Kiddie rides for sale range from about 8,000 euros for a used six-seat mini ride to 120,000 euros for a family coaster, and the rides that earn best in a park or family entertainment centre are rarely the most expensive ones. They are the ones sized right for the space, cheap to run, and quick to load. This guide covers the categories of children’s rides that exist, what each costs new and used, how to judge which ones will actually earn in your venue, and what to inspect before you buy second-hand.
GT Amusement stocks and resells used children’s rides alongside larger equipment, and several of the rides referenced below are in our yard right now, so the numbers here come from machines we have bought, refurbished and sold rather than from a catalogue.
Why children’s rides carry a park
Parents decide where a family spends the day, and parents choose venues where the youngest child has enough to do. A park with five strong kiddie rides keeps a family for three hours. A park with one keeps them for forty minutes. That is the whole business case, and it is why family entertainment centres in malls, where children under ten are the core audience, are built almost entirely around this category.
The economics are also kinder than on big rides. A kiddie ride draws a fraction of the power, needs one operator, cycles in ninety seconds, and fits in a footprint of five to ten metres. Most used children’s rides earn back their purchase price inside a single good season.
The main categories, with used and new prices
Prices below are realistic ranges for the European market. Used means working order with current inspection paperwork. New means a comparable ride from an established European manufacturer.
- Mini convoys and trains. Used 12,000 to 40,000 euros. New 35,000 to 90,000 euros. A circuit of small vehicles, usually trucks or train cars, on a fixed track. The single most reliable earner in the category because toddlers can ride alone and parents can watch from the fence. Our Mini Convoy 2 is this type.
- Teacups and spinning platforms. Used 15,000 to 45,000 euros. New 45,000 to 110,000 euros. Cups that spin on a rotating platform, with riders controlling their own spin. Strong for the six to twelve age group and popular with parents who ride along. See our Tea Cup 12.
- Mini flying rides. Used 12,000 to 40,000 euros. New 40,000 to 100,000 euros. Planes, rockets or animals on arms that rise and fall as the ride turns, often with a rider-operated lever. A Funny Plane is the classic form, and Jump Around adds a bouncing motion that older children love.
- Mini pirate ships and swinging rides. Used 15,000 to 50,000 euros. New 50,000 to 120,000 euros. A gentle swinging boat for the youngest riders. High throughput and a good first thrill ride. Our Mini Pirate is this class.
- Mini tower and drop rides. Used 15,000 to 45,000 euros. New 40,000 to 100,000 euros. A small vertical tower with a slow rise and gentle bounces. Rides like Mini Reverse Time give a controlled first taste of a tower ride.
- Bounce and spin rides. Used 20,000 to 60,000 euros. New 60,000 to 150,000 euros. Combined motions for children who have outgrown the gentlest rides. Our Bounce Spin sits here.
- Family and junior coasters. Used 40,000 to 120,000 euros. New 150,000 to 500,000 euros. The step up from kiddie rides into real coasters, with a height limit that admits most children over about one metre. The buying process for these is closer to a full coaster, covered in our guide to buying a used roller coaster.
- Children’s carousels. Used 10,000 to 35,000 euros. Covered in full in our carousel buyer’s guide.
Add 20 to 40 percent for transport, installation and first certification when budgeting from these numbers, and more if the ride is crossing continents.
Choosing the right mix for a venue
The mistake most first-time buyers make is choosing rides they like rather than rides that fit. Three questions decide what will earn.
What is the age range? A mall family entertainment centre serves two to ten year olds, so it needs rides a two year old can board with a parent, and it needs rides a nine year old will not sneer at. One toddler ride, two mid-range rides and one first-thrill ride is a sound four-ride package. An outdoor park serving a wider range can skew older.
What is the space? Measure the clear floor and the clear height before looking at rides. Indoor venues usually have a ceiling between four and six metres, which rules out most mini towers and flying rides at full height but suits convoys, teacups and pirate ships. Outdoor space allows anything but needs a plan for weather.
What is the throughput? A ride that loads six children and cycles in ninety seconds moves 240 riders an hour. A ride that loads twelve in the same time moves twice that. In a busy mall on a weekend, throughput is the difference between a queue that builds a crowd and a queue that drives families to the food court.
What to inspect on a used children’s ride
Children’s rides are simpler than big rides, and the inspection is shorter, but the standard is not lower. The riders are the least able to protect themselves.
- Restraints. Every seat belt, lap bar and latch must work, and the mounting points must show no cracks. On rides for the youngest children, check that a small child cannot slip beneath the restraint.
- Structure and welds. Arms, sweeps, track joints and vehicle mounts. Ask for non-destructive testing records on anything that carries a rider.
- Drive and controls. Watch a full cycle under load. Check the emergency stop, and on rider-controlled rides check that the levers actually do what the child expects.
- Electrical installation. Insulation test records, condition of the control cabinet, and whether lighting runs on original wiring.
- Vehicles and figures. Fibreglass bodies crack at mounting points and repairs are visible from underneath. Count the vehicles and confirm every one is present.
- Inspection paperwork. A current certificate from a recognised inspection body. Children’s rides are inspected to the same standards as adult rides, and a ride without paperwork is priced as a project.
- Manufacturer and parts. Rides from established European makers have parts available. Rides from unknown makers may not. This matters more on a children’s ride because they run more cycles per day than anything else in the park.
Our 47 point inspection checklist covers the full method, and the standards most inspection bodies work to are published through ASTM Committee F24. For operator training and safety guidance the IAAPA resources are the industry reference.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kiddie ride cost?
Used, between about 8,000 and 60,000 euros for most categories, with family coasters reaching 120,000 euros. New rides from European manufacturers typically cost two to three times the used price.
What is the best first ride for a family entertainment centre?
A mini convoy or train. Toddlers can ride it alone, parents can watch, it loads fast and it almost never breaks. Add a teacup ride second for the older children.
Can children’s rides run indoors?
Most can. Convoys, teacups, mini pirate ships and children’s carousels suit a four to six metre ceiling. Mini towers and flying rides need to be checked against the clear height at full extension.
Does GT Amusement have children’s rides in stock?
Yes, several of the rides linked in this guide are in our yard now. The current used rides list shows everything available, and we source specific rides to order.
The short version
Buy for the space and the age range, not for the ride you liked as a child. Start with a convoy, add a teacup, then a first thrill ride, and inspect restraints and paperwork before anything else. If you are planning a venue and want a package priced to a floor plan, send us the dimensions and the age range through the contact page and we will put one together. For the full landscape of what exists, our guide to the types of amusement park rides covers every category.