How to Make a Balloon Arch for Your Next Big Party for 2025

You may have attended an event with stunning balloon decorations and wondered how to make a balloon arch for your own party. While you can hire a company or business to create a spectacular balloon display, it can be a costly investment. A balloon arch can cost between $100 and $1,000 or even more, according to Balloon HQ. The final cost comes down to the quality of the materials and the size and design of the arch.

However, if you’re not looking to spend that much on balloon decorations, you’re in luck because you can create your own. So, are balloon arches easy to make? They are! You can easily create a balloon arch with easy-to-find supplies and the right tutorial.

You can learn how to make a balloon arch, garland or other decor that will amaze your guests with the stunning decor you created. Whether it’s for a birthday party, baby shower or a work function, a balloon arch will be a wonderful addition. Here’s a guide on how to make a balloon arch that anyone can use.

 Jump to Section

• How to Make Balloon Arch Stand at Home
• How to Make a Balloon Arch Without Stand
• How to Make a Balloon Garland
• How to Make a Balloon Arch FAQ

How to Make Balloon Arch Stand at Home

You Will Need

If you’ve been wondering how to make a balloon arch stand at home, here’s the first guide. A balloon arch stand is the structure that will hold and support the decorative arches. There are a few ways you can make a balloon arch stand. One option is to purchase a kit and assemble it into pieces. This is a good idea if you’re short on time and want to get the stand finished quickly.

Another option for how to make a balloon arch is to do it yourself completely. For this project, you’ll need flexible rods you can purchase at a home improvement store. The length of the rods you need will depend on how tall and wide you want the arch to be. It can be helpful to sketch out plans of the dimensions and then purchase the rods following that.

Be sure the rods are thick enough to stand and support their own weight as well as the weight of the balloons. Along with the rods, you’ll also want weights to help weigh down your frame at the base. This will ensure your arch stays in place and won’t fall over, especially if your event is outside.

For a DIY balloon arch, you will also need common tools such as pliers, scissors, screws and a drill. You may also need rod couplers and wire.

What materials do you need to make a balloon arch? Other than the materials for the stand, you will, of course, need balloons. Opt for different sizes and colors to give the arch texture. You’ll also want a pump to inflate the balloons and tail clips that can make it easier to make balloon clusters and attach them to the stand.

As you consider how to plan a birthday party or other event, don’t forget to give yourself ample time to plan and execute a balloon arch. You may want to set the frame up the day before so you don’t have to rush putting it together the day of the event.

Instructions

The first step to creating a balloon arch is drawing out the design. Decide the height, width and shape of the arch. Measure out the space you want to put it and include those measurements in your design.

After purchasing the needed rods, measure and cut them to the dimensions in your design. To create curved pieces, slowly bend the flexible rods into the desired shape, moving inch by inch to create the curvature. You can also insert a wire into the tube to help the rod maintain its rounded shape.

Connect the pieces with rod couplers. Use elbow fittings for the arch curves and straight ones for the sides of the stand. Once everything is fastened, you can connect the arch to the base and add the weights. Now you’re ready to decorate with balloons.

How to Attach Balloons to The Stand

Now that it’s time to decorate, your next question might be, “How do you attach balloons to a balloon arch?” There are a couple of options for how to make a balloon arch. You can use balloon clips and rings. Attach individual balloons to them, then slide the ring over the frame. This is a durable option that’s good for outdoor events.

For indoor events, you can use a balloon ribbon to hold all of your balloons and then wrap that around the frame. Use small glue dots on smaller balloons to fill in gaps. You can also tie balloons directly to the frame itself.

With the many different ways for how to make a balloon arch, you can choose the method that works best for you and your event location. You can take online art classes to inspire your creativity or try new artistic avenues.

How to Make a Balloon Arch Without Stand

You Will Need

Though stands are common, there are methods for how to make balloon arches without a stand. Depending on the method you choose, you will need different materials. If you're making a balloon arch with a strip for example, you’ll need ballon tape and glue dots.

Wondering how to make a balloon arch with string? Use a heavy-duty string, twine or ribbon. Glue dots and a large blunt needle can come in handy for this method too.

For all of these methods, you’ll also need balloons of various sizes and colors and a pump to inflate the balloons. Before you make your party checklist, choose a way of making a balloon arch so you can plan which tools you’ll need accordingly.

Instructions

Wondering how to make a balloon arch in a home? All three of the above methods will work well for an event thrown inside a house. These methods are also customizable, so you can make the arch as large or small as necessary.

Here’s how to make a balloon arch with a strip. Blow up the balloons and pop them through the holes of the band. Be sure to put a balloon through each hole to give it a full look. Then, you can hang the garland wherever you want in your home. Secure it to the wall with adhesive strips or glue dots.

Here’s how to make a balloon arch with string. After blowing up and tying off your balloons, thread the needle with a fishing line. Then, carefully poke the needle through the tail of each balloon and push them down the line. Thread and bunch the balloons together until you reach the end of the fishing line. Tie it off and trim the excess string. Wondering how to make a balloon arch with this? Suspend it with a string to create the shape.

If you’re wondering how to make a balloon arch on a wall, you’ll want to use one of the above two methods. Then, use adhesive hooks to secure the arch onto the wall. For each type of balloon arch, you can use smaller balloons, fake foliage and flowers to fill in some of the gaps.

How to Make a Balloon Garland

You Will Need

Learning how to make a balloon garland is similar to making a balloon arch. However, balloon garlands can often look a little more sophisticated and whimsical, making them a good option for a cocktail party or an adult event. With a balloon garland, you have more options with shapes, allowing it to be displayed on a mantel, from the ceiling or as a half arch shape.

To make a balloon garland, you’ll need balloon garland strips, balloons, a pump and glue dots.

Instructions

Here’s how to make a balloon garland. Start by inflating all your balloons then tie them off. Then, poke the tails of the balloon through the holes on the garland strip. Be sure to fill all the holes to ensure you have a full garland. Mix up sizes and shapes to give the garland visual interest.

Once all the holes are full, your garland is complete and you can hang it wherever you want to display it. The best way to display a garland is to hang it with adhesive hooks like Command hooks. You can use string to tie the balloon strips to the hooks to make them extra secure. Attach a balloon garland to the wall, ceiling or another fixture of the event space.

How to Make a Balloon Arch FAQ

What Materials Do You Need to Make a Balloon Arch?

Learning how to make a balloon arch is a relatively easy task. The materials you need are easy to source and there are also kits you can purchase that have all the materials you need. Balloon arches and garlands are fun craft ideas to help bring your parties to life.

Wondering how to make a balloon arch with ease? Of course, you’ll need balloons. The length of your arch or garland will determine how many balloons you need. A good rule of thumb is to take the length of your garland and multiply it by 10 for an approximate amount of balloons. Opt for a variety of colors and sizes.

Depending on your method of creating the arch and hanging it, you’ll also need balloon clips and rings, garland strips, glue dots, adhesive strips and hooks, string or fishing line and/or a blunt needle. To make the arch frame, you’ll need flexible rods, rod couplers, wire and weights.

How Do You Attach Balloons to a Balloon Arch?

Similar to how there are many ways for how to make a balloon arch, there are also many ways to attach a balloon to an arch. During the party planning phase, you’ll want to decide on a method in advance.

You can use a balloon ring, which has clips to fasten the balloons to them before sliding over the arch frame. You can use a blunt needle and fishing line to create a string of balloons, then wrap them around the frame. Or you can use a balloon ribbon where the balloons are placed through holes before being wrapped around the arch frame.

No need to scour the internet for tutorials on how to make a balloon arch. This guide provides all the information you need to create stunning balloon decorations for any event on your own. Once you learn the basics of how to make a balloon arch, you can start experimenting and getting creative with different designs, balloon sizes and color palettes. Every event you throw now will feel special and customized.

For even more fun party decoration ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!