Marquee size calculator

Work out what size marquee you need, including space for a dance floor, bar or stage if you're planning one.

Guest area needed
150 m²
Extras area
0 m²
Total marquee size
177 m²
Nearest standard size
9m × 21m

How this is worked out

Guest area uses the same density figures as our guest capacity calculator. We add 20m² for a dance floor, 15m² for a bar area, and 25m² for a small stage or band area, then add a 15% margin for walkways and furniture edges. The nearest standard size rounds up to common UK marquee module widths (6m, 9m, 12m, 15m).

Worked example

100 guests seated banquet-style needs 150m². With no extras added, a 15% margin brings that to around 173m², which rounds up to a standard 9m × 21m marquee — a common hire size for events this scale.

Frequently asked questions

Does this include catering or bar tent space?

No — this covers the main guest marquee only. Caterers often need a separate prep tent, which most hire companies size separately based on your menu.

What if my site isn't a standard rectangle?

Use this as a target square-metre figure and discuss shape options (rectangular, hexagonal, or multiple linked marquees) with your hire company based on your actual site dimensions.


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