Marquee and tent hire covers the frame tents that look and work like a temporary hall: an aluminium frame with a clear span, so there are no centre poles in the middle of your dance floor or your rows of chairs. Walls, windows, doors and a floor turn it into a closed room, and some can stand on paving, a car park or a sports field. Tell us the guest count and the site, and we pass your request to independent marquee firms near you. They quote you directly, free and with no obligation.
Frame tents, marquees and glass tents
A frame tent or marquee is an aluminium frame covered in PVC fabric, built in bays, so it can be made longer by adding bays. The main styles:
- Gable frame marquees: a pitched roof, clear span inside, the standard for weddings and functions
- Clear or glass tents: clear roof or walls for evening views and garden weddings
- Pagoda or peak tents: small square frames for entrances, bars and VIP areas
For open sides and curves, see stretch tents; for lower cost on soft ground, see peg and pole tents.
Sizing a marquee
Marquees are measured by width and length, such as 10 x 20 m or 15 x 30 m. Use rough floor space per guest: about 1.2 to 1.5 m² seated at rounds with room to serve, 1 m² at long tables, 0.8 m² in theatre rows and 0.6 to 0.9 m² standing. Then add the stage, a dance floor, the buffet and a bar. For 200 seated guests plus a dance floor, plan on roughly 300 to 350 m².
Site, weather and safety
Frame tents need fairly level ground, and on paving they are held down with weights instead of pegs, so give the firm the surface and any slope. Walls and doors keep out Cape winter rain and Highveld wind; ask about gutters between joined tents, a raised floor on soft ground, and lighting, power and air flow on hot days. Large marquees and public events may need municipal approval and a fire safety check, with clear exits; bylaws differ, so ask the firm.
What affects marquee prices
Size, walls, windows and doors, flooring, lighting, how long it stays up and the crew's travel. Big marquees can take a day or more to build, so ask when they pitch and strike. Many firms quote tables and chairs and linen with it.
What to include in your request
- Number of guests and the layout
- Surface and the space available
- Walls, windows, doors and flooring
- Stage, dance floor, bar and buffet
- Build and strike times you can allow
Marquee and Frame Tent Hire for different events
- Families and home celebrations: a frame tent on the lawn for a milestone birthday or a big family celebration
- Weddings and engagements: a walled marquee for the reception with a dance floor and no centre poles
- Funerals, memorials and unveilings: a closed frame tent for a large funeral or memorial when rain is likely
- Companies, conferences and functions: a marquee in a car park for a launch, an expo or a staff year-end function
- Churches and faith gatherings: a long frame tent for a church conference, a revival or an Easter gathering
- Schools, colleges and universities: a marquee on the field for a matric farewell, a graduation or a centenary
- Municipalities, clubs and communities: frame tents for municipal events, agricultural shows and community festivals
- Venues, caterers, decorators and planners: marquees for venues, caterers and planners adding space for big bookings
Frequently asked questions
What do marquee tent hire prices depend on?
What is the difference between a frame tent and a peg and pole tent?
How far ahead should I book a marquee for a wedding?
Do you put up the marquee yourselves?
Marquee and Frame Tent 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