Not every job needs a blimp. A red helium sphere over a car lot is the oldest trick in outdoor advertising because it still works. Hot-air balloon shapes look like the real thing and stop traffic. Both fly on the same tether, at the same height, with the same polyurethane skin.
Helium sphere balloons, 4.5 ft to 14 ft
Spheres are simple, tough and cheap to fly. The 5.5 ft sphere at $351 is the most popular balloon in the line and holds 87 cu ft of helium, about $130 per fill. Lettering on a sphere goes on a banner wrapped around the middle, or as a printed logo on the smaller sizes.
| Size | Blank helium sphere balloon | Print area | Blank banner | Standard lettering | Helium | With lettering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5' | $301 | Logo print | — | $283 | 65 cu ft | $584 |
| 5.5' | $351 | 30 × 54 in | $45 | $308 | 87 cu ft | $659 |
| 7' | $445 | 30 × 54 in | $45 | $437 | 180 cu ft | $882 |
| 8' | $623 | 44 × 80 in | $56 | $537 | 300 cu ft | $1,160 |
| 10' | $817 | 48 × 84 in | $56 | $608 | 524 cu ft | $1,425 |
| 12' | $1,441 | 52 × 100 in | $70 | $803 | 905 cu ft | $2,244 |
| 14' | $2,427 | 72 × 108 in | $94 | $943 | 1,444 cu ft | $3,370 |
Why dealers love the red ball
It is visible in every direction. It does not care which way the wind blows. It fits in a car trunk. And a SALE EVENT banner around a 7 ft sphere reads from across a six-lane road.
- Round means the message faces every road
- Lowest helium cost per foot of visibility
- Same polyurethane skin as the blimps
Hot-air balloon shapes, 9.5 ft to 17.5 ft
These look like a real hot-air balloon at a distance and get a second look from everyone. The optional band adds a wrap-around message area. Popular with resorts, apartment communities and anyone selling a lifestyle.
| Size | Blank hot-air balloon shape | Print area | Blank banner | Standard lettering | Helium | With lettering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.5' | $780 | 30 × 54 in | $45 | $545 | 198 cu ft | $1,325 |
| 9.5' with band | $968 | 30 × 54 in | $45 | $545 | 198 cu ft | $1,513 |
| 13.5' | $1,226 | 48 × 84 in | $56 | $574 | 576 cu ft | $1,800 |
| 13.5' with band | $1,402 | 48 × 84 in | $56 | $574 | 576 cu ft | $1,976 |
| 17.5' | $2,009 | 52 × 108 in | $73 | $590 | 1,265 cu ft | $2,599 |
| 17.5' with band | $2,310 | 52 × 108 in | $73 | $590 | 1,265 cu ft | $2,900 |
Custom shapes and cold-air inflatables
Gorillas, superheroes, giant t-shirts, product replicas up to 25 ft tall. These are cold-air inflatables: a blower keeps them up, so there is no helium to buy. Ask for a quote with a photo of what you have in mind.
Compare every size against a person
- Blank price
- $975
- With lettering
- $1,512
- Print area
- 30 × 60 in
- Helium
- 170 cu ft
- Net lift
- 3 lb
Lettering fits up to 13 letters per side. Helium price is about $1.50 per cubic foot from a local welding-gas supplier.
Balloon questions
How much does a marketing blimp cost?
A blank helium advertising blimp runs $684 for 10 feet up to $6,772 for 30 feet. Standard lettering is a separate charge, from $421 to $1,449 depending on size. The most popular choice, a 13 ft blimp with lettering, is $975 + $537 = $1,512. Use the quote builder on this site for an exact number.
How high does an advertising blimp fly?
Outdoors, 120 feet above the ground. That is on purpose: the FAA only gets involved above 150 feet. Indoors at a trade show, any ceiling of 15 feet or more works.
How much helium does a blimp need and what does it cost?
A 13 ft blimp holds 170 cubic feet of helium. A 200 cu ft cylinder from a local welding-gas supplier is about $300, so a first fill is roughly $255. Loss is about 1% per day, so a top-off every 3 to 7 days keeps it tight.
Can I inflate it myself?
Yes. The first inflation takes a little reading. After that it is about 10 minutes for one person. There is a video walkthrough on the factory site and printed instructions in the box.
What is it made of?
Polyurethane, not PVC. Polyurethane holds helium far longer, stays flexible in cold weather, does not yellow in the sun, and is why customers are still flying the same balloon after 14 years.