How to Blow Up Foil Balloons

Co-authored by Ahzahdeh Neshat

Last Updated: March 15, 2024 References

Balloons are a great way to set a festive, exciting tone! In particular, foil balloons are made from several thin sheets of metal over nylon material. As a result, these balloons are much less porous and can stay inflated for much longer than regular latex balloons. You can easily fill the balloons either with a straw and some lung power or a hand air pump. Simply insert a straw or the nozzle into the balloon, and fill it up.

Inflating Foil Balloons

Insert the nozzle of an air pump into the balloon’s filling tab. Pinch the balloon around the air pump’s nozzle and press down on the pump with your other hand. To fill the balloon manually, insert a straw inside the filling tab. Blow into the straw until the balloon is inflated.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Blowing Balloons up Manually

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1
Locate the filling tab on the outside of your balloon. All foil balloons have a small, 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) filling tab designed to easily blow up your balloons. Typically, this is on the outside of the balloon toward the bottom, and the tab is secured by 2-3 layers of plastic.^{[1]
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- For instance, you can find this approximately where you attach a string to a standard balloon.
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Insert a drinking straw into the tab to help you blow it up. You can use any standard drinking straw to help you fill up the balloon. When you locate the filling tab, separate the 2 layers of plastic, and slip the straw in between. Then, insert your straw until you break the inner seal, which is about 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) in. You’ll feel the seal snap as you insert the straw.^{[2]
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- Some balloon kits will come with a straw included with the directions.
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To hold the straw in place, pinch either side with your fingers. Continue holding the filling tab as you blow air into the balloon.^{[3]
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Blow into the end of the straw to fill the balloon with air. Take a deep breath in, and blow steadily and gradually into the straw. Then, take another deep breath, and repeat the process until the balloon is full of air. The number of breaths will depend on the size and shape of the balloon.^{[4]
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- When the balloon is firm to the touch, it has enough air.
- Be careful not to blow too much air into the balloon. If you keep blowing, the balloon will eventually pop.
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Remove the straw and pinch the seal to close it up. When the balloon is full of air, pinch the filling tab in between 2 fingers, and gently pull out the straw. Doing this automatically secures your balloon, as the filling tab is self-sealing. You can attach the balloon to a string or tape it to a wall or post for instance.^{[5]
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- If you fill your balloon with air from a straw, your balloon should stay inflated for about 1 month or longer.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using an Air Pump

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Get an air pump with a narrow tip for best results. If you want to easily fill up your balloon, find a hand pump that has a narrow tip. The smaller the tip, the easier it is to get inside the filling tab.^{[6]
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- Ideally, you want a tip that is thin and about 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) long.
- Usually, the nozzle is angled, and you can easily insert it into the opening of the foil.
The filling tab is a small section of the balloon that allows you to fill it with air. There are typically 2 layers of plastic inside the filling tab. Slip the tip of the pump in between the plastic layers so you can fill up the balloon.^{[7]
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Hold the plastic seal tightly so the air doesn’t come out. Use 1 hand to pinch the balloon around the opening so the air stays inside. This way, you can fill up the balloon rather than letting the air out.^{[8]
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- You can use your non-dominant hand to do this, for instance.
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Pump the air into the balloon to fill it up. With your dominant hand, crank the pump or press up and down on the pumping unit repetitively to fill the balloon with air. Continue pumping until the balloon is about 98% full.^{[9]
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- At this point, the balloon will be firm but still slightly bouncy.^{[10]
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- It is easy to overfill the balloon when using a hand pump, so be careful as you do this.
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Remove the tip of the pump and pinch the balloon closed. After the balloon is mostly full, secure the filling tab with your hand, and gently pull the tip of the pump out of the balloon. As you do this, the balloon will seal itself.^{[11]
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- The inside of the filling tab comes coated with a self-sealing adhesive.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Filling Balloons with Helium

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1
Insert the nozzle of the helium tank into the filling tab of the balloon. Place the opening of the balloon around the nozzle of the helium tank so the nozzle is about 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) in. This is known as the filling tab.^{[12]
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- As you fill the balloon, hold onto the filling tab securely.
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Press down on the nozzle of the tank to gently fill the balloon. To add air to the balloon, simply push the nozzle downward slightly while holding onto the filling tab. You'll notice the balloon start to fill with air. Continue pressing down on the nozzle until the balloon is completely full.^{[13]
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- Keep a secure grip, as the air may come out pretty quickly.
Your balloon is full of air when the center is firm but the outer edge is still slightly wrinkled. At this point, simply slip the filling tab off of the nozzle. When you do this, the balloon will seal itself with the adhesive strip on the inside of the balloon.^{[14]
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Enjoy your balloon for 3-7 days. Helium is an easy way to fill foil balloons, but they don't last quite as long as using regular air.
- You can tie a ribbon to your balloon to display it for a birthday party, retirement celebration, or wedding, for example.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you find a leak in a foil balloon?

Ahzahdeh Neshat
Party Decorating Specialist
Ahzahdeh Neshat is a Party Decorating Specialist and the Owner of Confetti & Sprinkles LLC based in Los Angeles, California. With over three years of experience, she specializes in creating extravagant balloon decor for parties and events. Ahzahdeh has created balloon decor for businesses such as MediaLab and Insomnia Cookies.

Ahzahdeh Neshat

Party Decorating Specialist

Expert Answer

Fill up a tub with water — or a small bowl, if it's a small balloon — and submerge the balloon. You'll see small bubbles coming out of the leak. If it's small, you can cover it with clear masking tape to fix it.

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The air is not staying inside the balloon. It loses air after 4 - 5 minutes. What should I do?

T. Chinsen

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The balloon may be defective or have a hole. Spray a light layer of water and gently squeeze the balloon to find the hole. It will bubble up under the water layer. Dry off the area and place transparent tape over the leaking spot. If the entire seam or the valve of the balloon is defective, it may not be possible to fix.

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Things You'll Need

Blowing Balloons up Manually

Foil balloon
Drinking straw
Lung power

Using an Air Pump

Foil balloon
Hand pump

Filling Balloons with Helium

Foil balloon
Helium tank

Tips

If your balloons have small holes at the top, you can run a piece of string through the hole to tie it up.^{[15]
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Thanks
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