How to Make a DIY Beach Ball Arch For Your Next Party

Event stylist Lisa Maciel shares her expert tips for making a stable and stylish beach ball balloon arch

Co-authored by Lisa Maciel and Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: April 6, 2026 Fact Checked

Looking to make a ~splash~ at your next summertime party? Build a beach ball arch! This wow-factor DIY party decoration may look difficult, but it’s actually relatively easy and budget-friendly. All you’ll need is some beach balls, inner tubes (or swim rings), and a few other items—but don’t worry, we’ll walk you through this step-by-step tutorial to create the perfect DIY beach ball party arch. Plus, we spoke with an expert event stylist for insights into the perfect beach ball arch. Let’s dive in!

How do you make a DIY beach ball arch?

Event stylist Lisa Maciel says that you can use a balloon arch kit and just attach beach balls onto it with fishing line, glue, or Gorilla tape, or you can follow these DIY steps to design your perfect beach ball party arch:

Grab 2 large inner tubes, and (approx.) 11 beach balls and 10 small inner tubes.
Place the 2 large inner tubes on either side of your arch to form the base.
Apply a layer of latex glue to 1 of these tubes, then press a beach ball onto it.
Apply pressure for 20-30 seconds, then repeat this step on the other side.
On each beach ball, apply a layer of latex glue and place an inner tube on top.
Apply pressure to each inner tube for 20-30 seconds each.
Repeat these steps, alternating between sides, until your arch is fully formed.
If desired, secure your arch with rope, twine, or weighted bases.

1

Choose a location and size for your arch.

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Your arch should be taller than your guests and placed in an entryway. First, find a space at your party that will be a good location for the arch—you might be using the arch as a backdrop piece for photo ops, or as something your guests will walk through. If you plan for people to walk through the arch, consider the height of your guests. If you don't know the height of your guests, 7 ft (2.1 m) (or slightly smaller) is a decent size.
- You may want to look for an area that offers some support for the arch, such as an existing doorway. The arch should be self-standing, but any additional support can be helpful.
- Now that you have the location, determine how long you need your arch to be.^{[1]
  X
  Research source} Place one end of a piece of rope on the ground where the arch will begin, and place a rock on top of it.
- Then, run the rope along the area where you imagine the arch (use a friend and/or a step-stool to help you). Make a mark on the rope where it reaches the ground on the other side.
- Then lay your rope out straight and use a tape measure to determine the overall length (we'll explain how to decide how many balls and tubes you need below).
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Lisa Maciel is an event stylist and the CEO of La Vie Posh, and she’s spent more than five years as a specialist in event styling, balloon installations, and prop rentals.

2

Choose the size of your beach balls and tubes.

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You’ll need 2 large inner tubes, multiple smaller tubes, and beach balls. Your two large inner tubes will serve as the base for each side of the arch. Then, you’ll alternate between beach balls and small inner tubes until the arch is complete. So, to know how many of each inflatable item you’ll need, you’ll first need to select your materials and measure them!^{[2]
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- The most common size of beach ball is 11.2 in (28 cm), but they are also available in 16 in (41 cm), 24 in (61 cm), and other sizes.
- Inner tubes are available in a wide variety of sizes and thicknesses. You may need to purchase a few inner tubes, blow them up, and then measure them in comparison to your beach balls.
- As a general rule, though, you want the diameter of your inner tubes to be about the same length as the diameter of your beach balls.
- Alternatively, you can purchase a pre-made beach ball party arch kit that should come with all necessary materials!

3

Decide how many beach balls and tubes you need.

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Settle on an amount now that you know the size of your inflatables. Again, you already know that you need two *large* inner tubes. You’ll want an odd number of beach balls and an even number of inner tubes. So, let’s say your arch is going to be 20 ft (6.1 m) long, from end to end. Your beach balls are 16 in (41 cm), your large inner tubes are about 10 in (25 cm) thick, and your small inner tubes are about 6 in (15 cm) thick. In this example, your math would look like this:
- So 20 ft (6.1 m) is 240 in (610 cm). This is the total size of your arch.
- Your bases subtract 20 in (51 cm), which leaves 220 in (560 cm).
- The center beach ball (the one that makes the total number odd) subtracts 16 in (41 cm), which leaves 204 in (520 cm).
- Each beach ball-inner tube pair equals 22 in (56 cm), and 204 in (520 cm) divided by 22 in (56 cm) equals 9.27, which we can round up to 10. (If you round down, you won't have an even number.)
- For a 20 ft (6.1 m) arch with these beach balls and inner tubes, you will need about 11 balls, 10 small inner tubes, and 2 larger inner tubes.

4

Gather your materials and blow up all inflatables.

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You'll need inflatables, some sort of adhesive, and an air pump. Gather (or purchase) your two large inner tubes, your smaller inner tubes, and your beach balls. You may want to purchase a couple of extra balls/tubes, because it may take some trial and error to get your arch just right. Grab an electric or manual air pump to blow up your beach balls and tubes until they’re firm to the touch, but not over-inflated.^{[3]
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Research source} You’ll also need some sort of adhesive—our steps will primarily focus on using latex glue, but you can use “Gorilla tape,” suggests Maciel, or a similar adhesive.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Lisa Maciel
Event Stylist

Expert Interview}
- Maciel also recommends using “cold silicones” or “hot glue,” which shouldn’t pop the beach balls. However, this method can make the beach balls “a little messy [because], when you remove the silicone, it has all those [adhesive] hairs, but it is super easy to clean up” otherwise.^{[5]
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  Event Stylist
  
  Expert Interview}
- Another alternative is to simply tie the beach balls together, instead of using an adhesive (although this is probably better if you don’t live in an extremely windy area). “When you insulate a beach ball, notice that little loop that you close where you put the air in,” instructs Maciel. “You can tie those loops together with a fishing line!”^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Lisa Maciel
  Event Stylist
  
  Expert Interview}

5

Practice stacking the inflatables without adhesives.

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Place your two large inner tubes on the ground, on each side of where you imagine your arch being. Stack a beach ball on top of each large inner tube. Then, place a small inner tube on top of each beach ball. Continue in this pattern to make sure you like the design of your arch before you secure it with adhesives. You may need to enlist the assistance of a friend to help hold the beach ball arch in place as you practice building it.

6

Add adhesive between each inflatable to build the arch.

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It’s finally time to put the whole arch together! Build the arch out in the same pattern you did in the previous practice step—but, this time, you’ll glue or otherwise attach each inflatable to the next as you go, starting with the base, explains Maciel.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Lisa Maciel
Event Stylist

Expert Interview} First, apply a thin layer of latex glue (or your chosen adhesive) to one of the bottom base inner tubes. Press one of your beach balls against it and apply pressure for 20-30 seconds. Then, apply a thin layer of latex glue to the beach ball, and press one of your small inner tubes against it. Again, apply pressure for 20-30 seconds.
- Continue these steps, alternating between sides: do a few layers on the left, then a few layers on the right. Be sure to gently curve the balls and inner tubes in the shape of an arch.
- It is important to glue the pieces together with the arch standing up (as opposed to lying on the ground), in order for you to get the curvature just right.
- Also, be sure to glue the balls and tubes with the inflation tabs sticking out. This will allow you to add air as needed, and it will make it easier to disassemble the arch later.
- Have your friends hold the arch in place as you connect the two sides. The top or center of the arch will need the most support.
- Once the arch is completed, hold it in place as long as possible (i.e., at least 10-15 minutes) so that the adhesive starts to set. Then, don’t touch the arch for 5-6 hours so that the adhesive has time to fully cure.

7

Add optional supports, like rope or weighted bases.

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It’s best to weigh or tie your arch down, especially if it's outdoors. If you’ve constructed your arch near a solid structure (like an existing doorway), you can simply use rope or twine to help secure the arch. Loop a length of rope or twine around the arch in the top middle, then find a secure place to tie it to in the nearby area. Add another length of rope or twine on either side of the arch and secure those pieces, as well.
- While beach ball arches are generally more stable than DIY balloon arches, you can also use the same types of weighted bases that are used for balloon arches.
- You can fill these balloon arches “up with water or sand,” explains Maciel, to weigh down your beach ball arch and keep it from moving or flying away.^{[8]
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  Lisa Maciel
  Event Stylist
  
  Expert Interview}

8

Deflate your arch and take it down after your event.

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Let the air out of all your inflatables, then disassemble the arch. Open the nozzles on all of the inflatables. Untie any rope or twine you used to secure it. Give the arch some time (usually an hour or two) to deflate naturally. Squeeze the remaining air out, fold up the arch, and store it for future use. Or, if you don’t plan to use it again, you can disassemble it completely and recycle the inflatables, or donate them to a scrap crafts store.
- If you reuse the arch later on, you may need to use latex glue to re-secure any connection that may have come loose.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can you use hot glue on a beach ball?

Lisa Maciel
Event Stylist
Lisa Maciel is an Event Stylist and the CEO of La Vie Posh. With more than five years of experience, she specializes in event styling, balloon installations, and prop rentals. Her work has been featured in party blogs, including Kara's Party Ideas and Catch My Party. Lisa holds a degree in Interior Design from Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara.

Lisa Maciel

Event Stylist

Expert Answer

Sure, you can! A lot of people don't know that, but balloons and beach balls won't pop if you use a low setting heat gun. The downside of this is that you won't be able to use the balls again, as you probably won't manage to remove the glue.

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Question

How do you make a beach ball Garland?

Lisa Maciel
Event Stylist
Lisa Maciel is an Event Stylist and the CEO of La Vie Posh. With more than five years of experience, she specializes in event styling, balloon installations, and prop rentals. Her work has been featured in party blogs, including Kara's Party Ideas and Catch My Party. Lisa holds a degree in Interior Design from Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara.

Lisa Maciel

Event Stylist

Expert Answer

The easiest way is to buy a balloon arch in a store. This structure comes with two bases that can be filled up with water or sand. Then, you can start attaching the beach balls with hot glue or some tape, covering the whole structure.

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Can I make a beach-ball arch without the inner tubes?

Community Answer

No, since you need the support in the arch. If there's no support, within a few hours, it will fall and/or break.

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Things You'll Need

Rope and/or twine
Measuring tape
2 large inner tubes
An odd number of beach balls (i.e., 11)
An even number of small inner tubes (i.e., 12)
Electric or manual air pump
Latex glue (alternatively, Gorilla tape, cold silicone adhesive, or fishing line)
Weighted bases (optional)

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Tips

During the party, periodically check on the inflation level of your materials and add air as needed.

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As an alternative to this arch, consider creating a temporary arch (without glue) and giving out the beach balls and inner tubes as party favors.

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You can zhuzh up your arch by adding fairy lights around it or gluing on cute elements like sea creature toys or sunglasses.

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