Where Can I Get Balloons Filled with Helium? 13 Places Near You (2025 Guide)

Where to Get Balloons Filled with Helium Cheap

Below, I’ll cover the best places where you can get balloons filled near you.

1. Michaels

Michaels is a popular arts and crafts chain with over 1,200 stores across the country.

They offer helium balloon filling for a variety of occasions, including birthdays and celebrations.

• In-store purchase required? Michaels typically fills balloons purchased in-store but policies can vary, so it’s best to check with your local store.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Michaels? Pricing depends on the size and type of balloon, so expect a small fee for helium filling.

By the way, you can even order online and pick up your pre-inflated balloons in store later!

• Find a Michaels near you.

2. Five Below

Five Below has over 1,000 locations across the U.S. They provide helium balloon filling services for balloons bought in their stores.

• In-store purchase required? Yes, Five Below only fills balloons purchased from their stores.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Five Below? Helium filling is usually free or low cost when you buy balloons at Five Below.

Five Below sells & inflates foil balloons, with eye-catching shapes, prints & finishes. They don’t however inflate latex balloons. At least at the time of this writing.

• Find a Five Below near you.

3. CVS

There are more than 9,900 CVS locations throughout the USA.

If your local CVS store has a party section, then it will also have a helium service.

Smaller CVS stores that are basically just a pharmacy that sells a few other products, may not have a party section, which means that they don’t provide helium services.

The larger stores that do have a party section, however, will offer helium services.

Call your local store to see what services it provides.

• In-store purchase required? CVS only fills balloons that have been purchased in-store.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at CVS? Free for balloons purchased in store.

Please note that while most stores will only fill balloons purchased in-store, you can still contact your local CVS to ask if they will fill a balloon purchased elsewhere, but you will usually need to pay a fee for this service, and not all stores will offer it.

• Find a CVS near you.

4. Dollar General

Dollar General has more than 17,000 stores in 46 states. It will fill latex, metallic, mylar, and jumbo balloons with helium.

• In-store purchase required? Dollar General will only fill balloons that have been purchased in-store.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Dollar General? $0.50 to $1 per balloon for latex balloons. Up to $4 for mylar/metallic balloons. Jumbo balloons cost up to $15 per balloon to be filled.

Dollar General also sells a Balloon Time 9.5″ Helium Tank that contains 8.9 cu ft of helium/air, and 30 colorful balloons. It costs $31.95.

• Find a Dollar General near you.

5. Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree has more than 15,200 locations across the country. Dollar Tree is only able to fill foil/metallic balloons. So, you won’t be able to get latex balloons filled at the store.

As long as the balloon is foil though, Dollar Tree can blow up birthday, anniversary, or any other special event balloon.

• In-store purchase required? Dollar Tree will only fill helium balloons that you have purchased in-store or online on the Dollar Tree website. It will not fill balloons with helium that have been purchased elsewhere.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Dollar Tree? Free for balloons purchased in-store or online with proof of purchase. Since, balloons, just like the store’s other products, cost just $1 at Dollar Tree, this is a pretty affordable option.

Dollar Tree also sells pre-filled helium balloons, for a variety of different occasions, in multiple different shapes, such as number, star, circle, and square shapes.

• Find a Dollar Tree near you.

6. Kroger

Kroger has more than 2,800 stores in 35 states.

Kroger fills both latex and mylar helium balloons.

• In-store purchase required? Kroger will fill helium balloons in-store at most of its locations, regardless of whether you bought the balloons in-store or not. So, if you have purchased balloons elsewhere, like online, for example, then you will also be able to have those filled at Kroger.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Kroger? $1 on average to fill latex balloons. Mylar balloons can be filled for $3 to $8, depending on the size. Oversized or jumbo balloons that are between 20 to 50 inches in diameter cost between $7 and $16 to fill. The price can depend on the size and number of balloons you want to fill and can vary from store to store.

You can also have foil balloons, and jumbo balloons filled.

• Find a Kroger near you.

7. Meijer

Meijer is a family-owned regional retailer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Meijer has more than 240 supercenters in six states, including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

You can have helium balloons filled in-store.

• In-store purchase required? Meijer doesn’t require balloons to be bought from its stores in order to fill them.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Meijer? Meijer charges $1 per latex balloon. It costs from $3 to $8 to fill a mylar balloon, with the price depending on the size and shape of the balloon.

Meijer also sells pre-filled helium balloons.

• Find a Meijer near you.

8. Party City

Update: In December 2024 Party City announced that it would close all of its stores over a year after it first declared bankruptcy. Some stores are still open, though

Party City has 830 company-owned and franchise stores throughout North America.

• In-store purchase required? You can have balloons inflated that you bought at Party City stores or online on the Party City website, and balloons that were purchased elsewhere.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Party City? Free for foil balloons that you purchased in-store or online (just make sure the item says price includes helium and bring your receipt to the store). $0.99 to $1.29 for balloons purchased at Party City or elsewhere. Foil balloons purchased elsewhere cost from $1.99 to $15.99 to fill, depending on the size.

Party City also sells helium tanks, so if you prefer to fill balloons yourself, then you can. It provides both small and large helium tanks, which are available for purchase online or via in-store pickup.

• Find a Party City near you.

9. Party Depot

Party Depot has stores in Virginia. It will fill helium balloons.

• In-store purchase required? Party Depot will also fill balloons purchased elsewhere.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Part Depot? $0.75 each for 12-inch latex balloons. $0.90 each for 18-inch Mylar balloons, and $4 each for 36-inch Mylar balloons.

Party Depot also sells helium tanks.

• Find a Party Depot near you.

10. Publix

Publix is a popular grocery chain in the Southeastern U.S. that offers helium balloon filling at many locations.

There are more than 1,286 Publix stores throughout the Southern United States.

You’ll find Publix stores in the following states:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia

You can have balloons filled with helium at Publix. Not every single Publix store will fill helium balloons, but as long as your local store has a floral department, it will typically be able to provide this service. Publix will fill latex and mylar balloons.

• In-store purchase required? Publix will blow up balloons from other stores, as well as those purchased in-store.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Publix? Free if you have purchased the balloons at Publix and have a receipt. For balloons that have been purchased elsewhere, it costs $1.29 per balloon for latex balloons and $2 per balloon for mylar balloons.

Publix also sells pre-filled helium balloons.

• Find a Publix near you.

11. Ralphs

Next on the list we have Ralphs, which is a subsidiary of Kroger. There are 189 Ralphs stores in Southern California.

Ralphs is another place where you can get helium balloons filled. Some stores offer the service.

• In-store purchase required? Varies from store to store.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Ralphs? It costs $0.99 per balloon for latex balloons. Mylar balloons cost $3.99 or more each, depending on size.

Get in touch with your local store to see if it will fill balloons at that particular location.

• Find a Ralphs near you.

12. Walmart

There are 4,743 Walmart stores throughout the United States. Walmart will blow up balloons, but only a small portion of its stores offer this service.

Please get in touch with your local store to see if they provide helium services at that particular location.

• In-store purchase required? Yes, Walmart will only inflate balloons that have been purchased from Walmart.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Walmart? It costs around $0.25 per balloon. However, the price can vary depending on the size and type of balloon you want to fill.

Walmart also sells helium tanks, so if you prefer to fill the balloons yourself, then you can.

• Find a Walmart near you.

13. Target

Target offers helium balloon filling services at many stores nationwide.

• In-store purchase required? Balloons must be bought at Target for filling.
• How much does it cost to fill balloons at Target? Helium filling prices vary; check with your local Target for exact fees.

Since there are at least a few Target stores in most areas, even if one doesn’t fill balloons, you’ll find another one that does. So be sure to call and ask.

• Find a Target near you.

Find Balloon Filling Info at a Glance

Here’s a simple table I made that shows popular stores, what kinds of balloons they fill, if you need to buy balloons there, and how much it costs. It’s a quick way to find the best spot near you.

Update on Albertsons

When I originally wrote this post, Albertson was on the list since it was one of the top places to get balloons filled. But since then, they have changed their policy. So Albertsons no longer offers balloon inflation services.

FAQs About Balloon Filling Services

Here are answers to a few commonly asked questions about inflating balloons with helium.

Can I bring my own balloons to get them filled at stores like Party City or Walmart?

Yes, many stores like Party City, Kroger, and Publix will fill the balloons you bring in, even if you didn’t buy them there. Just keep in mind, prices may be a bit higher compared to filling balloons purchased in-store. Walmart only fills balloons purchased in-store, and not all locations offer this service.

Which stores fill balloons for free?

Stores like Dollar Tree, CVS, Five Below, and Party City sometimes fill balloons for free, but usually only if you buy the balloon from them.

Can I fill balloons at Target?

Most Target stores don’t offer balloon-filling services in-store. However, some locations with a dedicated party section might, so it’s best to call ahead.

Do grocery stores like Kroger or Meijer fill balloons?

Yes! Kroger, Meijer, and similar grocery chains often fill both latex and mylar balloons. Prices usually range from $1 to $16, depending on balloon size and type.

Will stores fill balloons I bought online or from Amazon?

Many stores like Party City, Publix, or Kroger will fill outside balloons (including those from Amazon). Just keep in mind that some stores may not accept certain materials or shapes, and prices may vary.

Final Thoughts on Where to Get Helium Balloons Filled Near You for Cheap

If you’ve been wondering where to get helium balloons filled, the table and list above should save you a ton of time.

Whether you grab balloons from Amazon or pick them up in-store, you’ve got plenty of options for inflating them for free or very cheap, from Party City and Publix to Walmart and Dollar Tree.

Just remember: some places only fill balloons bought from their store, while others are more flexible.

And if you’ve got a big party coming up, it might actually be cheaper to grab a small helium tank and DIY it at home.

Now that you know where to get helium balloons filled, it’s just a matter of choosing the option that works best for your party (and budget).