A Guide to Balloon Types: Latex and Foil

Here's a look at the two main types we work with, what they're made from, and where each one works best.

Latex Balloons

The latex balloons that we use here at the shop are made from Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) — an organic material, not plastic. The latex is collected from rubber trees using a tapping process that leaves the tree unharmed, similar to how maple syrup is collected. It's a natural polymer, and it's biodegradable.

Float Times & Hi-Float

Left untreated, a latex balloon will typically float for around 12 to 16 hours, but we treat every latex balloon with Hi-Float as standard. Hi-Float is a solution that coats the inside of the balloon and helps hold the helium in for longer. Ours will last considerably longer compared to untreated latex, and will gradually get smaller over time. They can be delivered the day before your party if needed. That said, they're at their prettiest on the day we inflate them, so we usually deliver on the day of your event where we can. As we deliver ourselves, every order travels straight from our shop to you, not through a courier network, which also helps keep things looking their best on arrival.

Sizes

Standard latex balloons for helium inflation range from 9 to 13 inches, and we use 13 inch as our standard size. We also offer 16 and 18 inch latex, which float for considerably longer, simply because they hold more helium.

Giant 2ft & 3ft Latex

We also offer large round 2ft and 3ft latex balloons. These giant round balloons are the largest we offer, and are, of course, delivered inflated. Their price reflects the amount of helium they hold, which is significantly more than a standard balloon. Plain 2ft and 3ft balloons will float for weeks.

Latex Confetti Balloons

We can fill standard size latex balloons with loose confetti, and these will float for around 8 hours after inflation. If you're ordering these, it's worth bearing delivery timing in mind, as they need to arrive close to your event rather than well ahead of it. Our 16 and 18 inch confetti balloons float for a full day, while 2ft and 3ft confetti balloons float for even longer. As with all our latex and confetti balloons, we like to deliver them on the day of your party, or the evening before if your event is early the following day.

Our Quality Check

Before anything leaves our shop, it's inflated, then left to float for a while as a final check. It's a simple bit of quality control: if a balloon has any natural weakness, we'd far rather it show up while it's still with us, where we can replace it, than after it's arrived with you. Every order is then placed in large balloon bags and delivered in our own van. One thing worth knowing on the customer's end: static electricity is one of the more common reasons a latex balloon pops unexpectedly, sometimes several in a row. If you notice this happening at home, increasing the humidity in the room is the most effective fix, more so than most anti-static sprays on the market. Worth saying too: the static electricity itself is completely harmless to humans. Static electricity is the ultimate paper tiger of physics .. but that's probably a blog of its own!

Foil Balloons

Foil balloons look and behave very differently from latex. Rather than a single stretchy material, they're made from a metallic-finish nylon film, which is what gives them that smooth, reflective surface and allows for sharp, printed designs. Because the material doesn't stretch or lose gas the way latex does, foil balloons hold their shape and float for far longer, often 5 to 14 days depending on size and the conditions they're kept in. Our large number and letter balloons will float for a very long time.

This makes foil the natural choice for anything you want to last: number balloons, letter balloons, printed birthday designs, and shaped novelty balloons. We work with a number of leading manufacturers, including Grabo and Anagram, all known for consistent quality and a reliable finish across their ranges.

Cold weather can cause foil balloons to deflate slightly, though they'll re-inflate again once they warm back up.

Number & Letter Balloons

We stock Grabo's 26 inch large and 40 inch statement-size number balloons, along with 40 inch letter balloons. We don't stock smaller numbers or letters, as they're not designed to hold helium and won't float.

Here's something worth knowing - most companies label their jumbo numbers and letters by the flat, uninflated height of the plastic straight out of the packet. Grabo does things differently, labelling by the true, three-dimensional height once the balloon is inflated. Because foil balloons puff outward into a rounded shape once filled, it loses somewhere between 20 and 30% of its flat length. A balloon measuring 34 inches flat on a table, often stands at closer to 26 inches once filled with gas. Place a "34 inch" balloon from a standard brand next to a Grabo "26 inch" balloon, and the two will look about the same size, but we prefer Grabo's shape and finish regardless. So when we say 26 inch, we mean the true inflated height, not the flat measurement.

Our 40 inch numbers and letters were  our original size, and remain a genuinely massive statement line, noticeably larger than our standard numbers, and holding an exceptional volume of helium. 26 inch are our standard big number helium size.

Hearts, Stars & Rounds

Classic, pretty balloons. In the balloon industry, 18-inch and 36-inch foils serve as the primary baseline sizes, universally known as Standard and Jumbo. Hearts have a natural romance to them, and work just as well on their own in a small or large bunch as they do added to a single Happy Birthday balloon or a wider bouquet for a fuller look. Not just for birthdays, but for weddings, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day too. Standard stars bring instant volume and celebration look, while rounds offer a clean, modern canvas, which is why they're so popular for printed corporate logos or a more grown-up occasion. We can both sizes with a handwritten message in glitter.

SuperShapes

Large foil balloons cut into the actual outline of a character or object, rather than a flat shape with a printed picture on it. This is what gives them more presence and makes them instantly recognisable, whether that's a favourite cartoon character or a novelty shape like a birthday cake or a shooting star. They come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes too, from butterflies, crowns, and racing or retro cars, to flying pigs, and cute, or suitably scary, dragons and dinosaurs.

Orb & Globe Balloons

A different kind of foil balloon again, built from curved panels rather than two flat, sealed sheets. This gives them a genuine spherical shape rather than a flat disc, and a fuller, more substantial presence, especially when grouped together on a ceiling or built into a balloon tree. Because they're a true sphere, they also hold more gas than their diameter would suggest, which is part of why they look so full and long-lasting. They also make beautiful large balloon bouquets, particularly in bigger rooms — there's a real elegance to them. A bouquet of five orbs built into a tree is one of our own favourites.

Airwalkers & Air Loonz

Stand upright entirely on their own, without needing a separate stand, though they do still need air, helium, or a combination of both to keep them steady. Airwalkers are mostly helium-filled and have a light, bouncy movement, while Air Loonz are air-filled and stay firmly in one place. Pet Airwalkers are a particular favourite of ours, with helium-filled bodies and weighted legs that keep them charmingly steady — they're some of our best-loved balloons, and honestly, we love having them around the shop keeping us company.

Which One Do You Need?

It comes down to personal preference more than any fixed rule. Latex and foil balloons, in all their shapes, can each be the centrepiece of a display, or sit quietly in support of something else, depending entirely on what you're after. Many of our returning customers know exactly what they want and order the same way every time; others like to mix things up from one celebration to the next. Whatever you choose, we're happy to help you put it together.

Our hearts and stars remain some of the most loved by our customers. They work beautifully as a standalone helium bunch, as a single balloon tied to a chair, or added alongside latex or other foil shapes for something a little fuller.

Whatever the occasion, every balloon we sell is helium-filled and delivered inflated, ready to place down and enjoy.