Why the big red balloon still wins in Nevada
Las Vegas is the loudest advertising market in America. Everything glows, flashes and scrolls. A 7 ft red balloon on a 120 ft tether does none of that, and that is exactly why people look at it. It is the one thing in the sky, and it points straight down at your door.
- Seen from the freeway. I-15, I-215, US-95, I-80 in Reno. At 120 feet your balloon clears every sign and palm tree between you and the road.
- Built for desert sun. Polyurethane does not yellow, crack or go brittle at 110 degrees. PVC imports do. Some owners are still flying the same balloon after 14 years.
- Cheap to run. A 5.5 ft balloon is $351 blank. It holds 87 cu ft of helium, about $130 to fill, and loses only 1% a day.
- Ships fast. UPS Ground from the factory reaches Las Vegas, Henderson and Reno in 2 to 3 business days.
Pick a size and watch the price change
Slide to compare every balloon, blimp and hot-air shape against a 6 ft person. Then send that size straight into the quote builder.
- 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.
Where Nevada businesses fly them
Anywhere a driver needs a reason to turn in.
Car dealerships
Boulder Highway, Sahara, Kietzke Lane in Reno. A SALE balloon over the lot on Saturday is still the cheapest traffic a dealer can buy.
Home builders
Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Sparks. A NEW HOMES balloon or blimp over the model marks the turn from the arterial road. Builders fly them every weekend.
Convention and trade shows
A 10 or 13 ft blimp above your booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center or Mandalay Bay is visible from the entrance. One fill lasts the whole show.
Grand openings and events
Restaurants, gyms, dispensaries, car washes. Fly it opening weekend, fold it flat, fly it again for every sale.
Home builders
One California operator flies 100+ of these blimps every weekend over model homes. NEW HOMES at 120 feet pulls traffic off the freeway.
Car dealerships
SALE over the lot on Saturday. Customers say the blimp is the reason they turned in. It beats a wacky waving tube every time.
Trade shows
Indoors, a 10 or 13 ft blimp above your booth is visible from the entrance. One fill lasts a full 3 day show. Exhibitors haul them inflated in a trailer between shows.
Grand openings
The cheapest way to make a new store look like an event. Fly it opening weekend, fold it flat, fly it again for every sale.
Apartments and real estate
NOW LEASING on a sphere balloon above the leasing office. Seen from the arterial road, not just the sidewalk.
Custom shapes
Cold-air gorillas, superheroes, giant t-shirts and product replicas up to 25 ft. Blower driven, no helium needed.
Factory prices, shipped to Nevada
Every number on this site comes from the Arizona Balloon Company price list and is checked against it. Blank balloons start at $301. Standard lettering is a separate line so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
5.5 ft balloon
Blank. The classic red ball over the lot.
7 ft balloon, lettered
$445 + $437 lettering. Reads across six lanes.
13 ft blimp, lettered
$975 + $537. The home builder favorite.
Nevada wind, heat and rules
- Wind. Spring gusts in the Las Vegas valley and the Washoe Zephyr in Reno are the enemy. Over 25 mph forecast, bring it in. Ten minutes of work saves the balloon.
- Heat. Helium expands in the afternoon. Fill firm in the morning, not drum-tight. Polyurethane handles the swing. PVC does not.
- Airspace. Under 150 ft the FAA is not involved. Within 5 miles of Harry Reid, North Las Vegas, Henderson Executive or Reno-Tahoe airports, a courtesy call to the tower is the smart move. Never refused in 40 years.
- Sign codes. Clark County, Las Vegas, Henderson and Reno each have their own rules on temporary signs. Most allow inflatables for a set number of days per event. Check before the grand opening, not after.
“A California operator flies more than 100 of these over model homes every single weekend. It keeps working, so the builders keep paying for it.”Factory proof point, Arizona Balloon Company
Quick answers
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.