18 8 月 2026
18 8 月 2026
18 8 月 2026
18 8 月 2026
18 8 月 2026
Soft play equipment is ideal for toddlers, smaller venues, and low-maintenance play centers, while multi-level indoor playground equipment maximizes space utilization, visitor capacity, and revenue for commercial indoor playgrounds. The right choice depends on your target customers, venue size, budget, business model, and long-term ROI goals.
Whether you choose your equipment well or not directly affects how many customers you can receive, how many customers are satisfied, and how much it costs for daily operation. In 2025, the global indoor playground market will reach $1.8 billion, and it is still rising at a rate of 4.3% every year. At this time, making investment decisions is more critical than before.
Many people will make a mistake when buying commercial amusement park equipment. They think that the bigger and more complex the equipment, the better. But in fact, if the ceiling is and what age group the target customers are if these factors are not taken into account, the equipment will not match the venue or the audience, the passenger flow will not increase, the safety risk will be high, and it will also need to be changed later. Spend a lot of money.
Under what circumstances is soft package amusement equipment more cost-effective and under what circumstances is it not suitable? If you serve children, the ceiling is not high, or the budget is relatively tight, soft package is indeed a more worry-free choice, but if you want to maximise the income per square metre and attract families with large children at home, relying on soft package amusement equipment alone is I can’t get up.
This guide will compare soft-package amusement equipment and multi-layer amusement equipment together, and compare them from the aspects of cost, space requirements, money-making ability, and safety standards. After reading it, you will know which business model is more suitable for you, and you will also know how to spend money on the blade.
| Comparison Factor | Soft Play Equipment | Multi-Level Indoor Playground Equipment |
| Recommended Age | 1–6 years | 3–12+ years |
| Venue Size | Small to medium | Medium to large |
| Initial Investment | Lower | Higher |
| Capacity | Lower | Higher |
| Revenue Potential | Moderate | High |
| Space Utilization | Ground level only | Maximizes vertical space |
| Maintenance | Lower | Moderate to higher |
| Best Business Type | Daycares, restaurants, toddler centers | FECs, malls, adventure parks |
Soft-pack amusement equipment is made of various structures made of foam and vinyl coating materials. It is mainly aimed at children from one to six years old. The height is relatively short. The focus is on helping children develop their senses, exercise their movement ability, and let them explore by themselves in a safe environment.
Common soft package equipment includes climbing frames, ocean ball pools, foam climbing facilities, low slides, interactive panels that can be played on, and rocking and role-playing cabins for small children.
This kind of equipment is most suitable for daycare centres, kindergartens, play areas in restaurants, small shops in shopping malls, or amusement centres with little space for children to play.
Multi-storey equipment is built high, connecting two or even more floors with climbing nets, slides, tunnels, and bridges, mainly for children aged three to twelve, specially designed for commercial places with large passenger flow.
Common components include multi-layer frames, spiral slides and pipe slides, rope courses, climbing obstacles, ninja elements, interactive games, and high viewing platforms.
This kind of equipment is most suitable for commercial indoor playgrounds, family entertainment centres, adventure parks, and large shopping malls as the main amusement park.
| Feature | Soft Play Equipment | Multi-Level Indoor Playground Equipment |
| Initial Cost | $10,000–$50,000 | $50,000–$200,000+ |
| Installation Time | 1–2 weeks | 2–4 weeks |
| Floor Space Required | 100–500 sqm | 300–1,500+ sqm |
| Ceiling Height | 3–4 meters | 5–8+ meters |
| Customer Capacity | 20–50 children | 50–200+ children |
| Play Value | Moderate | High |
| Expansion Flexibility | High (modular) | Moderate |
| Maintenance Cost | Lower | Moderate to higher |
| ROI Potential | Moderate | High |
In the shopping mall, the multi-storey structure is more conspicuous, can attract people to see, and can also withstand the high rent of the shopping mall.
The Family Entertainment Centre (FEC) receives a large number of families and children of different ages. The multi-storey equipment can accommodate more people and has more things to play.
In the daycare centre, soft bag equipment is the safest and most worry-free. What children need is a short and soft structure, which is not easy to fall and get injured.
It is more suitable to use soft bag equipment in kindergartens, which allows children of different ages to climb, drill holes, and play sensory games to help early development.
Large resorts receive family guests, and it is more cost-effective to put multi-storey equipment. Boutique hotels are usually not large. It is enough to make a compact soft-pack play area, and it is also convenient for guests to use.
The community activity centre is aimed at a wide range of ages. The multi-layer equipment can accommodate more children, and different activities can also be played.
In the amusement area in the restaurant, the soft bag is a safe and space-saving option. Parents have a place for their children to play when eating, and the store will not be too full.
Soft package amusement equipment can operate effectively in a space of 100 to 500 square metres, while the multi-layer structure requires more than 300 to 1,500 square metres depending on the complexity and the number of amusement facilities.
Soft package amusement equipment only needs a net height of 3 to 4 metres, while multi-layer structures need a height of more than 5 to 8 metres to accommodate slides and elevated platforms.
The multi-layer structure requires strategic planning for the entrance point, passenger flow line, and employee supervision area, while the soft-package amusement equipment adopts a simpler open layout.
Be sure to separate the children’s soft package play area from the multi-layer structure to prevent older children from accidentally harming young visitors.
Modular soft package components are convenient for future expansion, and the expansion of multi-layer structures usually requires major structural transformation and planning.
| Cost Factor | Soft Play Equipment | Multi-Level Equipment |
| Equipment Investment | $10,000–$50,000 | $50,000–$200,000+ |
| Installation | $2,000–$10,000 | $10,000–$30,000+ |
| Shipping | Lower | Higher |
| Maintenance | Lower | Moderate to higher |
| Operating Costs | Lower | Higher |
| Long-Term Cost | Lower | Higher but offset by revenue |
The soft package amusement equipment can probably receive 20 to 50 children at the same time, and the multi-layer structure can receive more than 50 to 200 people. In places with a large flow of passengers, the multi-layer structure is obviously more suitable for people.
The multi-layer structure has more things to play with and is more durable. Children can stay in it for a longer time, and parents are also willing to bring it repeatedly. The retention rate is higher than that of soft bags.
The multi-layer income can also increase the unit price of the guest. The tickets can be set higher. It can also sell memberships, host birthday parties, sell food and drink, and sell peripherals. There are more sources than soft packages.
In terms of the recovery speed, the small centre of the soft package can generally be recovered in 12 to 18 months. Although there are more multi-storey large places, it can be recovered in about 18 to 24 months after the passenger flow and income increase.
The ASTM F1918 standard is used in soft-pack amusement equipment in the U.S. market, and amusement park facilities in Europe are equipped with EN1176. EN71 mainly deals with toy parts.
The whole soft package amusement equipment is equipped with soft packages. The multi-layer structure can only be soft wrapped in key positions such as edges, columns, and landing impact areas, and not so many other places.
Because of the height of the multi-layer equipment, the load-bearing requirements are higher, and it is also necessary to consider how to protect against falls. The structural requirements are much stricter than those of soft bags.
The daily maintenance of the soft bag mainly depends on whether the vinyl skin is broken and the foam has collapsed. The multi-layer equipment should check whether the protective net is loose, whether the screws are loose, and whether there is any problem with the connection.
In terms of security inspection, commercial amusement parks generally hire third parties to do it regularly. Because multi-storey facilities are more complex, the frequency and items of inspection are usually more and more detailed than soft packages.
The theme design can be done with two types of equipment, such as jungle, ocean, space, and fantasy, but the multi-layered structure has a large space and many layers, and the immersion will be stronger than the soft package.
In terms of colour, soft bags and multi-layers can be matched according to the brand colour or venue style. The flexibility is about the same, and there is no difference.
There are many advantages in brand integration. There are many places where logos, mascots, and brand signs can be placed in the venue, and soft bags are relatively limited.
The interactive play function soft package is generally based on the basic sensory panel, and multi-layer can add projection games, motion tracking, and AR/VR experience these more technological things.
Modular expansion soft packages are more convenient. If you want to add new components, just add them directly. If you want to expand multi-layers, it will be much more troublesome. You have to re-plan and move the structure. It can’t be solved by adding blocks casually.
First, think about your goal clearly, whether you want to pick up more people, make each guest spend more money, or make people willing to come again and again.
Depending on who your customer group is, whether it is a family with children, a parent of school-age children, or a mixture of all ages, the equipment has to follow the crowd.
Calculate the budget and return on investment, and compare how much you invest in the early stage and how much you can earn in the later stage.
After measuring the area and floor height of the site, you can know whether it can be placed or not.
Find a few more factories to compare, look at the quality, certification, and after-sales service. It’s easy to step into a trap just by looking at the price.
If you want the supplier to come up with a 3D design drawing, you can see the effect before buying it, and you can also find out where there may be problems in advance.
The store is 200 square metres, equipped with a basic soft package structure, an ocean ball pool, and foam climbing facilities. It invested 45,000 US dollars, and 8,000 US dollars can be credited every month, and the principal was recovered in 14 months.
The 800-square-metre family entertainment centre is equipped with multi-storey structures, spiral slides and pipe slides, rope courses and interactive games. It can receive 120 children at the same time, with a monthly income of 25,000 yuan and a return on investment in 18 months.
The venue is 500 square metres. On one side, there is a soft bag for children to play with, and on the other side, there is a multi-layer structure for large children to play. It earns 3.5 yuan, which is more than the playground for pure soft bags, and the cost can be recovered in 16 months.
NanPlay can do professional 3D design, from concept to landing, and you can see the rendering before the start of construction, so you don’t have to guess by yourself.
They have their own factory, 20,000 square metres, with ISO certification, and take goods directly from the factory, without intermediaries to earn the price difference.
The equipment is made according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, as well as CE and ASTM certification, which meets international requirements in terms of safety, so you don’t have to worry about your own qualifications.
There is a professional team for installation, and the equipment is assembled and fixed on the site, so you don’t have to find someone to assemble it yourself.
There is a professional team for installation, and the equipment is assembled and fixed on the site, so you don’t have to find someone to assemble it yourself.
The soft package amusement equipment is short and has soft bags all over the body, which is suitable for children to play with; multi-layer equipment is high and complex in structure, and is suitable for older children.
The total income of multi-layer equipment is higher, but the early investment of soft play is less, and each has its own advantages.
Yes, it is suitable for children, but if you rely on it to support large-scale commercial operations, it is not enough to have soft packages.
Generally, it should be more than 300 to 1,500 square metres, and the ceiling height should be at least five metres.
The soft package is simple in structure and cheaper to maintain.
Yes, this hybrid mode is becoming more and more common now, and children of all ages can take care of it.
Multi-layer equipment is more suitable for FEC, with a large flow of passengers and many projects, which can support the income.
First of all, think about your goals clearly, see who the customers are, calculate the budget, and measure the space. Just do it step by step.
Yes, as long as there is enough floor height and ground, it can be added.
Soft-pack amusement equipment is originally designed for children. The surface is soft, the height is low, and it is safer.
The minimum is five metres. If you install a complex structure with a high slide, six to eight metres will be more stable.
The soft package can generally be installed in one to two weeks, while the multi-layer equipment is more complicated and takes two to four weeks.
It can be customised, and the theme, colour, brand logo, and interactive functions can be customised according to demand.
If the venue is mainly for children, and the space and budget are relatively tight, soft-packed amusement equipment will be more suitable. The multi-storey equipment is suitable for those commercial places that mainly serve families with older children, which can receive more guests and have more income space. Many merchants have found that mixing the two types together can not only take care of children of all ages, but also make money more cost-effective.
NanPlay can do both types of equipment with one-stop service; the factory has ISO certification, 20,000 square metres of production space, and can also provide professional 3D design services. Contact NanPlay now for a free consultation and get customised 3D design drawings. You can see what your space looks like before you invest.
Thank you very much for your inquiry! Your trust is our greatest motivation. We are committed to offering playgrounds that combine high quality with affordable pricing. Let us bring vitality to your venue!
