Tent hire for an event starts with two numbers: how many guests, and how much ground you have. A funeral at the family home, a wedding on a farm, a church crusade on an open field and a year-end function in a car park all need a different tent. Give us the guest count, the layout and the ground, and our form suggests a rough size. We pass your request to independent event tent firms near you, and they quote you directly. The request is free, with no obligation.
Types of event tent
- Peg and pole tents: canvas or PVC on centre and side poles, held by guy ropes and pegs; the common choice for funerals and church events; they need soft ground and room round the outside for ropes
- Frame tents and marquees: a clear span with no centre poles, can stand on paving with weights, and take sides, windows and doors
- Stretch tents: open-sided, pegged and shaped to the site, popular for weddings and garden parties
- Gazebos, often 3 x 3 m, for a small braai, a gift table or a market stall
How big a tent do you need?
Use rough floor space per guest: about 1.2 to 1.5 m² seated at round tables with room to serve, about 1 m² at long tables, about 0.8 m² in theatre rows and 0.6 to 0.9 m² standing. Then add room for a buffet, a bar, a stage or a dance floor. So 100 guests at rounds need roughly 150 m², about a 10 x 15 m tent, before the extras. Measure the ground and add a metre or two round a peg and pole tent for the ropes.
Ground, wind, rain and permits
Tell the firm where the pegs will go: water pipes, irrigation and paving matter. Wind is the main risk, so ask about the tent's wind rating and when it must be closed or taken down. Ask for sides for wind and rain, flooring on soft ground, and lighting and power for an evening event. Highveld storms, Cape winter rain and the summer south-easter all change the plan. Large tents and public events may need municipal approval and a fire safety check; bylaws differ, so ask the tent firm what applies.
What affects the price
Size, type, sides, flooring, lighting, the hire period, how far the crew must travel and how hard the site is to reach. Many firms quote the tent with chairs and tables as one package. Ask when the crew pitches and strikes, and whether a site visit is included.
What to include in your request
- Number of guests, seated or standing
- The ground and how much space you have
- Sides, flooring and lighting needed
- Buffet, stage or dance floor inside
- Address, date and pitching access
Tent Hire for different events
- Families and home celebrations: a tent in the yard for a lobola, an umembeso, a 21st or a family reunion
- Weddings and engagements: a tent on the lawn or farm for the ceremony and reception with sides on standby
- Funerals, memorials and unveilings: a peg and pole tent at the family home with chairs, pitched before the weekend
- Companies, conferences and functions: a frame tent in a car park or on a lawn for a launch or year-end function
- Churches and faith gatherings: a large tent on an open field for a crusade, revival or Easter gathering
- Schools, colleges and universities: tents on the sports field for a sports day, a fete or a prize-giving
- Municipalities, clubs and communities: tents for an imbizo, a market, a community meeting or a municipal event
- Venues, caterers, decorators and planners: tents for caterers and planners running events at venues without a hall
Frequently asked questions
What do tent hire prices depend on?
What size tent do I need for 100 people?
Can I get tent hire at short notice for a funeral?
What happens with a tent if it rains or gets windy?
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