Nothing is better on a hot day than a good water fight. And kids love a great water gun to soak their siblings and friends! Get the kids off electronics, out of the house, and onto a fun adventure with some fun water toys. Although my favorite water guns are still NERF Super Soakers, there are a lot of great ways for kids to absolutely drench each other in good fun.
How To Choose A Water Gun For Kids
Weight
Lightweight water guns are easier for smaller kids to run with and chase other kids around with. Some of the larger Super Soakers, although fun, are difficult for a 4-year-old to tackle.
Firing Mechanism
How easy is it to fire the trigger, and maneuver the water gun.?
Re-load
How easy is it to refill the water gun? Can a younger kid reload it on their own or do they need help?
Price and Value
Water guns can be purchased for under $5 up to over $50. Some water guns have good accessories and other toys included with the guns.
Safety
It is important that water guns are fun and spray a lot of water, but it is critical that the water guns are safe for kids as young as 2 years old.
Theme
Some of our favorite water guns are Star Wars, Fortnite, or zombie themed.
Top 17 Budget Water Guns for Kids
With these guns your young ones can have lots of fun, and you don’t have to take out a loan to buy these guns.
| Model | Pros / Cons |
|---|---|
Super Soaker Barrage Read Review | Pros: |
Scatterblast Blaster Read Review | Pros: |
Super Soaker DinoSquad Read Review | Pros: |
Super Soaker Piranha Read Review | Pros: |
Super Soaker Alphafire Read Review | Pros: |
Fortnite HC-E Super Soaker Read Review | Pros: |
Fortnite RL SuperSoaker Read Review | Pros: |
Super Soaker Fortnite Pump-SG Read Review | Pros: |
Stream Machine TL-750 Read Review | Pros: |
Super Water Guns 2-Pack Read Review | Pros: |
Kwik-Tek Bazooka Read Review | Pros: |
Water Gun 4-Pack Read Review | Pros: |
Fire Extinguisher Water Gun Read Review | Pros: |
JOYIN Water Blaster Read Review | Pros: |
Max Liquidator 6-Pack Read Review | Pros: |
Emoji Water Blaster Read Review | Pros: |
Rebelle Cascade Blaster Read Review | Pros: |
Best NERF Water Guns for Kids
There are a lot of great water guns out there, but our favorite water guns for kids are still Super Soakers, so get nostalgic and pick some up for your kids, and maybe just maybe you can use them too.
1. Super Soaker Barrage
The Nerf Super Soaker Barrage is a great soaker for kids who are serious about water fights or need to defend themselves from older siblings. While this soaker might be a little heavy for younger kids, your 6-year-old would love it!
Technical Specifications
This super soaker is a little bit heavier than some of the other soakers, but for good reason: it holds 84 ounces of water! It is super easy to fill so no time will be wasted filling up on water. It has 3 shooting modes: a Scatter mode that is perfect if they are aiming at more than one target, a Flood mode that projects a huge stream of water, and a Distance mode that can shoot a target 38 feet away.
2. Super Soaker Scatterblast Blaster
Girls love Super Soakers, too! NERF’s Scatterblast Blaster is the go to gun for my 6-year-old niece. She loves to play water games with her friends. The Scatterblast Blaster has a great look and feel with a shotgun draw and bright white, blue, green, and orange colors. With this your child is sure to get outside and get away form their screens and have some fun.
Technical Specifications
The NERF Scatterblast Blaster can hold up to 22 ounces of water. This is a huge upgrade in water capacity from the ZipFire, but because of the water stream it still won’t last a long time. It fires water up to 30 feet away. The gun has 4 smaller nozzles and 1 larger nozzle from which it fires. This Super Soaker has a flip up site that looks good but isn’t very helpful in a water war. The Scatterblast Blaster fires like a lot of NERF guns with a pullback action.
3. Super Soaker DinoSquad
If you have a dinosaur lover, then this is a must have! The DinoSquad looks like a Dilophosaurus dinosaur and the best part is that water comes out of a mouthful of teeth. I love the colors on this fun gun – turquoise, green, yellow and orange (the teeth are white of course!). This gun would be great for a 5-year-old. Younger dinosaur fans would love it as well, but just be aware that it might be a little heavy for younger kids.
The Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak Blaster is easy to fill. Just pull the plug off, fill, replace the cap, and it is ready to go. I really like how easy it is to use: it shoots while you pump.
Technical Specifications
This water gun can shoot up to 20 feet, which means you don’t have to get too close to your opponents. It holds a respectable 23 ounces of water, and it’s fast and easy to fill.
4. Super Soaker Piranha
Don’t let the simple look of this basic Super Soaker trick you, this is a great water blaster. Just like the little fish it is named after, this gun can do a whole lot more damage than you would guess. This water gun has a stiff but strong firing mechanism which makes it a little difficult for kids under 4 years old to fire, but it fires pretty far. The best part of this water blaster is that it is easy to hold and fire with just one hand, making it a great squirt gun to sneak up on someone and let them have it.
Technical Specifications
The Piranha holds a fairly modest 6 ounces of water and can shoot about 10 to 15 feet. It looks and feels much nicer than most of the water guns you can get for around $5, giving it really good value. It is a top loading water gun and is easy to fill in the pool or in a bucket.
5. Nerf Super Soaker Alphafire
Technical Specifications
This small water gun can shoot up to 20 feet. Weighing just 7 ounces, it is easy for little ones to use. It holds just 7 ounces of water, so it has to be refilled quite often. Thankfully, it is easy to refill, even for the youngest shooters.
NERF Fortnite Super Soakers
There are now tons of great options to get a great Fortnite themed Super Soaker. These are a great way to let the kids play Fortnite while still getting their exercise.
6. Fortnite HC-E Super Soaker
Get ready to drench your opponents with the NERF Fortnite HC-E Super Soaker. It is a great looking replica of Epic Game’s HC-E water gun. With classic Fortnite colors of purple and blue, this is sure to be a hit with a 4-year-old or older.
Technical Specifications
The Fornite HC-E can hold only 7.4 ounces, which is much less than a lot of these other options. The HC-E weighs only 2.2 pounds so it can be maneuvered easily. This water gun is 2.6″ x 11″ x 9″ long. I would definitely say this kid’s water gun is more bark than bite. The HC-E works by a simple trigger firing mechanism and is easy to fire for young kids.
7. NERF Fortnite RL SuperSoaker
Boom! Boom! Boom! There goes another shot. This Fortnite rocket launcher may not launch rockets, but it shoots a fantastic stream of water at your target. Just like the video game, this Super Soaker is loaded with bright colors and a cartoon faced-nose. Overall, this is a cool water gun that is more fun than it is functional. Our recommendation is that gun is a good fit for 5-year-olds and up.
Technical Specifications
This rocket launcher can store a little more than 9 fluid ounces of water. To fill the rocket blaster stick the tip of the launcher in a bucket, pool, or lake and pull back with suction until it is full. To fire, just push the water gun forward until you blast your target with your water. The only downside of this gun is it takes a large filling station in order to re-fill. It is definitely a lot of fun, and your kids are going to love you if you buy this for them.
8. Nerf Super Soaker Fortnite Pump-SG
Any fans of the popular video game Fortnite will get a kick out of this blaster! It looks just like the one used in Fortnite so they will be thrilled to bring the game to life in their own backyard. And the pump is a fun alternative to a traditional trigger. To squirt, you move the handle back and forth. The faster you pump the greater the power! However, this is much less powerful or functional than nearly any other gun on this list.
Technical Specifications
The best feature of this water blaster is that it is lightweight, only weighing 1 pound before being filled up with water. It’s also affordable at less than $20. However, it doesn’t hold much water. With a capacity around only 12 fluid ounces, you’ll find yourself refilling often. At least it’s easy to fill it up – simply twist the cap and fill it with water.
Top Off-Brand Water Guns for 4 and 5-year-old Kids
We have reviewed our favorite Super Soaker alternate brands and water blasters not made by NERF. Typically these guns are lesser in quality and durability but are generally less expensive compared to an equivalent NERF gun.
9. Stream Machine TL-750 Water Launcher
You will not be disappointed in this water launcher! A popular choice at lakes, backyard water parties, the beach, pool, or even on the boat, the Stream Machine will drench anyone who dares challenge you to a water fight! To fill it up, simply stick the nozzle under the water then pull the plunger back. Push the handle to unleash a long stream of water or several shorter bursts. Its convenient design allows you to unscrew the nozzle to clean it or re-lube it with petroleum jelly.
Techincal Specifications
What’s amazing about the Stream Machine is that it shoots up to 70 feet but only takes 2-3 seconds to reload. Also, since it is constructed with high-quality materials it won’t chip or peel. It will truly provide endless fun for years and years!
10. Super Water Guns 2-Pack
This water gun needs 2 hands to use: one to hold and aim and the other to pump the water out. It’s easy enough for a 3-year-old to use and cool enough that teenagers will also love it. It comes with 2 guns so that a water fight can be fair.
Technical Specifications
This water gun can blast a stream of water about 50 feet–so be prepared to get wet! Not only does it shoot far, it also holds over 40 oz of water! That means you can go quite a while without refilling. Filling is extremely easy. Just flip open the lid, submerge it in water, and it fills in seconds. It is great for pool parties, backyard water fights, or on the beach . . . anywhere there is water!
11. Kwik Tek AQUA ZOOKA
This Aqua-Zooka is a great water gun for toddlers or any kids. This drenching style water gun launches a ton of water a far distance without a lot of effort. Because it uses water so fast and doesn’t store much water, this style of water gun is best for pools, beaches, and boats. It makes a great companion for an outing on the water. This water gun works great even if it gets exposed to a little sand. A little warning: these styles of water guns do leak if you are trying to drag it full through a house. I’d highly recommend buying these two at a time because it is way more fun to fire back and forth.
Technical Specifications
The Aqua-Zooka can shoot water up to 60 feet, and younger kids can easily reach 20-30 feet. All that you need to do to load this water bazooka is to fully submerse the water gun in water, and then pull the handle back. To fire simply reverse the direction and drench your friends. Your 3-year-old will get a kick out this water gun. Some really young children may need some help to re-load, but these little ones will still get a kick from the stream of water this fires.
12. Water Gun 4-Pack
This is a great addition for big family reunions, small family gatherings, pool parties with friends, impromptu water fights with the neighborhood kids, or any other excuse to cool off in the hot summer months. Kids as young as 3 or as old as 99 can easily pump the levers and press the trigger.
As an extra surprise, the tank is large enough to put some ice cubes in the water so that your opponent will be surprised at the first blast. These guns are durable and well constructed, but of course most guns will leak if left on their sides, so be careful of that. You can’t beat the price for 4 water guns that actually work and last longer than one water fight.
Technical Specifications
This sporty gun holds 10.5 fluid ounces of water, which means it’ll need to be refilled more often than other options on this list. Kids love that this gun will spray up to 30 feet. That makes for some great water fights! Whether you’re hiding close to your target or several feet away, you are sure to shoot far enough with this great set of water guns.
13. Fireman Backpack Extinguisher
What kid doesn’t like to play fireman? I know my kids love to visit the firehouse and see the firetrucks. With this fun red colored fireman backpack water gun, kids can pretend to put out fires. Your toddler or 4-year-old and their friends can get into an epic backpack water fight and stay safe in the process. The full tank can be a little heavy for little kids, so we recommend only filling the tank 1/3 or 1/2 full. Another option is to fill the tank up for your little one and put the backpack on the ground.
Technical Specifications
This backpack holds about 80 ounces of water and can shoot a steady stream of water up to 25 feet. This definitely will not fire as far as the Super Soaker, but it’s a lot more safe. In order to fire the water gun fire extinguisher, simply pump the gun with the yellow handle. The backpack holds so much water that kids can water play for a lot longer than they can with the other water guns we recommend.
14. JOYIN 2 Pack Super Water Blaster
This is the closest of all the non NERF Water Guns to being Super Soaker quality. If you are looking for an alternate to NERF water guns this is the choice for you. Your 6-year-old will be very happy to open these water guns for his birthday. These guns work well but can leak if they aren’t held level.
Technical Specifications
This large water gun can shoot up to 36 feet and can hold up to 25 ounces of water. This is actually a little better than the similar sized NERF Scatterblast blaster. The cost is right on the JOYIN water guns, as you can get 2 water guns for under $20. This also is a little less expensive than the Super Soaker. The JOYIN water guns are made from safe non-toxic materials and meet rigorous US toy standards. These guns come with a 90-day money back guarantee. This water gun measures about 16″ x 8″. To fire the water gun, use pump action. Open the plug and fill the water gun back up.
15. Max Liquidator 6-Pack
The Max Liquidator is a water gun that anyone can use. It is made of the same foam material that pool noodles are made of, only these are a lot more fun. Bright, colorful, and lightweight, these water guns are easy to use. Just submerge in water, pull the handle back to fill the gun with water, and push the handle in to squirt your opponent.
Technical Specifications
But watch out; they can spray up to 30 feet! However, they can only hold about 16 ounces of water. Thankfully, they are easy to refill so you can get back to spraying your friends! These guns are always a favorite at water fights at our house. I love that they last a few seasons!
16. Toyrifik 24 Pack Emoji Blaster
This is a great water shooter for young kids. The value here is just unreal. For about $1 per blaster you can buy these for a birthday or pool party for everyone in attendance. The emoji faces make these a perfect fit for a kid. Even a 2-year-old girl can fire one of these. Who can help but have a good time around all these smiles? These water guns are best used near a body of water such as a lake or pool. They can also be filled with a bucket.
Technical Specifications
Each water shooter is just a little under a foot long and is made of plastic and foam. Each Emoji water blaster can shoot up to 30 feet. In order to reload the water blaster, you need only put the nozzle in the water and gently pull back. In order to fire, simply push the plunger forward causing a large amount of water to be dispersed.
Water Gun for Girls
Girls like water guns, too. This water gun would make a great gift for your daughter.
17. Rebelle Super Soaker Cascade Blaster
The Rebelle Cascade blaster is a great take on a traditional Super Soaker like a Scatterblast Blaster. It has sleeker lines and brighter colors that would make a great gift for a 4-year-old girl. The firing mechanism is easy to use and its handle is easy to grip.
Technical Specifications
The Cascade Super Soaker fires one continuous stream of water at a distance of up to 38 feet away. The water capacity is pretty average at this size and holds 20 fluid ounces of water. You won’t be disappointed with this gun. It is not as exciting as the Rebelle Crossbow, but it is definitely a more reliable water gun.
FAQs
Are water guns safe for kids?
Although water gun injuries can happen, water guns can be lots of fun for kids if simple safety steps are taken and parents are supervising water gun play. Kids should never shoot a water gun at someone’s face or at close range.
What water guns are good alternates to Super Soakers?
Heytech and Joyin both make some good water guns, some of which are some of the best selling water guns. Typically Super Soakers are about twice as expensive as a mostly comparable alternate.
How does a water gun work?
Water guns work using a variety of different mechanisms including squeeze trigger, hand pump, and a powered pump to cause water in a chamber to be pressurized and then released.
Don’t forget to check out our great blog post on NERF Guns for Young Kids.
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