To help choose the best Christmas inflatables for your home, we researched a variety of picks on the market. We kept in mind details like dimensions, material, inflation type, and whether or not a pick had lighting. Overall, one of the best Christmas inflatables to choose from is Emila Christmas Inflatable Santa on Sleigh with Reindeers and Gift Boxes. It not only perfectly captures the essence of the holidays, but it also self-inflates, includes lights and is a generous size. Here, are the best Christmas inflatables. This inflatable is easy to install thanks to an internal fan which automatically blows up once it’s plugged into an outlet. To keep it upright and in place, it comes with fastened ropes, ground nails, and built-in sandbags so you can secure it to the ground or surface it’s resting on. You’ll just want to remember to zipper the bottom before inflating it for optimal results. It’s made for both indoor and outdoor use so you can choose where you want to place it. It even comes with a waterproof charger, so you won’t have to worry about inclement weather. For additional lighting, it features internal LED lights that illuminate from the inside out to catch people’s attention and add to the holiday cheer. Plus, you can just spot-clean the polyester if it gets dirty, so it’ll stay in good shape year after year. Price at time of publish: $84 Dimensions: 31.5 x 82.7 x 47.2 inches | Material: Polyester | Self-Inflating: Yes | Lighting: LED lights Keep in Mind: It’s shorter than other standard holiday inflatables, so it depends on your decor preferences. The inflatable comes with tethers that’ll keep it upright and stable, whether it’s placed on snow, soil, or concrete. The float is just over three pounds, so you’ll be able to easily set it up and move it around until you find the best spot. Plus, its polyester construction makes it durable enough to withstand outdoor elements, so you won’t have to worry. It features internal LED lights that illuminate the inflatable from the inside out. However, just keep in mind that it’s a bit shorter and smaller than some other float options, so whether or not it’s the best Christmas inflatable for your space depends on your design preferences. Price at time of publish: $35 Dimensions: 2 x 3.5 feet | Material: Polyester | Self-Inflating: Yes | Lighting: LED Keep in Mind: It’s only recommended for outdoor use. The Christmas inflatable is recommended for outdoor use only, so keep that in mind if you were looking for indoor options. To install it, just plug in the 5-foot cord and let it self-inflate. The inflatable comes with two fastening ropes, two ground stakes, and two internal sandbags that’ll help secure it. If your inflatable happens to pop or malfunction, just know it comes with a 30-day manufacturer’s warranty so you can get a new one that will last you all holiday season and for many years to come. Price at time of publish: $46 Dimensions: 24 x 26 x 48 inches | Material: Nylon | Self-Inflating: Yes | Lighting: Internal LED lights Keep in Mind: It’s significantly larger than other options, so it’s not ideal for small front yards and spaces. This archway provides a grand entrance for guests to walk through as they enter your home. The inflatable features LED lights that dangle around the perimeter, as well as inside a gingerbread man outside the front left window. Decorations aside, just keep in mind that it’s larger than other inflatables, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough space to install it. When it comes time for assembly, all you have to do is plug the power cord into an outlet and it will self-inflate into its full size in minutes. Since it’s so large in size, you’ll want to make sure it’s secured into the ground to prevent unwanted movement from the weather, whether that’s wind, snow, or rain. It comes equipped with ground stakes and tethers that can be used to keep it in place throughout the entire season. Price at time of publish: $199 Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.4 feet | Material: Polyester | Self-Inflating: Yes | Lighting: LED lights Keep in Mind: It’s taller than other options, so it’ll need the proper space to inflate. Since it’s nearly 7 feet tall, it’s worth noting that this inflatable will need more space than some other options once it’s inflated. Once it’s installed, however, you’ll appreciate the seven colorful layers and a star topper that shines bright. There are also LED lights inside that give this tree a subtle glow. This tree self-inflates and seconds and can fit into those tiny corners and rooms where a bit of holiday cheer is needed. Whether you decide to use it inside or outside, its polyester construction will keep it free from water damage and easy to spot clean with a damp cloth. To keep it in place, there are also built-in sandbags. Price at time of publish: $50 Dimensions: 38.98 x 38.58 x 83.86 inches | Material: Polyester, copper, iron | Self-Inflating: Yes | Lighting: LED lights Keep in Mind: This inflatable isn’t recommended to be used in temperatures lower than 14 degrees, so you’ll want to keep an eye on the weather depending on where you live. After it self-inflates, you’ll appreciate the vibrant LED lights that illuminate the inflatable from top to bottom. It also comes with stakes and tethers for easy installation and to keep it upright, which is sure to come in handy, especially during months of harsh weather conditions and heavy winds. Just keep in mind that it isn’t recommended to be used in temperatures lower than 14 degrees, so you’ll want to keep an eye on the weather depending on where you live. The inflatable is fairly tall, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough space to inflate it in its entirety. However, when it is time to deflate, it can be easily folded and stored away until next year. Price at time of publish: $120 Dimensions: 88 x 110 x 44 inches | Material: Polyester | Self-Inflating: Yes | Lighting: LED lights Keep in Mind: It’s significantly more expensive than other inflatables. The inflatable features the look of hanging string lights along the perimeter which are illuminated with LED lighting for an added festive touch. Although it’s more expensive than other options, it’s possible you may not need to purchase any other inflatables for your home. The design inflates in seconds thanks to its internal pump that activates when plugged in. You’ll also appreciate that it comes with stakes and tethers included that make it easy to set up and secure it. When it comes time to put it away for the holidays, it deflates seconds and can be folded and neatly placed back in the box for storage until next season. Price at time of publish: $450 Dimensions: 186 x 38 x 70 inches | Material: Polyester | Self-Inflating: Yes | Lighting: LED Keep in Mind: This inflatable only comes with three bulbs, so it may not be as bright as other holiday decorations. The inflatable is made of nylon and is designed to withstand outdoor elements. When it comes time to set up, all you have to do is place the inflatable in your ideal spot and plug it in to have it blow up in seconds. It features a 6-foot power cord, which is longer than some other inflatables, so you shouldn’t be too limited. Once it’s inflated, you can secure it into place with its included tethers and stakes. It also features three LED lights that’ll illuminate the inflatable, but keep in mind that’s less lighting than some other picks. Price at time of publish: $54 Dimensions: 48 x 39 x 72 inches | Material: Polyester | Self-Inflating: Yes | Lighting: LED Keep in Mind: This inflatable doesn’t light up, so it won’t be seen at night. The inflatable features illustrations of Santa, reindeer, candy canes, stockings, and hats. Designed for outdoor use, they can either be placed on your lawn or hung up, so you can choose however you want to style them. Just keep in mind that they don’t have any lighting, so they may not be seen at night wherever you place them. Thanks to an included ribbon, the inflatables are easy to hang up. And unlike other best Christmas inflatables on this list, this pick is made from PVC so it’s fairly durable to prevent tears and water damage that’s typical during this time of year. When it’s time to put them away for next year, simply deflate the balls and tuck them neatly into a storage bin so you’ll have them easily accessible. Price at time of publish: From $16 Dimensions: 24 x 24 x 24 inches | Material: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | Self-Inflating: No | Lighting: No Keep in Mind: It’s on the smaller side, so you may need to get a few depending on the size of your front yard. It comes with stakes and tethers to easily secure it into place as it self-inflates into its full shape. Once it’s inflated, you’ll appreciate the energy-efficient LED lights inside the inflatable that give it a natural-looking glow from the inside out. This inflatable will stay intact while it’s displayed outdoors thanks to its water-resistant polyester fabric that wards off unwanted wear and tear that could diminish the quality over time. The inflatable is on the smaller side, however, so you may have to get a few depending on your preferences and yard size. Price at time of publish: $53 Dimensions: 53.94 x 35.43 x 28.35 inches | Material: Polyester | Self-Inflating: Yes | Lighting: LED
What To Know About Christmas Inflatables Before Shopping
Dimensions
The dimensions of the best Christmas inflatable will vary depending on what you’re looking for and the space available. Most inflatables are between four and seven feet tall and three to five feet wide, though some do fall above and below this range. With that in mind, if you have a small backyard to fill with decorations you may want to opt for a taller inflatable as opposed to a wider one so there’s more room for other decorations. However, if you have a lot of space in the front of your house, you’ll want to consider a large inflatable to make a statement on the block and to remain the focal point of your holiday decorations.
Material
The best Christmas inflatables are made from materials designed to maintain their integrity even in the harshest weather conditions. Many of the inflatables on this list are made from polyester and that’s because it’s durable and water-resistant. If the inflatable comes into contact with snow, then it won’t droop or become deformed from the water but actually maintain its shape. You’ll also want a material that can be spot cleaned if it gets dirty because after months of use outside in particular it’s prone to get dirty.
Self-Inflating
Setting up Christmas decorations can take a lot of time and effort so you’ll want to get ones that are easy to assemble. The best Christmas inflatables will be self-inflating so you simply have to plug them in and they’ll inflate into their full size and shape.
Lighting
A majority of holiday inflatables come with internal lights to provide a luminous glow that matches the rest of your holiday decor. Many of the best Christmas inflatables are made with LED lights. The lights are not only more energy efficient but make them the center of attention of any holiday display. It is possible that inflatables won’t have included lights, so in that case, you’d want to make sure to have an external light source to highlight the inflatables.
Your Questions, Answered
Do Christmas inflatables use a lot of electricity?
The cost of electricity to run an inflatable depends on the size and duration. If you’re looking to keep costs lower, consider smaller options that require less electricity to inflate and stay assembled.
How long do inflatables last?
Technically, they’ll last for as long as you have them plugged in. However, many brands recommend not having them plugged in for more than eight hours at a time to prevent overheating. To be sure you’re maintaining your inflatables in the best condition, you can keep inflatables deflated during the day, but inflate them at night so they can fit in with the rest of the holiday display.
How do you weigh down inflatables?
The best Christmas inflatables will come with materials designed to hold them upright and in place. It’s rare that an inflatable will stay upright all on its own without being held down, so it’s preferred you find an option that comes with stakes, ropes, and tethers to assemble and secure them. Most inflatables come equipped with internal sandbags to add additional weight, but if they don’t you may want to consider finding one that does.
Who We Are
Casey Clark is a freelance writer for Better Homes & Gardens. Casey attended Hofstra University and graduated magna cum laude with a journalism degree and minors in public relations and creative writing. To find the best Christmas inflatables she researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind their dimensions, and material, as well as if they had lighting and were self-inflating.
