HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a soft play set in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A soft play hire in Ireland costs €80–€300 per day, typically around €150. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a soft play set in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers soft play set work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — delivery and Collection — most soft play hire companies offer delivery and collection services as part of the package.
- How does duration of the hire change the price?A rushed job and a careful one take different amounts of time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the setup change the price?It is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does any additional services like staffing or themed decorations change the price?It changes both what is used and how long it takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Typically, soft play hire does not include food, drinks, or supervision services unless specified — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a soft play set job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers soft play set work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — delivery and Collection — most soft play hire companies offer delivery and collection services as part of the package.
A good answer: A rushed job and a careful one take different amounts of time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It changes both what is used and how long it takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Typically, soft play hire does not include food, drinks, or supervision services unless specified — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a soft play set job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — setup and Takedown — the service typically covers the setup and takedown of the play equipment.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the soft play set starts, and an itemised invoice after — safety Equipment — included in the hire are essential safety features like soft mats, barriers, and age-appropriate toys.
Getting the quote right
- Duration of the hire — a rushed job and a careful one take different amounts of time.
- Complexity of the setup — it is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit.
- Any additional services like staffing or themed decorations — it changes both what is used and how long it takes.
- Type of equipment required — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: duration of the hire — a rushed job and a careful one take different amounts of time
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the setup — it is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit
- They will not talk about it: any additional services like staffing or themed decorations — it changes both what is used and how long it takes
- A price for the soft play set before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the soft play set has begun
What a soft play set costs: €80–€300 per day
The figures are for the job, per day, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Inflatable play equipment hire and Soft play area setup each carry their own band. Soft Play Hire price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Soft play hire firms near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstDuration of the hire — a rushed job and a careful one take different amounts of time — that is what the soft play set is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the setup — it is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAny additional services like staffing or themed decorations — it changes both what is used and how long it takes — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherType of equipment required — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the soft play set is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, delivery distance — the same job costs differently in different parts of the country.
- Themed Play Areas
- Soft play hire often includes a variety of themed play areas, such as jungle gyms, castles, or space adventures.
- Safety Equipment
- Included in the hire are essential safety features like soft mats, barriers, and age-appropriate toys.
- Setup and Takedown
- The service typically covers the setup and takedown of the play equipment.
- Delivery and Collection
- Most soft play hire companies offer delivery and collection services as part of the package.
- Inflatable Play Equipment Hire
- Renting inflatable structures like bouncy castles that provide a fun and safe environment for children.
- Soft Play Area Setup
- Creating a designated area with soft play mats, toys, and structures for young children to enjoy.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a soft play set: questions people ask
The cost of soft play hire can vary based on factors such as the duration of the hire, the complexity of the setup, and any additional services like staffing or themed decorations. Larger setups with more equipment will typically be more expensive.
Most soft play hire companies offer packages that range from a few hours to an entire day. You can often choose the duration that best fits your event, with longer hires typically offering better value.
Many companies offer emergency or same-day availability, but this can depend on their current bookings and the equipment required. It's best to contact them directly to check availability for last-minute hires.
Yes, many providers allow you to book multiple related services, such as bouncy castles or face painting, often at a discounted rate. This can enhance your event and provide a more comprehensive entertainment package.
Typically, soft play hire does not include food, drinks, or supervision services unless specified. It's important to clarify with the provider what is included in your package to avoid any surprises.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
MORE GUIDES