{"id":506,"date":"2025-01-24T00:49:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T23:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awajis.com\/us\/?p=506"},"modified":"2026-08-21T21:43:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T01:43:27","slug":"where-can-i-get-balloons-filled-with-helium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awajis.com\/us\/where-can-i-get-balloons-filled-with-helium\/","title":{"rendered":"Where to Get Balloons Filled with Helium (Store by Store)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Where can you get balloons filled with helium?<\/strong> Most grocery chains, dollar stores, and party retailers still do it \u2014 but each has different rules on price and whether they will fill balloons you bought somewhere else. This guide covers both, store by store, plus what changed after Party City closed its stores.<\/p>\n

One thing to know in 2026: helium supply is tight again, so some locations pause balloon fills without notice. Always call your store before driving over.<\/p>\n

\"Helium<\/p>\n

Quick Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Store<\/strong><\/td>\nTypical cost<\/strong><\/td>\nFills balloons bought elsewhere?<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Albertsons \/ Safeway<\/td>\n$1\u2013$3 per balloon<\/td>\nSometimes \u2014 call first<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CVS<\/td>\nFree with in-store balloon purchase<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dollar General<\/td>\nIncluded in balloon price<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dollar Tree<\/td>\nFree (foil balloons only)<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kroger \/ Ralphs<\/td>\n$1 latex, $3\u2013$8 foil<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Meijer<\/td>\n~$1 latex, $3\u2013$8 foil<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Publix<\/td>\n~$1.29 latex, ~$2 foil<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Staples (Party City sections)<\/td>\nVaries; pre-filled sold in-store<\/td>\nVaries by store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Walmart<\/td>\n$0.25\u2013$1.50 per balloon<\/td>\nNo \u2014 receipt required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Helium-Filled Balloons: Where to Get Them<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Albertsons<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"Albertsons\"<\/p>\n

Albertsons (and sister chain Safeway) fill latex and foil balloons in the floral department. Pricing runs about $1\u2013$3 per balloon depending on size.<\/p>\n

Many locations will also inflate balloons bought elsewhere, but the policy varies by store \u2014 find your store<\/a> and call ahead.<\/p>\n

CVS<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"Cvs\"<\/p>\n

Larger CVS stores with a party aisle fill balloons for free \u2014 the helium is included in the balloon price. Smaller pharmacy-only branches don’t carry helium at all.<\/p>\n

CVS only fills balloons bought in-store. Some clerks will fill an outside balloon for a small charge if you ask, but that’s a courtesy, not policy. Call your local CVS<\/a> to confirm it has a party section before you go.<\/p>\n

Dollar General<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"Dollar<\/p>\n

Dollar General sells helium-filled balloons off the shelf and fills empty balloons bought in-store \u2014 latex from about $0.50\u2013$1, foil\/mylar up to about $4, and jumbo balloons more. It does not fill balloons from other stores.<\/p>\n

Dollar General also stocks Balloon Time disposable helium tanks (8.9 cu ft, about $35) \u2014 enough for roughly 30 nine-inch latex balloons if you’d rather fill at home.<\/p>\n

Dollar Tree<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"Dollar<\/p>\n

Dollar Tree fills foil balloons only<\/strong>, free, as long as you bought them at Dollar Tree (in-store or on dollartree.com with your receipt). Latex balloons are not filled at any location.<\/p>\n

Balloons here are among the cheapest anywhere \u2014 most foil designs cost under $2 \u2014 and stores also carry pre-filled foil balloons in number, star, and round shapes for grab-and-go.<\/p>\n

Kroger<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"Kroger\"<\/p>\n

Kroger is the most flexible option on this list. Most stores with a floral department fill latex and foil balloons whether or not you bought them at Kroger<\/strong> \u2014 including balloons ordered online.<\/p>\n

Latex fills run about $1. Foil runs $3\u2013$8 by size, and giant balloons (20\u201350 inches) can cost $7\u2013$16. Prices vary by store, so confirm with yours.<\/p>\n

Meijer<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Meijer<\/p>\n

Meijer, the Midwest supercenter chain (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin), fills balloons at the store and sells ready-made helium balloons.<\/p>\n

You don’t have to buy your balloons at Meijer. Latex costs about $1 to fill; foil runs $3\u2013$8 by size. For big orders (20+ balloons), phone ahead \u2014 the store will give you a pickup window.<\/p>\n

Party City \u2014 now online and inside Staples<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"Party<\/p>\n

Party City closed all of its own US stores by February 2025 after its second bankruptcy. The brand came back under new ownership and now sells at partycity.com<\/a> \u2014 and, since April 2026, through Party City sections inside more than 700 Staples stores across 34 states.<\/p>\n

Those Staples sections carry helium-inflated latex and foil balloons ready to go, and Staples is rolling out advance balloon-pickup scheduling through its website and app. If your old Party City store is gone, the nearest Staples is now the closest thing to it.<\/p>\n

Party Depot<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"Party<\/p>\n

Party Depot<\/a> is a Virginia party chain that fills balloons from anywhere: 12-inch latex around $0.75, 18-inch foil around $0.90, and 36-inch foil around $4. It also sells helium tanks.<\/p>\n

Publix<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"Publix<\/p>\n

Publix, the Southeast US grocery chain, fills latex and foil balloons at stores with a floral department \u2014 most have one.<\/p>\n

Publix fills outside balloons too: about $1.29 for latex and $2 for foil. Balloons bought at Publix are filled free with your receipt. For big events, Publix will fill very large orders if you book in advance.<\/p>\n

Ralphs<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Ralphs\"<\/p>\n

Ralphs is Kroger’s Southern California banner, and its balloon policy mirrors Kroger’s: latex about $0.99, foil up to about $3.99 by size, with most floral departments filling outside balloons. Service varies by location, so call your store<\/a> first.<\/p>\n

Walmart<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"Walmart\"<\/p>\n

Only Walmart Supercenters with a party department fill balloons \u2014 many stores don’t. Where offered, fills cost about $0.25\u2013$1.50 per balloon by size and material.<\/p>\n

Walmart fills only balloons bought in-store and asks for your receipt at customer service. It won’t inflate balloons from elsewhere. Walmart also sells Balloon Time helium tanks if you want to fill at home \u2014 often the cheapest route for large parties.<\/p>\n

Filling at Home: Helium Tanks<\/h2>\n

If you need 30+ balloons, a disposable tank usually beats per-balloon store fees:<\/p>\n