🎈 Balloon Pricing Calculator

Built by Peko's Balloons – real-world pricing formulas from a working balloon business

📦 Materials

Add all materials used in your design. Remember to round up unit prices to cover waste and extras.

£0.00

💡 Tip

Round up small unit costs to cover waste and consumables (e.g., popped balloons, ribbon, clips).

⏱️ Labour

Include prep, vinyl printing, assembly
Client communication, ordering, diary

💡 Self-Employed Hourly Rate

Self-employed rates often need to be higher than employee wages to cover unpaid time, tax, pension, holidays, and overheads. Set a rate that fits your costs and target income.

🏢 Overheads

Essential running costs not directly tied to making a sale.

📍 Delivery & Hire

Mileage rate (e.g., 45p/mile)

📈 Profit Margin

10% = Average 15-20% = Good 20-30% = Excellent

⚡ Quick Calculator

A simplified calculator for faster pricing. Enter your totals directly without itemising each material.

Total cost of all balloons and supplies
Creation time + admin time combined
Charged at 45p per mile
Props, stands, easels, etc.

💡 Quick Tip

Use this calculator when you already know your material costs. For detailed itemised pricing, use the Detailed Calculator tab.

⚙️ My Default Settings

Set your personal defaults to speed up calculations.

Skill Level

Your experience affects your hourly rate.

🌱

Beginner

£15-20/hr - Building portfolio

⭐

Intermediate

£30/hr - Consistent quality

👑

Expert

£45-60/hr - Premium service

📊 My Overhead Calculator

Calculate your per-order overhead based on yearly figures.

Insurance, utilities, rent, equipment, etc.

🎈 Helium Cost Calculator

Calculate the cost of helium per balloon based on your tank size and price.

Check your supplier's tank specifications
Total cost including rental/refill

💰 Cost Per Balloon

Enter quantities to calculate total helium cost for your order. Industry standard fill volumes.

Enter your tank details above and click "Calculate Helium Costs" to see per-balloon pricing.

💡 Helium Tips & Best Practices

📐 Pro Tip: The "Cube Law" Surprise

When choosing balloon sizes, remember that doubling the width doesn't just double the helium—it octuples it! Because a balloon grows in three dimensions (height, width, and depth), a 36" balloon actually holds about 27 times more helium than a standard 12" balloon. While the giant balloons make a massive impact, they require a significantly larger volume of gas to stay afloat, which is why you see such a sharp jump in unit costs.

🌡️ Temperature Sensitivity

Helium is highly sensitive to temperature. In cold environments, the gas contracts, causing balloons to look "deflated." In warm environments, the gas expands, which can cause balloons to pop if filled to capacity. Always inflate balloons in an environment similar to where they will be displayed.

🎈 The 5-Inch Rule

While 5" balloons can be filled with helium, they do not hold enough volume to float. They are included in calculations for gas volume only; for decorative purposes, they are usually air-filled.

📊 Wastage & Buffering

It is professional practice to add a 10–15% buffer to your total helium requirement. This accounts for gas lost during the nozzle connection process, accidental over-filling, or the occasional faulty balloon.

⏱️ Float Times

Standard latex balloons typically float for 12–18 hours. If your event requires a longer duration, consider using a balloon treatment (like Hi-Float) which seals the latex and can extend float times by several days.

🫧 Inflation Shape

Volumes are based on balloons being inflated to their intended "pear" shape. Over-inflating into a "lightbulb" shape significantly increases the volume used and the risk of popping.

🏭 Brand Variance

Balloon capacity can vary slightly between manufacturers. These figures are based on industry-standard professional latex balloons.

Disclaimer: This tool calculates prices from the values you enter. It is not financial advice and does not guarantee profit. Always verify calculations suit your specific business circumstances.

📝 Quick Quote Generator

Already know your price? Enter the details below to generate a professional PDF quote for your customer.

QUOTE TOTAL £0.00

Disclaimer: This tool calculates prices from the values you enter. It is not financial advice and does not guarantee profit. Always verify calculations suit your specific business circumstances.

📚 The Pricing Formula

Price = (Materials + Labour + Overheads) × (1 + Profit Margin)

What This Calculator Includes

  • Materials — All components used: balloons, helium, ribbon, vinyl, weights, etc.
  • Labour — Your time for creation, setup, admin, and client communication.
  • Overheads — Running costs: insurance, utilities, equipment, education.
  • Profit Margin — What allows your business to grow and invest.
  • Contingency — Rounding up covers waste, popped balloons, and small extras.

💡 Common Omissions That Underprice Jobs

📋 Admin Time

Messaging clients, ordering supplies, diary management, invoicing — this time adds up. Include it in your labour calculation.

📦 Small Consumables

Ribbon, tape, cable ties, weights, bag clips — small items that get forgotten. Round up material costs to cover these.

📍 Signals Your Rate May Be Low

High enquiry volume, long lead times, clients booking before asking price — these suggest demand exceeds your current pricing.

🚗 Delivery & Hire Rates

Delivery Mileage

Calculate as round-trip miles × your chosen mileage rate (e.g., 45p/mile). This covers fuel, wear & tear, and travel time.

Hire Fee Percentages

Equipment Hire % What It Covers
Easel 20% Wear & tear, maintenance, cleaning, storage, transport, replacement
Balloon Hoop 30%
Gold Stand 30%
Shimmer Wall 30%

📝 Rounding Guidance

Material Unit Costs

Round up small unit costs to cover waste and consumables. For example, if a balloon costs 14p, entering 20p helps cover extras like ribbon, clips, and popped balloons.

Final Quoted Price

Consider rounding the final price to a clean number. A price of £47.50 might become £48 or £50 for simplicity.

Checklist: Easy-to-Forget Costs

Spare/burst balloons, tape, 260s, command hooks, clips, weights, travel time, de-rig and cleaning time.

🎈 Helium Calculator

The Helium Calculator helps you work out the true cost of helium per balloon based on your specific tank size and supplier pricing.

How It Works

  1. Enter your tank size — The total litres of helium in your tank (check your supplier's specifications).
  2. Enter the tank cost — The total amount you pay including rental, refill, or purchase cost.
  3. Click Calculate — The calculator divides the cost by litres to give you a cost per litre.
  4. See per-balloon costs — Using industry-standard fill volumes, you'll see exactly what each balloon size costs to inflate.
  5. Add quantities — Enter how many of each size you need for an order to get total helium cost and litres required.

Industry Standard Fill Volumes

Balloon Size Helium (Litres) Notes
5" 2 Won't float — for volume calculation only
9" 7 Small floating balloon
11" 14 Standard latex
12" 15 Standard latex
16" 42 Large latex
24" 142 Giant latex
36" 425 Jumbo latex

💡 Pro Tip: Add a Buffer

Consider adding 10–15% extra to your helium calculations. This covers gas lost during nozzle connection, accidental over-filling, and the occasional faulty balloon.

📝 Quick Quote Generator

The Quick Quote Generator lets you create professional PDF quotes when you already know the price — no calculator needed.

When to Use It

  • Repeat orders — You've priced this design before and know exactly what to charge.
  • Simple jobs — Quick turnaround jobs where you price mentally.
  • Package pricing — You offer set packages at fixed prices.
  • Adjustments — You've calculated elsewhere and just need a quote PDF.

How It Works

  1. Enter a description — What the quote is for (e.g., "Birthday Balloon Arch").
  2. Enter your price — The total amount you want to charge.
  3. Add notes (optional) — Any details like colours, setup info, or inclusions.
  4. Generate Quote — Creates a professional PDF with your business details and terms.

🔒 Your Data Stays With You

This is a quoting tool, not a customer management system. No customer details are stored on our servers — your quotes are generated instantly and downloaded straight to your device. Simple, private, and hassle-free!

Disclaimer: This tool calculates prices from the values you enter. It is not financial advice and does not guarantee profit. Always verify calculations suit your specific business circumstances.

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