How long do balloon arches last

Here, we explore some of the factors affecting the life expectancy of latex balloons.

Helium-filled latex balloons

When filled with helium, an 11 inch latex balloon will generally float for between 18-24 hours, however if your balloon has a metallic or pearl finish, its average flying time reduces to 16-18 hours.

You can extend the flying time of your helium-filled latex balloons quite significantly by treating the un-inflated balloon with a product called ULTRA HI-FLOAT. HI-FLOAT contains a water-soluble plastic, which dries inside the balloon to form a coating which helps to retain the helium molecules.

Air-filled latex balloons

Air-filled latex balloons do not float, however, they have the advantage of generally having a longer life than helium-filled balloons. Air-filled balloons can last several days, even weeks, in the right conditions.

Exposure to ultraviolet light and air

Latex balloons are made from pure latex rubber, a natural substance which is biodegradable. As soon as a latex balloon is exposed to daylight or air, the countdown on the balloon's life begins, no matter whether or not the balloon is inflated. This is why it is important to store un-inflated balloons in an air-tight container or bag, which in turn should be kept in a drawer, cupboard or other darkened environment.

Once a latex balloon has been inflated, whether with air or helium, the balloon will slowly start to biodegrade.

Qualatex, the leading balloon brand, say their latex balloons biodegrade at approximately the same rate as an oak leaf, which takes about a year.

About the author

Melanie Allen is a balloon artist and the owner of Balloon Artworks, the Derbyshire-based balloon business specializing in high-quality balloon modelling and balloon decoration for parties, weddings and corporate events.

If you are wondering can you make a balloon garland the night before your party or special event you have come to the right place. The short answer is yes. Read on for the more detailed answer to lots of common questions about making balloon garlands, and how long they last.

Balloons are a simple way to bring a lot 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 other event.

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

(This post probably contains affiliate links. See the disclosure policy for more information. 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. That’s the best time to make it if you have the time, as the inflated balloons will still be new and glossy looking as well. Making the balloon garland the day before the party is great because it will take away the stress of trying to decorate on the actual day of the party.

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

Balloon garlands have become so popular over the last couple of years and are a very popular party decoration and photo backdrop. They look stunning and really add the wow factor to any party area or space. It’s the perfect way to easily transform an area into a party zone. They are also a great talking point. Your party guests will be amazed at how clever and creative you are.

Balloon garlands can make a big impact on the look of your party for not too much time outlay 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 balloons used in the garland.

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

How to make balloon garland last longer

To make your balloon garland last longer, store it in a cool dry area as close to the party time as possible. If your party is inside, you can definitely set it up beforehand. Whereas if you are decorating outside with the balloon garland, it would be best to move the garland outside closer to the start time of the party.

If you are planning on adding fresh flowers, sprigs of greenery, photos, ribbons to your garland – it’s 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 best when they are new and glossy looking, so for this reason you want to use them within 2-3 days of the party.

Some people have been known to make them a couple of weeks in advance and store the balloons in a large clean plastic bag. I don’t recommend doing this. I believe it’s best to make it closer to the time of your party so that your balloons still have their nice shiny surface. In my opinion, the night before is perfect if that is achievable for you.

The good news is that balloon garlands don’t take too long to make so you can do them closer to the day of your event. It’s a good idea to get everything planned and set up a few days before to make sure that you will have all the supplies that you need.

How long will balloon garland last outside

Balloons don’t last as long outside because of the heat and humidity or wind and rain. Even too much breeze can make your balloons pop. The weather can contribute to the biodegrading of the latex material of the balloon and it won’t last as long as if it was stored inside.

Therefore, if you are making a balloon garland in advance, it’s a good idea to store it inside until closer to the time of your party or event. It’s best to move it outside right 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 are blowing up the balloons.

If you are blowing up each individual balloon by mouth, it will take a long while 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, my recommendation is to invest in a balloon hand pump at a minimum. Some balloon garland kits come with one of these. If yours doesn’t, you can find one right here.

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

Once the balloons are all blown up, it can only takes around 20 minutes to make an average size balloon garland.

Blowing up the balloons is definitely the most time-consuming part. For example, For the most of my balloon arches that span half of our door, I use around 100 balloons. So blowing up that many balloons with your mouth, will leave you out of breath and over it! 

Keep in mind that your first balloon arch / garland will take you the longest. Once you’ve created one, you’ll know what you’re doing and it will take considerably less time the next one you make.

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’ll need. Some might pop. Some might be too big or small for the look you want with your garland, as you’ll want various sizes for your arrangement. You’ll also most likely want to add a few more in once you’ve hung it up.

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

Lots of different sizes of balloons give a balloon garland more interest and visual appeal. It will look great with a combination of larger balloons as well as smaller balloons. You don’t need special size balloons for this. Just blow up regular latex balloons of different sizes per color. It will look great. Trust your judgement 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 grab one like the strip in the picture below. It is much easier to work with when it has two holes per balloon. It makes the balloon a lot more secure. (Don’t get the strips with the one hole only).

And have fun! Balloon garlands are really fun to make and you’ll be so pleased with yourself when you see the final result.

Buy or DIY Balloon Garland

My number one advice for a beautiful party on a budget is to DIY as much of it as possible at home, so I knew that learning how to make a balloon garland would be quite cost-effective. The cost of a DIY balloon garland is much more affordable than you think.

However, if you don’t have enough time or energy to make one or you’d just like to concentrate on other things for your birthday parties or special events, then definitely buy one pre-made from a local party business.

What do you need to make 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 that you will need.

Grab a few extra balloons just in case some pop. To be honest, I often buy double the balloons than what I think I will actually need. The extra balloons just do not go astray.

I often need a few more in the garland, and if I have any extra balloons left, I’ll use them to decorate other areas. Since they are in the same color scheme as the garland, they look great in smaller arrangements too.

If sourcing your own balloons, you will need to get a balloon strip to attach your balloons.

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

How to Hang your Balloon Garland

Just a quick side note: A balloon garland, like any other balloon decoration without helium, doesn’t float. It must be hung on the wall or anchored somewhere.

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

To attach to the hooks, you may use fishing line or clear zip ties strung through the holes in the decoration strip. You could also use curling ribbon.

I love a balloon garland with greenery. It is my favorite way to add something a little extra to the balloon party decor!

Step by Step Instructions

Do you want to learn how to make your own balloon garland at home? It’s a lot easier than you’d think! Check out this step-by-step instructions tutorial video below for some great pro tips.

If you want to make a balloon garland the night before, this is totally achievable and will not affect the look of your balloon garland. It will look just as fresh as if you made it an hour before the party started. Thanks for reading this article. Have fun decorating your special event.

How far ahead can I make a balloon arch?

Will a balloon arch last over night?

How long do air

Can I make a balloon arch 2 days before?