Are you a balloon enthusiast? Do you wish to buy a hot air balloon of your own? Do you not want to overstep your budget? If that is the case, you must want to know how much a hot air balloon generally costs.
On average, a new two-passenger hot air balloon costs about $35,000. Buying a used two-passenger hot air balloon will cost you about $20,000, which is a significant cost reduction.
You could either buy a new balloon from the assembly line, or you could buy different parts. The latter would require you to assemble the whole balloon after purchasing.
Without further ado, let us look into the different hot air balloon buying options and the most popular balloons cost.
Cost Of Buying a New Hot Air Balloon
Buying hot air balloons fresh from the manufacturer is an expensive ordeal, but the balloon will be yours. A new balloon will not require maintenance, which slightly masks up the low cost of a used one.
The right approach to buying a new hot air balloon is to approach manufacturers and get their cost quotes. For this section, we will give cost examples of balloons that are of the highest quality and are ready to fly after purchase.
FireFly Balloons
FireFly Balloons have been in operation since 1972. Since they are based in North Carolina, a place known for its craftsmanship, they are proud of their legacy.
If you’re new to the world of hot air balloons, FireFly balloons are great for you. They are easy to customize, repair, and assemble.
They come with some exemplary full system options that are great for learners and experts alike. We have looked into the cost of some of the best products by FireFly Balloons.
FireFly 7B
The Firefly 7B is a compact and simple balloon that can be appreciated by experienced pilots. However, it is most appropriate for beginners.
This balloon stands at 57 feet on inflation and has only 12 gores. The 4.0 triangular basket can house 3 fuel tanks and 2-3 passengers.
This balloon will cost you about $26,000 if you plan on getting the 90o cut for the envelope along with a 4.0 basket.
FireFly 8
FireFly 8 is a huge balloon that has plenty and space and a great lift. It can be deemed as a party balloon and is great if you want to enjoy a ride with all your friends.
When fully inflated, the balloon stands at 67 feet and has 24 gores. The weight of this balloon is 2450 lbs. This hot air balloon works great with most of the huge baskets that are offered by the company.
A brand-new FireFly 8 along with spiral cuts and a 6.0 basket will cost you about $41,600. This balloon is one the expensive sides of the scale, and you should only invest in it if you are sure about it.
FireFly 10
If you thought that the FireFly 8 was a large balloon, you would be surprised by the size of the following balloons. The FireFly 10 usually comes attached by the company’s larger baskets and has a 36 gore envelope.
This balloon’s lift can handle high altitudes and difficult conditions without qualms. With a 6072 or a 6096 basket, this balloon provides the ability to carry a lot of passengers at once. If you are looking to carry more passengers than an average flier, this is a great option for you.
Since this balloon is so huge, it is definitely on the higher side of the price scale. With a 5.0 basket, it costs about $49,500.
FireFly 11B
Now we are getting to the larger balloons sold by the company. With 36 gores, this hot air balloon stands at 84 feet when fully inflated.
This is a great balloon for a ride service since it is compatible with a 5.0 basket and can carry a lot of passengers. However, the 5.0 is on the smaller side of the baskets that you can use. Because of its huge size, you can make the most out of it with huge baskets sold by the company.
This balloon might not be as durable as the FireFly 10, but it can get a lot of people flying at once. With this utility being used as a professional service, this cost of the balloon seems genuine. With the larger 6096 baskets, a new FireFly 11B balloon will cost you about $62,000.
FireFly 12B
This one is the largest balloon that FireFly manufactures. This is a huge balloon that stands at 86 feet at full inflation and weighs about 3940 lbs.
Its huge size is only compatible with the 60120 baskets, which in itself is humongous. The basket is 5 feet wide and 10 feet long and requires 6 fuel tanks to get to the air.
The only sensible reason for buying this balloon is for professional services so that you can get something out of it.
This balloon will also require a huge trailer to be transported from one place to another. The price of this balloon, along with the compatible basket, comes out to about $66,000.
Cameroon Balloons
Cameroon Balloons is on top of the Hot Air Balloon industry. Both Cameroon UK and Cameroon US are ubiquitous companies in their areas. This company has the capability of manufacturing a wide variety of hot air balloons ranging from sporty to leisure, personal to advertising balloons.
If you have been into hot air balloons for some time, you must have heard of or flown a Cameroon Balloon for sure! Since Cameroons Balloons provides a variety of creative combinations to choose from, which is why you should call the company directly to get a quote.
O-Type
The O-Type balloons provide a fusion experience between the company’s balloons. It is a versatile balloon that is rounded in both shape and functionality.
The O-Type only has 12 gores and is therefore quite compact. However, it can carry a surprising number of passengers according to its size. This balloon, however, is great for advertising due to its great visibility.
N-Type
If marketing is your sole purpose for buying a hot air balloon, the N-Type will be an ideal choice for you. This balloon has 3 design options – 24 gore, 28 gore, and 32 gore. This balloon’s only purpose is marketing since it has almost a flat design that allows images to be put in High Definition.
The balloon is easy to see because of its detailing. It stands at 47 to 79 feet high when inflated, depending on the design you opt for. The decision solely comes down on you and the kind of investment you want to make in marketing.
Viva
Viva is the opposite of the N-Type. This is because it is great for flying but is too small for advertising. This balloon is one of the smallest ones on this list since it has only 8 bulbous gores.
This is either a recreational or a sports balloon, depending on your definition of the two. It is easily transportable, compact, and has a great lift.
Do not be fooled by its size since this tiny balloon can carry a substantial number of passengers and still gain good height. However, if it carried only one passenger, the power of this one is almost like a 600 horsepower Mustang.
With great performance, there is very little negative that can be said about this balloon. It is incredible for a sporty adventure.
Lindstrand
This company from the USA has recently made a huge impact on the hot air balloon industry. It has only been operational for about 20 years but is still highly trusted and reliable.
The company stands on the two great pillars of great customer service and engineering. Therefore, if you want to buy a hot air balloon for a personable company, you should surely opt for this one.
Lindstrand pays great attention to detail with all their products, and no two of their balloons are similar. They stand by traditional organizational laws in manufacturing while their business organization is unique. This company is truly one of its kind.
We have detailed the most popular envelope series by the company. You should get a quote from the company directly due to their creative pairing options.
A-Series
This basic beginner hot air balloon comes with 2 gore options – 24 gores and 28 gores. The design of the envelope is great due to its horizontal cut. The aesthetics of this balloon is also kept in mind as the company offers over 20 color options.
The balloon that you choose is your decision. This balloon sits perfectly well with the company’s baskets.
Lindstrand’s basic Ascot basket goes perfectly well with the basic A-series envelopes, but you can get creative with the basket choice. Meanwhile, the Ascot has many color options as well.
If you’re looking for a basic, sturdy, and beautiful balloon as a beginner, this is the option for you.
E-Series
E-Series is a great budget-friendly balloon that is ideal for personal use. This balloon is easy to manage, fly, and maintain. It pairs with the unique tour basket by the company.
This basket is great for smaller groups since even the larger one does not carry too many passengers. If you are looking for a solo adventure, the E-Series is a great option for you.
X-Series
The name of this balloon envelope series is reminiscent of Star Wars for a reason. Its high-performance focus makes it fly like X-Wings.
This balloon has a great history of competitive flying due to its aerodynamic design that cuts through the air. 11 of the past 12 US National Hot Air Balloon Champions and 4 of the last 6 World Champions flew the X-Series.
The fuel consumption efficiency of this balloon is commendable as well. Overall, this is a great balloon for expert, competitive balloonists.
Kubicek Balloons
Kubicek is a leading European hot air balloon manufacturing company. It is based in the Czech Republic and has a history and long and steady growth.
Even though the balloon quality is incredible, the shipping costs are high, which means that the products will be expensive for anyone out of Czech.
Kubicek is a highly successful and efficient company as it constantly seeks ways to increase its workflow. Here, we will look at 5 of their incredibly powerful models.
Model E
The Model E balloon is light, cheap, small, and efficient. It is almost like the E stands for economical, efficient, and easy. The balloon is so compact that the bigger versions have space for three people. However, the standard size can only carry one.
This is such an easy balloon to handle and fly that is great for beginners. It is easy to transport because of its compact size and easy to assemble because of its basic design.
Even though you will have to call the company for the price quote, let us warn you about the low cost. It will cost you at par or even less than most used balloons. However, the efficiency is not at stake because of the cost.
Model Z
The Model Z hot air balloon is the company’s all-purpose balloon that is flexible about the size. The flexibility is that the smallest version can carry 3 passengers, while the biggest one can carry up to 20 passengers!
The Model Z is at par with the Cameroon N-Type in terms of advertising qualities. This has a great lift that can make your advertisement float higher than most and make it very visible. An even better advertising option is to fly potential customers in it.
The Model Z is pricier than the Model E; however, that largely depends on the size you choose. The investment made on this balloon will be worth it, though, if you use it for advertising.
Model P
Here is the other commercial hot air balloon by the company. This balloon was engineered with ride services in mind. The durability and passenger-carrying ability of this balloon are off the charts. The envelope has great graphics that can attract customers. It is also easy to repair.
If you’re a hot air balloon ride service provider that expects a high volume of passengers, this is great for you. Even the smallest version of this model carries 20 passengers, while the largest can carry 28.
This hot air balloon is very expensive. However, if you plan to use it commercially, as you should, it will reap the benefits of your investments for sure.
eXtreme Racer
Now we get to see the versatility of the company as we move on to their sports models. This balloon has decent speeds and an incredible ascent.
Even though this hot air balloon is not as powerful as the Lindstrand’s X-series, it is still a formidable fly. With a decent pilot at hand, this balloon has won its fair share of competitions too.
The balloon holds the capacity to fly 2 people – the pilot and the navigator. The cost of this balloon would be somewhere in between the Model Z and Model P.
Super Sport
If you’re looking for a better sports balloon than the eXtreme Sport and like Kubicek’s designs, the Super Sport is an option for you. It is an incredibly well-designed hot air balloon.
Even though its basic model is built off of the eXtreme Sport, it has many additions and improvements to get a high edge.
The passenger capacity is 4-5 passengers more than the previous model. Even though Cameroon’s Viva gives good competition to this hot air balloon, the price of this one is great.
Ultramagic Balloons
Ultimate Balloons is Spain’s only manufacturer of hot air balloons. The company claims to be the most innovative manufacturers of balloons in the world. The company exports balloons to many countries globally and is the organizer of the European Balloons Festival.
They manufacture balloons of a wide variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. The balloons by Ultramagic stick out and steal the show.
H Series
The H Series is a basic balloon that is great for new pilots. It is durable and is also very budget-friendly. This balloon’s delivery time is very short since it is always in stock due to being Ultramagic’s most popular product. It is the company’s most tested and oldest product.
M Series
The M series is a flashy balloon which is good for advertising. It is an artistic balloon. However, there are better options out there. The M Series is a great product for balloon festivals and beauty contests due to its flashiness.
It has a passenger capacity of 2 to 7 since it is a relatively small hot air balloon. However, it is good for cheaper advertising.
N Series
The N Series is good for displaying larger logos. It is good for ride service purposes as it has a good passenger capacity in comparison to its competition. You get to choose between the 28 and 32 gores options, but the balloon offers a great lift whatever you choose.
Ultramagic is known for its balloon safety, and the N Series boasts of it. This makes it better for balloon ride companies since passenger safety is crucial to them. This balloon also stands a little cheaper than its competition.
T Series
T Series is essentially half of the N series. It has the same design and craft but has half the passenger capacity as the N Series. At most, this hot air balloon can carry 11 passengers.
The T Series has the N Series’s power and efficiency, but you can get it for a low cost. It is great for small hot air balloon riding services companies that do not expect too many passengers.
The Racer
Believe it or not, The Racer is, in a wide sense, the pioneer of racing hot air balloons. Even though many companies have created better models now, it is still the baseline and a highly competitive balloon.
Even though this balloon might not stand a chance against its competitors, it is good for anyone who just wants to have a good time in a powerful balloon. The Racer is pricier than other Ultramagic Balloons, but it doesn’t cost other racing balloons.
Buying a Used Hot Air Balloon
One thing that is crucial to buying used balloons is that you check the quality of the balloon personally. Even though most balloons are resold through personal connections, you can also find advertisements for the same.
Even though the quality of used balloons is not as good as new ones, they’re usually still great for flying on purchase. If you do not wish to use it for ultra-commercial purposes, getting a used balloon is a great option. This is because you will get a higher-end product that you would have originally got at the same budget.
Buying used hot air balloons is advisable for people who are just starting in the hot air balloon venture. Getting a cheaper but reliable balloon will help them understand what a good balloon requires and what it is made of. They can proceed to buy their own new hot air balloon later if they wish to.
Below are some popular and used hot air balloons that are sold through reliable sources.
Cameron A-120
The Cameron A-Type balloons are perfect passenger balloons for several seasons. The Cameron A-120 is no exception to this bandwagon. With 20 gores, this model has a great lift and can carry about 20 passengers. It stands at 65 feet tall when fully inflated.
The Cameron A-120 is sure to grab many people’s attention due to its construction and size. It is truly a piece of art.
A used Cameron A-120 with a basket of the capacity of 3-4 people and 20-gallon LPG tanks can cost you about $25,000. This is great, keeping in mind the original cost of these massively productive hot air balloons.
Cameron ZL-84 Racer
The Cameron ZL-84 Racer is a great racer balloon designed to be as aerodynamic as it gets. The balloon has a vertical shape that stands out with its 24 gores. When fully inflated, this balloon is 65 feet tall.
The performance of this racer balloon is such that it just cuts through the air at ease. It is great for racing since it can only carry a navigator and pilot, reducing passengers’ weight.
You can find a used Cameron ZL-84 Racer for about $16,000. However, you can haggle or look for cheaper used options for the same model.
Cameron Z-160
This hot air balloon has the most interesting envelope due to its intricate beauty. It is a massive balloon that stands at 73 feet tall after being fully inflated. It has 24 gores, and the design is made with the most successful Cameron balloons as the model.
This is a great option and spending about $15,000 or more over a used version of this is fine.
FireFly 8B
The uniquely cute gores of the FireFly 8B are attention-grabbing. The company usually manufactures racing balloons, and this is one of the successful products of the company.
With 18 gores and a height of 48 feet on full inflation, this hot air balloon can be paired with several basket options. The customizability of the FireFly 8B is great. Since this balloon’s original costing is about $30,000, getting a well-maintained one at $15,000 is a great catch.
FireFly 6B
The FireFly 6B is another testimony of the FireFly quality. It is a great hot air balloon for personal use and competitions. It is good at maneuvering and can land very easily. The FireFly 6B is a smaller version of the FireFly 8B, which does not miss out on the goodness of the latter.
When fully inflated, this is a medium-sized balloon that stands at about 41 feet. It has 12 gores, which is comparatively less but does not compromise with the quality of the hot air balloon. It weighs about 1200 lbs on its own and has the capability of carrying 2 10-gallon LPG tanks.
This product is easy to repair and transport. It also provides good privacy in the air as it can only seat 2 passengers.
You can find used versions of this model at very low prices since most of the used ones would be from the 1990s. Getting a price such as $4,750 for this balloon is great if the piece in question is well-maintained and in good condition.
FireFly 7-15
If you are looking for a leisure ride with your friends or family and do not want to dig a hole in your pocket, you should have a look at a used FireFly 7-15. This balloon is great for a friendly ride and has a passenger capacity of about 4 people. It is easy to transport and can help you have a great time.
The Firefly 7-15 stands at about 47 feet when fully inflated. It has the capacity to fit 2 10-gallon LPG tanks. The balloon’s size is ideal for a vacation and is supposed to be the most popular balloon size out there.
As mentioned with the previous balloon, the FireFly used balloons are usually from the 1990s. This is because the company is very old, and the durability of its products is exemplary. A 1996 built balloon can cost you about $10,000. At that price point, this balloon must be in a decent condition to fly.
Taking a Chance with New Hot Air Balloon Purchase
In this article, you have read a comprehensive list of hot air balloons that you could either buy fresh from the press or seasoned ballooners. All the hot air balloons that have been mentioned till now are products of reliable companies. These products have the capability to compete at a competition at a global level.
There is, however, another way of procuring new hot air balloons without doing anything sketchy. You can get cheap products online that are questionable in their reliability.
When you invest in these balloons, you cannot say for sure what you will finally receive. You could either get a one-of-a-kind steal, or you could end up with a trash hot air balloon.
Buying such balloons is not advisable since the risk is too high. You cannot be sure about the safety involved in using these hot air balloons.
You cannot even guarantee if these balloons will be able to fly. However, you will save a lot of money by buying from these manufacturers if the hot air balloon you get is of good quality.
Some of these balloons are very interesting. Since they are not associated with big companies, the manufacturers can get creative and take risks.
Some of these less expensive online hot air balloons are listed below. However, it is to be noted that you must buy these balloons at your own risk. Your luck could go either way.
Pluto
The cost of this product is highly debatable and variable. You can buy a model from this manufacturer for anything between $2,000 to $20,000. The Pluto hot air balloon was designed in 2018, so it is considered new design technology.
The balloon is inflatable and uses LPG to do the same. The hot air balloons come in different colors and have the option of a customizable logo. It is also supposed to be very flashy.
The specifications of the basket are not mentioned. However, the manufacturer has made it clear that the basket can carry 1 to 6 passengers, depending upon the size you buy.
It seems to be easy to use as the manufacturer says that the inflation process is simple. All you need to do is “prepare the ground” and “power on the blower.” Honestly, this seems too easy to be true, and that is what it probably is – not true.
We cannot recommend this product; however, it might end up being a catch. You’ll have to risk it to know.
OEM
The OEM balloon is more accurate in its pricing. It can be bought for anything between $7,000 and $10,000.
This balloon is not as sketchy as Pluto, as it has some details that seem legitimate. It does not mention being inflatable as a quality feature.
The balloon has the capacity to hold 4 people. You also get to request customizability, as the product is versatile in its appearance. The need for tethering of this hot air balloon is ambiguous. How high it can fly is not mentioned either.
Shipping of this product might be a little expensive, though. Getting it shipped by air seems like the most sensible option.
You can cut down on the shipping cost by collecting it from your nearest airport. However, if you do not care about the shipping price, keeping in mind the cheapness of the product bought, you can receive it at your doorstep in about a week.
This product evokes slightly more trust than the Pluto hot air balloon. However, the reliability of the OEM, too, is a big ‘what if.’
Baoluridies
The Baoluridies evokes just as much trust as the OEM. It is still very ambiguous, though. The Baoluridies is supposed to be able to carry about 4 passengers. It does not even need to be properly tethered, which brings some unanswered questions to mind.
The incredibility of this balloon is that “it is a very famous flying game in Turkey.” The balloon itself is an incredible flying game, which is mind-boggling. The question is, what game does the balloon itself serve?
The manufacturer seems to claim that it is a great hot air balloon with a good lift and safety. However, we would recommend not to trust the seller in this case blindly. If you choose to buy it, you will have to take a huge personal risk.
The cost of this famous Turkish game is anything between $5,000 and $9,000. It is so cheap that the safety features of this hot air balloon are questionable.
Limeiqi
Out of all the chance hot air balloons we have seen till now, Limeiqi might just be the best. It has a weight carrying capacity of 12 passengers and costs about $6,995. Honestly, how this is possible is beyond anybody’s understanding. On paper, this hot air balloon seems like a good deal.
The listing mentions that this balloon is of a standard size. What exactly constitutes standard size if not mentioned. Maybe they consider 46 feet as the standard size, just like FireFly. We cannot be sure about that.
Limeiqi has a 12-month warranty. That seems to be comforting. However, an average user would barely use a recreational balloon for 3-4 times at the maximum in a year. We say recreational since there is nobody who should use these balloons for commercial purposes.
The company also claims to help you design your amusement park. The prospect of a hot air balloon amusement park seems like a very safe idea, for sure. Again, we cannot guarantee the safety and quality of this balloon. You can proceed to buy it but at your own risk.
Summing Up
Buying a hot air balloon is an expensive experience. New balloons are the best in quality. However, they cost so much that you either have to use them for commercial purposes or have to be insanely rich to afford recreational purposes.
Buying used balloons is not a bad idea either. You get good quality and personally checked balloons for a much lower price than the original. You could also opt for risky online deals on cheap hot air balloons, but it is a risky feat.
