What Size Marquee Do You Need?

How to Choose the Right Marquee Size

Getting the right size is not complicated. Follow these five steps and you will be spot on.

Step 1: Count Your Guests

This sounds obvious, but get a firm number. Do not guess. Check your invite list and add 10% for unexpected extras. If you think 80 people are coming, plan for 88.

Step 2: Decide on Your Layout

How are people spending their time? The layout changes everything.

• Seated dinner (round tables): You need the most space. About 1.5 square metres per person.
• Seated dinner (long tables): Slightly less space. About 1.2-1.4 square metres per person.
• Standing / cocktail: About 0.8-1 square metre per person.
• Theatre style (rows of chairs): About 0.8 square metres per person.

Step 3: Add Space for Extras

Almost every event has something beyond just guests and tables. Think about what you need space for and add it on top of your guest area.

Step 4: Match to a Standard Size

Marquees come in standard sizes (6x6, 6x9, 6x12, 9x12, etc). Pick the size that fits your total space needs. When in doubt, go one size up. A little extra space is always better than feeling cramped.

Step 5: Confirm With Your Hire Company

Share your numbers with the marquee company. They do this every day and can confirm whether your size choice works. Companies like Silver Fern Marquees will visit your site and help you figure out exactly what fits.

Complete Marquee Size Chart

Here is a full breakdown of standard marquee sizes and how many people they fit for different event types.

Space Per Person Breakdown

Here is how much space each person needs for different event styles. These numbers include the space for chairs, tables, and basic movement.

Space for Dance Floors, Bars, and Stages

These extras take up more room than you might think. Here is how much space to budget for each.

Quick example: 100 guests at a seated wedding dinner (150 m²) plus a dance floor (25 m²) plus a bar (10 m²) plus a DJ area (8 m²) equals 193 m² total. A 12m x 18m marquee (216 m²) would give you comfortable room.

Common Marquee Sizing Mistakes

Here are the mistakes we see people make most often. Avoid these and you will be fine.

1. Forgetting About the Dance Floor

This is the number one mistake. People calculate space for tables and chairs but forget that a dance floor takes up a lot of room. For a wedding with 100 guests, the dance floor alone needs about 25-30 square metres.

2. Not Counting the Bar and Buffet

A bar, buffet, or food station takes up 8-15 square metres. If you are having both a bar and a buffet, that is up to 25 square metres of space you need on top of guest seating.

3. Going Too Small to Save Money

A cramped marquee is a miserable marquee. Your guests need room to move, chat, and enjoy themselves. If the budget is tight, it is better to have fewer extras in a bigger marquee than a fully loaded tiny one.

4. Not Checking the Ground Space

Make sure the flat area at your venue is actually big enough for the marquee you want. Marquees also need about 1-2 metres of clear space around the outside for guy ropes and access.

5. Forgetting Walkways

People need to move between tables. Caterers need to serve food. You need clear paths. This is already included in the "per person" numbers above, but if you are doing a custom layout, make sure you leave at least 1.2 metres for main walkways.