How Much Are Balloon Arches? The 165 New Answer

How long does balloon decoration last? (The short answer)

A balloon arch can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks depending on the temperature, heat, humidity and quality of the balloon decor. Under ideal circumstances, latex balloons can last several days outdoors or even several weeks indoors. Foil balloons have even been used for decoration for a number of years!

Because balloon arches can be made with helium or air, the answers can vary widely. Helium decor can vary due to a variety of factors, which we won’t go into too much detail here. You can learn more about helium in this article. For purposes of this discussion, we will be specifically talking about air-filled arches with a frame. Using a frame eliminates the need for helium and makes answering this question much easier and definitely less complicated.

Want to know how long helium filled decor can last? Read our post on helium balloon longevity.

How long does balloon decoration last? (The longer answer)

The longer answer has more to offer. So we will address some of these points below. If you want the short answer, stick with the answer above. Otherwise, you can find more information here on how to increase the longevity of your balloon decoration. When it comes to arches specifically, this information mostly applies to balloon garlands in general. Enjoy!

What makes decor NOT durable?

The first question one might ask is why balloons don’t last at all. If they don’t get banged, wouldn’t they be okay? That would be great, but that’s just not how things work. Even under ideal conditions, balloons immediately lose tiny bits of air through the invisible pores in the latex. Small air molecules bounce around inside even at room temperature. These bouncing molecules are what causes the balloon to inflate to its apparent size. For the same reason, a balloon immersed in liquid nitrogen shrinks to its nearly deflated size, only to “inflate again” when it warms up again. Physics and chemistry can be cool!

All scientific rumors aside, there are things that work against the balloon’s longevity. First, they are a natural and biodegradable latex made from the sap of a rubber tree. Being latex and not plastic, they naturally want to degrade when they come into contact with the environment. Luckily for the party-goers, this is usually a slow process. However, it can be accelerated and leads to the main reasons why they deflate or burst prematurely.

Heat and humidity begin to degrade balloons and are the first obstacle to their longevity. The introduction of heat and moisture can cause balloons to oxidize (that’s a fancy word for rust). Yes, balloons can rust like a piece of iron. There are different elements involved, but it works the same way. When a balloon is exposed to heat and moisture, it loses its bright glossy coating and slowly becomes covered in a velvety sheen or even the appearance of a powder. This is the visual element of this process and is the easiest way for a professional balloon decorator to determine the age of a balloon arch.

There are also other elements that can pop a balloon. Some of the main things we’ve seen are the static pulling of sand or glass particles onto the balloons, the actual melting from the intense heat of the sun, and then there’s the wind. Wind alone doesn’t do much damage, but it can add to any of these other elements to make things go faster. Wind accelerates oxidation, can carry particles up from the ground where static electricity can pull them towards the balloons to pop, and can even pop melted balloons by putting extra stress on them.

What makes balloon decor last longer?

Balloons love cool, dark places. We store our balloons in almost airtight containers, protected from light and in an air-conditioned room. This helps them last as long as possible, and we’ve had absolutely no problem using balloons that are a year old.

There is a lot to consider at an event. Just because an arch of balloons may last the longest in a dark room that isn’t being used doesn’t mean it has the greatest impact on the event. Therefore, balloon professionals are here to work with you to find the absolute best location for your balloon arch based on your specific needs. If you only need a sheet for one day, there are many options to choose from. If it’s going to last a week or more, we need to start getting creative and come up with different ways we can extend the balloon’s lifespan.

In short, there are few ways to extend the life of the balloon. They either slow down oxidation, work to eliminate popping factors, or a combination of both. YTE Events and Balloon Decor has been building balloon decorations for years and has learned almost every trick to help. So let us know what you’re trying to achieve, and we’ll do what we can to lessen the bang and ensure you have the best possible event experience.

Balloon arc filled with air inside

The most durable way to build balloon decor is to build an arch that is in an air conditioned environment and has a frame to support it as the balloons slowly begin to deflate. A standard arch of properly inflated latex balloons will last anywhere from 12 hours to 2 days with no significant problems. The lower number represents an arch closer to a door where heat and moisture are regularly introduced from the outside. The longer time frame is representative of an arc not exposed to the same environmental stresses.

A balloon professional can even extend this time! Treating the balloons early can extend the time up to 25 days or more. Balloons can be treated both inside and outside to reduce the rate of oxidation. They can also be treated to eliminate some of the static electricity that can draw possible particles into the balloons that could pop the balloons.

The biggest concern with permanent balloon decorations at a corporate location or venue is the possibility that chemicals and solvents will be used in the cleaning process, which can also corrode the balloons and cause them to disintegrate more quickly.

We are sure that an inside bow can be guaranteed (in most cases) for 2-5 days without any problems. If we feel there is a concern and it is important to last longer we can also offer a ‘refresh’ option which will allow us to come to your venue and touch up any deflated balloons and ensure the balloon arch is good looks brand new and fresh for any event.

Outdoor balloon arches have other concerns

There are many different things to consider when setting up an outdoor balloon arch. The weather often plays a major role. A hot, humid area with no overhead shadows can cause a bow to last a few hours at most. If an arch is set up the night before, or even very early the same morning, a condensation element can be added to the balloons. This can make them slightly sticky and, when heated by the sun, can cause some of the balloons to fuse together. In this case, a light wind can cause a whole bunch of balloons to pop at once.

Color also plays a role in exterior decoration. An arch of dark colored balloons will gather more heat and energy from the sun and may cause them to melt or pop more easily. White is the absolute best color for exterior decoration as it has the longest chance of surviving in the elements.

Outside there are also more things to blow towards the balloons to pop the balloons before the sun gets to it. Things like sand, broken glass, brick dust, and even more direct objects like pins can be blown in the wind toward the arches of the balloon, causing them to burst.

In some areas, even the blades of grass or other plants can secrete oils that can cause the balloons to pop sooner than normal. Because of this, some balloon decorators even put down fabric or ground sheets to prevent the balloons from directly touching the balloons.

Other frequently asked questions about the lifespan of a balloon arch:

Does a balloon arch last overnight?

In our climate (Central Florida) a balloon arch can typically last one night and most of the next day if placed outdoors. It’s usually fine the first day. Then, the next day, dew and condensation collect on it. After that, and in the heat of the second day, the arch is prone to cracking at the introduction of a significant gust of wind or exposure to direct sunlight during the heat of the day. If it hasn’t burst by day two, day three is usually the limit in our hot and humid climate. There are exceptions and it may be extended if there is some shade or if it was a particularly cloudy day. However, we have also seen balloon decorations placed in direct sun during the summer heat that only last a few hours. So it can vary. At the same time, our outdoor decorations last up to a week in optimal conditions. For interior decoration, we prepare in advance and often balloons stay inflated days in advance and last for several days after your party.

How long does a balloon arch last?

We talked about this above, but it depends very much on the type of bow and its position. A helium arc can last a few hours. A balloon arch filled with outside air can last a few days. An indoor latex arch can last a few weeks. An indoor balloon arch filled with air can last up to a few months.

Where should I place my balloon arch?

We recommend placing an arch where it makes the most sense for your event. If it doesn’t matter, then we would recommend placing it out of direct sun, ideally indoors, with a minimal amount of potential popping factors. You can read the article above for more information on the specifics of what can pop items.

Can I set up a balloon arch the night before?

In most cases, setting up a balloon arch the night before is perfectly fine. However, if it will be filled with helium, it should be set up on the day of the event.

Can I do a balloon arch the day before?

In most cases, you can do the balloon arch the day before and it’s absolutely fine. The biggest exception would be a helium arch, which we recommend setting up on the day of the event.

How far can I make the balloon arch?

Professional balloon artists have tips and tricks so they can inflate and prepare a range of items well in advance. Most professionals blow and build balloon decorations up to a week before your event. This also applies to bows. In the right environment, a balloon arch can easily last for weeks. Professionals typically inflate balloons at least a day in advance so they can identify and fix “slow leaks” before delivering the balloon arch to your event.

How long does a helium arc last?

A helium arc can last a few hours indoors and may or may not last a significant amount of time outdoors. If a helium bow is blown outdoors and hits grass, concrete, or anything sharp or hot, the balloons can burst. Indoors, a helium arc can last up to 8 or 12 hours in most cases. If the balloons are handled properly and the conditions are right, a helium arc can last up to 3 or 5 days.

Will a bow filled with helium or air last longer?

The air-filled balloon arch lasts longer in all scenarios. It is by far the absolute best option for longevity.

Can you treat a balloon arch to make it last longer?

You certainly can! Normally we would only recommend treating a bow this way if it is indoors and you plan to keep it for a month or more. The treatments can help slow the escape of air from inside, but they don’t completely stop oxidation. So if you keep it out of the elements, you can get most of the work done. The longer lasting treatments are great for prolonging the life of a balloon arch, but do not prevent balloons from bursting due to other factors.

Would you like to have a balloon arch at your event?

Call us! We’re happy to help answer any questions, give you a quote, or discuss some arch placement suggestions to increase the longevity of your balloon decor.

You can also fill out an event contact form.

If you’re wondering whether to make a balloon garland the night before your party or special event, you’ve come to the right place. The short answer is yes. Read on for more detailed answers to many common questions about making balloon garlands and how long they last.

Balloons are an easy way to add lots of life and color to any celebration. Balloon arches and garlands are ideal for making any occasion spectacular, whether it’s a baby shower, birthday party, wedding or any other event.

You want to make a DIY balloon arch or garland for your upcoming party but don’t have time on the day of the party. Balloon garlands can definitely be made in advance! All you need is some time the night before your party to put it together.

(This post likely contains affiliate links. For more information, see the disclosure policy. You can find the disclosure policy here.)

Can you make a balloon garland the night before?

Yes, you can make a balloon garland the night before your party. This is the best time to do it if you have time as the inflated balloons will still look new and shiny too. Making the balloon garland the day before the party is great because it takes the stress out of decorating on the actual day of the party.

There’s nothing worse than being rushed just before your guests arrive. It’s so much better to be feeling cool, calm, collected and ready to have fun than trying to add balloons to your garland.

Balloon garlands have become so popular in recent years and are a very popular party decoration and photo backdrop. They look stunning and add the wow factor to any party area or room. It’s the perfect way to easily turn an area into a party zone. They’re also a great topic of conversation. Your party guests will be amazed at how clever and creative you are.

Balloon garlands can make a huge impact on the look of your party without taking too much time or expense.

How long does a balloon garland last?

Balloon garlands can last anywhere from 24 hours to a week. The longevity of the balloons depends on the weather, temperature, heat and humidity, and the quality of the balloons used in the garland.

The reason balloons don’t last forever is because the latex slowly allows air through the undetected pores in the balloons, causing them to deflate over time.

How to make a balloon garland last longer

To make your balloon garland last longer, store it in a cool, dry place just before party time. If your party is indoors, you can definitely set it up beforehand. On the other hand, if you are decorating outside with the balloon garland, it is best to take the garland outside closer to the start time of the party.

If you plan to decorate your garland with fresh flowers, branches of greenery, photos, ribbons, it is best to wait until the day of the party.

How far in advance can you make a balloon garland?

For best results, you can make a balloon garland up to three days before your party. Balloons are at their best when they look new and shiny, so for that reason, use them within 2-3 days of the party.

Some people have been known to make them a few weeks in advance and store the balloons in a large, clean plastic bag. I do not recommend this. I believe it’s best to bring it closer to the time of your party so your balloons will still have their nice glossy finish. In my opinion, the eve is perfect if that’s doable for you.

The good news is that balloon garlands don’t take too long to make, so you can make them closer to the day of your event. It’s a good idea to plan and set everything up a few days in advance to make sure you have all the materials you need.

How long does the balloon garland stay out?

Balloons don’t last as long outside because of heat and humidity or wind and rain. Even too much wind can burst your balloons. Weather can contribute to the biodegradation of the balloon’s latex material and it will not last as long as if stored indoors.

So if you make a balloon garland in advance, it’s a good idea to keep it inside until just before the time of your party or event. It’s best to take it outside just before the party starts.

How long does it take to make a balloon garland?

How long it takes to make a balloon garland depends on the overall size of the decoration as well as how you inflate the balloons.

Inflating each balloon with your mouth will take a long time, especially if you have a large number of balloons. If this is the case and you have patience, enlist the help of friends and family.

However, for a really easy way, I recommend investing in at least a balloon hand pump. Some balloon garland kits come with one of these. If this isn’t the case for you, you can find one here.

If you need to inflate a lot of balloons in a short amount of time, definitely invest in an electric pump. An electric balloon pump will change the game and get the job done really quickly and efficiently.

Once all the balloons are inflated, it can only take about 20 minutes to make an average sized balloon garland.

Inflating the balloons is definitely the most time consuming part. For example, I use about 100 balloons for most of my balloon arches, which span half of our door. So blowing up so many balloons with your mouth will make you breathless and get over it!

Remember that your first balloon arch/garland will take the longest. Once you’ve created one, you know what you’re doing and it will take significantly less time to create the next one you create.

Balloon garland tips and tricks

The best tip for creating your own DIY balloon garland is to definitely get more balloons than you think you will need. Some might crack. Some may be too big or too small for the look you want your garland to have as you will need different sizes for your arrangement. You will most likely want to add a few more once you’ve hung it.

You don’t need helium…in fact, it’s a lot easier without. I never use helium when making my balloon garlands. The balloons are easier to handle and style with regular air. It’s cheaper and means I don’t have to rely on the local party store to fill them up. I can fill them up quickly and easily at home.

Many different balloon sizes add interest and visual appeal to a balloon garland. It looks great with a combination of larger and smaller balloons. You don’t need special sized balloons for this. Simply inflate regular latex balloons of different sizes per color. It will look great. Trust your judgment and have fun.

The best tool for making a balloon garland is this balloon strip! This is the magic ingredient for a balloon garland! Make sure you snag one like the strip in the picture below. It’s much easier to work with if it has two holes per balloon. It makes the balloon much safer. (Don’t get the strips with only one hole).

And have fun! Making balloon garlands is really fun and you will be so pleased with yourself when you see the end result.

Buy a balloon garland or make one yourself

My number one piece of advice for having a beautiful party on a budget is to make as much of your own at home as possible, so I knew learning how to make a balloon garland would be pretty inexpensive. The cost of a DIY balloon garland is a lot cheaper than you think.

However, if you don’t have enough time or energy to make one, or you just want to focus on other things for your birthday parties or special occasions, then by all means buy a premade one from a local party store.

What do you need for a balloon garland?

The easiest way to make a balloon garland/arch is with a balloon arch kit/balloon garland kit. You can buy these online or at party supply stores. They come with the balloon strip and all the balloons you need.

Grab some extra balloons in case something pops. To be honest, I often buy twice as many balloons as I think I’ll actually need. The extra balloons just don’t get lost.

I often need a few more in the garland, and when I have leftover balloons I use them to decorate other areas. Because they are the same color as the garland, they also look great in smaller arrangements.

If you are sourcing your own balloons, you will need a balloon strip to hold your balloons in place.

The next thing you need is an electric balloon pump. It will save so much time! They are not expensive and will change your party decorations forever!

How to hang your balloon garland

Just a quick side note: a balloon garland, like any other balloon decoration, will not float without helium. It needs to be hung on the wall or anchored somewhere.

You can hang your balloon garland on the wall or above a door frame. Use string or fishing line to attach to a nail on the wall or command hook. You can also use sturdy safety pins or clear zip ties through the holes in the decoration strip to secure your garland to a curtain or fabric backdrop.

To attach to the hooks, you can use fishing line or clear cable ties threaded through the holes in the decorative strip. You can also use curling ribbon.

I love a balloon garland with lots of greenery. It’s my favorite way to add something special to balloon party decor!

Step by step instructions

Would you like to learn how to make your own balloon garland at home? It’s a lot easier than you think! Watch this step-by-step tutorial video below for some great pro tips.

If you want to make a balloon garland the night before, it’s entirely doable and won’t spoil the look of your balloon garland. It will look just as fresh as if you did it an hour before the party started. Thank you for reading this article. Have fun decorating your special occasion.

Related posts:

Can you blow up helium balloons with your mouth?

Need help determining the length of your balloon arch or the average balloon float time when using a 60/40 inflator? Here you will find them!

Formula for balloon arch length

Example 1: If the arch of the balloon is wider than it is tall: Height + Width = Approximate Total Length

Example 2: If the height and width of the balloon arch are approximately the same: 1.5 (height) + width = approximate total length

Example 3: If the balloon arch is taller than wide: 2 (height) + width = approximate total length

Garland Chart

Note: Balloon quality can vary by up to 20% depending on how densely packed the balloon clusters are.

Number of balloons per foot of garland Balloon size 4 balloon bundles 5 balloon bundles 3″ 20.2 25.2 4″ 15.1 18.9 5″ 12.1 15.1 6″ 10.1 12.6 7″ 8.6 10 .8 8″ 7.6 9.5 9″ 6.7 8.4 10.5″ 6 .5″ 6.9 12″ 5.0 6.3 13″ 4.7 5.8 14″ 4.3 5.4 15″ 4.0 5.0 16″ 3.8 4.7

flight time of the helium balloon

Note: Average fill sizes and flight times listed are conservative averages. Actual flight times will vary based on temperature and atmospheric conditions.

latex

Balloon size average flight time

Average flight time with helium only

Helium & ULTRA Hi-Float® 9″ valved 6 hours 3-10 days 9″ 10-15 hours 4-14 days 11″ valved 12-18 hours 3-10 days 11″ with 60/40 inflator 12-18 hours 3-10 days 11″ 12-24 hours 1-4 weeks 11″ 12-24 hours 1-3 weeks 14″ 26-30 hours 2-5 weeks 16″ 30+ hours 3-7 weeks 18″ 36+ hours 3- 8 weeks 17″ 14 hours 3-8 days 16″ 22-26 hours 4-12 days 16″ 18-24 hours 3-10 days 24″ 2-4 days 4-10 weeks 3′ 3-5 days 6-20 weeks

Helium Balloon Flight Time with 60/40 Mix Chart

Note: Swim times may vary due to altitude, environmental conditions, and proper balloon size.

*For maximum float time on 11″ balloons with a 60/40 mix, it is recommended to use Ultra Hi-Float with the purple limiter clip on the Hi-Float pump.

Latex Balloon Size Approximate Float Time 11″ Latex without Hi-Float 8-12 hours 11″ Latex with Ultra Hi-Float* 3-10 days 16″ Latex 30+ hours 24″ Latex 2-4 days 30″ & 3ft Latex 3-5 days

Save today with one of the following 60/40 options from Conwin:

Balloon Helium Diagram

A DIY BALLOON ARCH is a great decoration for birthday party, graduation, baby shower. Once you learn how to make one, you’ll find that it adds to the fun of any event. An arch is great for snack table decorations or a photo booth op. How to make a balloon arch in 5 EASY STEPS.

🌈 Easy DIY Balloon Arch Tutorial 🎈

How long does it take to make a balloon arch?

By far the most time consuming part of making a balloon arch is inflating over 80 balloons and tying them together. You can DIY a small balloon arch in 2-3 hours. If you have help blowing up and tying up balloons, you could do it much faster.

Accessories: How to Make a Balloon Arch Kit

To make the balloon arch pictured, I used the following supplies (link to this DIY Balloon Arch Kit with Supplies)

1. Balloons

What size balloon should you use for a balloon arch?

– The size of balloons you should buy depends on the size of your arch you want.

I used 5 inch balloons for the arch pictured in this blog post.

(Note: In addition to the 5″ balloons, I also used 8 full size balloons to make the larger base balloons at the ends of the arch. These also served as a stabilizing base to allow the arch to stand on its own.

If you want a bigger arch, you can use standard 12 inch balloons, but you’ll also need to buy a frame to support them (see below).

Number of balloons to use for an arch: Depends on the size. The arch pictured above used 80 5″ balloons and 8 larger 12″ white balloons. Uses 20 rings of 4 balloons (8 balloons of each color) If you are making a larger arch using standard 12 inch balloons, you will need more balloons.

2. Wire (for an arch of 5 inch balloons) or frame (for full size balloons)

– The tension of the balloons will help hold the bow together, but a wire will add some structure.

For a smaller arch of 5 inch balloons that can stand on its own (like this one I pictured below), I use 18 gauge (1mm) artistic copper wire. My bow used about 7 feet of wire. I have used and reused this wire for several balloon arches over the years.

For a larger arch of full-size balloons, you’ll need a larger balloon arch kit, which includes a frame made of a material similar to a tent frame.

If you lean your balloon arch against a wall for support, a simple fishing line will work.

The tension of the string holds the balloons together.

3. Balloon pump (optional)

A balloon pump is optional, but it speeds things up.

HOW TO MAKE A BALLOON ARCH (IN 5 STEPS)

Step 1: Blow up balloons in groups of 4 (these will form your balloon arch “rings”)

IMPORTANT: TRY TO INFLATE YOUR BALLOONS TO A SIMILAR SIZE. This will make creating your balloon arch easier.

How many balloons do you need for a balloon arch?

A smaller arch of 5″ balloons uses ~80 balloons (20 “rings” of 4 balloons).

A larger balloon arch made with standard 12 inch balloons uses ~128 balloons (32 balloon rings of 4 balloons each).

Step 2: Tie the balloons together in pairs of 2.

Step 3: Twist 2 balloon “pairs” together to make a balloon quad.

I twist the pairs of balloons together about 3 times to form this quad. These quads will be your rainbow “rings” for your balloon arch.

Step 4. Attach the balloon squares to the wire to form an arch

Starting with the larger white balloon square, twist one balloon from each quad onto the wire, then slide it into place.

Alternate directions so that the next “balloon ring square” is snug against the previous balloon square.

Hold the balloons to create tension that will hold your bow together.

How many rings of each color you use is up to you. This balloon arch uses 2 “rings” of 4 balloons for each color, or a total of 8 balloons per color.

I used 10 different colors for a total of 80 balloons.

If you have fewer colors, consider using more rings per color. In total this arch of 5″ balloons has 20 quad rings + 2 rings of larger 12″ balloons for the base.

Larger arches of 12″ balloons have 32 rings for a total of 128 balloons.

Step 5: If necessary, pull the balloon rings closer together or adjust the wire to make the balloon arch even and stable.

Step 6 (optional): For extra sparkle or light, add a string of lights to your rainbow balloon arch.

This was a last minute impulse for me but I love how it turned out! This would be especially fun at an evening event.

Balloon Arch Kit

Good luck with your DIY Balloon Arch! Find inspiration for more DIY projects and crafts here.

A favorite is this DIY Valentine’s Day Heart Tree.

Rainbow Party Treats and Party Favors

Since that particular arch was a rainbow, read on for more rainbow party ideas (party favors and treats). Whatever the occasion for your rainbow balloon arch, keep scrolling for ideas for your rainbow party treats and party favors.

Rainbow Party Favor Treats or Leprechaun Hunt Treats for St. Patrick’s Day

These bags of rainbow licorice and chocolate rolos made the perfect rainbow party favor or prize for a leprechaun hunt!

Required accessories for Rainbow Treat party favors:

Clear treat bag

Rainbow Licorice

Rolos

Festive ribbon for tying bows

Here’s an Amazon list of all the items I used to make these treats.

These rainbow treats were the end of a St. Patrick’s Day leprechaun hunt for a group of toddlers.

Rainbow Party Favors

Here’s a roundup of the best rainbow party favors I’ve found:

Rainbow paper gift bags

Stackable Rainbow 8 colored pencils

My kids can’t get enough of stackable pencils or crayons. These would make an adorable party favour.

rainbow sunglasses

Colorful ring pops

Regardless of your age, Ring Pops make a timeless party favor.

rainbow scrunchies

I can’t get enough of these cute rainbow hair ties! It’s so good for my heart to know that hair ties are back in fashion. So much nostalgia!

Good luck with your rainbow bow and all your party fun!

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If you’re planning a fancy party with LOTS of balloons, our balloon arch calculator will help you calculate the number of balloons for an arch – the perfect one! 🎈

Learn how to make a balloon arch with just the right number of balloons: read on to learn about the different types of arch and calculate how many balloons you need!

Here you learn:

Hi! Looking for a starting point for pricing our unique brand of balloon art? We are here to help…

Every piece of balloon art that leaves our studio to decorate your special occasions, celebrations and soirees is custom made just for you. That’s why it’s a challenge to say, “This custom creation made just for YOU is so much…” We’d love to chat with you and hear about your event so we can best help you create balloon art that is unique to you will fit perfectly into your function space.

Custom organic balloon installations

The most popular type of balloon art right now is our custom organic balloon installations. We hear these being referred to as “balloon garlands” which is perhaps the correct term for the kits you can buy in the big department stores, but that’s not what we create. Instead, you’ll receive a bespoke installation that perfectly complements your space, in colors customized to match your event invitation, linens and flowers. These can be small mantle pieces or huge entrance pieces. We love working with your florist (or ask us to recommend our favorite!) to add greenery and blooms to this style of balloon art. Starting at $325 plus delivery and setup in the greater KC area.

Balloon Background Walls

Our balloon walls are the perfect touch for a photo area, stage backdrop, headtable backdrop and are favorites for new product launches. Starting at $425, with prices based on size, style, and any other important details we should talk about to make your event unique! No boring step and repeat here, we create balloon walls your guests will remember!

photo stations

Do you have a themed event and need a fun photo spot? We can help! Our themed photo stations can be designed to match your corporate colors, event theme and more. From $250 on the KC Metro plus delivery.

balloon arches

Classic balloon arches never go out of style! We manufacture arches custom-designed for your space, for indoor or outdoor use. Arches start at $325 plus delivery in the KC Metro area. Contact us to ask any questions and let’s talk the details so you know all about bow options. There are so many!

balloon columns

Another classic balloon clip, balloon columns. Only here we go far beyond classic and create pieces that some do not immediately recognize as balloons because they are so unusual! Balloon columns start at $105 plus delivery on the KC Metro. Pillars range from 6 feet tall to towering pillars 15 feet or taller. We love pillars as they can be easily moved around for use in many areas at an event!

Balloon Number Sculptures

Want to make a GINORMOUS impression? You need our balloon number sculptures! Starting at $185 plus delivery in the KC metro area, these 6ft and larger numbers are a fun way to let everyone know about the big day!

And countless other options…

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? We want to hear from you! Let’s talk about what you have in mind and how we can help make your event exceptional.

Children’s parties, easy DIY

If you’re planning on making your own balloon garland and want easy instructions, you’ve come to the right place! I’m sharing the step-by-step instructions and the materials you’ll need below. I’ve made a lot of balloon garlands and I have to say I dreaded making them until I perfected this method. It used to take ages to make and never seemed to last more than a few days.

Balloon garlands make any party extra special and are an easy way to add decoration without breaking the bank. I love decorating events with balloons!

To get the Balloon Garland Party Kit above, click here and use code CHELSEEHOOD for 10% off!

How long does it take to craft them?

This balloon garland took me about 30 minutes from start to finish. It will probably take about an hour if you are assembling one for the first time. Let me know if you follow this tutorial! I would like to see a photo. Be sure to scroll down to see the video of me assembling our balloon garland too!

I used to use balloon tape (which is basically a clear, non-stick “tape” with holes in it to put the balloons through) to make my balloon garlands, but I’ve found that thick fishing line works MUCH better. I’ll also share how I make a balloon garland with balloon tape below in case you want to try that option.

Supplies you need to make your balloon garland

To make your balloon garland, you only need a few utensils. Balloons (the bottom garland uses 64 balloons), strong fishing line, electric balloon pump, and command hooks.

Balloon Garland Stock 1: Balloons of different sizes

First decide how big you want your balloon garland to be. For a 10ft balloon garland (like the pink balloon garland above and below) you will need about 64 different sized balloons. You can find balloons at Party City, Amazon, The Dollar Tree, Michaels, etc. Or you can buy a balloon garland kit. I like this one and there are a ton of color options. It’s a more expensive option, but the balloons are great quality and biodegradable.

Balloon Garland Supply 2: Strong fishing line

Next you need a strong fishing line. This one is great! You will use this to loop the balloons to it. More on that later.

fishing line

Above is our single electric balloon pump

Balloon Garland Supply 3: Electric Balloon Pump

Most importantly, you want to get yourself an electric balloon blower. No one has time to inflate all those balloons alone! This one works great and I own two of these! Better yet, snag this option for about the same price, which comes with four nozzles.

Balloon Garland Supply 4: Command Hook

To hang your balloon garland, you should tie each end to something. I often use my stair railing, but if you don’t have that nearby you should use command hooks. These and these are my favorites because the fishing line stays in place.

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Print Recipe Rating 3 out of 1 DIY Balloon Garland Here’s our step-by-step guide to making the easiest balloon garland ever! Prep time 1 hr Total time 1 hr Servings: 1 balloon garland Cost: $30 Equipment Electric balloon pump Ingredients 64 balloons (less or more depending on length)

15-20 foot Strong Fishing Line

2-4 Command Hook Instructions Blow up your balloons. Again, I use different sizes and colors. You’ll need roughly equal amounts of small and medium balloons, and then a couple of large balloons. After inflating them and before tying them off, I press them against my body while holding the opening and letting some air out. This gives me a longer “tail” to work with, and it also makes the balloon more rounded versus longer.

Next we tie our balloons together. Of course, if you decide to go with more of a rainbow garland, you’ll want to keep all of your colors separate. If you want it more random, tie one of your colors together. I take a medium balloon and a large balloon and tie them together. Then take a medium balloon and a small balloon and tie them together. Next, take a small balloon and a medium balloon and tie them together. Basically you should tie random sizes together in groups of two. We’ll take our groupings of two balloons and tie them together with another grouping of two balloons. This creates a “quad” that makes up our balloon garland!

Now that all of our balloons are inflated and tied together in groups of four, this next step is super quick! You take your first quad of balloons and fishing line and tie them up. Be sure to leave about a meter of fishing line at the end so you can tie it down. You wrap the fishing line around one of the balloons on the quad and tie it twice.

Next, take your second balloon square and slide it as close to the first quad as possible. When I say close, I mean squeeze them really close (it’ll almost feel like you’re popping them!). Then you loop the fishing line around a balloon and push it up firmly. They should be super tight to give a complete look. Please watch my video above if this doesn’t make sense! You will loop each quad onto the fishing line until you have your balloon garland as long as you want it.

Use glue dots to add extra small balloons if needed. You can also use masking tape or a low temperature glue gun. The low temp glue gun works really well and lasts the longest!

Our final step is attaching our balloon garland! Again, I like to tie our balloon garland to our stair railing or attic railing, but that doesn’t always work where I want our balloon garland. You can also tie your balloon garland to a command hook, leave the end hanging, or attach the other end to another command hook. It really just depends on the look you are going for!

Our how-to video

More tips and tricks here:

How to make a balloon garland – tutorial

Now that you have your balloon garland supplies, here is our tutorial. Hopefully this helps explain our simple balloon garland method easily! I’ve been making balloon garlands for about 4 years now, so I can whip them up pretty quickly.

I made an EXTRA long balloon garland for Madison’s birthday. Our new home has a 2 story great room so I wanted to hang down the garland from the 2nd story. That worked great! I didn’t need command hooks for this, since I could tie it to the railing and to a latch on our window. For this method I used fishing line to attach the balloons. You will definitely want an electric balloon pump to inflate your balloons.

Step 1 – Inflate the balloons

Blow up your balloons. Again, I use different sizes and colors. You’ll need roughly equal amounts of small and medium balloons, and then a couple of large balloons. After inflating them and before tying them off, I press them against my body while holding the opening and letting some air out. This gives me a longer “tail” to work with, and it also makes the balloon rounder vs. longer.

This is our electric pump – I squeeze the air out of the balloon to make the ends extra long and make the balloon rounder

Step 2 – Tie balloons together

Next we tie our balloons together. Of course, if you decide to go with more of a rainbow garland, you’ll want to keep all of your colors separate. If you want it more random, tie one of your colors together. I take a medium balloon and a large balloon and tie them together. Then take a medium balloon and a small balloon and tie them together. Next, take a small balloon and a medium balloon and tie them together. Basically you should tie random sizes together in groups of two.

We’ll take our groupings of two balloons and tie them together with another grouping of two balloons. This creates a “quad” that makes up our balloon garland!

here is our grouping two

here is our grouping of 4 (or a quad)

Step 3 – Thread balloons onto fishing line

Now that all of our balloons are inflated and tied together in groups of four, this next step is super quick! You take your first quad of balloons and fishing line and tie them up. Be sure to leave about a meter of fishing line at the end so you can tie it down. You will loop the fishing line around one of the balloons on the quad and tie it twice.

here is our finished garland for our daughters birthday!

Next, take your second balloon square and slide it as close to the first quad as possible. When I say close, I mean squeeze them really close (it’ll almost feel like you’re popping them!). Then you loop the fishing line around a balloon and push it up firmly. They should be super tight to give a complete look. Please watch my video above if this doesn’t make sense! You will loop each quad onto the fishing line until you have your balloon garland as long as you want it.

Step 4 – Add Small Balloons (Optional)

We didn’t do that with this balloon garland. We did it for our New Year’s Eve balloon garland (below). This one came with really small balloons so I used glue dots to add those. I knew I wouldn’t last very long or I would have used a low temp glue gun. You can also use tape. The low temp glue gun works really well and lasts the longest!

This was our balloon garland for New Year’s Eve. The girls loved popping the balloons with confetti for our countdown!

bench // olive tree // cushions

Step 5 – Tie the balloon garland together

Our final step is attaching our balloon garland! Again, I like to tie our balloon garland to our stair railing or attic railing, but that doesn’t always work where I want our balloon garland. You can also tie your balloon garland to a command hook, leave the end hanging, or attach the other end to another command hook. It really just depends on the look you want! For our New Year’s garland, I had a random nail on the wall, so I tied it to it!

frequently asked Questions

How many balloons do you need? – Of course it depends on the length of the balloon garland. But for the longer pink balloon garland above, we used 64 different sized balloons.

– Of course it depends on the length of the balloon garland. But for the longer pink balloon garland above, we used 64 different sized balloons. how long do they last – I’ve had balloon garlands for several weeks! You can definitely prepare them the day before your event or even longer.

– I’ve had balloon garlands for several weeks! How long will it take me? – If this is your first time making a balloon garland, allow at least an hour. Again, I made a bunch of these so I can make them in about 30 minutes. Your first garland will probably be very frustrating, but keep going and you’ll get better!

– If this is your first time making a balloon garland, allow at least an hour. Again, I made a bunch of these so I can make them in about 30 minutes. Your first garland will probably be very frustrating, but keep going and you’ll get better! How many balloons pop? – I rarely pop balloons when I inflate them surprisingly! I’d say I could lose 1-2 for each balloon garland, which isn’t bad!

– I rarely pop balloons when I inflate them surprisingly! I’d say I could lose 1-2 for each balloon garland, which isn’t bad! Do I need helium? – No! The great thing about balloon garlands is that no helium is required.

– No! The great thing about balloon garlands is that no helium is required. How far in advance can I make them? – It’s really nice to have a balloon garland as a party decoration because you can make it in advance. Although I’ve gotten really good with this method and it only takes me about 30 minutes, it’s still nice to make it a day or two in advance. The only downside is my kids end up trying to play with it!

– It’s really nice to have a balloon garland as a party decoration because you can make it in advance. Although I’ve gotten really good with this method and it only takes me about 30 minutes, it’s still nice to make it a day or two in advance. The only downside is my kids end up trying to play with it! How do I attach it to the wall? – Again, I mainly use command hooks. They seem to last the longest. I also use random things around the house if it works for my setup. I’ve tied the balloon garland to my stairs, closet knobs, a random leftover nail on the wall, or even a thumbtack! To keep your walls looking nice, I still recommend command hooks over any other hook.

– Again, I mainly use command hooks. They seem to last the longest. I also use random things around the house if it works for my setup. I’ve tied the balloon garland to my stairs, closet knobs, a random leftover nail on the wall, or even a thumbtack! To keep your walls looking nice, I still recommend command hooks over any other hook. What size balloon should I use? – I like to use different sizes with a few extra large balloons thrown in. 9″ to 24″ and everything in between!

method two

This is my original balloon garland method. I still like it, but the fishing line method is just so much easier.

Here are the materials you will need:

Balloon ribbon (I’ll talk more about that in a moment)

Low temperature glue gun

Balloons (I like 2-3 different colors depending on what look you’re going for)

Balloon Pump – I linked this to Amazon which costs about $20 but is worth it if you keep making balloon garlands!

Command hooks (or, if you don’t mind patching small holes, you can use thumbtacks)

balloon ribbon

My old method of creating balloon garlands was to literally pin them to the wall. I have a wall in our bonus room that I use when setting up party scenes. It really needs to be filled in because it’s full of holes! The girls would rip them off the wall too, so it was basically a disaster.

I discovered balloon tape while searching on Amazon. It’s basically just a roll of clear “tape” (it’s not sticky) with holes punched through it. Put your balloons through the holes. This will help create the base for your balloon garland.

Low temperature glue gun

This made a huge difference to my old balloon garland method! I used to glue the smaller balloons onto the larger balloons and it never lasted more than a day or two. You can use the low temperature glue gun to glue your smaller balloons onto the larger ones. You need to specifically look for the low temperature as the high temperatures will pop the balloons!

Assembling your balloon garland

For the base of my balloon garland, I used about 30 balloons, inflated to capacity. This is where your balloon pump comes in. Nobody wants to inflate 30 balloons alone!

I attached them to the balloon ribbon with two pinks, then one white and so on. I wanted the pink to stand out a bit more, so I used more pink.

When you receive your balloon tape, you will find that there are larger and smaller holes. I used the larger holes for this garland. I placed our larger balloons on top of every other large hole. This gives me room to actually tape the balloon tape to the wall without popping any balloons.

Once I have my base ready I glue the balloon tape to the wall. Again, you can use command hooks if you don’t want to leave holes.

If you tie a string to each end of the balloon garland, it will easily hang from the command hook. We patch our walls a lot (thanks toddlers) so I didn’t mind adding a few more items to the list.

add dimension

It looks a little sparse and sad, doesn’t it? This is where the smaller balloons come in to give it dimension.

Our next step is to add the smaller balloons for some dimension. This really makes your balloon garland “pop”. Ok, not really pop because that would be bad, but you know what I mean. I inflate more balloons of different sizes from medium to super small. Then I start randomly placing the smaller balloons where I think they look good and add a dot or two of glue.

I hold them against the large balloons for about 20 seconds until the glue sets. Keep doing this until you are happy with the look! You can also add greenery if it fits your party theme.

3 balloon sizes for this garland

Previous balloon garland photos

our NYE balloon garland

McKinlee’s Trolls themed party

Balloon Garland Inspiration

There’s some pretty intense balloon art out there, and these are all so beautiful! I love the addition of foil balloons for a little extra sparkle. Click on the links below to check out these talented artists!

Image via Instagram – The balloon girl

Image about balloon therapy

Image via Girly Gifts – Check out her shop for easy and beautiful DIY garland kits

This is such a cute set from The Happy Wish Company!

Other posts you might like

Science Theme Birthday Party // Pink Halloween Party // DIY Fringe Backdrop

Pin this photo for later!

I hope you found this balloon garland tutorial helpful! Balloons really do add so much to a party that is set up in an easy and inexpensive way. Let me know if you try any of these methods and what you think! Feel free to leave a question in the comments below, or DM me on Instagram!

How far in advance can I start my balloon tower?

by Amy

(Mililani, HI)

How far in advance can I inflate the balloons?

I want to make 2 balloon towers that are about 5′ tall for my son’s birthday. The party starts at 5pm and ends at 9pm. How early can I inflate the balloons and build the tower?

REPLY

Hello Amy,

I assume you are talking about air-filled balloon columns (or towers as you called them).

Some professionals inflate their air filled balloons up to 3 weeks before the event, but I would suggest you inflate them a maximum of 5 days in advance.

Store the inflated balloons in a large, clean plastic bag that fits tightly over the balloons. Otherwise the balloons will oxidize and lose their shiny surface.

Large garbage bags (55 gallon clear drum bags) will do the job just fine.

Happy birthday to your son.

Margit

If you’re planning a fancy party with LOTS of balloons, our balloon arch calculator will help you calculate the number of balloons for an arch – the perfect one! 🎈

Learn how to make a balloon arch with just the right number of balloons: read on to learn about the different types of arch and calculate how many balloons you need!

Here you learn:

Home Balloon Arches Balloon Arch Calculator

Balloon Arch Calculator: How Many Balloons for an Arch or Garland?

The first thing to enter into your balloon arch calculator is the total length of the balloon arch you are planning. This will determine the number of balloons you will need for your arch.

How do you get the total length? Continue reading! Or jump down for a copy of my free spreadsheet that will do the math for you.

By the way, you can also use this guide if you want to know how many balloons you need for a balloon garland.

If you make a purchase through a link on my site, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I believe have good value (affiliate disclosure).

Do you find this balloon arch calculator helpful? Pin it for later or share with a friend!

To determine the size of the balloon arch you want to build, measure the height and width of the area where it will appear.

Use the following calculations to find the approximate overall length of your arc line or frame.

Fig. 1

To make an arch that is wider than it is high:

Width + height = approximate total length.

Fig. 2

For an arc of equal height and width:

(1.5 x height) + width = approximate total length.

Fig. 3

For an arch taller than it is wide:

(2 x height) + width = approximate total length.

Use these charts to calculate the total length of your balloon arch as a function of its height and width.

Next you want to calculate how many balloons you need. This depends on the type of balloon arch or garland you have in mind and the size of the balloons.

Balloon Arch Calculator: Single tier arch or garland

For a String of Pearls arch (i.e. a floating arch with a single row of balloons) you will need approximately 3 x 11″ balloons per meter (equivalent to 0.91 x 11″ balloons per foot).

Example: Let’s say your arch is 6 m (20′) wide and 6.7 m (22′) high. Since your arch is taller than it is wide, use formula 3 from above to calculate arch length:

(2 x 6.7m) + 6.0m = 13.4m + 6.0m = 19.4m

So your arch is about 20m long, which means you will need 60 x 11 inch balloons (20m x 3 balloons per meter).

How many balloons do you need for a clustered arch or garland?

If the length of the balloon arch or balloon garland and the diameter of the balloons are in the same units (both in ft, in, m, cm, mm ), you can use this formula for an arch with groups of 4 balloons:

Divide the diameter of the balloon by the length of the arch and multiply by 4.8 to get the number of balloons needed (thanks to Sean O’Kelly of balloondecor.com.au for sharing this formula with our readers ).

arc length (unit)

——————————— x 4.8 = number of balloons

Balloon diameter (same unit)

Example:

You want to build an arch that is 6.1 m (20′) wide and 3.7 m (12′) high. They plan to use 11 inch (28 cm diameter) balloons. Since your arch is wider than it is tall, formula 1 applies from above. We calculate everything in cm to stay with the same unit.

Arch length: 610cm + 370cm = 980cm

Number of balloons: 980cm / 28cm * 4.8 = 168 balloons

Number of 4 balloon clusters: 168 / 4 = 42

Calculating everything in feet and inches, here’s an easier way to estimate the number of balloons you’ll need for a 4 balloon per cluster arch…

5 inch balloons = 12 per foot

9 inch balloons = 8 per foot

11 inch balloons = 6 per foot

14 inch balloons = 4 per foot

16 inch balloons = 4 per foot

Does all those numbers and formulas make your head spin? No fear. I have calculated the number of balloons for different arch or garland lengths for you.

Balloon Arch / Garland Chart

Do you find this table helpful? Pin it for later or share it with a friend.

Would you like to create beautiful balloon arches or garlands yourself, easily and at an affordable price? Check out my review of the top five DIY balloon arch kits.

Free balloon arch calculator for you

What if you could simply enter the width and height of your arch and the total arch length and number of balloons would be “automatically” calculated for you? This is exactly what my balloon arch calculator spreadsheet does. Check out the short demo below, then grab your free copy.

Enter your name and email address NOW to receive your free copy:

A balloon business can be a profitable venture with little overhead or start-up costs. While you can open a storefront, it is not required. You can operate very successfully from home. To get your balloon business off the ground, you need a few essential pieces of equipment.

Balloon company start-up kit

Balloons are the obvious inventory items. But don’t forget string, weights and glue. Your inventory should be bought from a wholesale store and not another store that has already raised the price, as this will significantly reduce your start-up costs. Find wholesalers online or in the phone book; Browse around to find the best prices. Another place to find a supplier is to attend the annual World Balloon Convention, where you can hone your skills and meet others from across the balloon industry.

delivery vehicle

Inflated balloons take up a lot of space, and to get them to your customers you need a large vehicle. You may also need to transport your inflation tanks. Many balloon operators use a large van or SUV with the rear seats removed. Your vehicle should have a sign with your phone number on the side so that it can also be used as an advertising medium. The sign can be professionally painted or, as a cheaper alternative, be a magnetic stick-on sign. In addition, you must insure the vehicle professionally.

Advertising Materials

In order for your business to be successful and generate customers, you must have some form of advertising. Examples of balloon company advertising include business cards, a professional website, phone book listings, and flyers. You can also attract customers with in-person visits to businesses that can use balloons, such as: B. car parks, banks and schools. Some cities, such as Houston, have enacted laws banning the release of outdoor balloons in the name of environmental protection, the Houston Chronicle reports. So consult your local ordinances before looking for business customers.

office equipment

Your business, whether it’s a home or a business, needs office equipment to function. The first and most important thing is a phone. Your business phone number should be a mobile number or forwarded to your mobile phone. This allows you to deliver and take phone orders at the same time. You will definitely need an internet-connected computer with a printer. This allows you to track inventory and financial data, process credit card orders, and print receipts. Incorporate some sort of accounting software into your balloon business plan to automate bookkeeping and make tax return filing much easier.

helium tank