Helium Balloons: How Long They Float, Which to Choose and How to Send Them
Helium balloons come in two main kinds: latex balloons, which are soft, bright and best for a party on the day, and foil balloons, which hold helium much longer and are used for numbers, letters and shaped designs. At Pyat Tsvetov we sell both, along with balloon bunches and sets, on their own or together with a bouquet, and deliver them with our own couriers.
Customers in our Saint Petersburg shops ask the same handful of questions about balloons every week: how long they will stay up, whether they survive a frosty walk from the car, how many to put in a bunch, and what to pair them with. This guide collects those answers in one place, so you can order for a birthday, a hospital discharge or an anniversary in Russia from anywhere in the world.
Latex or foil: the first thing to decide
Latex balloons are made of natural rubber, which is slightly porous, so helium gradually escapes through the walls. An ordinary latex balloon usually floats well for about half a day to a day, which is perfect when the party is that evening but disappointing if the balloons arrive two days early. They are inexpensive, come in many colours, and look best in groups, where a bunch of fifteen reads as a single bright cloud.
Foil balloons are made of metallised film with sealed seams and hold helium far longer: several days is normal, and a good-quality foil balloon kept indoors often floats for a week or more. They are the material for numbers, letters, hearts, stars and character shapes. Because they do not stretch, they keep their exact shape, which matters when the balloon spells a name or an age.
Many of the best sets combine the two. A large foil number surrounded by a cluster of latex balloons in matching colours gives the photo moment of the number and the volume of the latex. When you choose a set, look at the colour palette as a whole, the same way you would look at a bouquet: two or three colours in harmony look more expensive than six competing ones.
How long helium balloons last, and what shortens it
Heat, sun and sharp edges are the main enemies. Helium expands when warm, so a balloon left on a sunny windowsill or next to a radiator is under extra stress and can burst or leak faster. Keep balloons in a room at a normal temperature, away from heaters, candles and the corners of furniture, and keep pets with claws at a safe distance.
Cold works the other way. Helium contracts in frost, so balloons carried outside in a Petersburg January will shrink and droop within minutes. This looks alarming but is usually temporary: once they are back in a warm room, they gradually fill out and lift again. Carry them quickly between the car and the door and avoid leaving them in a parked car overnight.
Time of delivery matters more for latex than for foil. If the celebration is in the evening, have latex balloons delivered the same day, ideally a few hours before guests arrive. Foil balloons can arrive a day or two earlier without any loss, which is useful when you want everything in place before a surprise.
Ceiling height is a practical detail people forget. A bunch of balloons on ribbons will rise to the ceiling, so check that the ribbons can be reached and that the room has no ceiling fan. In a high hall, tie the ribbons to the back of a chair or to a heavy object on the table, so the bunch stays at eye level for photos.
Bouquets we can deliver
Number and letter balloons for birthdays and milestones
Number balloons are the most requested item in our balloon section, mostly for children's birthdays and round anniversaries: 1, 18, 30, 50, 70. A single large number is enough for a small flat; for a hall or a restaurant two numbers side by side, for example a 4 and a 0, make a clear focal point. Gold, silver and rose gold read well in photos, while bright colours suit children's parties.
Letter balloons spell names or short words such as LOVE or a child's name for a first birthday. Keep it short: a name of four to six letters is effective, a long sentence becomes hard to arrange and to read. Letters are usually placed against a wall or a window, so measure the space roughly before choosing how many.
For a hospital discharge after a birth, balloons are a tradition in Russia, often blue or pink with a bouquet for the mother. Families usually meet the mother at the entrance, so time the delivery to the family member's address before they leave, rather than to the hospital itself.
Pairing balloons with a bouquet
Balloons and flowers do different jobs. Balloons create the party atmosphere in the first hours; the bouquet stays for a week or more and is what the recipient looks at long after the balloons have come down. Ordering both together means one delivery, one courier call and one moment of surprise instead of two separate doorbells.
Match colours rather than duplicating them. White and silver balloons with a bouquet of pale pink roses look calm and elegant; a bright yellow-and-orange balloon bunch suits sunflowers, gerberas or a cheerful mixed bouquet. With a large number balloon, a compact bouquet works better than a huge one, because both compete for attention in the same photo.
Keep balloons and flowers apart once they arrive. A balloon resting on a bouquet can be pierced by stiff stems or wire, and the bouquet needs water straight away. Put the flowers in a vase first, trim the stems by 1-2 cm, and then arrange the balloons nearby.
Safety notes worth passing on
Burst latex balloons and their fragments are a choking hazard for small children, so collect the pieces straight away and do not let toddlers chew balloons or ribbons. Foil balloons conduct electricity and should never be released outdoors near power lines. Inhaling helium for a funny voice is not harmless either: it displaces oxygen in the lungs, and adults should not encourage it at children's parties.
When the celebration is over, do not release balloons into the sky. Deflate foil balloons by cutting just below the valve and pressing the air out; some people flatten and keep number balloons as a memento. Latex balloons can be popped and thrown away with household waste.
Ordering balloons from abroad with Pyat Tsvetov
Balloons are in the "Balloons" section of our catalogue: see the balloon range (the page is in Russian, but the photos make choosing simple). You can order them on their own or together with a bouquet from the bouquets catalogue. The operator confirms availability of the balloons for your delivery address when confirming the order, so you know before delivery exactly what will arrive.
We have been running our own flower shops in Saint Petersburg since 2011, and we deliver across Russia. Delivery within the city costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In Saint Petersburg we deliver around the clock, which helps when a birthday starts at midnight. In large cities, express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, or you can choose an exact time give or take 30 minutes, a window (09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21), or a date up to 30 days ahead.
You can pay online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted via Robokassa, so ordering from outside Russia is simple. Delivery is anonymous by default, and the card with your message is free. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival; if nobody is home, we agree a second delivery the same day or hand the order to a neighbour or concierge with your consent. Full terms are on the delivery and payment page, and for questions call 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Frequently asked questions
How long do helium balloons float?
Latex balloons usually float well for about half a day to a day, so they are best delivered on the day of the event. Foil balloons hold helium much longer, often a week or more indoors.
Can I order balloons together with flowers?
Yes. We sell helium latex and foil balloons, number and letter balloons, bunches and sets, on their own or with a bouquet, and the operator confirms availability for your address.
Why did my balloons shrink outside?
Helium contracts in the cold, so balloons droop in frost. Bring them into a warm room and they usually fill out again within a short time.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Yes, foreign bank cards are accepted via Robokassa. You can also pay by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay on the site.
Will the recipient know who sent the balloons?
Only if you tell them. Delivery is anonymous by default, and you decide whether to sign the free card.
Ready to send a bouquet?
Pick a city, choose the flowers, and we will hand them over with a photo confirmation.
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