Bouncy techno is a form of Happy Hardcore that first emerged as an accessible form of Gabber. It is characterized by having an average tempo of 160 to 180 BPM, four-on-the-floor beats, melodic and repetitive synth melodies, drums with hard kicks (but not as hard as the gabber bass), short breaks, progressive stomping rhythms and offbeat notes, which are responsible for giving a bouncy feeling to the music. It's usually instrumental, but the usage of short, repetitive vocal samples is also common. Gabber is harder, faster and less melodic, while bouncy techno features a "happier" sound linked to happy hardcore with elements like softer piano melodies.

The genre was pioneered in the early 1990s in Scotland and North England and was quickly popularized by Scott Brown. Breakbeat Hardcore was the main form of rave music in England, but due to its non-acceptance in Scotland, gabber, which originated in the Netherlands, was the alternative introduced to Scottish audiences by Bass Generator, a British DJ and producer. To keep it popular, a more bouncy form of gabber was developed, leading to the creation of bouncy techno. After the general acceptance of this sound, more DJ's started playing music in the style. It was later introduced to the Netherlands by Paul Elstak. Throughout the mid-1990s, bouncy techno rapidly declined in popularity after the general opinion shifted against it, due to police interventions in clubs where heavy drug usage was common during raves. Scott Brown later created a record label in 1998 under the name Bouncy Techno, that featured a more Trance-inspired sound which was also highly influential.