How much does a carousel cost?
What makes the price difference?
If you’ve ever requested quotations for a carousel, you may have noticed that prices can vary quite considerably. And it’s not always just a matter of size. Two carousels with the same diameter and passenger capacity can have very different price tags, depending on the materials, construction quality, figures, decoration, and level of customization.
So, what actually determines the carousel costs? Let’s take a closer look at the factors we usually discuss with our customers.
It starts with the size
When discussing a new carousel, we usually start with the size and the number of figures. Smaller carousels generally have a single row of figures. As the diameter increases, there’s room for two or even three rows. Double-decker carousels take this a step further, offering two levels with considerably more space for passengers.
Naturally, a larger carousel requires a bigger structure, more figures, and additional materials, all of which influence the price. However, choosing the right size isn’t simply about fitting as many passengers as possible. The available space, expected visitor numbers, and desired passenger capacity are equally important when deciding which carousel makes sense for a particular location.
Wooden or fiberglas figures?
One of the factors that can make a considerable difference to the price is the material used for the carousel figures. Traditionally, carousel figures are made from wood, while fiberglass is another widely used option today.
Both materials have their own manufacturing processes. Wooden figures often involve a considerable amount of skilled craftsmanship, while fiberglass figures are generally produced using molds. The amount of manual work involved, the complexity of the figures, and the level of detail all influence the final price. It’s therefore not just a matter of choosing which material looks best. The choice between wood and fiberglass can have a significant impact on the overall investment.
Not all carousels are built the same
Another important factor that isn’t always immediately visible is the overall quality of the carousel. Even when two carousels have the same diameter and number of figures, there can be considerable differences in the materials used, the steel structure, mechanical components, drive system, and the way everything is manufactured and finished.
The same applies to the decorative elements. There’s a big difference between relatively simple, mass-produced decorations and detailed artwork that involves many hours of skilled hand-painting. You could compare it to buying a new car. Both a Fiat and a Mercedes will get you from A to B, but there are obvious differences in materials, engineering, comfort, and finishing. And naturally, those differences come with a different price.
The same applies to carousels. Two attractions may look similar on paper, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re comparing the same product. That’s why we always recommend looking beyond the appearance and technical specifications when comparing quotations from different manufacturers. A carousel is an investment that’s expected to operate for many years, so the quality of what’s underneath the decoration matters just as much as the decoration itself.
Existing designs or something completely new?
This is where things get particularly interesting. Carousel manufacturers generally have a collection of existing figures and decorative elements. For fiberglass figures, this means the production molds are already available and can be reused for new projects. If a customer selects figures from these existing designs, a significant amount of development work can be avoided.
But what if a park wants something completely different? Imagine a carousel with tractors, combine harvesters, and other agricultural vehicles instead of traditional horses. If these particular figures don’t exist yet, they need to be designed and engineered, and new production molds have to be manufactured. This involves considerably more work before the first actual figure can even be produced.
The same principle applies to custom decorative elements. Developing something entirely new takes time and comes with additional costs. It’s one of the reasons why two carousels of exactly the same size can have very different prices.
Making a standard carousel your own
Fortunately, creating something unique doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Even within our existing carousel designs, there are plenty of opportunities to adapt the appearance to a particular park or themed area.
Different colors, decorative artwork, and finishing details can completely change the look of a carousel without having to develop new figures or structural components. This is something we regularly discuss with customers. Sometimes a fully customized design is exactly what a project needs, but in other cases, working with existing figures and adapting the decoration can achieve a very similar result at a considerably lower cost.
It’s often a matter of finding the right balance between the desired appearance and the available budget.
Indoor or outdoor?
Another factor that influences the price is where the carousel will be installed. For indoor installations, weather protection is generally less of a concern. Outdoors, however, the roof construction becomes an important consideration.
Traditional canvas roofs are commonly associated with carousels, but for permanent outdoor installations, we often recommend looking at more weather-resistant alternatives, particularly when keeping the attraction dry is a priority. Depending on the project, a different roof construction or even a separate external canopy can be an interesting solution. These options naturally come with different costs, so it’s worth considering the installation environment early in the project.
Costs beyond the carousel
So far, we’ve mainly looked at the carousel itself. However, there’s one more thing to keep in mind when comparing prices: what’s actually included in the quotation?
Our carousel quotations are generally based on EXW (Ex Works) delivery terms, meaning the price doesn’t automatically include everything needed to have the attraction up and running. Depending on the project, additional costs may include transportation, installation, foundations, electrical connections, an operator booth, safety inspections, and certification. Then there are the surrounding facilities, such as queue lines, landscaping, and potentially a separate roof structure.
Some of these elements can be supplied or coordinated by the ride manufacturer, while others are typically arranged by the park itself. It’s therefore important to compare quotations based on the same scope of supply rather than looking at the price alone.
How much should you budget for a carousel?
As you can see, there isn’t one fixed price for a carousel, and the diameter alone doesn’t tell the whole story. The choice between wooden and fiberglass figures, the overall construction quality, existing or custom designs, the level of decoration, and the installation environment can all make a significant difference.
The good news is that there are also plenty of ways to adjust a carousel to suit a particular budget without necessarily compromising on its appearance. At RP Rides, we usually explore these possibilities together with our clients starting with the size and capacity before looking at the various design and customization options.
After all, the most expensive carousel isn’t necessarily the best choice for every park.
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