Size is the decision that matters most, and it is hard to picture from a number. Use the slider. Every shape is drawn to scale next to a 6 ft person, with the real price, print area, helium volume and lift for that size.
- 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.
A simple rule for choosing
Indoors
Trade shows, expos, showrooms. Needs a 15 ft ceiling.
Local street
Car lots, model homes, stores on a 35 mph road.
Highway
Sites seen from a freeway or a big arterial.
Landmark
Auto malls, master-planned communities, events.
How far away can you read it?
Standard lettering fills the print area. A rule of thumb for block letters is about 10 feet of reading distance for every inch of letter height. A 13 ft blimp carries letters around 24 inches tall, so the message is readable at roughly 240 feet and the blimp itself is obvious from a mile.
Helium, lift and wind
- Helium volume grows fast with size. A 13 ft blimp holds 170 cu ft. A 30 ft blimp holds 1,510 cu ft.
- Net lift is what is left after the blimp’s own weight. It sets how much banner and tether you can hang. 3 lb on a 13 ft, 35 lb on a 30 ft.
- Wind is the enemy of every size. Over 25 mph forecast, bring it in. Larger blimps pull harder, so use the heavier tether the factory supplies.