Michaels vs Factory Direct Party | Best Birthday Party Supply Stores

Item: Michaels vs Factory Direct Party
Rating: 3.5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

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2025 Birthday Party Supply Store Reviews

Here you can see how Michaels and Factory Direct Party match up head-to-head in a battle for the Best Birthday Party Supply Stores in 2025.

Michaels

Over 7,700 options for birthday party supplies, including licensed characters and sports teams
Frequent sales and discount codes
Options for in-store pickup (no charge), same-day delivery, or traditional shipping (free on orders of $50+)

Known for its vast selection of creative tools and materials, Michaels also carries over 7,700 party items, including licensed characters, themed kits, and even collegiate collections. You'll find frequent sales, promo codes, and practical perks like in-store pickup or free shipping on $50+ orders, making it both creative and cost-effective. However, it can be a little tougher to navigate than some rivals, and you won't see many customer reviews on individual products, particularly those from third-party sellers. Still, with an "A+" BBB rating and a 60-day return window, Michaels offers a reliable and imaginative place to stock up on supplies for your next birthday bash.

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Factory Direct Party

Solid all-around selection of party supplies (but not licensed characters)
Free shipping on orders over $49
Price match guarantee

Factory Direct Party is a solid option for stylish, budget-friendly birthday party supplies, especially if you're planning a celebration with a more neutral or upscale theme. While its birthday section doesn't include licensed characters and can sometimes suffer from out-of-stock inventory, the site still offers a wide variety of plates, décor, party favors, and more at impressively low prices - with free shipping on orders over $49 and no more minimum quantity requirements. With a 4.6-star average from nearly 6,000 verified buyers (many sharing real-life photos), a price match guarantee, and an easy 30-day return policy, Factory Direct Party isn't a bad option for your party planning (if they have what you need in stock!).

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Whether you're going big with balloons and banners or keeping it low-key with themed tableware and cake toppers, buying birthday party supplies online has become the go-to move for good reason. From first birthdays to milestone celebrations, the range of party supplies you can find online is huge - and way more convenient than running around town trying to gather everything in person.

After all, these days most people aren't just grabbing a generic pack of napkins and calling it a day - they're curating an experience. That means coordinating colors, matching character themes, and finding just the right decorations to make the birthday guest feel like a star.

Trends come and go, but some popular birthday themes have serious staying power. For kids, it's all about characters: Bluey, Paw Patrol, Frozen, Spider-Man, and the like. Adults often lean toward milestone themes like "Dirty Thirty," "Fabulous Forty," or "Cheers to 50 Years," with plenty of gold, black, or rose gold glitter. And gender-neutral, pastel-themed parties are also on the rise, especially for first birthdays or backyard celebrations. Balloon garlands, DIY photo booths, and coordinated color palettes are big right now too.

Of course, birthday party supplies cover more than just decorations. You might be shopping for paper plates, cups, napkins, and utensils, or maybe you're hunting down themed goodie bags, centerpieces, candles, balloons, photo backdrops, and yard signs. If you're crafty, you can go all out with custom creations, but if you're not, there are plenty of kits that make it easy to pull together a polished look with minimal effort.

So why are more people buying party supplies online instead of in-store? For one, a lot of brick-and-mortar party stores have closed, making it harder to shop locally. Even if you do have a store nearby, chances are they won't carry the full range of items you're looking for - especially if you want something trendy or personalized. Shopping online lets you explore hundreds of themes, compare prices, and get everything shipped right to your door, often with fast delivery or pickup options. It also helps reduce stress since you can plan ahead, check things off your list, and avoid last-minute chaos.

If you're browsing for the perfect place to buy birthday party supplies online, here are a few things to look for:

Theme selection. Make sure the site has a wide range of themes for different ages, interests, and vibes.
Customization options. Look for the ability to personalize banners, favors, or invitations to make the party feel extra special.
Shipping speed and cost. Check for realistic delivery times and reasonable shipping fees, especially if you're shopping last-minute.
Bundles and kits. Pre-packaged sets can make life easier and are often more affordable than buying everything separately.
Customer reviews. Feedback from other shoppers can give you a sense of quality and reliability before you hit "add to cart." Check for a rating from the BBB while you're at it.

Whether you're planning a simple gathering or an all-out bash, buying party supplies online gives you more options and less hassle - and the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have rated and ranked some of today's most popular stores, saving you even more time. Now all that's left is to buy the cake!

Birthday Party Supply Store FAQ

What kinds of birthday party supplies are available online?

The list of birthday party supplies available online is far more extensive than you could ever dream. It's likely you'll start shopping and find hundreds of accessories and items to spruce up your party that you never even knew you needed! You'll find the basics like plates, cups, cutlery, napkins, balloons, and games, party streamers, photo backdrops, costumes, treats, prizes, banners, and much more. You won't be lacking anything when the birthday party rolls around!

How should I choose a theme for my birthday party?

When you're choosing a birthday party theme for you or someone else, think of favorite TV shows, books, sports teams, vacation spots, hobbies, or movies and decide if there is something you want to base your celebration off of. It's likely that you will have a hard time narrowing down your options because there are so many fun party ideas to choose from! It might help to browse an online party supply store and go through the themes they have listed to see what has a good selection of inventory.

What age range can I buy birthday party supplies for?

We all have birthdays, so no matter the age, you'll find fantastic party supplies to throw a memorable birthday bash! Whether you're planning your baby's first birthday or your grandma is turning 100, you'll be covered. There are themes to fit all ages and plenty of decor to choose from.

How soon will I receive the birthday supplies I order?

All party supply stores have slightly different shipping policies and delivery times. Most of the time, you can order all your decor and expect to receive it in about a week. When you check out online, you'll get an estimated shipping delivery window depending on where you live. As long as you're planning ahead for your birthday party, you'll have plenty of time to receive your order and decorate for the event!

Are birthday party supplies expensive?

Not necessarily! It's a good idea to set a budget for your birthday party, otherwise you could end up spending a lot. If you really want to go all out and buy everything you can find to fit your birthday theme, it could be hundreds of dollars. However, birthday party supplies on their own aren't very expensive. The problem is really just that there is so much to choose from and it's hard to narrow down what you really need! It's a good problem to have.

How do I know what supplies I need to throw a birthday party?

If you do a quick online search for a birthday party checklist, you'll find tons of helpful articles! First think about what food you're having and what you need for eating and serving, then think of games you want to do, if you need to decorate an indoor or outdoor venue, if you want to send guests home with gift bags, etc. If you make a list beforehand, it's a lot easier to get all your online shopping done!

Can I return birthday party supplies I don't use or need?

Yes, most companies have a 30 day return policy (or longer) that allows you to return any new, unused items to them for a full refund. This is helpful since sometimes you don't use all the plates, tablecloths, balloons, or any other decor that you have to estimate for. Make sure to read the company's return policy and send the items back within the specified timeframe to get your refund.

Do I need to send out invitations for my birthday party?

Yes! Getting an invitation to a birthday party is half the fun! Nowadays a lot of people choose to do evites through text or email to save time and money on mailing things out. But if you're interested in doing mailed invitations, most party supply stores will have everything you need. You can choose the invitation design and envelopes to go along with them as part of your online shopping.