Would compressed helium give an airship more lift?

Does compressed helium provide more lift per cubic foot than uncompressed helium, ignoring the container?

Probably not. Compression makes helium denser and would likely require equipment whose weight works against buoyant lift, but the answer remains tentative.

The conclusion is explicitly uncertain. Compressing helium would increase its density and require substantial pressure. Denser gas supplies less buoyancy for a given volume, and the compression system would probably add a further weight penalty. The likely tradeoff therefore favors a large volume of low-density helium over compact storage, although no definitive calculation is offered.