Make a Balloon Arch

" Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon
-Winnie the Pooh

A great close up of a pretty pink balloon arch.
Just think, you will soon be able to create a wonderful arch like this one!

Measuring for an Arch:

If your arch measurements are:
Wider than Tall: Width + Height = total length.
Width same as Height: Width + 1.5 (Height) = total length.
Width smaller than Height: Width + 2 (Height) = total length.

Approximate number of balloons needed per foot of arch:
11" balloons --- 6 per foot
14" or 16" balloons --- 4 per foot

How many balloons to buy:
Round off your total length to the nearest foot and multipy it by the balloons needed per foot. Order a few extras!.
The typical store bought laytex balloon is an 11" size.

Supplies Needed:

Make a sizing template out of a box. Draw an 11" diameter circle onto the box. Cut the circle out of the box. Hold the balloon in the opening of the box while inflating. When the balloon fills the opening you have inflated it to the correct size and it can be tied.

Putting the Balloon Arch together:

1. Leaving a three to four foot tail, fasten one end of the fishing line to a stationary object like the back of a chair or a heavy paint bucket. Don't cut the other end yet!

2. Inflate the balloons using the sizing template.

3. Tie two balloons of the same color together to create a set. Repeat with the other color to create another set.

4. Twist one set of two balloons around the other set to create a cluster of four balloons. The colors should alternate.

5. Hold the roll of fishing line in one hand and the balloon cluster in the other. Pull the line tight and wrap the fishing line around two or three balloons in the bunch. Repeat with another cluster, making sure to keep the line tight and to wrap around a couple of the balloons each time.

Rotate the clusters as you are putting them onto the line to get a swirling effect.

The clusters need to be packed onto the line tightly.

6. Continue along until you reach your desired length.

7. Wrap the line around each balloon in the last cluster, using a slip knot style loop to keep the balloons tight.

8. Tie the ends of the fishing line to your weights and set arch into its final destination.


If a balloon pops you can replace it by fastening it directly to the line.

Balloon Arch Fun:

Create a rainbow arch by attaching one color of balloon to the fishing line, another color to a different line and then attaching them all together.

Wrap columns using fishing line and balloons.

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Party Supplies

A great source for

Featured Item

11" latex balloons with glow-in-the dark stars Pack of 25.

Balloon Craft

Balloon Faces

Balloon Facts

The inside of a balloon can be treated with a polymer solution (a gel sold by the trade name "Hi Float") which coats the inside and clogs the pores.
Clogging the pores keeps the helium atoms from escaping and lets the balloon stay inflated for a week or longer.