Good conference chairs for hire are chairs people can sit on for six hours: padded stacking or banqueting chairs set in theatre rows, at classroom tables or round cabaret tables. Firms supply them for AGMs, seminars, training days, product launches, church conferences and government imbizos in halls, hotels, offices and marquees. Tell us the number of delegates, the layout and the venue, and we pass it to independent event and chair hire firms who work in your area. They quote you directly. The request is free, with no obligation to accept any quote.
Which event chairs suit a conference
For long sessions, comfort matters more than looks:
- Padded stacking chairs: steel frame, upholstered seat and back, the usual conference chair
- Banqueting chairs: padded, often with a cover, for a conference with a gala dinner
- Folding chairs for short sessions or tight storage and transport
- Plastic chairs, sometimes with covers, for large outdoor or community gatherings
Some firms also have linking chairs that clip together so rows stay straight.
Layouts: theatre, classroom, boardroom, U-shape, cabaret
Theatre rows facing the front seat the most people in a room, at roughly 0.8 m² each. Classroom puts delegates at tables facing the front, for writing and laptops. Boardroom is one long table; U-shape suits training and discussion up to about 30 people. Cabaret uses round tables with one side left open to face the stage, good for group work and a meal. Whatever the layout, leave a centre aisle, side aisles and clear routes to every exit, and do not block fire doors. Add a few chairs for late registrations and the media.
Delivery, set-up and the venue
Ask the venue about access times, the loading bay, lifts and stairs before you book, because long carries and after-hours deliveries are charged. Many firms deliver stacked chairs the afternoon before and set out the rows for an extra fee; if your own staff set up, give them a floor plan. Count the chairs with the driver and sign the delivery note. If tables are needed for classroom or cabaret layouts, book table hire and cloths with the same firm.
What affects the price and what to ask
The chair type, the number, the distance, the time of delivery and whether the firm sets out the layout all affect the price. Multi-day conferences may be priced per day or per booking. Ask:
- Are the chairs padded, and what colour is the fabric?
- Do you set out rows and reset between sessions?
- Is there a charge for weekend or evening collection?
What to include in your request
- Number of delegates and days
- Layout: theatre, classroom or cabaret
- Venue, floor level and access times
- Chair type and fabric colour
- Set-up and resets between sessions
Conference Chair Hire for different events
- Families and home celebrations: a body corporate AGM or a family trust meeting held in a hired hall
- Weddings and engagements: rarely, though padded chairs are sometimes hired for a long church ceremony
- Funerals, memorials and unveilings: a memorial service in a hall where guests sit in rows for the eulogies
- Companies, conferences and functions: seminars, training days, product launches and AGMs in hotels, offices and marquees
- Churches and faith gatherings: church conferences, synods and revivals with long sessions in theatre rows
- Schools, colleges and universities: parents' evenings, staff development days and graduation ceremonies in a hall
- Municipalities, clubs and communities: imbizos, public participation meetings and union or stokvel AGMs
- Venues, caterers, decorators and planners: venues and conference organisers adding extra seats for a sold-out event
Frequently asked questions
How much do conference chairs for hire cost?
How many chairs do I need for a conference?
Will the hire firm set out the rows?
Are you a conference venue or hire company?
Conference Chair Hire by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg