will leave an anemometer with you or how they expect you to monitor the wind.
Take a reading before the first children go on, then at regular intervals.
Keep the readings on your phone or a scrap of paper.
Check the forecast the day before and on the morning, paying attention to gusts.

If the wind picks up

Stop new children getting on.
Calmly bring everyone off, smallest first.
Deflate the castle in the way the installer showed you, keeping children well clear while it goes down.
Keep everyone away from the blower and cables.
Ring the hirer and follow their advice before using it again.

Rain

HSE's inflatables pages concentrate on wind and do not set a rule for rain, but local authority guidance does. Rother District Council's advice is not to allow users onto inflatables in wet weather, and venue policies such as Charvil Parish Council's say use should stop in wet weather.

The reason is simple. A wet vinyl surface is slippery, and children who slide into each other or into the walls are more likely to get hurt. Wet children also carry water and grass cuttings back onto the bed.

Stop use as soon as it starts raining, not when it gets heavy.
Look for puddles or a wet sheen on the jumping area before anyone goes back on.
Dry the bed with towels after a shower if the hirer allows it.
Keep plugs and cable joints off the ground and protected from water.
Follow your hirer's instructions on whether to leave the castle inflated or switch it off during a shower. Some ask you to keep it up so it does not collapse into puddles.

Rain covers and roofs

Many castles have a built-in roof or a clip-on cover. It helps in light showers and keeps sun off on hot days, but the open front still lets rain in, and it does nothing about wind. A covered castle still needs to come down when the wind exceeds its limit.

How hirers usually handle bad weather

Weather policies vary, so read your hirer's before you pay a deposit. In general terms you will see a mix of the following approaches: moving the booking to another date, offering an indoor-suitable unit if you can get a hall, refunding or crediting the deposit if conditions are unsafe, or keeping some or all of it if you cancel at short notice.

The installer will usually have the final say on whether it is safe to set up when they arrive. If they decline because of wind, that is a sound decision, not an awkward one.

Ask what forecast or reading would lead them to call off delivery.
Ask how late you can cancel, and what you get back.
Ask whether they can switch you to a unit that fits indoors.

A wet-weather plan B

A little planning saves a lot of disappointment. Ask the hirer early whether a smaller or low-height unit, or a soft play package, could go indoors. Some families keep a local hall on hold for summer parties, though check its cancellation terms too. Have a few simple games, a film or a craft table ready for a garden that turns into a paddling pool.

Questions

Can children use a bouncy castle in light drizzle?

Local authority guidance, such as Rother District Council's, says users should not go on inflatables in wet weather. Stop use, let it pass and dry the surface before carrying on.

Is 20 mph too windy for a bouncy castle?

It depends on the unit. HSE's upper limit is 24 mph, but some castles have a lower manufacturer limit. Check the figure for your castle and measure on site with an anemometer.

Can I use a phone app to check the wind?

HSE says not to rely on smartphone weather apps, because they do not reflect local conditions. Use an anemometer instead.

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.