Does Walgreens Fill Helium Balloons? (No, Do This Instead)

Have you ever asked yourself or your friend if Walgreens fill helium balloons? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

Having a lot of uninflated balloons, ready to be filled up, is only half the battle if you want to have them floating around at an event or a party.

There are lots of places where you can go to get your balloons pumped with helium, but does Walgreens fill helium balloons? No, Walgreens does not fill or blow up helium balloons. Walgreens sells uninflated balloons that can be filled with helium, but they rarely sell helium tanks that will allow you to fill up the balloons yourself and they won’t generally fill up your balloons for you.

Some stores sell pre-inflated balloons during holiday periods and an employee might help you out, but it is not a service that Walgreens regularly offers.

There are many places to go and methods to use if you want to get your helium balloons filled and the rest of this article will give you all the information you need to get your balloons floating.

Does Walgreens Sell Helium Balloons?

Walgreens sells many different types of uninflated balloons which are suitable for use with helium, and they can usually be found with the decorations and/or party products.

Some stores even sell helium balloons that have already been inflated for certain holidays or events, but they are not available at all stores throughout the year.

The Walgreens branded Helium Balloons are specifically designed to be helium-filled and are usually the safest option as they are less likely to burst.

Some Walgreens stores have sold helium tanks in the party aisle, which would allow you to inflate your own balloons, but they have not been common in many stores recently.

Read also: Does Michaels Fill Helium Balloons (Tanks and Pump)

What Party Supplies Does Walgreens Sell?

Walgreens is often a quick and cheap option when you are looking to stock up on party supplies, and they do offer a lot of the basics. At Walgreens you can find:

• Balloons
• Disposable Plates, Cups, and Cutlery
• Greeting Cards
• Gift Wrap, Gift Bags, and Gift Boxes
• Holiday Decorations
• Flowers
• Candles
• Snacks and Food

A lot of the things that you need to put together an event on a budget are available at Walgreens, but you will probably have to look elsewhere if you want to get your balloons filled.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Helium Balloons Filled?

Standard latex balloons are easy to fill and will generally cost the least. Most places will fill them up for less than a dollar per balloon, but it will depend on where you go.

Larger, more decorated balloons, like mylar balloons, will last longer and they can hold more helium, so they generally cost a bit more.

You can expect to pay anywhere between $1 and $8 to fill up a good-sized mylar balloon.

Where Can You Get Helium Balloons Filled?

Most dedicated party stores, including local independent shops and larger chains, will happily fill up helium balloons for a small fee.

You can often get helium balloons filled at dollar stores as well, and even pharmacies often fill balloons on request, so it is worth popping in and asking, or getting on the phone.

Some of the stores which will fill up helium balloons for you include:

• Party Depot: $0.75 per latex balloon, $0.90 per 18-inch mylar and $4 for 36-inch mylar
• Zurchers: $0.85-$12, depending on the size
• 99 Cents Only Stores: $0.99 per balloon, latex, or mylar
• Party City: $0.99 per latex balloon, $2.99 – $7.99 for mylar balloons
• Ralphs: $0.99 per latex balloon, $3.99+ per mylar
• Dollar Tree: $1 per balloon, latex, or mylar
• Smith’s: $1 per balloon, latex or mylar
• Publix: $1 per latex balloon, $1.50+ for mylar
• Albertsons: $1.99 per latex balloon, around $6 for 18-inch mylar balloons

How Long Do Helium Balloons Float For?

One of the most important considerations, when you are looking to fill up some helium balloons, is whether or not they will still be floating when you need them.

The average float time for a helium balloon is between 5 and 7 hours. Ideally, you want to fill them up immediately before your event, and you probably don’t want to travel too far with them either.

Read also: Does Meijer Fill Helium Balloons? (The Truth!)

How Much Does Helium Cost?

Helium gas is quite expensive, and the global supply has been relatively limited in recent years. You can pick up a tank from a wholesaler, a gas supplier, or a party store but you can also find them for sale in many larger chain stores like Walmart, where they often come with a collection of balloons for you to fill.

For a standard 9.5” tank, you can expect to pay around $30. This should inflate around thirty individual 9” latex balloons or fourteen 18” mylar balloons.

At this cost, you will probably end up paying around $1 per balloon, which is a similar price to what you can find at many of the places that will fill your balloons up for you.

Is it Difficult to Fill Helium Balloons at Home?

If you can get hold of a helium tank, it is pretty easy to fill up helium balloons yourself. The main danger is overinflating them, so that they burst, or releasing excess helium while you’re inflating.

Because helium is expensive, you don’t want to be losing or wasting any, if you can help it.

Most helium tanks just need you to twist a valve that will free up the gas, secure your balloon to the nozzle and press down.

The balloon should inflate at a steady pace and you simply release the pressure on the nozzle to stop it.

Once you are finished, you can generally return the valve to its original position and the tank should be safe for you to store.

Read also: Does Dollarama Fill Helium Balloons? (Cost + Balloons Types)

The Truth: Does Walgreens Fill Helium Balloons?

The truth is that Walgreens doesn’t generally fill up helium balloons, and they rarely sell helium tanks or balloons that have already been inflated.

You can buy uninflated balloons, and many other party supplies, at Walgreens but you are better off searching for a party store or a dollar store in your area to get them filled up.

References

https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/party-supplies-cards-and-gift-wrap/