Helium Tank Hire for Balloons: Sizes and How It Works
October 15, 2026
Hiring a helium tank is the practical way to fill balloons for a party, a wedding, a shop opening or a weekly in-store display. A hired cylinder holds far more gas than a disposable party-shop canister, fills balloons faster, and goes back to the supplier when the event is over. This guide explains how helium tank hire works, the four cylinder sizes and how many balloons each one fills, the regulator and accessories you need, the safety rules, and how to order.
How helium tank hire works
Helium is supplied in high-pressure steel cylinders. With hire, you rent the cylinder rather than buy it, and Supagas exchanges it when it is empty. Supagas offers helium cylinders for hire in four sizes, C, D, E and G, so an occasional user can take a small cylinder for one event while a decorator or retailer keeps a larger one on hand. A hired cylinder is also far higher purity than a disposable helium kit. Non-refillable helium cylinders sold in Australia must have about 21 percent oxygen added under a mandatory safety standard, so they are around 79 percent helium at most, while Supagas balloon gas is above 99 percent helium.
The steps are simple. Choose a cylinder size based on the number and size of balloons. Send an enquiry to the Supagas helium team, who arrange the cylinder and its delivery. Fit a balloon regulator to the valve, inflate, and exchange or return the cylinder when you are finished. Hiring has two costs. The cylinder rental is for the cylinder itself and continues for as long as you keep it. The fill is the cost of the helium and is charged each time an empty cylinder is swapped for a full one. This is different from a disposable tank, where you pay once and throw the empty cylinder away. The helium itself does not expire or degrade, so a part-used cylinder with the valve sealed keeps its gas until the next event. Supagas also supplies helium and balloon accessories, including balloons and regulators, so the gas, the regulator and the balloons can come from one place.
Helium tank sizes and how many balloons they fill
Cylinder sizes are named by letter. The figures below are Supagas' own balloon capacity guide and are approximate; overfilling balloons reduces the count.
C size (0.6 cubic metres): fills about 50 standard 28cm (11 inch) latex balloons, or 18 balloons at 40cm. About 640mm tall and 6kg full. Suits a birthday or a small function.
D size (1.2 cubic metres): fills about 100 standard 28cm balloons, or 35 balloons at 40cm. About 645mm tall and 14kg full. Suits a larger party, a wedding table setup or a single retail display.
E size (3.5 cubic metres): fills about 300 standard 28cm balloons, or 104 balloons at 40cm. About 1,000mm tall and 26kg full. Suits decorators, event organisers and shops that inflate balloons every week.
G size (9.1 cubic metres): fills about 800 standard 28cm balloons, or 270 balloons at 40cm. About 1,580mm tall and 61.5kg full. Suits high-volume users such as balloon stylists, car yards and large venues.
Larger balloons use far more gas. A G cylinder fills about 800 balloons at 28cm, 200 at 42.5cm, 64 at 60cm and 27 at 90cm (3 foot). If your plan mixes sizes, tell the Supagas helium team what you are filling and they will size the cylinder for you.
What size helium tank do you need?
Count the balloons first, then add a margin of about 10 percent for balloons that pop or need topping up. As a rule of thumb for 28cm latex balloons: up to 50 balloons, a C cylinder; 50 to 100, a D; 100 to 300, an E; more than 300, a G. A shop offering balloon inflation as an add-on service typically runs an E, while a party at home is covered by a C or D.
Standard latex balloons float for around 8 to 12 hours, so inflate them on the day. Foil balloons last several days. Good-quality balloons, inflated properly, float longer.
Regulators and accessories
A helium cylinder does not fill balloons on its own. You need a regulator and balloons from Supagas, plus your own ribbon or ties. The regulator screws into the cylinder valve and controls the flow, and Supagas supplies several types:
Economy and deluxe regulators for latex balloons, with a tilt nozzle that releases gas when you tilt it forward.
Dual-tip regulators that fill both foil and latex balloons.
Precision Plus regulators.
Balloons are available in packs of 25, in the 46cm (18 inch) size. Compressed air cylinders, which need their own regulator, are an option for balloons that do not need to float, such as arches built on frames.
How to fill a latex balloon from a helium tank
Secure the cylinder upright so it cannot fall.
Remove the shrink wrap and the plug from the valve.
Screw the regulator into the valve until it is snug, then turn the valve handle anticlockwise to start the gas flow. Wear safety glasses when fitting and removing the regulator, because the helium is under very high pressure.
Slip the balloon neck over the nozzle and hold it firmly.
Tilt the nozzle forward to let the gas flow, and release it when the balloon reaches the desired size.
Remove the balloon and tie a knot before securing a ribbon onto the balloon.
When you are done, close the valve clockwise and tilt the nozzle to release the pressure left in the regulator.
Helium safety
Helium is non-flammable, non-toxic, colourless and odourless, and it does not react with other substances. The risks come from the pressure in the cylinder and from misuse of the gas.
Never inhale helium. Inhaling it displaces oxygen and can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, an embolism and asphyxia, which can be fatal. Supervise children around helium and balloons at all times. If someone inhales helium, move them to fresh air and call 000 if they are unwell.
Keep the cylinder upright and secured, protect the valve from damage, and use the gas for balloon inflation only. If the valve is damaged or will not operate by hand, do not force it; return the cylinder to the supplier. Cylinders belong in a well-ventilated area, not a hot car boot or a sealed cupboard.
Balloons are not for release. Supagas is a member of the Pro Environment Balloon Alliance and asks customers to keep balloons tied to weights, then pop them and put them in the bin when the event ends.
Where to hire a helium tank
Helium cylinders are supplied on rental and delivered by Supagas, with free delivery to most areas. Cylinders are not sold online and are not picked up over the counter, so the first step is an enquiry to the Supagas helium specialists, who confirm the size, arrange delivery and set up a regular exchange if you fill balloons often. Supagas has supplied gas locally since 1968. Supagas' balloon-grade helium is partly recycled from the boil-off captured when liquid helium is transferred for medical and scientific customers, which keeps gas in use that would otherwise be lost.
Frequently asked questions
How much helium do I need for 100 balloons?
One D cylinder (1.2 cubic metres) fills about 100 standard 28cm latex balloons. If any of them are 40cm or larger, step up to an E.
Can I hire a helium tank for one day?
Yes. Supagas rents helium cylinders to individuals and businesses. Send an enquiry, take delivery of the cylinder, and arrange the exchange or return when the event is over.
Does the helium tank come with a regulator?
The regulator is a separate item. Supagas supplies regulators for latex, foil and precision filling, and the helium team can supply the regulator and balloons with the cylinder.
How long do helium balloons stay up?
Standard latex balloons float for around 8 to 12 hours. Foil balloons can last several days. Using good-quality balloons and inflating them properly helps them float longer.
Is balloon helium the same as industrial helium?
Helium purity and supply formats vary by application. Balloon gas is industrial-grade helium, above 99 percent purity, partly recycled from liquid helium boil-off. Liquid helium is for scientific and industrial use and is never used for balloons.
Helium and balloon supplies from Supagas
Supagas supplies helium cylinders for hire in C, D, E and G sizes, plus regulators and balloons, delivered across Australia. Decorators, event organisers, retailers and party planners can set up regular supply. To hire a cylinder or get help choosing a size, send an enquiry through the Supagas helium page.