How To Inflate A Helium Balloon (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Inflate a Helium Balloon PDF download Download Article Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 7, 2025 References

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  • Using a Helium Tank
    • |
  • Inflating a Latex Balloon
    • |
  • Blowing up a Foil Balloon
    • |
  • Arranging the Balloons
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 159,062 times. Learn more...

Helium balloons are nice decorations for special occasions like birthdays and other parties, since they float ceremoniously instead of falling to the ground. Filling balloons yourself gives you a few advantages. It’s easier to transport uninflated balloons to a party location. You can bring the tank and unfilled balloons to fill up onsite before your party, thereby also ensuring that they last long enough! Also, it’s typically cheaper for you to inflate them yourself.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 4:

Using a Helium Tank

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  1. Step 1 Determine how much helium you’ll need. 1 Determine how much helium you’ll need. Multiply the amount of cubic feet of helium required for your balloon size by the amount of balloons you want to fill. Since there are various balloon sizes and helium tank sizes, you may want to consult an online chart to figure out the tank size you want.
    • For example, a standard-sized balloon, eleven inches in size, requires .50 cu. ft. of helium. A 50 cu. ft. helium tank can therefore fill 100 eleven-inch balloons, because .50 (amount of cu. ft. required per balloon) x 100 (amount of balloons desired) = 50 (size of tank in cu. ft.).
  2. Step 2 Obtain a helium tank. 2 Obtain a helium tank. You can buy these or rent them from party supply stores. If you will be blowing up lots of helium balloons often, consider buying one. But if this is a one-time thing, rent one instead. Party stores typically offer helium tanks you can rent for up to three days. You may be able to negotiate a longer time frame, or you could simply go to one of the stores which offer longer-term rentals.[1]
    • Purchasing a tank with between eight and fourteen cubic feet of helium in it costs around $40 to $60. Renting a helium tank ranges from about $25 for 14 cubic feet of helium up to a little over $200 for 291 cubic feet of helium (enough to fill about 525 eleven-inch balloons).
    • Return the item to the store by the time agreed upon when you rented it, so that you don’t get charged an extra fee. A safety deposit may be required and late returns may result in a dock from your deposit.
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  3. Step 3 Decide when to fill the balloons. 3 Decide when to fill the balloons. How long your balloons stay afloat can vary based on temperature, humidity and altitude. In general, foil or “Mylar” balloons stay suspended in the air between two and fourteen days, whereas latex versions stay afloat for four to sixteen hours.
  4. Step 4 Place the balloon valve over the helium tank nozzle. 4 Place the balloon valve over the helium tank nozzle. Rotate the inflator onto the nozzle by turning the inflator clockwise as you face the tank.[2] Continue to screw on the inflator until it’s tightly attached.[3]
  5. Step 5 Use the correct adaptor. 5 Use the correct adaptor. For latex balloons, attach the larger, cone-shaped adapter. For foil balloons, attach the smaller, screw-shaped adapter at the tip of the latex adapter. Make sure the appropriate adapter is connected to the inflator.[4]
  6. Step 6 Open the release. 6 Open the release. The tank should have a release knob that looks similar to the faucet handle for a garden hose. Turn the knob counter-clockwise.[5]
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Part 2 Part 2 of 4:

Inflating a Latex Balloon

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  1. Step 1 Attach the balloon to the nozzle and release the helium. 1 Attach the balloon to the nozzle and release the helium. Roll the mouth of the balloon a bit down on the nozzle. While holding the end of the balloon onto the nozzle with one hand, use your other hand to press down on the nozzle to release the helium. The balloon will inflate quickly, so be ready to remove it.[6]
    • If nothing happens when you press down on the nozzle, try activating the helium by pressing upward on the nozzle instead.
    • Don’t overfill the balloon. Latex balloons should have a round shape when inflated. Balloons shaped like pears or light bulbs are overinflated and more likely to burst. They also use up more helium, so that you will get less filled balloons.
  2. Step 2 Remove the balloon. 2 Remove the balloon. Gradually let up on the nozzle as the balloon starts to get full. Pinch the end of the balloon and slowly take it off of the valve. Tie a tight knot in the neck of the balloon.[7]
  3. Step 3 Attach ribbon, if desired. 3 Attach ribbon, if desired. Take a piece of ribbon and place it around the neck of the balloon, above the knot. If you want to curl the shorter end of the ribbon, leave some ribbon hanging on that end. The other end should remain long. Tie a knot in the ribbon.[8]
    • Tying the ribbon at the neck of the balloon, instead of below the knot, will give the helium extra security from leakage so that your balloon remains afloat longer.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 4:

Blowing up a Foil Balloon

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  1. Step 1 Fill the balloon through its valve. 1 Fill the balloon through its valve. Locate the opening on the tab located at the “tail” end of the balloon. Slip the valve over the nozzle adapter until it fits tightly on. Firmly hold the balloon around the adapter and press the nozzle.[9]
    • The balloon is finished inflating when most of the wrinkles have disappeared. Foil balloons don’t expand, so there will be some wrinkles. They will pop if you overinflate them.
  2. Step 2 Secure the flap. 2 Secure the flap. Foil balloons seal automatically, so all you have to do is pinch the valve flat. Don’t tie a ribbon around the valve or neck of the balloon. This can result in air leakage.[10]
  3. Step 3 Add a long ribbon. 3 Add a long ribbon. Make sure to put it through the tab or hole below the balloon’s valve. Make the ribbon long on one side and short on the other as you tie the knot. Afterwards, you can curl the ribbon and add a sandbag.[11]
  4. Step 4 Reuse the balloons if desired. 4 Reuse the balloons if desired. Push a long straw through the opening of the balloon. Press down carefully until all of the air has left the balloon. Fold the balloon without creasing it, and store it.
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Part 4 Part 4 of 4:

Arranging the Balloons

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  1. Step 1 Choose a ribbon color and style. 1 Choose a ribbon color and style. A good length for balloon ribbons is 48 to 57 inches (120 to 140 cm) per balloon.[12] You can match the ribbon color to the balloon color, or opt for a neutral like ivory or white. Formal occasions like weddings and anniversaries generally use the latter.
  2. Step 2 Curl ribbon with scissors, if desired. 2 Curl ribbon with scissors, if desired. Pinch the scissor blade against the dull side of the ribbon with one hand. With the other hand, pull the length of the ribbon tautly across the scissor blade in one long stroke. Repeat if the ribbon doesn’t curl on the first attempt.
  3. Step 3 Set up the balloons individually or in bunches. 3 Set up the balloons individually or in bunches. Placing balloons in very large or small bunches may reduce their impact. Consider arranging balloons in bunches the size of five to eight balloons apiece.
    • You may want to mix balloon colors, or even use bunches that contain both foil and helium balloons.
  4. Step 4 Buy or make balloon weights. 4 Buy or make balloon weights. Buy balloon weights at party stores or discount store retailers. To make balloon weights, pour sand onto a sheet of mylar paper and secure it with curled ribbon.[13]
    • For making your own balloon weights, cut sheets of metallic paper down to twelve inches by twelve inches. One cupful of sand should support up to six balloons.
    • If you’re purchasing balloon weights at a party supply store, an employee should be able to tell you how many balloons their weights can hold. Alternately, consult a helium height and weight chart for balloons.[14]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Can I use materials from home to create a floating balloon? Community Answer Community Answer Yes! You can put baking soda in the balloon, and vinegar in an empty water bottle. Put the mouth of the balloon over the top of the water bottle and turn the water bottle upside-down. Shake it up a little bit and then turn the water bottle right side up again. You should see the balloon inflating. Once the balloon is as big as you'd like it to be, pull it off of the water bottle and tie it in a knot. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 28 Helpful 13
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Tips

  • Foil balloons may look deflated if the air is cold. They’ll resume their normal state in warm air.[15] Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Familiarize yourself with the instructions and warnings that come with the particular helium tank you’re using. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Keep balloons secured with ribbon or string and tied down to a weight at all times. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Don’t release helium-filled balloons into the air. They can be a danger to animals, short-circuit power lines, and pose environmental problems. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
  • When you’re finished filling balloons, turn off the valve on the tank and release the extra air in the nozzle. Don’t transport the helium container with the adapter on.[16] Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • Balloons can burst in extreme heat.[17] Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
  • Do not inhale helium. It can pose a potentially serious and even fatal risk to your health.[18] Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/helium
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TffJ5aWg6Xg&feature=youtu.be&t=19
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAuE9B9D5gI&feature=youtu.be&t=12
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TffJ5aWg6Xg&feature=youtu.be&t=33
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TffJ5aWg6Xg&feature=youtu.be&t=53
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAuE9B9D5gI&feature=youtu.be&t=32
  7. ↑ http://www.balloontime.com/how-to/filling-and-float-time/
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvdC_7yTg64&feature=youtu.be&t=7
  9. ↑ https://www.birthdayinabox.com/pages/how-to-inflate-a-helium-balloon
More References (9)
  1. ↑ https://www.birthdayinabox.com/pages/how-to-inflate-a-helium-balloon
  2. ↑ https://www.birthdayinabox.com/pages/how-to-inflate-a-helium-balloon
  3. ↑ http://www.balloontime.com/how-to/filling-and-float-time/
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0zVlNBTxOE&feature=youtu.be&t=29
  5. ↑ http://www.balloons.com/HeliumWeightChart.pdf
  6. ↑ https://www.birthdayinabox.com/pages/how-to-inflate-a-helium-balloon
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TffJ5aWg6Xg&feature=youtu.be&t=136
  8. ↑ https://www.birthdayinabox.com/pages/how-to-inflate-a-helium-balloon
  9. ↑ http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/760299

About This Article

wikiHow Staff Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 159,062 times. 25 votes - 71% Co-authors: 11 Updated: May 7, 2025 Views: 159,062 Categories: Balloon Crafts Article SummaryX

To inflate a foil balloon with helium, start by setting up the tank so the balloon valve is over the nozzle, with the screw-shaped foil adapter attached to the valve. Then, open the tank’s release knob to start the flow of helium. Next, slip the opening of your balloon over the tank’s adapter so it fits tightly. When you’ve got a good seal, hold the balloon and press the nozzle to fill it with helium. As soon as most of the wrinkles on the balloon’s surface disappear, release the nozzle, remove the balloon, and pinch the opening flat to seal it. To learn how to inflate a latex balloon with helium, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. wikiHow Staff Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer 25 votes - 71% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 11 Updated: May 7, 2025 Views: 159,062

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