How Much Do Birthday Balloons Cost? Prices & What to Expect

The most common question before any booking: roughly what will this cost? It is a completely fair question, and one we try to answer honestly rather than dodging with “it depends.”

A simple birthday balloon display for a home party starts from around £80. A balloon garland starts from around £80. A full styled setup with a garland, backdrop and cake table styling typically starts from £250 and rises from there depending on size, theme, personalisation and whether delivery and installation are included.

At Little Moment Studio, we create birthday balloon displays and styled celebration setups across Sittingbourne and Kent. This guide walks through what each type of display typically costs, what affects the final price, and how to approach it practically.

Prices at a Glance: What Each Display Starts From

These are starting prices. The final cost depends on size, colours, personalisation, delivery distance and whether installation is included.

What Are You Actually Paying For?

A balloon display is not just the balloons. When you look at the price, it is worth understanding what is actually included — because most people are surprised by how much work goes into even a “simple” setup.

The cost typically covers: design consultation, sourcing the right balloon colours and materials, inflating and sizing every balloon individually, shaping and building the garland or display, travelling to the venue, installing the display at the right time, and in some cases returning afterwards to collect and clear everything away.

A styled garland that takes two to three hours to create and another hour to install at the venue is not expensive for what it involves. Most clients tell us that once they factor in all of that, the price makes complete sense — especially when they see the photos afterwards.

Small Birthday Balloon Displays

A small balloon display is a great option for home parties, smaller celebrations or when you want something that looks styled without being a full room installation. This might include a small balloon cluster, number balloons, a simple garland around the cake table, or a photo corner arrangement.

Small displays start from around £80. Even at this level, the price will vary depending on a few things:

• whether delivery and setup are included or you are collecting
• whether number balloons or personalisation are added
• the colour palette — very specific or unusual shades can take more planning and sourcing

If you want the party to feel styled without decorating a whole room, a focused display around the cake table is almost always the best approach. One beautiful area beats scattered decorations every time.

Balloon Garlands: What They Cost and Why

A balloon garland is the most popular choice for birthday parties, and for good reason. It creates a strong focal point, frames the cake table beautifully, and photographs well from almost any angle. It is also the element that most transforms a plain room into a styled celebration space.

Garlands start from around £80 for a simple design. A large, fully organic garland with a backdrop, soft florals and multiple colours will sit toward the higher end of the range. What affects the price most is length, fullness, number of colours, whether florals or foliage are included, and whether the garland needs to be installed at a venue.

For most birthday parties, a garland of around two to three metres makes a real impact without overcomplicating the look. A focused, well-made garland always looks better than a large but sparse one. If you are not sure what size you need, we can suggest the right length once you share the party details.

If you want to understand more about how garlands are made and what makes them different from a standard balloon arch, see our guide to what an organic balloon garland is.

Number Balloons and First Birthday Displays

Number balloons are popular for children’s birthdays, milestone celebrations and first birthdays. On their own, a number balloon is a simple, impactful statement piece. Styled with a garland, cake table and backdrop, it becomes a complete display that looks incredible in photos.

Styling a first birthday display around the cake table starts from £80. A full first birthday setup — garland, backdrop, cake table styling and personalised sign — typically starts from £250, with the final cost depending on how detailed and styled the theme is.

First birthday displays are often the most detailed setups we create, because families want those photos to feel special. Popular themes include teddy bear, farm, fairy, football, princess and tropical. See our first birthday balloon ideas guide for inspiration across each theme and colour palette.

Full Backdrop and Cake Table Setups

A full styled setup is more involved than a balloon garland on its own. This might include a balloon garland, fabric or printed backdrop, cake table or plinth, personalised welcome sign, dessert table styling, florals or foliage, and setup and collection. These displays take longer to plan, source and install — and the price reflects that.

Full setups typically start from £250. They are popular for first birthdays, milestone celebrations and themed children’s parties where the display is the main feature of the celebration.

If the balloon display is what you want guests to notice first and photograph most, a full styled setup is the right choice. A half-finished version — a garland without a backdrop, or a backdrop without proper styling around the cake table — rarely delivers the same impact as a considered, complete setup.

What Affects the Final Price

Colours and personalisation

A controlled colour palette with three or four tones is usually easier to prepare and source than a very specific mix of six custom shades. That said, most colour requests are achievable with good planning — so if you have something specific in mind, share it early rather than assuming it is too complicated. Personalised names, signs and age numbers add to the cost but often make the display feel much more finished.

Delivery and setup

Delivery and setup are priced based on distance from the studio, venue access, and how long installation takes. A home setup close to Sittingbourne will typically cost less than a venue installation that involves a longer drive and a restricted setup window. Always share the venue location and access times when you enquire — it makes a real difference to the final quote.

Outdoor setups

Outdoor balloon displays need extra planning. Heat, wind and direct sunlight all affect how balloons behave and how the display needs to be secured. If your party is outdoors, mention it early — it affects both the design and whether certain balloon types are suitable. Some outdoor setups require stronger anchoring or adjusted positioning, which can add to the setup time.

Props, florals and extras

A garland on its own is one price. Add a backdrop, plinth, florals, a personalised sign and a cake stand and the total rises — because each element adds sourcing, preparation and installation time. It is worth deciding which extras genuinely matter to you rather than adding everything at once. A few well-chosen details will always look more considered than a busy collection of props.

How to Keep Costs Sensible

The most effective approach is to pick one strong feature area and do it well. A beautifully styled cake table with a single garland consistently outperforms lots of smaller decorations spread around a room — and it usually costs less too.

Other practical ways to keep the cost manageable:

• Book early. Last-minute bookings may have fewer options and less flexibility on colours.
• Keep the palette tight. Two or three colours planned well looks better than five colours that do not quite work together.
• Be flexible on florals. Dried or artificial florals can work just as well as fresh at a lower cost.
• Collect rather than deliver for smaller displays where this is practical.
• Ask what can be simplified. We will always be honest if a simpler version achieves almost the same result.

Getting an Accurate Quote

The best quote comes from sharing a few key details upfront. You do not need everything finalised — a rough idea is enough to check availability and give you a realistic price guide.

1. 1
   Party date and location. This checks availability and helps estimate delivery costs.
2. 2
   Indoor or outdoor. Important for working out what type of display is suitable.
3. 3
   Theme and colour ideas. Even a rough direction — “farm, cream and sage” or “princess, blush and gold” — is useful.
4. 4
   Size of display. Small and simple, garland only, or a full styled setup?
5. 5
   Any inspiration photos. Even a rough screenshot or Pinterest image helps enormously.

A useful enquiry sounds something like: “We’re planning a first birthday party for Saturday 14th June in Sittingbourne, farm theme, cream and sage colours. We’d like something around the cake table with a number one balloon — what options might work?” That gives us everything we need to come back with a realistic suggestion and price.

For guidance on how far ahead to book, see our birthday balloon booking guide.

Your Questions Answered

How much do birthday balloons cost?

A simple birthday balloon display starts from around £80. A balloon garland starts from around £80. A full styled setup with a garland, backdrop and cake table typically starts from £250. The final price depends on size, colours, personalisation, delivery and whether installation is included.

What is included in the price?

The price covers design, materials, preparation time, inflation, shaping, travel and installation. For a styled garland, the cost reflects the full process — not just the balloons themselves. Collection after the event may be included or priced separately depending on the setup.

Are balloon garlands more expensive than simple displays?

Usually, yes. A balloon garland uses more balloons, takes longer to prepare and shape, and requires installation at the venue or in your home. A simple cluster is quicker to prepare. The difference in impact is usually significant, which is why garlands are so popular for parties where photos matter.

Do number balloons add to the cost?

Yes. Number balloons are an additional cost and are usually styled with a cluster or garland around them. The price depends on the size of the number, any personalisation around it, and whether it is part of a larger setup.

Does an outdoor setup cost more?

It can. Outdoor displays may require extra planning, stronger anchoring and adjusted positioning to account for wind, heat and uneven surfaces. Always mention if the setup is outdoors when you enquire — it affects what type of display is suitable and how long installation takes.

How do delivery and setup costs work?

Delivery and setup are priced based on distance from the studio in Sittingbourne, venue access, and how long installation takes. Sharing the venue location and access times when you enquire helps us give an accurate quote from the start.

Can I get a quote without knowing every detail?

Yes, absolutely. You can enquire with just your party date, location and a rough idea of the size of display you want. Colours and theme details can be confirmed later. Sharing what you know is always enough to get the conversation started.

How can I keep costs sensible?

Focus on one strong feature area — the cake table, the photo spot or the entrance — and do it well rather than spreading smaller decorations around the whole room. Keep the colour palette tight, book early, and ask us honestly if a simpler version would achieve a similar result.

For more birthday balloon ideas and inspiration, see our birthday balloons Kent page and our first birthday balloon ideas guide. If you are also planning a dessert table, our guide to how to style cupcakes on a dessert table is a good place to start.