Renting a tent, tables and chairs for a backyard party

We rent five tents, from a $100 pop up canopy to a $1,350 marquee that runs 80 ft long. The bigger three describe their space in square feet rather than in seats, so the choice comes down to three things: how many people you want sitting down, whether you have grass to stake into, and whether the tent can go up a few days early.

The five tents, and what each page says it holds

• 10x10 canopy tent, from $100. A pop up tent that fits two tables and 12 chairs very comfortably. The price includes the frame, the tent top, set-up and tear-down.
• 20x20 pole tent, from $295. Fits 6 tables and 36 chairs very comfortably. The same inclusions as the canopy.
• 20x20 marquee high peak tent, from $350. About 400 square feet under a tall peaked center. No seat count published.
• 20x40 marquee high peak tent, from $700. Roughly 800 square feet, built from two 20x20 high peaks.
• 20x80 marquee high peak tent, from $1,350. Roughly 1,600 square feet, built from four 20x20 high peaks.

For the two long marquees, the pages say they are big enough for a seated dinner for several dozen guests. That is the closest they come to a headcount, so if you are seating more than 36, bring your guest count to the quote and size the tent from there. All five are on our tents page.

At 20x20, a pole tent or a marquee

The two 20x20 tents are $55 apart and built differently. The 20x20 pole tent has its roof tensioned over the poles and roped out to stakes around the perimeter. The marquee is a freestanding frame with a tall peaked center.

What the extra $55 buys, according to the marquee page, is height: the peak improves headroom and airflow compared with low-roof canopies, and it makes it easy to string lighting, hang décor or suspend signage. The sides are open, and sidewalls can be added at an additional charge. The 20x20 set has four panels, two with clear vinyl windows and two solid.

So the pole tent is the one that publishes a seating count, and the marquee is the one that publishes the headroom. If the plan is dinner for 36, the pole tent answers the question on its own page. If the plan is string lights and a dance floor, the marquee is built for it.

Three rules before you pick a spot

The 20x20 pole tent and all three marquee pages carry the same notes:

Our FAQ says the same about the units we stake into the ground: the renter is responsible for having all utilities located before the party. A week is the minimum, so make the 811 call when you book rather than the week of the party.

The third rule is timing. Depending on the delivery schedule, tents are set up Wednesday to Friday for weekend events. For a Saturday party, expect the tent to be standing in the yard for a day or more beforehand, and pick a spot you can live with for that long.

The 10x10 canopy page does not carry any of those notes. If your only flat ground is a driveway or a patio, ask about the canopy when you call.

Tables and chairs

Our tables and chairs are priced per piece:

• 5 ft round folding table, from $16.50. Fits 6 people very comfortably.
• White 6 ft folding table, from $17. Also fits 6 people very comfortably.
• White folding chair, from $3.25.
• Cocktail table, from $25. A 36 in round top that adjusts from 30 to 42 in high, with seating for up to 4 adults. Black skirts are $10 each.

Two notes from those pages are worth reading before you order. The tables are rental tables, and covers are recommended; fitted Kwik-Covers are sold separately. The chair page says the chairs have been used and are not brand new for a wedding, and that they suit graduation parties, birthday parties and any outdoor event.

That is the opposite of the tents, where set-up and tear-down are in the price. Either plan for someone at the party to lay out the seating, or ask for the set-up fee when you book.

Two setups, priced from our pages

These use list prices only. Both come before the delivery fee, which our FAQ says is based on the miles to your event location.

• Twelve seated, $173. A 10x10 canopy tent at $100, two 6 ft tables at $34 and 12 chairs at $39. That is exactly the layout the canopy page says fits.
• Thirty-six seated, $511. A 20x20 pole tent at $295, six 5 ft round tables at $99 and 36 chairs at $117. Again, the layout its page publishes.

Swap the pole tent for the 20x20 marquee and the second setup becomes $566, with no published seat count to lean on. Past 36 guests, the marquees are sized in square feet, so the guest count is the number to send us.

The extras that change the plan

A dance floor needs a hard surface. The 15x15 dance floor is from $795 and measures 15.5 ft by 15.5 ft. Its page says it requires a hard, flat, level surface, and that setting up on grass requires a subfloor at an additional charge. Put that next to the tent rule above and the conflict is plain: the staked tents go on grass only, so a dance floor under one of them means the subfloor too.

A park needs its own power. For an event at a park or anywhere without electricity, our generator is from $250. It is a 5,500 watt unit that can power up to 3 inflatables, and the rental includes a full tank of gas that lasts up to 6 hours.

Drinks need somewhere cold. A 33 in cooler is $25 and holds up to 240 cans. The Fill N Chill table is also $25, and its tray holds up to 75 lbs of ice.

A large crowd may need restrooms. Our restroom trailers run from $1,420 for 2 stations to $2,199 for 5. Their pages ask for solid, level ground within 100 ft of both an electric and a water source, so check where your outdoor tap and outlet are before you pick the spot.

Where the real answer lives

Every figure above comes from our own product pages, and those pages are the authority for the item you want. Prices change, and the marquees publish square feet rather than seats. Tell us the date, the guest count and where the tent would go, and ask for the tables and chairs on the same quote.

Common questions