The Top 10 Sprinklers for Kids for Backyard Fun

This Mega Melon will appeal to safety-focused parents and kids. At 35.5 inches high, it’s a great height for babies and toddlers who are just getting the hang of outdoor fun. It is, simply put, a huge inflatable watermelon that you can park on your lawn and snake a sprinkler through.

There are no tricky attachments that kiddos will slip on, and it's made from nontoxic, weather-resistant, durable PVC material. Reviewers call it a “great choice” for summer fun, and easy to assemble.

You’ll find your kids somewhere under the rainbow all summer if this witty sprinkler goes up in your yard. This rainbow features a six-foot-tall rainbow arch set in two clouds. There are holes on either side of the purple stripe, allowing water to come out of both sides. The hose is easy to connect to the inflatable rainbow and clouds. Reviewers love it as a sprinkler but say it does triple duty as a fabulous party prop and a pool float.

This inflatable cactus doubles as a ring toss. The plant's 47.2-inch height makes it feel like a giant sculpture to toddlers and younger kids, who will love that they can throw four colorful rings on its arms. Reviewers remarked it's easy to inflate, and that the gentle spray is just right for little kids.

If there’s one guaranteed way to make outdoor water play even better, it’s by tossing a unicorn into the mix. This 5-foot, 3-inch unicorn is easy to inflate and connect to garden hoses and is made from high-quality, extra-durable material.

Reviewers gushed about the reaction the unicorn enthusiasts in their life met it with. One parent said “this unicorn has been a lifesaver for my kids during lockdown. It’s not as big as some of the others, but it is definitely more manageable … The horn really sprays the water far. Very durable reinforced plastic.”

If your kids feel like they’ve aged out of “babyish” sprinklers, now’s the time to whip out this bad boy. This can be attached to any standard hose. Once switched on, the dome lights up and six tubes wiggle and flail, spraying water everywhere. The dome spins and the spouts create an ever-shifting splash zone.

This is definitely a “big kid” toy, for ages 7 and up. Reviewers recommend it for dusk and early evening play to get the maximum benefit from the lights.

This cute Fido fire hydrant only stands 10.75 inches in height, but it packs serious power, making it a great option for those who don’t want a giant inflatable beast drawing stares from neighbors. The hydrant attaches to any standard hose and sends up 10-foot-high, 16-foot-wide sprays. This sprinkler is also made of heavy-duty plastic and is not inflatable, making it more durable than some of its puffed-up compadres. Its squat size also means it can be brought along to friends’ houses.

This splash pad is a great option for larger families and water-loving dogs. The 67-inch-wide pad fits a couple of kids and a pooch (though different sizes can hold more). The pad is made of thick, nonslip PVC, and is durable enough to withstand daily rough play. It’s easier to use and store than an inflatable pool and hooks up to a garden hose, which then issues multiple streams of water through the pad’s bottom.

Reviewers loved that the streams of water spray can be adjusted by height, and note that it holds up well to paws and little hands.

Your family gets the best of both worlds with a durable, inflatable sprinkler pool. Made from durable, nontoxic PVC without BPA or phthalates, this 67.5-inch-long, 43.5-inch-wide wading pool and sprinkler is great for babies and toddlers who are new to water play, while also appealing to kids who want to sit down and (literally) chill out on hot summer days. The pool becomes a splash pad when connected to a garden hose. Caregivers are enthused about its “perfect” size and the fact that it keeps “the kids busy for hours!!!”

If you want to throw a sprinkler party, this seven-foot-tall giraffe will be the perfect host. The water-weighted inflatable rapid-valve on the giraffe blows up ten times faster than other inflatables, and it has a universal hose connector allowing you to control water pressure.

The sprinkler is made from premium UV-treated raft-grade vinyl, which means it’s 25% thicker than most other inflatable sprinklers on the market. One reviewer recommends setting it up over a slip n’ slide for the ultimate summer afternoon of fun. Another raved, “this thing is AWESOME. It’s so impressive and the kids squeal with glee seeing what must feel like a life-sized giraffe.”

This Cyclone is essentially a three-in-one water toy. There’s the sprinkler element, plus a pool and a slip n’ slide. All told, the splash park is 192 inches long and 84 inches wide. It features a 16-foot curved water slide, with a wading pool on the side and sprinklers throughout.

While this play zone would certainly deliver all of the fun of a day at the splash park, it will also take up a lot of real estate, which isn’t for everyone.