Balloons & Decorating
Balloon and Decorating Guides
These guides cover the decorating side of a party: how many balloons a garland needs per foot and how to build it on a strip, when to choose foil or latex and how long each floats, how to fill foil balloons without helium, how to hang banners without peeling paint, and how to stretch spider web so it looks wispy instead of lumpy. Use the balloon arch calculator with the arch guide to turn your garland length into a balloon count by size.
Balloons & Decorating
Foil vs Latex Balloons: Float Time, Helium, Air-Fill and Reuse
Balloons & Decorating
How to Inflate Foil Balloons Without Helium (Straw, Pump, Hanging)
Balloons & Decorating
How to Hang Party Banners and Garlands Without Damaging Walls
Balloons & Decorating
How to Stretch Spider Web Decoration Indoors and Out
What you'll learn
- Balloon garland math: a rule of thumb of about 10 to 14 mixed-size balloons per foot, and how a clear arch strip holds them.
- Foil vs latex: with helium, an untreated 11–12 in latex balloon typically floats for about 8 to 12 hours, while foil balloons commonly float for several days or more. Neither floats on air.
- Air-filling foil balloons: using a straw or pump in the self-sealing valve and stopping at about 80–90% full.
- Hanging without damage: which hooks and tapes suit painted drywall, and where to skip adhesives.
- Spider web: stretching from a small tuft so the stated coverage actually reaches the corners.
Where to start
| If you want to… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Build a balloon arch or garland | Balloon arch strip guide |
| Decide between foil and latex balloons | Foil vs latex balloons |
| Fill foil balloons with air, no helium | How to inflate foil balloons without helium |
| Hang a banner on painted walls | How to hang banners without damaging walls |
| Decorate for Halloween with fake web | How to stretch spider web decoration |
Plan quantities before you shop
The balloon arch calculator takes your arch or garland length in feet and the balloon sizes you want, and returns a balloon count by size, strip length and glue dots. Our arch strip kit includes about 50 ft of strip and 300 glue dots, so you can compare the calculator's numbers with one kit before you order.
The products behind these guides
The guides use the balloons and decorations we sell as worked examples: 12 in latex balloons with ribbon, single foil balloons from 22 to 30 in with self-sealing valves, felt and paper pennant banners, and a stretch spider web with two plastic spiders. You can browse them in balloons and garland supplies and banners, garlands and decorations.
Common mistakes these guides help you avoid
- Filling helium latex balloons the night before, so they sag by the party.
- Overfilling a foil balloon until a seam splits.
- Expecting an air-filled foil balloon to float.
- Pressing strong tape onto fresh paint and pulling paint off afterward.
- Hanging a spider web in thick clumps, which uses it up before the corners are covered.
A few safety basics apply throughout: keep uninflated and broken balloons away from young children, keep helium foil balloons outdoors tied to a weight and away from power lines, and keep spider web away from candles and heat.
Frequently asked questions
How many balloons do I need per foot of garland?
A common rule of thumb is 10 to 14 mixed-size balloons per foot for a full garland. The balloon arch calculator gives a count by balloon size for your length.
How long do helium balloons float?
As a planning figure, an untreated 11–12 in latex balloon floats for about 8 to 12 hours, while foil balloons commonly float for several days to a week or more.
Can I fill foil balloons without helium?
Yes. Use a straw or pump in the self-sealing valve and fill to about 80–90%. The balloon won't float, so hang it or tape it in place.
How do I hang a banner without damaging paint?
On cured, painted drywall, removable adhesive hooks rated above the banner's weight are the safest option, and low-tack painter's tape suits very light flags for a short time.