Foam Machine 101: Everything You Need To Know About Foam Machines

What is a foam machine?

As the name implies, a foam machine is a machine that projects foam into an open area. The primary use of a foam machine is to throw a foam party.

Foam machine parties are events or gathering where kids and adults play in a giant pile of foam. Foam machine parties are a common alternative to pool parties and provide a unique experience for summertime fun.

Below is a quick video of what a foam machine party looks like:

Foam machines are often called foam cannons because of their shape and size. Foam machines come in cylindrical shapes and are usually attached to a tripod to elevate them from the ground. This elevation further emphasizes the resemblance of a foam machine to a cannon and allows the foam machine to shoot foam at great distances.

Depending on the power of the foam machine, a foam machine can project foam anywhere between 5ft and 120ft long.

Foam machines typically consist of three main parts.

• A blower
• A spray nozzle
• And a mesh cone

These three parts live in a large tube made of plastic or metal to create the foam machine.

The following section will dive deeper into how the three main parts combine to make a foam machine work.

How does a foam machine work?

First, you fill a foam machine reservoir with foam solution that will fuel the foam machine.

Second, you place a submersible pump into the foam machine reservoir. The submersible pump will feed the foam solution through a garden hose to the foam machine.

Third, the foam solution will travel into the foam machine and exit through the spray nozzle facing toward the mesh cone. The foam machine spray nozzle is similar to a sprinkler head and controls the release of the foam solution.

Fourth, the blower pushes the foam solution toward and out of the mesh cone.

Lastly, the rapid pace at which the foam solution blows out of the mesh cone will create foam!

You can imagine a foam machine working similarly to how blowing bubbles works, with the biggest difference being the sheer volume of how many bubbles get blown at once. Foam machines are blowing thousands of bubbles per second that stack together to create foam.

How much is a foam machine?

The price of purchasing a foam machine can vary drastically. You can buy a foam machine from anywhere from $200 up to $10,000.

The price of your foam machine varies by the quality of the foam machine you are purchasing.

For example, on the low end, you can purchase the Foamo Foam Machine by Little Tikes for $239.99. This foam machine has a low price tag, but the output of the foam machine leaves a lot to be desired. In addition, the Foamo Foam Machine is only suitable for a few small children at once and wouldn't work for adults.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have the Industrial Jet Foam Machine by Foam Daddy, which costs $9,600.00. However, this foam machine has the power to match the hefty price tag and is typically used for large festivals hosting hundreds of adults. This foam machine is admittedly overkill for 90% of events, but it sure is incredible!

In the middle, we have something like the HD Pro Stacker Foam Machine by Foam Daddy, which costs $2,850.00. The HD Pro Stacker Foam Machine is the foam machine we use here at Kidtastic Bubbles to throw our foam parties. It is the best choice for most events and has the perfect price tag and power combination.

When considering the cost of buying a foam machine, you often want to avoid purchasing the cheapest one as it will result in a lackluster foam machine party.

Here is a quick video comparing the Foamo Foam Machine and the HD Pro Stacker Foam Machine to see the difference that money can buy.

Where can I buy a foam machine?

Foam machines are readily available at many specialty and big box retailers. Here are just a few places where you can buy a foam machine.

Foam Daddy

Foam Daddy is the largest supplier of foam machines in the United States. They offer over half a dozen foam machines suitable for any budget. They also sell many foam machine accessories, including foam machine inflatable pits, foam solution, and foam coloring. Foam Daddy is a one-stop shop for all your foam machine needs and is our recommended provider of foam machine products.

Little Tikes

Little Tikes is a large brand that creates different toys for children. While they don't specialize in foam machines, they tend to offer their own small-scale foam machines during the summertime.

Amazon

Everyone knows Amazon for selling anything and everything, and foam machines are no exception. You can find many different foam machines with a quick search on Amazon.

What types of foam machines are there?

While there are probably hundreds of foam machines available, we will cover the seven most common ones you will come across in this section. Foam Daddy provides a majority of the foam machines on this list.

Foamo Foam Machine

The Foamo Foam Machine by Little Tikes is a very entry-level foam machine you can use with a few kids. However, if you want to buy a foam machine, we recommend spending the extra money on one of the following machines.

Standard Foam Machine

The Standard Foam Machine by Foam Daddy can cover an area of 15 x 15 feet with foam and can shoot 3 feet high, making it suitable for small gatherings where the primary guests playing in the foam are children.

Standard Semi Portable Foam Machine

The Standard Semi Portable Foam Machine by Foam Daddy gets its name because you can carry it with a shoulder strap. In addition, this foam machine offers flexibility if you need to shoot foam into multiple areas. In contrast, you should operate the rest of the foam machines on this list from a stationary position.

Large Foam Machine

The Large Foam Machine by Foam Daddy covers an area of 30x30 feet wide and up to 4 feet high with foam. This machine will work for medium-sized events with different age ranges of guests.

HD Pro Stacker Foam Machine

The HD Pro Stacker Foam Machine by Foam Daddy is the most versatile foam machine on this list and is perfect for 90% of events. This foam machine can shoot foam up to 30 feet far and is great for kids, teens, and adults of all ages. If you could only buy one foam machine, we recommend purchasing the HD Pro Stacker Foam Machine.

Industrial Foam Machine

The Industrial Foam Machine by Foam Daddy is for huge events. This foam machine can shoot foam up to a whopping 75 feet long and 30 feet high! This foam machine isn't for backyard parties but is for large festivals and fairs with hundreds of guests.

Industrial Jet Foam Machine

With the ability to shoot foam up to 120 feet long and 40 feet high, the Industrial Jet Foam Machine by Foam Daddy is probably the largest and most powerful foam machine you will ever encounter.

What is the best foam machine?

Based on a combination of price, quality, foam output, coverage, and flexibility, the HD Pro Stacker Foam Machine is currently the best on the market. The HD Pro Stacker Foam Machine is a great foam machine that will suit you well for 90% of events and last you for years.

How much does it cost to rent a foam machine?

Renting a foam machine can differ from company to company and state to state, but generally, you can rent a foam machine for between $300 and $1000 for one hour.

Most foam machine rental companies offer a complete done-for-you service where they operate the machine for the entire time of the rental.

Getting a foam machine company to run the foam machine is the preferred option for many customers because they don't have to worry about ensuring it runs smoothly.

When a foam machine company offers a done-for-you rental service, they often refer to it as "booking a foam party."

If you are looking at hosting a foam party, we recommend choosing a company that offers a complete done-for-you service instead of a company that drops off the foam machine and expects you to operate it. This way, you can focus on having fun with your friends and family at your event.

Where can I rent a foam machine?

Not everyone needs to own a foam machine. In fact, for 90% of event hosts, renting a foam machine is a better option. Here are the two leading companies you can use to rent a foam machine.

Kidtastic Bubbles

Located in Orange County, California, Kidtastic Bubbles is the leading provider of parties.

The team at Kidtastic Bubbles will take care of everything from start to finish. They set up the foam machine, operate it during the event, and tear it down after the foam party. They also provide a sound system and music to create the perfect party atmosphere.

Foam Daddy

Foam Daddy offers drop-off foam machine rentals. Renting a foam machine from Foam Daddy is the perfect option if you'd like to operate the foam machine on your own.

Renting a foam machine with Kidtastic Bubbles

And that wraps up our complete guide to foam machines. You can now consider yourself a mini foam machine expert.

If you are interested in having our team host a fun foam machine party for your next event, we encourage you to reach out to us!

We serve Orange County, California, and the surrounding cities, so if you're nearby, call (714) 823-8543 today!

We look forward to making your next event look like this!