One gets you noticed. The other tells them who you are. They are not interchangeable.
The sphere
Five and a half feet, $350, about 87 cubic feet of helium to fill. It reads as colour and movement from a distance.
A sphere is the right answer when the goal is to mark a location that people are already looking for, or to add presence cheaply at several sites at once. It is the wrong answer if you need a driver to read a name.
The blimp
Thirteen feet, $1,526, about 170 cubic feet to fill. Two large flat sides, printed in full colour, included in the price.
The blimp is directional and it carries a message. If somebody needs to know who you are without stopping, this is the one. It costs more to buy and more to fill, and for most advertisers it is still the better purchase.
| Sphere | Blimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 5.5 ft | 13 ft |
| Price | $350 | $1,526 |
| Artwork | not printed | both sides, included |
| Helium per fill | about 87 cf | about 170 cf |
| Cost per fill | about $130 | about $255 |
| Shipping | $27 | $135 |
Why the material matters more than the shape
Cheap advertising balloons are PVC. Ours are polyurethane, and that single choice drives everything else.
PVC stiffens, holds the creases from folding, and goes brittle under ultraviolet light. Polyurethane stays flexible, folds without scarring and survives sun. The PVC balloon is cheaper the day you buy it and more expensive every day after.
More at advertisingblimps.com.