If Party City was your go-to for getting helium balloons for cheaper birthdays, graduation parties, and other occasions, you might be wondering what your next go-to option should be now that most of their stores are closed.
To help you fill the void (and those balloons), we checked pricing for helium balloons at Michaels, Five Below, Dollar Tree, Target, and even Walgreens, now that they've gotten in on the balloon game. We also looked into the costs of buying or renting a helium tank and filling balloons yourself.
Stores With the Cheapest Helium Balloons
We visited and called various locations of the following stores to get their pricing for helium balloons. Prices may vary by location, but here are your cheapest options for filled helium balloons.
Cheapest Latex Balloons:
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Popshelf: $0.50 - $1
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Staples: $0.99
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Kroger: $1.39
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Publix: $1.49
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Michaels: $1.99
Cheapest Foil Balloons:
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Popshelf: $1 - $7
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Staples: $2.29 - $23
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Kroger: $3.99 - $12.99
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Publix: $3.99 - $12.99
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Dollar Tree: $1.50 - $5
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Five Below: $2 - $10
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Dollar General: $2.50 - $6
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Michaels: $3.79 - $17.99
These Stores Are Pricier, But Work in a Pinch
We also price-checked other retailers, including Target and Walgreens, who are relatively new to the helium balloon game. These stores will work in a pinch, but you'll stretch your budget further than at the options listed above.
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Walgreens: $3.99+ for foil balloons
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Albertsons/Safeway: $1.99 for latex, $4.99+ for foil balloons
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Target: $9.99 for foil balloons (in-store purchase only)
Will a store fill up balloons if you don't purchase them there?
Wondering if you can BYOB (bring your own balloons) and have a store fill them for you? It depends on the store. Take a look at the chart above. We checked with various retailers to get their policies on customers filling outside balloons.
Below are the retailers that will fill up balloons in-store, even if you didn't purchase them there, listed from cheapest fee to most expensive:
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Kroger: $1.39 - $12.99
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Publix: $1.49 - $3.50
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Michaels: $1.99 - $10.99
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Albertsons/Safeway: $1.99 - $14.99
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Dollar General: $2 (foil balloons only)
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Five Below: $5 - $15
Publix, Michaels, Albertsons/Safeway, Dollar General, and Five Below stores will fill up outside balloons for a per-balloon fee, which depends on the size of your balloons. We suggest calling ahead and telling the store how many balloons you have (and in what sizes) to get an accurate quote.
If you source outside balloons in bulk for cheap elsewhere, you could save money, but not necessarily. For example, Micheals inflation fees start at $1.99 for latex balloons, but you can buy a latex balloon from Michaels and have it filled for $1.99. So the only reason to bring your own latex balloons would be if you have certain colors or designs Michaels doesn't carry since you're not saving money.
Note that Target, Dollar Tree, and Walgreens will only fill up balloons when you buy them at the store.
Cost of Getting a Helium Tank and Filling Them Yourself
If you need a lot of balloons, you might be thinking about saving money (and avoiding a balloon-filled car ride) by buying or renting a helium tank, buying cheap balloons online, and filling them up yourself.
So does that save you money? We did the math.
Buying a small disposable helium tank is only worth it for filling latex balloons (if you don't live near a Popshelf).
For around $52, you can buy a helium tank at Walmart. These tanks are disposable, good for just one use (you can't refill them).
According to the product description, this particular tank will fill 50 latex balloons but only a couple of big Mylar balloons. Let’s say you get 50 latex balloons out of a single tank.
Cost Breakdown for 50 Latex Balloons:
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Latex Balloons: As low as $0.05 per balloon at Dollar Tree or Walmart
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Tank Cost: $52
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Grand Total: $54.50 out of pocket, or $1.09 per filled balloon
So are you saving money? Not necessarily. The lowest cost we found at any store for buying and filling a latex balloon was $0.50 per balloon at Popshelf, which would only cost you $25 for 50 balloons. So no savings there.
Keep in mind that some helium tanks did get poor reviews, and reviewers noted that they tend to fill up fewer balloons than advertised.
KCL TIP: We didn’t include any info on large Mylar balloons here, because the product reviews make it pretty clear these store-bought tanks tap out after filling just a couple of those.
Renting a helium tank is a little more expensive, but it’s probably more convenient if you need a LOT of balloons.
Want to fill latex balloons and some large specialty Mylar balloons? You’ll need to rent a larger tank. Helium 2 Rent is one place where you can find helium tank rentals in the Texas area, but you'll need to find a local option near you to get an accurate quote.
The most affordable option in my area is a $115 tank (50 cubic feet), which could fill about 75 latex balloons and four 30-inch Mylar balloons (like giant numbers or other designs).
Cost Breakdown for 75 Latex Balloons and Four 30-Inch Mylar Balloons:
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Latex Balloons: As low as $0.05 per balloon at Dollar Tree or Walmart
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Mylar Balloons: As low as $3.99 per balloon on Amazon
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Tank Rental: $115
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Grand Total: $134.71 out of pocket, or $1.71 per filled balloon
Are you saving money? Again, not necessarily. Let's look at the math.
The lowest cost we found for getting and filling 75 latex balloons and four 30-inch Mylar balloons was at Publix. The one near me charges $1.49 per inflated latex balloon and $3.50 for larger balloons. So if you brought your own balloons to fill up at Publix, you could potentially pay as low as $125.75, which is about $9 cheaper than the cost of renting and filling them yourself. But you'll need to consider this: Can you really fit 75 latex balloons and four big Mylar balloons in your car?
Instacart offers balloon delivery, but check product descriptions carefully and be ready to pay a delivery fee.
If you want inflated balloons brought to you, Instacart can do that. In our area, they'll deliver inflated Mylar balloons from Michaels.
But make sure to look for the “helium filled” or “inflated” label as you shop to make sure they arrive inflated (not all balloons have this option).
Prices start at $3.79 per 17-inch Mylar balloon and $9.99 per 30-inch mylar balloon at Michaels. And the good news is that these are the same as the in-store prices (no Instacart upcharge). However, you do need to pay a $2.49 service fee and $1.99 delivery fee if you don’t have Instacart+, which gets you free delivery on orders of $10 or more. Plus, don’t forget to tip your driver.
Basically, go to the store for small balloon orders, but consider renting a tank if you need a lot.
If you’re trying to minimize your costs and need only a few balloons or a balloon bouquet, going in-store is the way to go since you won’t have to pay the upfront charge of the tank. We suggest picking up your balloons the day of your event, as helium balloons can start deflating after about nine hours.
If you’re planning a big event or want balloons for a few upcoming parties, buying or renting a tank lets you fill the balloons up on site and avoid transporting them. It’s not necessarily cheaper, though, and big Mylar balloons will eat through your helium quickly.
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