Balloon Inflation Guide

 All our balloons are sent out flat not inflated, we sell helium canisters and balloon pumps for you to inflate the balloons at home. Here is our handy guide to help answer some of your ballooning questions:

To float or not to float? Most balloons can be filled with helium or air, simply check the details on the product page. Some balloons can only be filled with air due to their small size (like mini latex and small foil balloons), and some balloons are not designed for helium (like balloon garlands) but we promise to make it clear on within the product description.

How long will my balloons float with helium? Please see our helium chart

How much helium do I need? Please see our helium chart

How can I make my latex balloons float for longer? Latex Balloons have a short float time with helium and should be inflated on the day of use. Hi-Float can be added to balloons to increase the float time up to 25x enabling you to inflate in advance of your event.

What weights will my balloons require? The size of weight needed to tether your balloon depends on the size of the balloon. Please see our helium chart

I need a lot of balloons therefore a lot of helium. Help! We sell disposable helium canisters, these are designed to be used for a small scale events and parties and have capacities of 8.9 cubic ft (small F30) and 14.9 cubic ft (F50), they are easy to use. However, if you need helium in larger quantities then we suggest you hire a Helium Cylinder. It is very easy to rent these large pre-filled cylinders. There are many companies online that will deliver a cylinder to you and then collect when it is finished with. This is by far the most cost effective way of filling balloons for larger events.

Can I take my balloons to a local shop to be filled with helium? Yes, we advise you contact your local balloon/party shop firstly to check but most shops will fill balloons bought from elsewhere. 

Why won't my latex balloon float? The main reason a balloon wont float is if not enough helium has been added, check the correct size of your balloons and add helium until the balloon reaches its correct size. Another reason for it not floating is if you have added too much weight to your balloon, tassels and decorations will weigh down balloons so only add very light-weight items to smaller balloons. 

Other options rather than helium - Balloons look fabulous hung from the ceiling using clear fishing line, this is very effective with large 36" balloons and with Large Foil balloons. Our Balloon Garland Kits create show stopping balloon displays perfect for larger events and celebrations and require no helium.

How do I know I have inflated my latex balloons fully to the correct size? A good trick when filling balloons at home is to measure the space that the balloon needs to be inflated to (i.e 16") between the backs of two chairs or two boxes and inflate within this space. 

Tiny Balloons - Can I fill with helium? These 5" balloons are not designed to be used with helium as they will only hold a tiny quantity, if you do wish to add helium however please note that they will float for approx 2 - 3 hours. We advise that if you fill with helium then use only a cotton thread as a string as they will not float holding anything heavier. 

Big 36" Latex Balloons - How much helium do they need? To fill a 36" Balloon fully you need 15 cubic feet of helium equivalent to one F50 canister.

      That is a lot of helium! Can I reduce the amount needed? You can under fill these balloons to save on helium, to fill to a size of 30" requires 8 cubic ft of helium. Another trick is to partially fill with air and then top up with helium which greatly reduces the amount of helium required to around 5 cubic ft, however this will also reduce the balloons float time and reduce the weight that the balloon can hold should you wish to tie a tassel etc from it. Please note confetti balloons should not be under inflated as this will result in them being cloudy and not clear.

Clear and Confetti latex balloons - My balloons are not clear, Help? Clear latex balloons are creamy colour before they are inflated. When inflated to the correct size they will be a little misty before becoming transparent.

Confetti Balloons - How do I make the confetti stick to the sides of the balloon? Filling a confetti balloon with air not helium will result in the confetti sticking to the insides of the balloon which looks fabulous, however with only pure helium inside the balloon the confetti may pool mostly in the bottom of the balloon, which is pretty but doesn't give the effect that some people want. To make the confetti stick to the sides of the balloon it can help to create some static within the balloon by rubbing the balloon on hair or clothing. Another way to make the confetti cover the insides is to fill the balloon with a mix of air and helium, fill the balloon with a few puffs of air and then 90% helium.

   Confetti Balloons - Please note that 5" Confetti Balloons should not be filled with helium, they are simply to small and heavy to float, they look terrific attached to mini balloon sticks though!

   Confetti Balloons Float Times - The added weight of the confetti will mean that the float time of your balloon will be reduced. 11" Confetti Balloons will float for 4-7 hours, 16" for 12-18 hours and 36" Balloons 2-3 days.

Bubble Balloons including clearz - How do I inflate and fill them? Please see our blog post which should answer any questions you have regarding Bubble Balloons. Please note these Balloons will only carry a very small amount of weight (see helium chart)

Foil Balloons - do I fill with air or helium? Some foil balloons are air-fill only and this information is on each item description. Most foil balloons that can be filled with helium can also be filled with air but of course wont float To fill a balloon with air insert a straw into the valve and blow into it.

Foil Balloons - Look a bit deflated! Have you moved your foil balloons from a warm area to a cold place i.e outside or a garage? Helium contracts in cool air and makes balloons look inflated . Move them back into warm air and they will look full again. Try to inflate the balloons in the same environment that they will be used in.

Foil Balloons - Can I reuse my Foil Balloons? It is possible to re-use most foil balloons but we cannot guarantee that it will work every time as they are fairly delicate but it is worth a try. Expel the air from your balloon by inserting a long straw quite a distance into the self sealing valve, the air will then start to come out and you can flatten and fold your balloon.

Do you print on balloons?: Yes we can. Minimum order 500 balloons, lead time 2-3 weeks. Contact us for a quote.

How do I dispose of my Balloons? Please see our blog post on how to dispose of balloons responsibly

Are Balloons biodegradable? Please see our blog post