Indoor Slide Ideas: Installing a 9' Tube Slide in a House

Installing the Slide's Entrance

The first step in this project was creating the opening for the slide entrance. Most installations require a floor opening that’s at least 3 feet deep and 3 feet wide, depending on the type of slide. In this case, the homeowner installed a Side Slider tube slide, which has a 90-degree turn at the entrance. Because of that angled entry, they needed closer to a 5-foot-wide opening to ensure a smooth transition into the slide.

Installing the Slide's Sections

From the underside of the slide, you can clearly see the 90-degree turn at the entrance. This angle is adjustable and can be oriented to the left or right depending on your space. When assembling each 3-foot section of the slide, one helpful technique is to stand the section upright and loosely attach all the bolts on each side before securing it in place.

Pro tip: Have a second person hold the section steady while you align and bolt it to the previous piece. This makes the process much easier and ensures a tight, aligned connection between sections.

Supporting the Indoor Slide

To ensure long-term stability, the installer added extra lumber under the floor opening to reinforce the joints at the top of the slide. In addition, they planned to run a horizontal brace on each side of the slide for added support.

In this build, a 9-foot slide was installed in a basement with 10-foot ceilings. To accommodate the height difference and support the slide's exit point, we added a 12-inch riser platform. Alternatively, you can add another 3-foot slide section so the slide reaches the ground without needing a riser.

Practice Sports offers optional support posts to attach to the side of the slide for additional stability. While those work well in many setups, they weren’t compatible in this case due to plans to enclose the slide. Instead, the installer used 2x4 framing and L-brackets to secure the slide to a nearby structural frame running parallel to the slide path.

Insider Tips from the Installer

• Use washers on both sides of the bolts. This adds strength and stability to each connection point.

• Two people make the job easier. While it’s possible to install the slide solo, having a second set of hands really helps during assembly, alignment, and support.

• Order a landing pad. Practice Sports offers a slide landing mat that adds extra safety at the bottom of the slide.

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