How Long Do Helium Balloons Last?
Shortest Answer:
Latex Balloons (or “regular balloons” as most people call them): 8-12 hours.
Foil Balloons: 3-5 days.
Bubble Balloons: 2-4 weeks.
Long Answer:
Helium Balloons are tricky when it comes to how much and how long they can hold helium. The easiest way to determine this is by finding out what kind of balloons you have.
Typically, there are 3 types of helium balloons: Latex, Foil, and Bubble. If the balloons are big enough, all 3 types of balloons are helium grade.
The only reason a balloon isn’t helium grade is if the balloon is too small in volume.
Latex or the traditional teardrop-shaped balloon (9 inches to 12 inches) could last for 8 – 10 hours and 8 – 12 hours, respectively. It’s worth noting that you have the option to add Hi-Float to your latex balloons so that it can pro-long latex balloons’ float time.
Foil or Microfoil balloons (or Mylar balloons) could stay afloat for 2 – 5 days, but in our experience, they will last for weeks. We always tell our customers to expect it to last 2 - 5 days and treat anything extra as a bonus.
Bubble balloons look like “plastic” balloons and are made to hold helium for 2-4 weeks. Bubble balloons are typically clear and see-through with secondary balloon designs in them.
Other Variables to Consider:
When helium balloons deflate quickly, a lot of people assume it’s because it is “low quality”. However, there are a lot of variables that come into play.
One important factor to consider is the environment where the balloons will be stored or displayed.
Under the heat of the sun, latex balloons could only last for about 4 to 5 hours while up to 24 hours for foil balloons. This is because helium escapes faster in warmer weather. Balloons may also pop if you leave them in a hot place for too long, such as inside the car on a hot summer day.
Temperature also plays a big factor when it comes to containing helium molecules. All molecules expand when hot and shrink when cold. This becomes a problem during the winter because the sudden change from a heated vehicle to room temperature will pop almost any balloon, no matter the quality.
Balloons might shrink when exposed to extremely cold temperatures; however, once they return to room temperature, the helium inside will expand, and your balloons will regain their original appearance!
While generally not an issue, the Size, Shape, Quality, and Accessories of balloons could greatly affect the float time of helium-filled balloons.
Balloons shaped in numbers, letters, or characters must be at least 24 inches or larger to float. Confetti-filled latex balloons have a shorter float time than standard latex balloons because of the paperweight added.
While it might be tempting to buy inexpensive balloons from online platforms like Amazon, we advise against it based on our experience.
Many customers bring in their balloons to inflate and we've found that many balloons purchased from Amazon can be defective or may not meet the helium-grade standards advertised. For a reliable and high-quality experience, we recommend exploring other options.
Getting the Most out of Your Helium:
There are several tips to prolong the float time of helium-filled balloons which includes using high-quality products, inflating your balloons as close to your event time as possible, and storing the balloons at a constant temperature.
As mentioned earlier, a sure way to extend latex balloons’ float time is to add a gel called Hi-Float by coating the inside of the balloon creating a membrane to prevent helium from escaping so quickly.
With Hi-Float, your balloons should last twice as long as the standard time. Hi Float can only be applied to latex balloons.
Amy’s Solutions:
At Amy’s, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best balloons and service. Whenever possible, we always recommend customers pick up their balloons on the day of their event to ensure top quality and maximum helium.
However, sometimes customers are hosting events hours away from the city. In this case, we always recommend customers purchase our portable helium tanks so they can have perfect balloons at their events!
You're more than welcome to bring your own balloons, and we'll be happy to provide helium inflation for a fee based on the size of the balloons. Alternatively, you can also choose from our wide selection of balloons available for purchase.
We're here to help make your celebration as vibrant and delightful as possible!
