Balloon arches are one of those things that can really take your event to the next level. But the biggest concern when it comes to balloon arches is that they might not last as long as you wish.
So, keep on reading to know how long a balloon arch usually lasts and how you can make it last longer.
Short Answer
A standard balloon arch that uses air and latex balloons can last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days when not exposed to extreme conditions like heat or humidity.
To extend the life of your balloon arch, make sure you keep it in a cool, dark room that’s far from elements like sun rays and sand particles.
But how long would a balloon arch stay up without helium? And should you start building your balloon arch the previous day? Would it last overnight? Stick with us to find out!
For How Long Can a Balloon Arch Stay Up?
We’ve done some digging for a more extensive answer on the amount of time you should expect your balloon arch to remain unaffected, and here’s what we found:
How Long Will a Balloon Arch Last Without Helium?
An air-filled balloon arch should last somewhere between a few hours and a couple of days, depending on where it’s kept and other environmental factors.
If kept indoors, your balloon arch can easily last for a few days, but it’ll only last for less than a day if left outside.
However, if you need it to last longer, some professionals can treat the arch with a specific material that can make it last for several weeks.
If you will be using helium balloons, please refer to our article on how long do helium balloons last?
Can You Make a Balloon Arch the Day Before?
That depends on how you make the arch and where you store it. If you want to make the balloon arch the day before, we strongly recommend using air, not helium, to fill the balloon because helium-filled balloons can only last for a few hours at maximum.
Additionally, don’t keep the balloon arch outside without a shield from sun rays. The heat from the sun can cause the balloon to deflate or even pop before the event starts. And try to keep the balloon wrapped in some sort of protection, like plastic, for example, to protect it from dust and sand particles.
Keeping the balloon arch indoors should be enough to ensure it lasts until the next day without losing shape.
Will a Balloon Arch Last Overnight?
Yes, a balloon arch can definitely last overnight if it’s kept in ideal conditions, but make sure to follow the steps mentioned above if you’re planning on building the balloon the previous night.
In other words, protect the balloon from the elements and use air instead of helium to fill it, and it’ll last overnight without any issues.
How Long Do Balloon Arches Last Outside?
Balloon arches don’t last very long when outdoors. A helium-filled balloon arch can only last for about 10 hours, especially if it’s exposed to heat, humidity, and direct sun. On the other hand, an air-filled arch should last a whole day if the weather is too hot and over a day if it’s cloudy outside.
Balloon arches don’t last that long when left outdoors, mainly due to environmental factors like exposure to direct sun, condensation, wind, and dust. All these factors cause the balloons to deflate or even pop.
Also, if you want your balloon arch to last longer, you can go for foil balloons instead of latex ones because foil balloons can remain intact for weeks.
How Much Does a Balloon Arch Cost?
The cost of a balloon arch depends on the size. Generally speaking, air-filled arches can cost around $15 for each linear foot. However, if you want a more complex design, expect to pay a bit more than that for each linear foot.
For a better estimation of how much you’ll pay, a traditional balloon arch that’s 24 linear feet should cost you around $250 to $300. So make sure to fit that in your budget.
How to Make a Balloon Column Without Helium?
To make a balloon column without helium, you’ll need to blow up the balloons to the same size using a balloon sizer. Then, when you have enough balloons, tie every two balloons together so you’ll have enough pairs of balloons.
After that, take two pairs of balloons and twist them together, forming quads of balloons. When that’s done, fill a balloon with some water and tie it using a ribbon to one of the quads to weigh down the balloon column.
Now, start stacking all the balloon quads on top of each other and tie them together using some ribbons. And that’s it; you’re all done!
How to Do a Balloon Arch Without Stand?
To make a balloon arch without a stand, here’s what you need to do. Just like we did in balloon columns, fill some balloons with air and make sure they’re all the same size.
Then, tie every two balloons together to have pairs of balloons. Now, tie every two pairs together so you’d have quads of balloons. Next, start stacking these quads on top of each other and tie them with some ribbon.
Once you stack all the balloons in a long formation, try to stand that formation up on both ends; it’ll just curve and form the balloon arch. Then, steady the arch using water-filled balloons and adjust its shape to your preference, and you’ll be good to go.
Summary and Recap
Balloon arches can last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, depending on where you’re setting up the arch, what material the balloons are made of (latex or foil), and what you’re filling them with (air or helium).
Also, keep in mind that you can extend the lifetime of your balloon arches by keeping themes indoors and away from direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. A cool, dark room is the best place to store your arch, especially if you’re planning on building it the day before.