The bigger they are
The harder they fall. That may apply to some things in life but not balloons. Usually, the smaller the balloon the shorter the lifespan. It is just the way it goes in the balloon world. There is no hard or fast rule on how long individual balloons will last.
The longevity of a helium balloon depends upon the balloon’s material and size as well as the temperature at which it is kept. Balloons last longer when kept in cool environments, because the air inside escapes more slowly. Moreover, larger and foil balloons last longer than small and latex ones.
When you are planning a party or special event, you do need to know approximately how long the balloon style will last. That way you can get the right balloons to make sure the festive time is perfect.
To find out how long helium balloons last, just continue to read our article. it has that information and more. This is important information to know when you are planning a party for a loved one.
Comparison Chart
There are two types of helium balloons worth noting and their inflation time can be seen and compared in the following chart:
| Size | Non air-conditioned room | Air-conditioned room | Outside |
| Latex helium | |||
| 11-inch size | up to 8 hours | up to 10 hours | up to 7 hours |
| 36-inch size | 12 to 24 hours | 14 to 60 hours | 12 to 36 hours |
| Helium Foil | |||
| 18 to 25 inches | 12 to 24 hours | 12 to 48 hours | up to 10 hours |
| 26 to 39 inches | 18 to 48 hours | 12 hours to 5 days | 10 to 24 hours |
| 39+ inches | 12 hours to 3 days | 1 to 7 days | 10 to 24 hours |
All times are estimates and your results may differ. A lot will depend on the construction materials of the balloons. the quality of the material is important if you want many of these balloons to last a long time.
The factors involved:
As you can see some balloons can last for several days if all the conditions are just right. ideal conditions are not the gauge to go by but simply give you a ball park figure or two to estimate how long your balloons will last.
If you want the balloons to last through the party, the rule of thumb is to inflate them a few hours before the party is to begin. That way you are guaranteed of having inflated balloons until the event is over.
That is not always possible so here are the conditions you should meet if you want the balloons to remain inflated until your party is over:
- Size matters- go for the larger ones as they will last a lot longer than the smaller ones will
- Construction material- latex does not last as long as foil material.
- Special treatment- there is a substance you can treat the balloons called Hi-Float. This substance helps the balloons last 2 to 4 times longer than normal
- Room temperatures- the environment plays a part in the lifespan of a helium balloon. colder rooms are better than both warm rooms and the outside air
- The balloon’s shape- believe it or not, the round balloons last longer than any other shape
- Tight seals- how well you seal the balloon will be a major factor in the longevity of the inflation. If you go to loose, do not expect the balloons to stay inflated for very long
How do you make helium balloons last longer?
One way to do this is to find that Hi-Float treatment and inject it into your balloons with it. This substance is said to have the balloons last 2 to 4 times longer than their regular inflation time. For example, you can coat a balloon expected to last only 7 hours and you should get 14 to 28 hours of inflation.
However, you have to give this non-toxic chemical some time to dry before it will work properly. The instructions on how to use this chemical should be on the package.
Then you need to watch the ambient temperature in the room you are placing the balloons. If the room is warm then do not get a long life out of them, relatively speaking of course.
Colder rooms help the balloons stay inflated longer and give more life to the party and the after party time. As an added precaution do not let your pets enter the rooms where the balloons are. Pet claws can do some devastating work on inflated balloons as will sharp teeth.
A fourth way to have balloons last longer would be to keep them out of the sunlight. Close the curtains if you can, lower the thermostat, and keep the room nice and cool. Heat and sunlight are the mortal enemies and you need to keep the room at a constant cool temperature for them to last.
The next way to help the balloons last longer is to store them properly. if you are going to use them for another special event the next day, keeping them covered with plastic bags will help the balloons stay inflated.
When you put the balloons in these bags or the special balloon bags some companies make, do not tighten them so tight that the balloons will pop.
Will helium balloons deflate overnight?
Yes, they can and there is a legitimate reason for this process to take place. it seems that helium particles are smaller than the spaces in the balloon material. With that size difference, the helium particles slip out as time goes on. This is the process that has taken place when you see a flat balloon the next morning.
You can leave the balloons in a car overnight but the outside temperature and the temperature in your car need to be on the cool side if you expect to find them inflated in the morning.
Then if the room, car, or other enclosed area is hot, expect the balloons to deflate at even a faster rate. the hotter it gets in those enclosed spaces the faster the helium will escape. However, heat is not the only source for deflating balloons.
You do not want to make the room too cold either. Too cool of a temperature will also shorten the balloon’s lifespan. Air conditioned rooms do help the longevity of the balloons but that temperature needs to be constant and it must not get too cold inside the room.
How long does a 12-inch helium balloon last?
The best that can be done is to provide you with an estimate. With all the factors that come into play, there can be no hard and fast set time given. For balloons measuring at 12 inches in size, you are looking at a time frame somewhere between 8 to 12 hours.
Of course, that time frame is only an estimate and with the other conditions involved, you may get less than 8 or you might be lucky and get more than 12. To help get the most out of the balloons you bought, follow the suggestions above for extending their lifespan.
Or buy some Hi Float chemical and add it to your balloons to get between 16 or 32 hours to 24 to 48 hours of life out of those balloons. Most special occasions come once a year and it may be worth spending the extra money to have the balloons last a little bit longer.
If you see the balloons wilting before the scheduled event, you can try moving them closer to the heat. The heat will cause the helium to expand again and re-float the balloons.
The key to floating helium balloons is to make sure you put the right amount of helium inside. Too little helium means the balloons won’t float at all.
How much helium do balloons need to float
This handy little chart will give you approximate measures of helium you need to float your balloons. If you think they are too little or too great make adjustments as you see fit.
| Latex balloon size | Cubic feet of helium |
| 7-inch balloons | 0.15 |
| 9-inch | 0.27 |
| 10-inch | 0.30 |
| 11-inch | 0.50 |
| 12-inch | 0.52 |
| 14-inch | 1 cubic foot |
| 16-inch | 1.25 |
| 20-inch | 2.42 |
| 36-inch | 14.10 |
Foil balloons may be similar to those measurements but double-check to make sure. Once you know the size of balloon you want, you can figure out how much helium you need to buy.
How much do helium balloons cost?
Different stores will have different prices and the following figures are meant to just give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay,
- Latex balloons- depending on the store can cost up to $1 each
- Foil helium balloons- same condition and their price ranges between $1 to $4
- Giant foil helium balloons- expect to pay more for the larger size, between $7 to $15 per balloon
Some final words
Keeping your balloons inflated is not going to be difficult with the information contained in this article. Once you take a little care in handling the balloons you bought, you can expect them to last through the night if not longer.
If you need them to last a very long time, use some Hi Float to help keep the balloons up in the air.
