6 Best Bubble Machines for Kids and Parties
Bubbles are hands-down the fastest way to delight a young kid.
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In Knocked Up Paul Rudd's character, Pete, says wistfully, "I wish I liked anything as much as my kids like bubbles." I get it! In my previous work for American Baby and Parents magazine we brought a bubble machine to photo shoots because it was a guaranteed way to hold the kids' attention.
I've evaluated kid's toys for a couple of decades now and I have strong opinions about the best bubbles and bubble machines. This list is my current favorites. For each, I evaluated general bubble output (sorry that I can't definitively count thousands of bubbles per minute!), ease of use, and quality of construction. I have used most of them either with my two young nieces or my friends' 4-year-old.
The kids jumped and danced while the automatic bubble makers ran, but if I handed them a wand and showed them how to blow bubbles, they got focused and working. Based on that, I decided to include one bubble-bucket choice as well.
Last thing: Bubble solution matters. I achieved the greatest quantity of high-floating bubbles with Gazillion Bubbles original solution. Also, I learned that bubble machines work best if you rinse them after use.
Pros
- Goes for 20-30 minutes before needing a refill
- Position the blower in whichever direction you need
- Plugs in with a USB cord or uses batteries
- Has a carry handle
- Huge, immediate blast of bubbles
Cons
- Not spill-proof
- Does not come with bubble solution or batteries
Best for: A high volume of bubbles for 20 to 30 minutes, great for adult parties as well as kid fun.
Specifics: This is about as close to a "professional" automatic bubble machine as you can easily and affordably get. There are six spinning wands and two levels of output.
It holds up to 12.5 fluid ounces of any bubble solution (not included). The brand says it unleashes 18,000 bubbles per minute; it's unclear how they count those. It gets more than 10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Bubbles come out of the side, and you can position it to blow bubbles in whatever direction you wish. Fill this between the minimum and maximum lines, and clean it often, to get the best performance.
Pros and cons: I like that this has a (short) USB plug, so if you have an outlet handy, you can keep it running. If you want to take it to a park or elsewhere with no outlet, it can run on four C-size batteries.
A handle makes this easy to carry it around, but it's not spill-proof, so talk your toddler out of walking around with it. The fan starts up immediately and bubbles start pouring out seconds after you turn it on. Use this outdoors!
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| Ages | 3+ |
| Bubble solution included | None |
| Capacity | 12.5 fl oz |
| Power | USB cord (included) or 4 C-size batteries (not included) |
| Bubble claim | 18,000/minute |
Pros
- Bubbles go straight up and high
- Easy for kids to gather around, like a bubble campfire
- Bargain price
- Comes with bubble solution to start
Cons
- Need to hang on to the special bottle and refill it
Best for: Cheap thrills for kiddos. My friends' kid liked it the best because it creates a ton of bubbles that blow straight up.
Specifics: I had to run this for a minute before the eight rotating wands really got going but once they did, the bubbles never stopped until the solution ran dry, which took about 20 minutes.
Pros and cons: This feels lightweight and cheap, and it is inexpensive, but it works. It's fun for kids' parties or a playdate because kids can gather around it, like a bubble campfire.
Because it blows upward, the bubbles go high. A toddler might be frustrated that the bubbles can get away, so I agree with the 3+ age grading.
This comes with one bottle of solution, and that bottle has a special top that can continuously feed into the Tornado, so you have to use it. I could not find refill bottles, so I suggest picking up a 4-liter bottle of Gazillion Bubbles and refilling the Tornado's special bottle using that.
Features at a Glance
| Ages | 3+ |
| Bubble solution included | 4 fl oz |
| Capacity | 4 fl oz |
| Power | 4 AA batteries (not included) |
| Bubble claim | 4,500/minute |
Pros
- Cute designs for parties or events
- Position it to aim the bubbles where you want them
- Comes with enough solution to refill the dolphin
Cons
- Fewer bubbles than our top two choices
- Six batteries required and not included
Best for: A themed kids' party. The adorable dolphin design is just one; there's also a bubble shark and a bubble penguin.
Specifics: The bubbles come out of the dolphin's mouth sideways, powered by 10 rotating wands, and you can position it to aim the bubbles wherever you want.
Kidzlane claims that it puts out 500 to 1,000 bubbles per minute, which is less than our top two choices, but it's still plenty, and a delight to small children.
Pros and cons: This comes with two 8-ounce bottles of bubble solution and the dolphin can hold 6 ounces at at time. That means you can do a couple of rounds of bubble-making right off the bat, which is nice.
Just don't forget to buy batteries. This machine requires six AA batteries altogether, more than other machines on our list, and none are included.
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| Ages | 3+ |
| Bubble solution included | Two 8 fl oz bottles |
| Capacity | 6 fl oz |
| Power | 6 AA batteries (not included) |
| Bubble claim | 500/minute |
Pros
- Spill-proof bucket
- Age-graded for young toddlers
- Three wands included. This is kid-powered!
- Holds a lot—20 ounces of bubble solution
- Made in the USA
Cons
- No bubble soap included
Best for: Teaching kids to blow bubbles the old-fashioned way.
Specifics: This isn't a bubble machine in that there's no batteries, plugs, or motors. The kids have to DIY their bubbles. But if you're shying away from letting them do it themselves because of the mess, this Fubbles reusable bucket has it solved.
The patented design really is spill-proof, so if your kids kick it over or it tips over in your car there's no worry. It's age-graded from 18 months so even young toddlers can play.
Pros and cons: This comes with three wands so three kids can be dipping into the bucket at once. But it does not come with bubble solution, which seems silly, especially since Fubbles is a good bubble brand. Pick up a large bottle of bubble soap because the bucket can hold up to 20 ounces at a time, and then you'll be good for a long while.
This bucket and the Fubbles bubble solution are both made in the USA.
| Ages | 18 months+ |
| Bubble solution included | None |
| Capacity | 20 fl oz |
| Power | Kids blow bubbles with the wands |
| Bubble claim | Kids blow bubbles individually |
Pros
- Plays part of a catchy tune and makes bubbles
- Music can be turned off
- Fun characters: CoComelon, Baby Shark, or Bluey
- Amazon will include a large jar of bubble solution
Cons
- "The Wheels On the Bus" will be stuck in your head
Best for: Babies and toddlers. It plays music and sends out a gentle stream of bubbles.
Specifics: This plays a part of "The Wheels on the Bus" from the CoComelon show. You can also turn off the song (it gets repetitive) and just use this in bubble-making mode.
Bubbles come out of the top, and though there's plenty of them, it's not too overwhelming for a small kid. There's also a Baby Shark version that, you guessed it, plays a part of the "Baby Shark" song. And there's a new Bluey bubble machine that blows bubbles out of Bluey's belly along with music from the show, age-graded for 3+.
Pros and cons: This is another spill-proof container, which is great, especially for babies and toddlers. Buy it from Amazon to get 20 ounces of bubble solution included.
You'll need three AA batteries to get this party started. Like with other machines, it helps to rinse out the bubble basin after use.
| Ages | 2+ |
| Bubble solution included | 30 fl oz |
| Capacity | 3.38 fl oz |
| Power | 3 AA batteries (not included) |
| Bubble claim | N/A |
Pros
- Pretend-play fun
- Gets a kid exercising
- Kid-powered, no batteries or electricity needed
Cons
- Not a ton of bubbles
Best for: Pretend play. Your toddler or preschooler can imitate a grown-up with this toy lawn mower that sends bubbles out the top. (Read more about why pretend play is so important.)
Specifics: Pour bubble solution into the "tank" and it's ready to go, no batteries required. When a kid pushes the mower it turns the bubble wands. Be sure the back wheels stay on the ground for it to work properly.
Pros and cons: The mower makes a revving sound to further foster imagination. It encourages outdoor exercise and helps with gross motor coordination. But it doesn't blow out a ton of bubbles. Just enough to keep a preschooler interested for awhile!
You can buy the brand's bubble solution in a container that looks like a gas can. John Deere also makes a bubble leaf blower.
Features at a Glance
| Ages | 3+ |
| Bubble solution included | 4 fl oz |
| Capacity | 4 fl oz |
| Power | Kids pushing the mower powers the bubble blower |
| Bubble claim | N/A |
How I chose the best bubble machines
Per hands-on editor testing, these are my six current favorite ways to play with bubbles with kids, including four electric-powered automatic bubble blowers, one set of old-fashioned wands, and a kid-powered bubble-blowing push toy.
I've been evaluating kids' toys for 25 years, including for the Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards. For this story I played with bubble machines from trusted brands with my two nieces (those are Sara's legs in the main photo) and with my friends' bubble-loving 4-year-old, pictured here. They helped me gauge the fun factor while I factored in how easy each was to use as a parent. I also looked at online reviews to determine how other families fared with the toys.
What to look for when shopping for the best bubble machine
Whether you're shopping for an automatic bubble machine or an old-fashioned bottles of bubbles, consider:
✔️ Age grading: Many toys are meant for kids ages 3 and up, but if you have a toddler, there are some bubble toys for ages 1 and 2. For maximum safety it's best to give your kids toys that are marked safe for their age. If you're running a bubble machine to delight a baby, keep it out of your baby's reach.
✔️ Power: A battery-operated bubble machine is portable but one that can also be plugged in, or that uses rechargeable batteries, will ultimately cost you less money. Our list also includes two kid-powered picks, and those are the most money-saving of all!
✔️ Capacity for bubble solution: The more soapy solution a bubble machine holds, the longer it can go without needing adult help for a refill.
Tips for using a bubble machine
Learn from me! Here are tips for using bubble machines:
✔️ Use outdoors. A bubble blower is releasing soap, and you don't want that all over the inside of your house. These are not necessarily small bubble blowers, either. Many of the choices on our list can produce thousands of bubbles quickly.
✔️ Buy more bubble soap than you think you need. Many bubble machines run out in 20 minutes, so it's best to keep extra bottles of bubble solution on hand. Some of the machines don't come with solution at all.
✔️ Not all bubble solutions are the same. You would think that there can't be ineffective bubble solution, but it's out there, especially at discount places. Beware the super-cheap no-brand stuff that might be a complete waste of time and money. My two favorites are Gazillion Bubbles and Fubbles.
✔️ Don't leave these sitting out in the yard for days. Like other outdoor toys, bubble machines can easily get gunky, which affects their performance. To make them last longer, it's wise to rinse them clean and store them inside to dry between uses.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn comes from Parents magazine and regularly reviews gear and toys for Good Housekeeping. Her two kiddos are young adults now, so she enlisted her nieces and friends' kid for bubble machine testing.
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