Whether you need latex helium balloons to help celebrate the birth of a baby, your child's graduation, or a wedding, you may want to be sure you first know the difference between latex and Mylar balloons and the advantages and disadvantages of each before you make a final decision.
Latex balloons are actually made using a type of liquid rubber while Mylar or foil balloons are made using a nylon sheet that is covered with metallic materials and plastics.
Advantages And Disadvantages of Latex Helium Balloons
The biggest advantage or benefit to using latex balloons is the fact that they are much less expensive than foil balloons. If you're thinking about using a lot of balloons, it would be more cost-effective if you used latex, because you'll get a lot more balloons for the money. Latex balloons are available in all different colors and they can be filled with water, air or helium, making them very versatile.
The major drawback to using latex is that they pose a major choking risk for children. They are also slightly porous, making it easier for the helium or air to seep out fairly quickly. If you'll be celebrating in cool temperatures, this will also cause helium-filled latex balloons to deflate faster.
Advantages And Disadvantages of Mylar or Foil Balloons
The biggest benefit to using Mylar balloons is that the material is non-porous, so they stay filled with helium much longer than latex. They are also easier to print on and they are available in all kinds of different themes, shapes and sizes.
The only potential drawback to foil balloons is that they are much more expensive than latex. You'll want to consider how many balloons you need before you decide whether to purchase latex, Mylar or a combination of both.
How Long Will Helium Balloons Last?
The amount of time a balloon will hold helium depends on whether it is latex or Mylar, and the air temperature. Latex balloons will only hold helium for 12 to 24 hours which is perfect if you don't need much set up time for the event. The Mylar or foil type may hold helium for up to 1 to 2 weeks, because they don't allow nearly as much seepage as the latex type does. If the event you're planning requires a bit of set up time, you may want to consider getting a few Mylar balloons.
What Size Balloons Should I Use?
This will all come down to personal preference, your budget and the amount of space you have to work with. If you don't have a very large area, you aren't going to want a bunch of huge balloons taking up unnecessary space, but if you do have a large area, then you may consider purchasing a large amount of latex helium balloons.
If you need your balloons to last up to 24 hours and you want to keep your costs as low as possible, it would be best to go with the latex type. You could always mix in a few of the Mylar balloons to make things more interesting.
