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Of the balloon pumps we tested, the Idaodan Portable Dual Nozzle Air Pump is the best balloon air pump. We chose it because of its convenient power cable management, colorful, fun appearance, dual nozzle action, kid-friendly safety and useability, and lightweight. Kids LOVE balloons, even adults too so if you’re looking for the best toys and games for your family, a balloon air pump may be unorthodox but it could very well be a smash hit.
We tested a number of popular consumer balloon air pumps to find the best one for you available on the market. We preferred balloon pumps that were designed to pump air and not helium, those that weigh no more than three pounds and have dimensions no bigger than 8.2”x 6.5” x 5.6”. For electric varieties, we preferred pumps that have air pressure ratings of 18,000 to 22,000pa, had at least two inflation nozzles and came in bright, festive colors. Keep reading to learn more about other high-grade balloon air pumps available for purchase.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: It’s ultra-compact (7.87”x6.29”x5.11”) lightweight (2lb), and rubber bottom grips keep it sturdy while still providing top performance and a fun, festive look.
Read Full Review: IDAODAN Portable Electric Inflator Decorations
The Idaodan Portable Balloon Air Pump is a dual-nozzle portable pump for latex non-helium balloons. It weighs 2lbs and has dimensions of 7.87”x6.29”x5.11”, making it one of the more compact and light models available. It features two regular and two small size nozzles which are rated at 18000pa-22000pa, and in addition to the standard power button, one large nozzle functions as a push-in power button for extra convenience. Additionally, it features rubber grips on the bottom to keep the pump from sliding off surfaces and being knocked over easily, and the standard two-prong power has a storage compartment with a snap-on cover built into the unit.
Its lightweight and compact size make it extra portable and easy to store while also being kid-friendly, and the rubber grips are great at keeping accidents at a minimum in a bustling room full of kids. It doesn’t come with balloons or any other accessories to make it out-of-the-box usable, but it’s got plenty of power for most of your needs, and it’s simultaneously kid-proof and kid-friendly, making it a top choice for any party or event. If you want to inflate your car’s tires, you may want to read our guide to the best tire inflater instead.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Offers plenty of power and performance and the addition of easy-to-switch automatic or manual inflation modes and a spare nozzle make it a generous package.
Read Full Review: YOFIT Portable Electric Inflator Decoration
The Yofit Portable Dual Nozzle Balloon Air Pump features two nozzles for large-mouth balloons and two for small-mouth balloons, and is designed for standard-sized latex balloons, with an air pressure rating of 18,000 to 22,000pa. It’s a somewhat heavier pump at 2.9 lbs with dimensions of 8.2”x6.5”x5.6”. It features a dual-action power switch- one short press turns on automatic mode, but pressing and holding it will put it in manual mode, which allows you to control the amount of inflation you give a balloon- which can be useful for, among other things, slightly under-inflating balloons to make them less prone to popping. If balloons popping is a big fear for you and your kids then we recommend something less likely to pop, that’s also great for your kids’ creativity, the best origami paper.
Its weight makes it just slightly less travel-friendly than some models. However, its high-performance power added control features that can help make less pop-prone balloons and included spare nozzle make it a great option for a more kid-and-accident proof pump that still has a fun and festive look, and it’s still light and compact enough to be fairly portable. For when you’re filling up your tires, you might also want to consider the best tire pressure gauge.
Award: BEST MANUAL
WHY WE LIKE IT: A budget-friendly pocket-sized hand pump that’s easy and fun to use while still getting the job done, and it’s great for handing out to guests who want to get in on the inflating action.
Read Full Review: Tota 2 Way Action Balloon Pump For Balloons
The Tota Hand-Held 2-Way Dual Action Balloon Air Pump is a manual plastic hand pump made to fit most standard size latex balloons. At 11”x1.97”x1.18” and an ultra light 3.2 ounces, it’s easy to take anywhere and doesn’t require power, making it safer for kids and great for outdoor use. Its dual-action design means that it pumps air while both pushing and pulling, making it more effective than most manual hand pumps.
It’s a great pump for handing out at parties for guests and kids who want to have fun inflating their own balloons, making it a great party favor. Its dual-action design and the fact that it doesn’t require power also make it a versatile pump, but its thin plastic construction makes it less durable than an electric pump. This also means it’s far less effective for large numbers of balloons. Still, for portability, fun, and ease of use, it’s a great cost-effective option that can add an extra dimension to parties and events. However, if you need a bit more power from the airflow, you’ll want a tire inflator and the best mechanic toolset.
Award: MOST PORTABLE
WHY WE LIKE IT: It’s super light-weight (1.2 lbs) and compact but durable and fully functional, with extra inflation options, including an off/off switch built into the nozzle itself.
Read Full Review: NuLink Electric Inflation Decoration
The NuLink Electric Portable Dual Nozzle Balloon Air Pump features two large mouth nozzles and two small mouth nozzles. One of the large nozzles can be pushed while the main power button is in the OFF position to activate manual inflation mode, allowing you to easily control the amount of inflation desired. It’s an ultra light 1.2 lbs with dimensions of 7 3/4″x5″x6″, and the power cord is easily stored in a built-in compartment while not in use.
The NuLink is significantly less powerful than many models, rated only for 13,000pa, which means it won’t handle high-volume jobs as quickly and efficiently as some. However, it’s also significantly lighter and smaller than most electric pumps, making it easy for kids to take to parties. The added option of manual inflation also means it’s slightly more versatile, making it a great, ultra-portable choice for kids and smaller parties. You probably won’t be able to use this for the tires on your best electric bike though.
Award: BEST INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
WHY WE LIKE IT: Fairly portable and with plenty of power, it comes with two removable small nozzles, 113 balloons of several varieties, balloon ties, tying tools, and more to let you get the party started right away.
The Kosbon Balloon Air Pump features two large nozzles (one flexible) and two removable small nozzles. It has an air pressure rating of 18,000 to 22,000pa and is designed to deliver ultra-fast, consistent inflation for standard size latex or similar balloons, and features switchable auto and manual inflation modes. At 3.44 pounds, it’s one of the heavier electric pumps available, and less compact than some at 8.3”x6.7”x5.9”, but is still reasonably portable for adults.
It comes packaged with a load of extras that give it by far the most out-of-the-box usability, including 90 colorful standard and 13 “Happy Birthday” balloons, 20 flower clips, 3 colored balloon ribbons, 2 tying tools, 2 rolls of decorative tape strip for connecting balloons, and a roll of stick-on decorative dots. It’s a great value for a full-featured, powerful pump loaded with enough accessories to start your party right out of the box. This will soon be among your best tools for setting up the party.
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Powerful, easy-to-use, reliable, and ultra portable, at just over 2 lb. This balloon air pump is an economical choice that is perfect for beginners and veteran partiers alike.
Read Full Review: MESHA Electric inflator Portable Decoration Balloon
This is an excellent all-around balloon air pump that’s reasonably portable, easy to use, reliable, and brightly colored for a festive look. Though it lacks any included accessories or unique functionality, it’s a great value for a high-quality pump that will suit most of your needs.
Award: FASTEST
WHY WE LIKE IT: Easy to use with plenty of power and size options for most jobs, its colorful look and included accessories, such as 100 balloon ties, make it a breeze to get the festivities started.
Read Full Review: Party Zealot Electric Inflator Decoration
The Party Zealot Balloon Air Pump features two nozzles for large-mouthed latex balloons and two for small-mouthed latex balloons. It weighs 2.25 pounds and has dimensions of 8.5”x7.1”x5.8”, making it slightly bulkier and heavier than many models. It has an air pressure rating of 18000pa-22000pa and can fill approximately 100 standard-size latex balloons in less than 30 minutes, making it one of the faster pumps on the market, and the standard power cable fits into its own built-in compartment for clutter-free storage.
Though its slightly increased bulk and weight make it a little less portable for kids, it’s still safe and easy to use for children and adults, and its increased speed makes it extra efficient and time-saving for larger parties and events, while still being colorful and fun to use.
Balloon air pumps are huge time savers for small events and parties that will give you more time to enjoy the festivities. If you have a lot of events and parties, buying your own is a good idea, and there are plenty of models on the market that work great while still being inexpensive.
We limited our testing to automatic balloon inflators and manual balloon pumps that pump air and not helium, preferring lightweight, easy to use pumps. For electric balloon pumps, we generally liked pumps which were rated to inflate latex balloons at a pressure of 18000pa-22000pa, had dimensions no bigger than 8.2”x 6.5” x 5.6”, weigh less than three pounds, and featured at least two inflation nozzles.
We also preferred pumps that had handy extra features like built-in balloon-tying mechanism, switchable autofill, and semi autofill power buttons, and power cables that collapse into the unit for easy, clutter-free storage.
We also favored pumps that came with an assortment of balloons to get you started. For our purposes, we stuck to pumps that were designed to inflate standard round latex balloons, not foil balloons or magic show balloons, and also left out professional balloon pumps, dedicated balloon animal pumps preferring more economical consumer models
