The best balloons for a trade show are custom printed latex balloons in 30cm, 60cm or 90cm, carrying your logo or one clear message in your brand colours. They are cheap, light to freight and easy to see across a crowded hall. Before you order, check your venue’s balloon rules, because they differ a lot between Australian convention centres. This guide covers sizes, printing, budget, venue rules and clean-up.
What counts as a trade show balloon
A trade show balloon is any balloon that works as part of your exhibition marketing. In practice, exhibitors use a few types.
Custom printed latex balloons. Your logo, message or theme is printed straight onto the balloon. This is the format most exhibitors want, because the balloon becomes a branded sign. We print custom printed balloons in 30cm, 60cm and 90cm sizes.
Pre-printed balloons. These carry a ready-made design such as a celebration message, and suit a stand that is marking a launch, anniversary or milestone. Browse our pre-printed balloons if branding is not the goal.
Unprinted latex balloons. Plain balloons in a range of colours and finishes are useful for filling out a display around your printed ones. We stock unprinted latex balloons in different sizes, shapes, colours and finishes, including standard, metallic and crystal.
Foil balloons. Foil is popular for numbers, shapes and characters, and we also offer custom printed and shaped foil balloons for exhibitors who want a particular shape.
Most stands combine two of these: a few large printed balloons as the hero, and smaller printed balloons for the crowd.
Choosing a size: 30cm, 60cm or 90cm
Size decides what the balloon does for you. Think about where people will be standing when they first notice your stand.
30cm: giveaways and clusters
The 30cm custom printed balloons are the handout size. They are easy for visitors to carry and they keep your logo moving around the hall after the conversation ends. They also work in tight clusters on a table or counter. We offer them in a standard finish and in metallic, a translucent finish that gives a lighter, glossier look.
60cm: the all-rounder for stands
The 60cm custom printed balloons are the size most exhibitors reach for. They are big enough to read your logo from several metres away and manageable enough to tie to a counter, a stand frame or a weighted base. Our listed price is $13.20 to $31.35 per balloon, depending on the options you pick.
90cm: the headline piece
The 90cm custom printed balloons are for the moments when you need height and presence: a pair flanking the entrance to your stand, or a single large balloon above the counter. They start from $17.60 per balloon. We offer a large print area, so a bigger balloon has room for a clear logo and a short line of copy without crowding.
A simple way to decide
| Goal | Suggested size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor giveaways | 30cm | Easy to carry, keeps your logo circulating |
| Counter, table and frame decoration | 60cm | Readable logo, easy to secure |
| Entrance or overhead branding | 90cm | Maximum visibility across the hall |
| Full stand dressing | Mix of 60cm and 90cm, plus 30cm giveaways | Layers of height and repeated branding |
Putting your logo and message on the balloon
The balloon is a small, curved canvas, so design for it.
- Lead with the logo. Your name should be the first thing someone recognises. If you are launching a product, a short line beneath the logo is enough.
- Limit the copy. A web address, a stand number or a five-word message is plenty. Long text is lost on a curved surface seen from a distance.
- Choose contrast over cleverness. Dark print on a light balloon, or white print on a deep colour, reads best across a hall. Our product options include one-colour print on one or both sides, so you can decide whether the message shows from every angle.
- Match your brand colours. Pick a balloon colour from the range that sits close to your stand graphics so the balloons look like part of the stand rather than an add-on.
- Send clean artwork. A logo in a vector or high-resolution format prints more crisply. If you are unsure what to send, call us on 1300 720 230 and we will talk you through it.
If you need an unusual outline, such as a branded shape, look at custom shaped foil. If a standard round balloon will do, latex gives you the best value per balloon.
Colours and display formats that work in a hall
Exhibition halls are visually busy. Carpet, carpeted partitions, banners and screens all compete for attention, so balloons need a clear job.
- Cluster, don’t scatter. A tight group of balloons in one or two colours looks deliberate. Single balloons dotted around can look like leftover party decor.
- Use height. Balloons tied to a stand frame or a weighted base bring your branding above the eyeline of the crowd. Because latex balloons float on helium, make sure the way you fix them suits your venue’s rules (see below).
- Repeat the logo. Several printed balloons carrying the same logo reinforce the brand at a glance, and the repetition is easy for passers-by to remember.
- Keep a plain backdrop. Printed balloons stand out most against a simple wall or panel in a neutral colour.
- Dress the table. Smaller balloons attached to ribbons and clips add colour to a counter. Our balloon ribbons and clips and wider balloon and party accessories range, which includes helium and inflators, cover the practical side.
If you are using a mix of printed and plain balloons, unprinted 60cm latex balloons are a good filler around a printed centrepiece.
What custom balloons cost for a trade show
The price of a custom printed balloon depends mainly on its size and the print options you choose. Our published prices are:
| Size | Price per balloon |
|---|---|
| 60cm custom printed | $13.20 to $31.35 |
| 90cm custom printed | From $17.60 |
For 30cm balloons, and for custom printed or shaped foil, we do not publish a price. Visit the product pages or call 1300 720 230 and we will quote you.
The things that move the price are the ones you control:
- Balloon size: larger balloons cost more per balloon than smaller ones.
- Print options: the number of print colours and whether you print one side or two sides.
- Finish: standard, metallic or crystal finishes are different products.
- Quantity: decide how many hero balloons you need and how many giveaways, then work backwards from your stand budget.
A practical way to budget: price your stand dressing (a few 60cm or 90cm balloons) separately from your giveaway run (30cm), because the two jobs have different quantities. Remember to add helium, ribbons and clips to your list. Those sit in our accessories range.
This is the step that catches exhibitors out. Convention centres treat balloons differently, and the rules are in their exhibitor manuals and safety guidelines. A few examples from Australian venues:
Transport, setup and disposal
Balloons are light, but a few habits keep them looking good and keep you out of trouble with the venue.
Transport. Pack printed balloons uninflated in their boxes and keep them out of direct sun and heat in the vehicle. Inflate on site or close to it, so you are not carrying a car full of floating balloons into a loading dock.
Setup. Fix balloons to the stand with ribbons, clips or weighted bases so none can drift. Tie them low enough that you can reach them, and check them at the start of each day, because helium balloons gradually lose lift.
At pack-down, deflate and bin every balloon and clip, and take down ribbons. Do not leave anything for venue staff to find in the ceiling.
Work through this in order and the balloon side of your stand will be easy.
- Confirm the rules. Check the venue manual and ask your organiser about helium and balloons on stands.
- Set the job for each size. Decide how many 30cm giveaways, 60cm stand balloons and 90cm headline balloons you need.
- Finalise artwork. Send a clear logo file and a short message.
- Choose colours and finish. Match your stand graphics, and pick standard, metallic or crystal where available.
- Order accessories at the same time. Ribbons, clips, helium and inflators belong on the same order.
- Plan the tie-down. Decide where each balloon will be secured and who checks them daily.
- Plan the clean-up. Allow time at pack-down to bin every balloon.
Order your trade show balloons
We print custom balloons with your logo, message or theme in 30cm, 60cm and 90cm sizes, and we also supply the unprinted balloons, foil balloons, ribbons, clips, helium and inflators to complete your stand. Start with our custom printed balloons page, or call 1300 720 230 for a quote.
If you already know your size, go straight to the 60cm or 90cm page. If you want colour options to pair with your printed balloons, our foil balloons are worth a look.
FAQ
What size balloon is best for a trade show stand?
For most stands, 60cm is the best starting point. It is large enough to read your logo from a distance and easy to tie to a counter or frame. Add 90cm balloons for entrance or overhead branding and 30cm balloons as giveaways.
Can I put my logo on a balloon?
Yes. We print logos, messages and themes directly onto custom balloons in 30cm, 60cm and 90cm sizes. Keep the artwork simple, with a clear logo and a short line of text, and choose colours with strong contrast.
How much do custom printed balloons cost?
Our 60cm custom printed balloons are $13.20 to $31.35 per balloon, and our 90cm start from $17.60 per balloon. The final price depends on the size and print options. For 30cm balloons, call 1300 720 230 or visit the product page for a quote.
