subject: Balloon San Diego- Balloons on the Ceiling- Formula [print this page] Balloon Artist San Diego Series- Balloon on the Ceiling- A Formula
This article is based on the video by the same name by Sandi Masori of Balloon Utopia.
If you are trying to fill a ceiling with balloon, it can be very frustrating to try to figure out exactly how mny balloons and how much helium you actually need.
But, fear not, there is a formula to help you. Now, please bear in mind that this formula is specifically for 11" balloons. Are you ready, ok- here it is:
(L X W) / 0.66
That's length x width divided by 0.66.
So, let's pretend that we have a space that's 10 x 10 (your average trade show booth size). According to our formula, L x W would be 10 x 10 = 100.
100/ 0.66 = 152 (well, really 151 and some change, but it's difficult to cut a balloon in half, so we'll round up).
So, we'd need 152 balloons.
If you were to do this for a dance floor, most dance floors are some combination of 18 x 18 - 24 x 24. For best results check with your venue to find out the actual size of your dancefloor.
Again, just to save you from scrolling up to the top to see the formula, it is: (L x W) / 0.66
Someone who has a better understanding of geometry might be able to tell you how that formula works, I don't know all the math involved to get there, I just know that when I'm doing events, I've found the formula to be a reliable guideline.
Just to remind you, this formula only works for 11" balloons. If you are using 16" balloons or 3' balloons, it would be a different formula (for a different article). Don't use 9" balloons or smaller as they won't float very long at all.
Anyway, now you know how to save yourself from getting either too many or too few balloons.
A couple of other useful tips:
An 11" balloon has an average float time of 18 hours.
A tank of helium that has 110 cubic feet of helium can inflate approximately 200 11" balloons.*
A tank of helium that has 220 cubic feet of helium can inflate approximately 400 11" balloons. *
(*It's actually a little bit more, but I always prefer to underestimate a little rather than overestimate, so I never find myself short of materials on the job site.)
The best balloons to use are either Qualatex or Betallic. I would stay away from some of the cheaper brands of balloons as the float time is dramatically decreased. Also, the cheaper balloons pop more, so you're not really saving much.
To see more photos of balloons on the ceiling, or other photos of incredible balloon art, come visit our website at http://www.balloonutopia.com
Balloon San Diego- Balloons on the Ceiling- Formula
