Balloon garland calculator
How many balloons for a balloon arch or garland, by size. A 10 ft full organic garland takes about 110 balloons (123 with spares); a 10 ft classic arch 48 to 60 (53 to 66 with spares).
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- Classic arch: 11 inch balloons blown to about 10 inches, one cluster every 10 inches, so 1.2 clusters a foot (Burton & Burton). Light uses clusters of 4 (about 5 balloons a foot); Full uses clusters of 5 (6 a foot, the figure the Balloon Decoration Guide gives for 11 inch balloons).
- Organic garland, Light: 6 balloons a foot. A Beautiful Mess built a 6 ft garland from about 10 small, 20 standard and a few large balloons (their guide).
- Organic garland, Full: 11 balloons a foot, from the 36 a metre calculate.co.nz gives for a lush garland. The mix is theirs too: about half 11 inch, 40% 5 inch and 10% big accents (16 to 18 inch).
- Spares: 10% more of each size for pops, rounded up. A rule of thumb.
- Strip and glue dots: the garland length plus 1 ft of decorating strip, and one glue dot for each 5 and 18 inch balloon, rounded up to 10. Rules of thumb.
- Build time: 1.5 to 3.5 minutes a balloon, blowing up, tying and placing. A Beautiful Mess lists 2 hours for their 6 ft garland. A rule of thumb.
- Cost: rough party-store prices: about 8 to 15 cents for a 5 inch balloon, 15 to 35 cents for 11 inch, 75 cents to $1.50 for 18 inch, $5 to $8 a roll of strip and $4 to $6 for 100 glue dots.
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Tips for a balloon garland
- Use an electric pump. A garland is a hundred balloons or more; a pump and a helper make it much faster.
- Size the balloons to match. For a classic arch, blow every 11 inch balloon to about 10 inches so the clusters sit tight.
- Build it the day before, then hang it. Air-filled balloons keep for days indoors. Keep the garland out of direct sun and away from heaters.
- Hang it with removable hooks on a wall or door frame, or tie it to a backdrop stand.
- Mind the little ones. Latex balloons and popped pieces are a choking hazard for children under 8 (CPSC). Pick up popped pieces right away, keep uninflated balloons out of reach, and ask about latex allergies on the RSVP; foil balloons are a latex-free swap.
Questions
How many balloons do I need for a balloon arch?
A 10 ft classic arch takes 48 balloons (clusters of 4) to 60 (clusters of 5), all 11 inch. Buy about 10% more for pops: 53 to 66.
How many balloons per foot for a garland?
About 6 a foot for a light organic garland and 11 a foot for a full one, in mixed sizes. A classic arch takes about 5 a foot with clusters of 4, or 6 a foot with clusters of 5.
How many balloons for a 10 ft balloon garland?
About 110 for a full organic garland: 55 at 11 inch, 44 at 5 inch and 11 big accents. With 10% spares, buy about 123. A light garland takes about 60.
How long does it take to make a balloon garland?
About 1.5 to 3.5 minutes a balloon, so a full 10 ft garland of 110 balloons is about 3 to 6.5 hours. A helper and an electric pump make it faster.
Do I need helium for a balloon arch?
No. Arches and garlands hang on a strip, a line or a frame, so they are filled with air. Air-filled balloons also stay round for days.
How long should a balloon arch be over a door?
Twice the height plus the width (Burton & Burton). A 7 ft by 3 ft door needs a 17 ft arch.