Balloon Decor Pricing in Northeast Ohio: What Should You Expect?
Balloon decor can range from a $35 balloon bouquet to a several thousand dollar corporate installation. So if you're planning a party and have absolutely no idea what you should budget for balloons, you're not alone!
The price of balloon decor can vary quite a bit depending on the size of the display, the type of balloons, the amount of customization, and whether you're picking everything up yourself or having someone design, deliver, and install it for you.
If you're searching for balloon decor in Cleveland, Akron, or anywhere in Northeast Ohio, here's a realistic look at what you can expect to spend. And more importantly, what you're actually getting for your money!
Small Balloon Pieces
If you want to add balloons to your event without committing to a large installation, smaller balloon pieces are a great place to start.
At Cantwell Creates, balloon bouquets and centerpieces start at $35. These are perfect for adding a little extra color to a party table, surprising someone on their birthday, decorating a workplace, or giving as a gift.
Balloon Stacks
Balloon stacks are especially popular for kids' birthdays. If your child's birthday falls during the week, a small birthday morning setup can be such a fun surprise! Plus, you don't need an entire party installation to make it special. We’ve seen parents use a balloon stack on the kitchen island alongside gifts, a few decorations, and a birthday breakfast. They're also a great option for smaller venues or spaces with limited setup time!
Our balloon stacks start at $50 and can be customized around the birthday theme, colors, and age.
Balloon Columns
Balloon columns are another way to make a big impact without needing a wall or mounting point. They're especially useful for entrances, open spaces, grand openings or corporate events, graduations, and even back to school celebrations. They can also be moved around during an event, which makes them a really versatile option!
At Cantwell Creates, our columns start at $85. The more detailed designs like luxury columns, also known as crazy towers, use different balloon sizes, specialty foils, tassels, starbursts, and other accents.
For corporate events, columns can also be customized to match company colors and topped with a logo for a branded installation.
Balloon Garlands
This is probably the section you're really here for.
If you do a quick Google search, the average price is $20-22/ft. Google also mentions delivery minimums, which typically start around $300-350. At Cantwell Creates, our full service balloon garlands are $20/ft, with a $160 minimum balloon order. But here's the important part - make sure you are doing an apples to apples comparison! Think of it like booking an Airbnb that is advertised for $300, only to discover after the host fee, cleaning fee, taxes, and everything else that you're actually paying $1,000. At Cantwell Creates, we try to keep our pricing straightforward and minimize the constant add on fees. Therefore, our pricing includes custom details such as starburst balloons, florals, bows, pearls, specialty balloons and other accents that fit your theme! And we don't limit your design to three balloon colors like many others! If your invitation has five colors, we can work with five colors. If you want a specific shade to coordinate with your decorations, we'll work toward that too!
Why does the size of a garland matter? A 10ft garland and a 20ft garland are very different installations. The amount of balloon coverage you need depends on the size of the space, how full you want the garland to look, and the overall design. A long cascading end or a particularly full design can require more balloon coverage than a simple garland of the same general length. I'll be writing a separate guide on how much balloon garland you actually need for your event, but below is a great example of 10ft of balloons versus 20ft of balloons!
Balloon Backdrop Packages
If you're looking for more of a complete party focal point, consider a balloon and backdrop package! Our most popular option is one backdrop with approximately 13-15 feet of balloons for $350, before delivery and installation (around $70). We also have larger, more luxury set ups, in case you have a large space or a large family that needs to fit in the photos! Three backdrops, including 20+ft of balloons, is $550.
The final price depends on the size of the setup, the amount of balloon coverage, the type of backdrop, and how customized you want the design to be. Specialty backdrops, like shimmer walls or greenery walls have an additional charge.
Again, here is where comparing apples and apples is very important. We use sturdy, weighted aluminum frames and thick backdrop covers designed to create a clean, finished look. The quality of the backdrop itself can make a big difference in the final photos! You'll find cheaper options from competitors that use inexpensive metal stands from Amazon and thin covers that are see through. Those can absolutely work for a DIY party, but they aren't necessarily going to give you the same finished look as a professionally constructed installation. And that's okay! Different options make sense for different budgets. Our job is to help you figure out which one makes sense for your event.
Another thing that can get overlooked when comparing balloon decor is the design process. At Cantwell Creates, we don't want you to look at your finished setup for the first time when you walk into your party. For full service installations, we create a digital mockup so you can see the general direction of the design before we install it. This is especially helpful when you're trying to coordinate balloons with invitations, table linens, florals, signage, or other decorations.
Marquee Numbers
Marquee numbers are another popular add on for birthdays and milestone celebrations. In Northeast Ohio, marquee numbers commonly fall around the $50-60 range per number, depending on the provider and package.
At Cantwell Creates, we are right there, with marquee numbers priced at $50 per number when rented on their own; however, if you're already renting a backdrop from us, they're only $20 per number as an add on!
So... What Should You Budget for Your Event?
If you're still wondering, "Okay, but what could I actually get for my budget?" here are some real life examples to help!
"I have about $50-100" For a kids' birthday party, I'd recommend a balloon stack. It's a fun focal point for photos, it doesn't require a large amount of space, and you can take it home after the party. Properly cared for, balloon stacks can last for days after the event, which means your child can continue enjoying it at home! For a baby shower or bridal shower, a small 4-6ft balloon garland can work really well over a painted banner or around a gift table or food table. If you're working with a tight budget, you don't necessarily need a giant installation to make an impact.
"I have about $250." Now you have a few more options. An 8 to 10 foot balloon garland can create a nice focal point without taking over the entire room. This is also perfect to add to an arch or backdrop you already have! Another option is a balloon column or free standing display. These are especially useful if you don't have a wall available or your venue doesn't allow anything to be attached to the walls. And because they're free standing, you can move them around as needed during the event.
"I have about $400-500." This is where I would start looking at a balloon and backdrop setup. A backdrop creates a natural focal point for photos, whether you're hosting a kids' birthday party, baby shower, bridal shower, milestone birthday, or social event. It's also a great option if you're planning to have a photo booth or want one designated area for guests to take pictures. This is one of our most popular types of setups for a reason.
If you're working with a venue that has a very limited setup window, just let us know when you inquire. Some venues give you an hour or more, others give you 30 minutes. We can plan accordingly!
"I have $600+." Okay, now we can have some fun!! With a larger budget, we can build out a much bigger focal point using two or three backdrops, additional balloon coverage, specialty backdrops such as shimmer walls, marquee numbers, and other rental pieces. And if you're worried that putting all of your decor in one area will leave the rest of the venue looking empty, we can spread the design throughout the room with balloon bouquets, centerpieces, columns, or other smaller displays!
This is also where we can really lean into a theme. Instead of simply putting balloons around a backdrop, we can use the balloons, backdrop, signage, colors, and other details to create one cohesive look throughout the event.
Balloon Decor Isn't Just the Balloons
When you book professional balloon decor, you're not simply buying a bag of balloons. This is the biggest thing we want people to understand! You're paying for someone to:
Design it - We take your theme, colors, inspiration, and space into consideration.
Prep it - Hundreds of balloons may need to be inflated, sorted, assembled, and transported.
Transport it - Large balloon installations take up a surprising amount of space.
Install it - Professional installation takes time, equipment, and most importantly, experience to make sure everything is secure and looks the way it was designed.
Style it - The difference between a basic balloon garland and a styled installation often comes down to the little details.
That's why two balloon quotes can look very different even when the number of balloons seems similar.
Final Thoughts
You can absolutely have a great party without spending hundreds of dollars on balloons. A $50 balloon stack can make a big impact. A $150 luxury balloon column/crazy tower can completely change an entrance. A $350 backdrop setup can become the focal point of an entire party. And if you're planning a large corporate event or grand opening, your needs may be completely different.
And when you're comparing balloon decorators, look beyond the price per foot. Ask what's included, ask whether delivery/installation is included or if they have minimums, ask about costs for additional colors and specialty balloons, or ask what kind of equipment they use. And most importantly, look at their previous work and make sure you like the finished product! Because at the end of the day, you're not paying for balloons. You're paying for the finished setup and a stress free event!
Ready to Plan Your Event?
Whether you need a small balloon stack, a custom garland, a full balloon and backdrop installation, or decor for a corporate event or grand opening, Cantwell Creates offers options for different budgets and different levels of involvement.
Serving Cleveland, Akron, and Northeast Ohio.
Let's create something that makes your party POP!
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