The first thing to do is Measure your garden. If space is limited your guest list may be restricted by the maximum size of marquee able to fit in the space.
Once you have measured your garden you then need to work out if your guests will be seated or standing or a mixture of both.
Marquee seated capacity is calculated by using 5ft 6in round tables as is common in the marquee hire industry. This is the most efficient way to seat your guests to maximise space. Each 3x3m section of the marquee can fit 10 people at a 5ft 6in round table.
Standing capacity is calculated at 1.5X the seated capacity giving guests just under 1m square for dancing and space to move around.
It is also important to take into account buffet tables, dance floors, DJ or band areas as more space will be required for these. Buffet tables are usually 6ft trestle tables and don’t take up much room so an extra 2m at the end or side of the marquee is plenty. Bands and DJ’s take up roughly a 6m x 2m space to allow for all of their equipment and members.
Dance floors can come in various sizes but usually tables and chairs would be placed on the dance floor when guests are eating and then moved to the side of the marquee once the music starts in the evening.
Therefore, the best size marquee for 40 guests would be a 4x12m / 6x6m without allowing for extras. If you are having buffet tables or music, consider going up to a 6x8m / 6x10m marquee.
Below is a rough guide for marquee capacities and sizes. Hope this helps.
| Size of marquee/party tent (width first) | Capacity seated | Capacity standing | Prices (Including Delivery) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3m x 2m Marquee | 4-8 | 4-12 | £343.20 – £480.00 |
| 3m x 3m Marquee | 6-10 | 7-15 | £540.00 |
| 3m x 4m Marquee | 6-12 | 9-18 | £504.00 – £780.00 |
| 3m x 5m Marquee | 9-18 | 12-24 | £720.00 |
| 3m x 6m Marquee | 12-20 | 15-30 | £562.80 – £1080.00 |
| 3m x 8m Marquee | 12-24 | 18-35 | £681.60 – £1380.00 |
| 3m x 10m Marquee | 15-30 | 20-45 | £932.40 – £1680.00 |
| 3m x 12m Marquee | 18-40 | 27-60 | £1075.20 – £2280.00 |
| 3m x 14m Marquee | 21-44 | 35-75 | £1560.00 – £2280.00 |
| 3m x 16m Marquee | 24-50 | 34-75 | £1740.00 – £1980.00 |
| 3m x 18m Marquee | 30-60 | 35-85 | £1920.00 – £2160.00 |
| 3m x 20m Marquee | 35-65 | 35-95 | £2100.00 – £2340.00 |
| 3m x 22m Marquee | 40-70 | 40-75 | £2250.00 – £2520.00 |
| 3m x 24m Marquee | 40-75 | 40-100 | £2400.00 – £2700.00 |
| 4m x 4m Marquee | 8-15 | 10-22 | £570.00 – £1040.40 |
| 4m x 5m Marquee | 10-20 | 14-29 | £1020.00 |
| 4m x 6m Marquee | 12-24 | 18-35 | £718.80 – £1342.80 |
| 4m x 7m Marquee | 12-27 | 18-40 | £1260.00 |
| 4m x 8m Marquee | 12-30 | 18-45 | £885.60 – £1627.20 |
| 4m x 9m Marquee | 14-33 | 18-50 | £1506.00 |
| 4m x 10m Marquee | 15-35 | 18-55 | £1040.40 – £1929.60 |
| 4m x 12m Marquee | 20-48 | 25-70 | £852.00 – £2520.00 |
| 4m x 14m Marquee | 25-50 | 25-75 | £1800.00 – £2760.00 |
| 4m x 16m Marquee | 30-55 | 30-75 | £1980.00 – £3000.00 |
| 4m x 18m Marquee | 30-60 | 30-75 | £2160.00 – £3300.00 |
| 4m x 20m Marquee | 30-65 | 30-90 | £2340.00 – £3600.00 |
| 4m x 22m Marquee | 40-70 | 40-95 | £2520.00 – £3240.00 |
| 4m x 24m Marquee | 40-80 | 40-105 | £2700.00 – £3480.00 |
| 6m x 4m Marquee | 12-24 | 18-35 | £810.00 – £1518.00 |
| 6m x 5m Marquee | 13-32 | 20-48 | £1224.00 |
| 6m x 6m Marquee | 15-40 | 20-60 | £798.00 – £1758.00 |
| 6m x 7m Marquee | 17-45 | 25-68 | £1464.00 |
| 6m x 8m Marquee | 20-50 | 30-75 | £1106.40 – £2124.00 |
| 6m x 9m Marquee | 25-58 | 35-88 | £1704.00 |
| 6m x 10m Marquee | 30-65 | 40-95 | £1309.20 – £2502.00 |
| 6m x 11m Marquee | 30-70 | 40-110 | £1944.00 |
| 6m x 12m Marquee | 30-80 | 40-120 | £1440.00 – £2868.00 |
| 6m x 14m Marquee | 30-100 | 60-140 | £1684.80 – £3222.00 |
| 6m x 16m Marquee | 40-110 | 70-160 | £1869.60 – £3456.00 |
| 6m x 18m Marquee | 40-120 | 70-180 | £2084.40 – £3834.00 |
| 6m x 20m Marquee | 50-130 | 80-200 | £2311.20 – £4224.00 |
| 6m x 24m Marquee | 60-160 | 80-240 | £2716.80 – £4956.00 |
| 6m x 26m Marquee | 80-180 | 110-260 | £4080.00 – £5640.00 |
| 6m x 28m Marquee | 60-200 | 120-280 | £4320.00 – £6000.00 |
| 6m x 30m Marquee | 70-210 | 130-300 | £4560.00 – £6360.00 |
| 6m x 32m Marquee | 80-220 | 140-320 | £4800.00 – £6660.00 |
| 6m x 34m Marquee | 80-230 | 140-340 | £5040.00 – £6960.00 |
| 6m x 36m Marquee | 80-240 | 140-360 | £5340.00 – £7320.00 |
| 9m x 9m Marquee | 30-100 | 80-200 | £1680.00 |
| 9m x 13.5m Marquee | 30-120 | 80-250 | £2400.00 |
| 9m x 18m Luxury Traditional Marquee | 60-200 | 120-280 | £3240.00 |
| 9m x 18m Ultimate Traditional Marquee | 60-200 | 120-280 | £4440.00 |
