Summer’s in full swing, which means pool party season is officially here. And if you’ve got a backyard pool, there may be no better place to host friends and family for a fun summer get-together.
You might already own a few inflatable pool toys, plus some pool noodles, a floating basketball hoop, or a giant float with built-in cup holders. But we’re willing to bet you haven’t seen pool toys quite like these.
From hilarious floats to competitive pool games, we’ve rounded up some of the funniest, coolest, weirdest, and most memorable pool toys you can bring to your next pool party. Just one will make your event unforgettable. As always, the only limit is your imagination (and your budget)...
Inflat-a-Bull
- Price: $259
- Average customer review: 4.8 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 94” long x 77” wide x 32” tall
- Weight limit: 220 pounds
If you’ve ever wanted to ride a mechanical bull without the risk of getting launched across a country bar, this inflatable pool toy is your moment.
Challenge friends and family to see who can hang on the longest, then flip the bull and send them splashing into the pool. It’s ridiculous, competitive, and exactly the kind of chaos a great pool party needs.
Inflatable Pizza Slice
- Price: $32
- Average customer review: 4.4 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 70” long x 60” wide
- Weight limit: 250 pounds
Order a pizza and kick back in the pool with this extra-cheesy inflatable pool toy. This oversized pizza-slice float is instantly recognizable and perfect for anyone who takes their love of pizza seriously.
Better yet, you can buy enough slices to create a full floating pie for up to eight people. Because nothing says “successful pool party” quite like a giant inflatable pizza taking up half the pool.
Diving Masters Pool Game
- Price: $29
- Average customer review: 4.4 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 8” long x 5” wide
This treasure chest game turns your pool into an underwater coin hunt, complete with 39 oversized treasure coins to retrieve from the bottom. Whoever collects the most treasure wins — though fair warning: people get surprisingly competitive when fake treasure is involved.
Pool-Friendly Water Guns
- Price: $20
- Average customer review: 4.7 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Size: 6 Pack
Why settle for one water blaster when you can get a whole six-pack for your next pool battle? These colorful squirt guns are lightweight, easy to use, and perfect for turning your backyard pool into a full-blown splash war.
With a range of up to 30 feet, you can soak friends from clear across the pool. Just be prepared to pull the pump back to reload — these things empty fast, which honestly just adds to the chaos.
Inflatable Boat
- Price: $27
- Average customer review: 4.3 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 73” long x 37” wide x 16” tall
- Weight limit: 210 pounds
It’s the inflatable pool toy that’ll technically give you a workout… at least for a few paddle strokes. This mini dinghy comes with oars, making it perfect for anyone who’s ever looked at their backyard pool and thought, “You know what this needs? A boat.”
Two kids, or one reasonably-sized adult, can paddle around the pool while everyone else questions how serious this whole boating operation really is. Bonus points if you dramatically row from one side of the pool to the other like you’re crossing the Atlantic.
Inflatable Cornhole Set
- Price: $29
- Average customer review: 4.3 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 37” long x 21” wide (each)
Cornhole already gets competitive fast, but it gets even more chaotic when the boards are floating around the pool. This inflatable version comes with two floating targets and eight bean bags, making it perfect for pool parties, beach days, or backyard games with the family.
You can anchor the boards in place or let them drift around to make each throw a little more challenging. Either way, someone’s definitely going to start taking the score way too seriously.
Inflatable Ring Toss
- Price: $13
- Average customer review: 4.4 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 31” long x 31” wide x 14” tall
Ring toss may be a carnival classic, but it's a lot more interesting when the target is floating around the pool. This inflatable flamingo set includes six rings and a bright pink target that's equal parts pool game and pool decoration.
It looks easy enough until the flamingos start drifting away at exactly the wrong moment.
Splash Pass Pool Football
- Price: $50
- Average customer review: 4.4 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 20” long x 20” wide x 33” tall
Pool basketball gets all the attention, but what about the aspiring quarterbacks out there? This floating football target lets players test their arm strength and accuracy without ever leaving the water.
The target uses pool noodles for flotation and comes with four inflatable footballs and a pump for easy setup. Practice your spirals solo or challenge friends to see who can consistently hit the target.
Party Gator
- Price: $30
- Average customer review: 4.4 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 72” long x 36” wide
- Weight limit: About 20 cans of your favorite beverages
It’s not a game, and you can’t float on it… but what’s more fun than kicking back with a few ice-cold beverages in your backyard pool? It’s a literal floating cooler with built-in cup holders, and it looks like an alligator! It’s the perfect goofy, yet practical addition to any pool party, whether you’re stocking up on Sprite for the kids or Bud Light for the bros.
As an added benefit, the alligator design may help scare frogs and other small animals away from your swimming pool.
Flamingo and Unicorn Pool Float 2-Pack
- Price: $30
- Average customer review: 4.5 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 46”/57” long x 42”/42" wide x 39”/36” tall
- Weight limit: ~200 pounds (each)
Every pool party needs a few statement pieces, and it's hard to beat a giant flamingo and unicorn floating across the water. This set includes both inflatable favorites, along with two beach balls to keep the fun going.
Large enough for adults and easy to inflate, they're a simple way to add a little extra color and personality to your backyard pool without taking themselves too seriously.
Peacock Pool Float
- Price: $60
- Average customer review: 4.3 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 66” long x 62” wide x 48” tall
- Weight limit: 400 pounds
If a flamingo or unicorn aren’t ostentatious enough for your pool party, you can always upgrade to a giant peacock float. With its colorful wings, oversized tail, and room for up to two people, this inflatable was clearly designed to attract attention.
At 66 inches long and capable of holding up to 400 pounds, it's less of a pool float and more of a floating centerpiece.
Inflatable Tank (with Water Gun!)
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- Price: $60
- Average customer review: 4.9 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 57” long x 51” wide
- Weight limit: 350 pounds
Some pool toys ask you to float. This one asks you to command. With its tank-inspired design and built-in water cannon, this oversized inflatable turns an ordinary pool day into a mission of strategic importance. Whether you're defending the shallow end or launching surprise attacks from across the pool, this float is built for anyone who prefers their relaxation with a little action mixed in.
Inflatable Drink Holders
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- Price: $5
- Average customer review: 4.6 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Size: 3 pack
Don’t have enough cup holders in your other pool floats? Pick up a three-pack (or two) of these GoFloats Inflatable Drink Holders.
With more than a dozen designs available, you can match your drink holder to the rest of your pool-party aesthetic. Choose from swans, dragons, flamingos, unicorns, rubber ducks, and other floating companions whose sole responsibility is keeping your beverage within arm’s reach.
Motorized Pool Lounger
- Price: $200
- Average customer review: 4.4 stars (get it on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 66” long x 44” wide
- Weight limit: 250 pounds
For those who find traditional floating a little too passive, there's this motorized pool lounger.
Complete with dual motors, a handheld controller, and built-in storage compartments, it allows riders to cruise around the pool on their own terms. Is it excessive? Absolutely. But once you've spent an afternoon piloting your own floating lounge chair, it's hard to go back to doing all that swimming yourself.
Ready to Have More Fun in Your Pool?
There are hundreds of pool toys on the market, and we could never cover them all in a single list. These are simply some of our favorite quirky, competitive, ridiculous, and downright entertaining options for making the most of pool season.
Whether you're riding an inflatable bull, floating on a giant pizza slice, commanding a pool tank, or cruising around in a motorized lounge chair, these toys all do a pretty good job of turning an ordinary afternoon in the pool into something a little more memorable.
Now if you'll excuse us, we have a floating pizza to assemble.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best inflatable pool toys for adults?
Large floats, floating games, motorized loungers, and novelty inflatables like giant pizza slices, peacocks, and inflatable tanks are among the most popular inflatable pool toys for adults. The best option depends on whether you're looking to relax, compete, or simply make your pool party more memorable.
What are the most popular pool toys for pool parties?
Pool hoops, floating cornhole, ring toss games, water blasters, oversized pool floats, and floating coolers are some of the most popular pool party toys because they encourage interaction and keep guests entertained.
Are inflatable pool toys safe?
Most inflatable pool toys are safe when used as intended and under appropriate supervision. Always follow the manufacturer's weight limits, inspect inflatables for damage before use, and remember that pool floats are not life-saving devices.
From the Author
Pool ownership is a lot of things, but one of the best parts is finding new ways to enjoy the water with family and friends.
I’m Cristian Shirilla, Marketing Manager at River Pools and co-owner of a fiberglass pool installation company in Virginia. I put this article together after stumbling across some of the funniest, weirdest, and most creative inflatable pool toys on the internet.
My goal with this article was simple: to share a few fun ideas that might help make your next pool party, family gathering, or summer afternoon in the water a little more enjoyable.
From the Manufacturer
At River Pools, we know that some of the best backyard memories happen after the pool is installed. Whether it's hosting pool parties, spending time with family, or simply finding new ways to enjoy the water, the pool is often just the beginning.
If you're still in the research phase and considering a fiberglass pool for your backyard, the next step is connecting with a trusted independent installer in your area. They can help you explore designs, evaluate your space, and determine what options may be the best fit for your family and your goals.
Ready to start the conversation?
