Where to Get Balloons Filled with Helium: 8 Places (2026)

Party City is the best first stop because it fills foil balloons bought there for free and lists inflation at its franchise stores and Staples counters. Michaels is second because it fills balloons you bring in. Kroger is third for shoppers near a floral department, and a 2026 store check put its latex at $1.39. This guide is for anyone planning a party who wants a price per balloon before they drive. Service, helium supply, and the fee at your store can still differ, so call before you go.

Where to Get Balloons Filled with Helium: 8 Places Compared

1. Party City

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: Party City store pages say foil balloons bought there are filled free, while latex and balloons you bring in carry a fee, per the Party City store locator. A 2026 store check put outside fills at $1.70 to $9 for latex and $3.30 to $19 for foil, and filled foil bought there at $2.29 to $10.50. Inflation is listed at franchise stores and at Party City counters inside Staples.

Use the locator at stores.partycity.com/us to find the nearest franchise store or Staples location, open its page to see that helium inflation is listed, then call for the price on your balloon type. If the party is a birthday, our free birthday meals guide can trim the food side of the budget while you spend on balloons.

Watch out that helium supply can pause without notice, so call before you drive. Verdict: the best first stop because it is the clearest about foil versus latex pricing. Last checked: November 5, 2026, Party City stores.

2. Michaels

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: Michaels fills balloons bought in the store and balloons you bring in. A 2026 store check found latex at $1.99 and foil from $3.79 to $17.99, with an outside-balloon fee of $1.99 to $10.99. Balloons from the register balloon bar are the likeliest to be filled free. Balloons from the party aisle are usually charged.

Start at michaels.com, find your nearest store, and call before visiting. Ask whether the store has helium on hand today, what it charges for latex versus foil, and whether it will fill balloons you bought elsewhere. Bring the balloons uninflated, and carry a receipt in case the store asks where they came from.

Watch out that the party aisle and the balloon bar can be treated differently at checkout, so ask which one your balloons fall under before you commit. Verdict: a solid pick if you already have balloons and want a craft retailer to fill them. Last checked: November 5, 2026, Michaels.

3. Kroger

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: Some Kroger floral departments fill balloons with helium, including balloons bought elsewhere. A 2026 store check found latex at $1.39 and foil from $3.99 to $12.99, including outside balloons. Your location still has to have helium on hand and agree to fill the balloons you bring.

Open kroger.com, choose your store, and phone the floral desk. Ask whether they fill outside latex and foil balloons, the charge per balloon, and whether there is a limit on how many they will do at once. Kroger works well when party shopping is part of a grocery run, and setting a party line in your monthly budget keeps small fill fees from adding up.

Watch out that a floral department may be busy with orders, so ask about wait times for a large batch. Verdict: a practical option near a Kroger with a floral counter. Last checked: November 5, 2026, Kroger.

4. Publix

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: Publix is worth checking in the Southeast. A 2026 store check found latex at $1.49 and foil from $3.99 to $12.99, with an outside-balloon fee of $1.49 to $3.50. The floral department sets the fee you will actually pay.

Visit publix.com to look up your store's phone number, then call and ask three things: does the store fill balloons you bought elsewhere, what is the current fee per balloon, and are there any limits on size or quantity. Mention the balloon material, since foil and latex can be priced differently. If the store says yes, bring the balloons uninflated and ask the florist how long the fill takes during busy hours.

Watch out that service is not guaranteed at every Publix, and some stores may decline outside balloons entirely. Verdict: a good call to make if a Publix is closer than a party store. Last checked: November 5, 2026, Publix.

5. Meijer

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: Meijer is worth checking in the Midwest, especially if you already hold balloons from another seller. The 2026 store check behind the other prices on this list did not publish a Meijer per-balloon fee, so call the floral or party desk for today's charge. Whether that location accepts outside balloons also varies by store.

Go to meijer.com, find your local store's number, and call the floral or party department. Ask if helium is in stock, whether outside balloons are welcome, and what the total charge would be for your count. Planning ahead for a party fund helps here, and the 52-week savings challenge is one way to set aside small amounts for celebrations like this.

Watch out that one Meijer may fill outside balloons while another a few miles away will not, so do not assume the answer carries over. Verdict: a reasonable backup when you are already shopping at Meijer. Last checked: November 5, 2026, Meijer.

6. Albertsons

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: A 2026 store check grouped Albertsons with Safeway at $1.99 for latex, $4.99 and up for foil, and $1.99 to $14.99 to fill a balloon you bring. Service is not assured at every Albertsons, so the website will not tell you whether that floral counter fills balloons today.

Use albertsons.com to find your store and its phone number, then ask the floral or balloon department about its policy and price. Tell them the balloon type and size, and ask whether they need a receipt for balloons bought elsewhere. If they agree, ask for the best time to come in so you avoid a long wait behind other floral orders.

Watch out that helium shortages can pause fills, and a store that did them last month may not be doing them now. Verdict: worth a call if Albertsons is your regular grocery store, but not a sure thing. Last checked: November 5, 2026, Albertsons.

7. Safeway

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: Safeway was price-checked with Albertsons. Latex came in at $1.99, foil started at $4.99, and filling a balloon you already own ran $1.99 to $14.99. The floral or balloon department at your store still sets the fee by material and size.

Open safeway.com, look up your store, and call the floral or balloon department before you go. Ask whether they fill balloons you bought elsewhere, what the fee is per balloon, and whether helium is currently available. If you are spreading party costs across several months, the how much to save each month guide can help you plan a realistic amount.

Watch out that policies on outside balloons are not uniform, so a yes at one Safeway does not mean yes at another. Verdict: a handy backup if a Safeway is the closest store with a floral counter. Last checked: November 5, 2026, Safeway.

8. Walmart

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: Walmart is worth trying at a nearby Supercenter with a party or floral department, but only after a phone call. Service is not at every location, and policies on balloons bought elsewhere are inconsistent. One 2026 roundup puts the fill at $0.25 to $1.50 and says a receipt is required, per Awajis. Other reports do not match that range, so the table leaves Walmart as a call.

Start at walmart.com to find your store and its phone number. Ask whether the store will fill your balloons, what it charges, and what proof of purchase, if any, it requires. Some stores may only inflate balloons sold there, so having a receipt handy can save you a wasted trip. Ask to speak with the party or customer service desk, since that is often where fills are handled.

Watch out that employees at some stores may not be permitted to offer the service even when signs suggest it. Verdict: the least predictable option here, so use it only after a call. Last checked: November 5, 2026, Walmart.

Verdict: Start here

• Best overall: Party City, because it fills foil balloons bought there for free and publishes clear inflation details on its store pages.
• Best for bringing your own balloons: Michaels, which fills balloons purchased in store or brought in by customers.
• Skip if: you need a guaranteed fill without calling ahead. Walmart and most grocery floral counters vary by store and can pause service when helium runs short.
• Try first: use the Party City locator to find the nearest franchise or Staples location, then call and ask the price for your balloon type.