Balloon garland calculator
How many balloons of each size, how many bags to order, how long the build takes — and what to charge per foot or metre. Pick a length and a style; change anything.
Densities are typical starting points — every decorator builds a little differently. Adjust them to match your own garlands.
1 · Garland
2 · Balloons per foot & cost
3 · Time & price
The assumptions, in plain sight
Every garland is different, so the calculator starts from typical densities and lets you change each one. These are the starting points we use, in balloons per foot of finished garland:
| Style | Size mix | 5″ | 11″ | 18″ | 24″ | Build time / ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | 11″ quad clusters | – | 10 | – | – | 15 min |
| Classic | 5″ quad clusters (mini) | 20 | – | – | – | 15 min |
| Classic | 11″ clusters + 5″ accents | 8 | 10 | – | – | 15 min |
| Organic full | Balanced 5″ / 11″ / 18″ | 6 | 8 | 1 | – | 18 min |
| Organic full | Big & bold with 24″ | 6 | 7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 18 min |
| Organic full | Petite 5″ / 11″ | 8 | 9 | – | – | 18 min |
| Organic airy | Balanced 5″ / 11″ / 18″ | 4 | 5 | 0.7 | – | 12 min |
| Organic airy | Big & bold with 24″ | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0.4 | 12 min |
| Organic airy | Petite 5″ / 11″ | 5 | 6 | – | – | 12 min |
- Balloons per size = density × length (in feet; metres × 3.28), plus your spares %, rounded up to whole balloons.
- Bags assume 100 per bag for 5″ and 11″ and 25 per bag for 18″ and 24″ — check your supplier’s pack sizes.
- Materials = balloons × cost each + strip, glue dots and ties per foot. Example costs are typical US prices for professional latex.
- Time = build time per foot × length + install and takedown hours. Labour = time × hourly rate.
- Price = (materials + labour) ÷ (1 − target margin). Per foot or metre = price ÷ length.
Classic garlands assume 11″ balloons sized evenly into clusters of four, about 2.5 clusters per foot. Organic densities assume balloons are inflated to a range of sizes and packed with no frame showing (full) or with deliberate gaps (airy). Delivery, structures, foils and greenery are not included — add them in the balloon pricing calculator, or check your overall profit with the event profit calculator.
Questions, answered
How many balloons do I need per foot of garland?
As a starting point: about 15 balloons per foot for a full organic garland (for example six 5″, eight 11″ and one 18″), around 9–11 per foot for an airy organic garland, and about 10 per foot for a classic garland of 11″ quad clusters. Your own builds may be denser or lighter — adjust the numbers to match.
How many balloons are in a 10 ft garland?
A 10 ft full organic garland usually needs around 150 balloons before spares — roughly 60 × 5″, 80 × 11″ and 10 × 18″. With a 10% allowance for pops and spares that becomes about 165.
How long does it take to build a balloon garland?
Plan on roughly 15–20 minutes per foot for an organic garland and a little less for an airy one, plus install and takedown. Experienced decorators with electric inflators are often faster; beginners slower. Use your own timings once you have them.
How much should I charge per foot for a balloon garland?
Work it out from your costs rather than copying a competitor: materials per foot plus your build time at a fair hourly rate, then divide by (1 − your margin). With typical US costs and a $25 hourly rate, a full organic garland at a 60% margin comes out at roughly $25–30 per foot — before delivery, structures and foils.
How many spare balloons should I add?
Most decorators add 5–10% extra for balloons that pop during inflation or on site and for colour checks. Add more for outdoor or hot venues and long installs.
Does this work in metres?
Yes. Switch the unit to metres and every density, supply cost and build time is shown per metre (1 m ≈ 3.28 ft).
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