List of Balloons that require the most helium

Thomas the Tank Engine--requiring more than 20,000 cubic feet of helium--is a recent example of a balloon requiring a record amount of helium to fly.

Every year, approximately 400,000 to 700,000 cubic feet of helium are used to inflate the balloons for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Listed below are the records for balloons that have required the most helium to be fully inflated.

To be eligible for this list, the balloon must be filled with at least 15,000 cubic feet of helium.

List of Balloons that require the most helium

1. Dexter's Laboratory - 21,700 cubic feet of helium
2. Wild Thing - 21,000 cubic feet of helium
3. Thomas the Tank Engine - 20,000 cubic feet of helium
4. Garfield (1st version) - 18,907 cubic feet of helium
5. Sonic the Hedgehog (1st version) - 18,900 cubic feet of helium
6. SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary (3rd version) - 18,000 cubic feet of helium
7. Baby Shamu - 17,000 cubic feet of helium
8. Rugrats - 16,780 cubic feet of helium
9. Blue - 16,500 cubic feet of helium
10. SpongeBob SquarePants (1st version) - 16,200 cubic feet of helium
11. "Super Cute" Hello Kitty - 16,200 cubic feet of helium
12. Abby Cadabby - 16,100 cubic feet of helium
13. Beethoven - 15,750 cubic feet of helium
14. Millennium Snoopy - 15,650 cubic feet of helium
15. Betty Boop - 15,500 cubic feet of helium
16. "Strike Up the Band" Barney - 15,370 cubic feet of helium
17. Clumsy Smurf - 15,050 cubic feet of helium
18. Spaceman - 15,000 cubic feet of helium
19. Quik Bunny - 15,000 cubic feet of helium
20. Arthur - 15,000 cubic feet of helium
21. Honey Nut Cheerios Bee - 15,000 cubic feet of helium
22. Snoopy as the Flying Ace - 15,000 cubic feet of helium
23. Pikachu with PokéBall - 15,000 cubic feet of helium
24. Kung Fu Panda - 15,000 cubic feet of helium
25. Green Eggs & Ham - 15,000 cubic feet of helium