One gets you noticed. The other tells people who you are. They cost very different amounts and they are not interchangeable.
The rule in one sentence
If a driver needs to read your name, buy the blimp. If you only need to mark a spot that people are already looking for, the sphere is enough.
That single question settles it for most buyers, and it saves people from buying a $350 sphere when what they actually wanted was a sign in the sky.
Side by side
| Sphere | Blimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 5.5 ft | 13 ft |
| Price | $350 | $1,526 |
| Artwork | not printed | full colour, both sides, included |
| Helium to fill | about 87 cf | about 170 cf |
| Cost per fill | about $130 | about $255 |
| Shipping | $27 | $135 |
| Ready in | 1-2 days if in stock | 3-7 days after artwork approval |
What the extra money actually buys
Two large flat printable sides, and enough size to be readable rather than merely visible.
It also buys a bigger helium bill forever, because a larger envelope loses more gas at the same one percent per day. The blimp costs about $2.50 a day to keep topped up; a sphere runs roughly two months on a single $300 tank.
For most advertisers the blimp is still the better buy, because attention without a message is only half the job.
What is identical
- Material — Polyurethane, not PVC. Stays flexible, survives sun, folds without scarring.
- Flight height — 120 feet, deliberately below the 150 foot FAA line.
- Wind rule — Over 25 mph forecast, bring it in. Wind is what takes balloons.
- Setup — First time takes reading; after that about ten minutes and one person.
- Warranty — Wear covered by replacement. Weather loss is not.
Ask for a quote. Call 1-800-791-1445 or email [email protected] and tell us the size and whether you want it printed.
More at balloonrentals.com.