{Guest Post}: Determing Your Tent Size
There are many different types of venues and some require more logistical preparation than others. In particular, tented weddings require different consideration because one is building a facility, so to speak, from the ground up. A question I get all the time is, “What size tent should I rent? And how big should the dance floor be? “Even though your caterer will probably be taking care of the rentals for your wedding, you should know how to calculate what size tent / square footage you will need. You want to know what you are getting actually fits your needs.
The following are the standard industry formulas used to calculate what size tent and dance floor will be needed while insuring adequate space for any special event.
1st – Determine how many guests will be attending your wedding.
2nd – Determine the type of wedding your are planning:
Type: Calculate:
Stand up Cocktail 6 square feet per person
Cocktail some seating 8 square feet per person
Sit-down dinner at 8’ banquet tables 10 square feet per person
Sit-down dinner at 5’ round tables 12 square feet per person
3rd - Additional uses of space to consider and add to the above calculated number are:
If you are having: Add:
Dance floor 5 square feet per person
3 piece band 100 square feet
5 piece band 250 square feet
7 piece band 300 square feet
12 piece band 450 square feet
DJ area 200 square feet
Buffet area /lines 100 square feet per 50 guests
Beverage service area 50 square feet each
Keep in mind that generally no more than half of your guests will be dancing at one time.
That’s 50% of your guests and each couple requires 10 square feet. So if you’ve got 100 guests,
You’ve got 50 couples. Next you split this number in half because no more than half will be dancing
at one time. This gives you 25 couples. Next multiply 25 x 10 square feet per couple equals a 250
square foot dance floor.
4th – You will then add all your calculations to determine the total square footage for the required tent size needed for a comfortable affair. Always lean toward larger for a comfortable affair.
A reputable tent company will always send a representative to do a survey of the area to be tented at no
extra cost. The representative will measure the proposed area to be tented, check the slope of the land and
surrounding area so that proper tent recommendations can be made. These calculations are not
meant to substitute the actual tent company’s survey and recommendations. These calculations are
meant to help you understand some logistics that go into having a tented wedding.
Submitted By: Stella Inserra
Stella Inserra is the principal event consultant of Simply Dazzling Events, a New York based wedding & event planning company. She is a featured planner on E! Style Network’s hit show, ‘Who’s Wedding is It Anyway?’
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This post is really helpful! Thanks for the advice.
this is good stuff!
Nice article, very informative. As a planner, I usually inquire with the rental or tenting company what size tent to have for the area, but now I can determine it myself. Thanks for a helpful article!
Tons of great info in this post! Very helpful adding the calculations for figuring out the square foot amount. Thanks!
Great post!I agree with Austin Weddings – great to have the calculations.