Balloon Columns in Pittsburgh
Balloon towers and pillars for doors, stages, aisles and dance floors
Classic, spiral and organic balloon columns that flank a front door, line an aisle or bookend a stage, topped with numbers, stars or custom shapes and delivered across Greater Pittsburgh.
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- Delivery, setup & pickup
- Indoor & outdoor installs
- Air-filled or helium
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Balloon columns at a glance
Balloon Arch Pittsburgh delivers and sets up balloon columns, towers and pillars across Greater Pittsburgh, usually 5 to 8 feet tall on weighted bases. Classic columns start at $70 each, spiral columns at $90, organic columns at $150 and towers with a number or star topper at $165.
- Height
- Typically 5–8 ft
- Styles
- Classic, spiral, organic and themed
- Toppers
- Numbers, stars, letters, bubble balloons
- Balloons
- Roughly 40–60 in a classic 6 ft column
- Ordered
- One at a time or in pairs, often with an arch
The basics
What Are Balloon Columns, Towers and Pillars?
Columns, towers, pillars and posts all mean the same thing: a vertical stack of balloons on a pole with a weighted base.
Because a column stands by itself, usually 5 to 8 feet tall, it can go almost anywhere: on both sides of a front door, at each end of a stage, down a ceremony aisle, at the corners of a dance floor or beside a booth at a convention center. It's the most flexible piece of balloon decor and the easiest way to add height to a room without hanging a thing.
Columns are also the least expensive way to make an entrance. A pair costs less than a full balloon arch, and you can link the tops with an arch later, the classic columns-and-arch setup that shows up at school dances and store openings.
Column styles
Balloon Column Styles
The pole and base never change. The pattern built on them does.
Classic stacked columns
Tight clusters of four balloons stacked up the pole in one color or in bands. Bold, tidy and the most budget-friendly column we build.
Spiral balloon columns (2, 3 and 4 colors)
Offset the colors from one cluster to the next and they twist up the pole like a barber pole. Two-color spirals look sharp and simple, three-color spirals (red, white and blue for the Fourth) are requested most, and four-color spirals suit rainbow and team themes.
Organic balloon columns
Mixed balloon sizes in loose clusters make a softer, fuller column that matches an organic arch or garland. They take more balloons than classic columns, so they cost more, and they're the modern choice for weddings and showers.
Themed and novelty columns
Columns can turn into characters and objects: a crayon or pencil for back-to-school, a palm tree for a luau, a traffic light for a race-car party, a snowman for a winter birthday, a candy column for a sweets theme. They're a fun way to dress a school hallway or a kids' party.
Photo ideas
Balloon Column Ideas
Column setups and styles we put together most often.
Pair of spiral balloon columns at the foot of porch steps
Organic balloon columns lining an outdoor ceremony aisle
Red and white balloon columns with gold star toppers at a graduation party
Purple and silver balloon columns bookending a school stage
Balloon columns joined by an arch at a church hall entrance
Palm tree balloon column beside an above-ground pool
Mini tabletop balloon columns as banquet centerpieces
Red, white and blue spiral balloon columns at an office entrance
Toppers
Balloon Columns With Numbers and Toppers
The topper is where a column gets personal.
- Number toppers: a 34- or 40-inch foil number for an age, an anniversary or a class year. This is the column we're asked for most.
- Stars, hearts and crowns: foil shapes for graduations, Valentine's Day, sweet 16s and princess parties.
- Bubble balloon toppers: a clear bubble balloon filled with confetti or feathers.
- Grad caps and diplomas: for grad parties, senior nights and school banquets.
- Logo or letter panels: for corporate events, booths and store openings.
Sizing
Balloon Column Heights and Balloon Counts
A standard column stands about 6 feet tall before the topper goes on.
| Column | Height | Balloons (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mini or tabletop column | 2–3 ft | 12–20 |
| Standard classic or spiral | 5–6 ft | 40–60 (11-inch) |
| Tall classic column | 7–8 ft | 60–80 (11-inch) |
| Organic column | 5–7 ft | 60–100+ (mixed sizes) |
Counts cover the column body. Toppers, bases and clusters at the foot add a few more.
What size balloons go into a column? Usually 11-inch latex, four per cluster, which makes a column roughly 18–20 inches across. Organic columns mix in 5-inch fillers and 16- to 18-inch balloons.
Pricing
How Much Do Balloon Columns Cost in Pittsburgh?
Most single columns fall between $70 and $250, depending on the style and the topper.
| Column | Starting at |
|---|---|
| Mini tabletop column | $45 |
| Classic column | $70 |
| Spiral column (2–4 colors) | $90 |
| Themed column (graduation, holiday, character) | $125 |
| Organic column | $150 |
| Balloon tower with a number or star topper | $165 |
Prices are per column, delivered and set in place within about 30 miles of Downtown.
What do two balloon columns cost? Most entrances use a pair, so plan on roughly $140–$500 for two, depending on style. Pairs are priced better than two singles, and joining them with an arch costs less than ordering both separately.
Placement
Where Balloon Columns Go
Columns work best in pairs, framing something.
Front doors and porch steps
One on each side of the door, or at the foot of the steps, so guests spot the party from the street.
Stages and DJ tables
Columns at both ends of a stage or DJ setup frame speakers and performers in every photo.
Ceremony aisles
Short columns down the aisle, or two tall ones where the couple stands.
Dance floors
Columns at the corners of the floor, sometimes linked overhead with a garland.
Trade show and convention booths
Brand-color columns make a booth easy to find from the end of the aisle at shows Downtown or in Monroeville.
School gyms and halls
Rows of columns in school colors for graduations, proms, homecomings and senior nights.
Occasions
Balloon Columns for Grad Parties, Weddings, Birthdays and Holidays
Late May and June grad parties keep us busiest with columns, but they suit nearly any event.
- Graduation: school-color columns topped with a grad cap, a star or the class year, for backyard grad parties, proms and senior nights.
- Weddings and bridal showers: white and gold or blush organic columns at the ceremony, the reception door and either end of the cookie table.
- Birthdays: a column with the age on top, for anything from a first birthday to a 90th.
- Gender reveals: a pink column and a blue column, with the answer kept under wraps until the big moment.
- Game days and team banquets: black-and-gold spiral columns for watch parties and end-of-season banquets.
- Company events and trade shows: columns in brand colors for booths, lobbies, open houses and ribbon cuttings.
- Holidays: Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and red, white and blue for the 4th of July.
Outdoor columns
Outdoor Balloon Columns in Pittsburgh Weather
Columns are top-heavy and catch the wind, so the outdoor ones are built differently.
- Outdoor columns get heavier bases and are tied to a railing, post or fence whenever one is close by, which matters on sloped yards and porch steps.
- Air-filled columns outlast helium columns outside, especially in the cold, when helium loses its lift.
- Summer sun fades and pops latex within hours and dark colors heat up fastest, so shade is worth finding.
- In winter, outdoor columns go up right before guests arrive, because freezing air shrinks the balloons and makes them brittle.
Longevity
How Long Does a Balloon Column Last?
Several days indoors. Hours outdoors in hot sun or freezing cold.
An air-filled column at room temperature lasts several days and often a week. Outdoors in mild shade it lasts about a day. In direct summer sun, columns start to cloud over and pop within a few hours, and below freezing they shrink and turn brittle. For indoor events, columns can be built a day or two ahead, which helps with early grad parties and school events.
Where we work
Balloon Column Delivery Across Greater Pittsburgh
Columns arrive built and get set in place, or we build them on-site for large orders.
- Downtown & the North ShoreHotel ballrooms and convention space, where dock load-in windows and garage parking set the schedule.
- Lawrenceville, the Strip District & Polish HillConverted warehouse and loft event spaces, plus rowhouse parties on streets with tight parking.
- Shadyside, Squirrel Hill & Highland ParkOlder homes with big staircases, bar and bat mitzvahs, and restaurant private rooms.
- South Side, Mount Washington & the SlopesHillside homes reached by long sets of steps, and overlook patios where wind decides what can stay outside.
- Brookline, Beechview & DormontSteep South Hills streets, parish halls and backyard first birthdays.
- Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair & Bethel ParkBackyard grad parties, school events and family celebrations across the South Hills.
- Peters Township & CanonsburgBig-yard parties in newer neighborhoods, plus hotel and event rooms around Southpointe.
- West Mifflin, Munhall & the Mon ValleyFire halls, social clubs and church halls, where the hall rental hours set the build time.
- Monroeville, Plum & Penn HillsConvention center booths, hotel banquet rooms and fire hall rentals out the Parkway East.
- Ross, McCandless & the North HillsChurch social halls, fire halls and graduation parties along McKnight Road and Route 19.
- Cranberry Township & WexfordGrowing northern suburbs with large backyards and hotel event rooms near I-79 and the Turnpike.
- Robinson, Moon & SewickleyAirport-area hotels, store openings around the shopping centers and riverside homes in Sewickley.
More balloon decor
Put an Arch, Garland or Wall Between Your Columns
Columns frame the space. These pieces fill it.
Questions
Balloon Columns in Pittsburgh: FAQ
How much do balloon columns cost?
Each classic column starts at $70, spirals at $90, organic columns at $150 and topper towers at $165. Most doorways get a pair.
How many balloons are in a balloon column?
A classic 5–6 ft column uses about 40–60 11-inch balloons, a 7–8 ft column about 60–80, and an organic column 60–100 or more in mixed sizes.
What size balloons are used for a balloon column?
Standard columns are built from 11-inch latex balloons, four to a cluster. Organic columns add 5-inch fillers and 16–18-inch balloons for texture.
How long does a balloon column last?
Several days indoors when air-filled, about a day outdoors in mild shade, and a few hours in hot summer sun or freezing cold.
How far in advance can a balloon column be made?
A day or two ahead for indoor events. Outdoor columns should go up the same day.
What's the difference between a balloon column, a balloon tower and a balloon pillar?
Nothing that matters. All three describe a freestanding stack of balloons on a pole and weighted base. People tend to say "tower" when there's a big topper on it.
Can balloon columns have a number on top?
Yes. A big foil number, 34 or 40 inches tall, is the topper people pick most, for ages, anniversaries and class years.
Do balloon columns need helium?
No. A column is air-filled and stands on a pole and weighted base. Helium only comes in for a floating topper or a bubble balloon.
Can balloon columns stand on porch steps?
Yes. We set them at the foot of the steps or on a level landing with weighted bases and tie them to the railing, so they stay put on a slope.
Tell us the date. We'll build the balloon columns.
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