Marquees · Prices checked
Marquee hire: what size for your guests, and what it costs
The rule of thumb from an Australian marquee maker: about a square metre for every seated guest, half that standing. Add room for the bar, the buffet and the dance floor.
By Claire Dunmore · 2 min read
The size of the marquee is the decision everything else hangs on. Too small and guests are squeezed between tables; too big and it looks empty and costs more.
The square-metre rule
Barlens, an Australian marquee maker, gives a standard guideline: about 1 square metre a guest for a seated event, which allows for the tables and chairs, and about 0.5 square metres a guest standing, for a cocktail-style party.
Its worked example for 50 guests: a 6 x 6 metre or 10 x 3 metre marquee for a cocktail event, or a 10 x 6 metre marquee for a seated one.
Then add space for anything that isn't a guest: a bar, a buffet, a band or DJ, a dance floor (see the dance floor guide), and a clear path for catering staff.
What marquees cost to hire
| Marquee (Bargain Party Hire, Sydney) | Floor area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3m x 3m White Marquee | 9 m² | $250 |
| 4m x 4m Spring Top Marquee | 16 m² | $300 |
| 3m x 6m Pop-Up Marquee | 18 m² | $165 |
| 5m x 5m Spring Top Marquee | 25 m² | $400 |
| 3m x 9m Marquee | 27 m² | $480 |
| 4m x 8m Spring Top Marquee | 32 m² | $400 |
| 6m x 6m Spring Top Marquee | 36 m² | $450 |
| 4m x 12m Spring Top Marquee | 48 m² | $550 |
| 5m x 10m Spring Top Marquee | 50 m² | $600 |
| 6 x 9m pop up marquee | 54 m² | $550 |
| 4m x 16m Spring Top Marquee | 64 m² | $800 |
| 6m x 12m Spring Top Marquee | 72 m² | $750 |
| 5m x 15m Spring Top Marquee | 75 m² | $900 |
| 5m x 20m Spring Top Marquee | 100 m² | $1,400 |
| 6m x 18m Spring Top Marquee | 108 m² | $1,100 |
| 6m x 24m Spring Top Marquee | 144 m² | $1,800 |
From Bargain Party Hire’s published marquee prices, read 3 October 2026. A selection; more sizes on its site.
Pop-up marquees, the kind with a folding frame, are the cheapest option. Bargain Party Hire lists a 3 x 6 metre pop-up at $165 against $400 for a 3 x 6 metre white marquee. Whichever you choose, ask how the company handles high wind.
Before you book
- Ground. Ask whether the marquee is pegged or weighted, and whether pegs are allowed where you are putting it (not over pipes, cables or a sprinkler system).
- Weather. Ask about side walls, and what the company does in high wind.
- Permission. A marquee in a public park usually needs the council's consent. Brisbane City Council, for example, asks for management plans and a $20 million public liability certificate to book a park site for a large event; see the insurance guide.
The Arrival Planner
Enter the length of your entrance and your guest numbers. The planner works out the runner, the posts and ropes, the marquee floor and the dance floor, and prices them from published Australian hire lists.
- Red carpet
- Posts and ropes
- Marquee floor
- Dance floor
Rules: runners 1.2 m wide in 3, 6, 9 and 12 m lengths, posts about 1 metre apart on both sides (Events Fantastic); 1 m² a guest seated, 0.5 m² standing (Barlens); 30 to 40% of guests dancing at once, 0.37 to 0.46 m² each (Curated Events). Prices: Events Fantastic (carpet, + GST) and Bargain Party Hire (marquees, floors), read 3 October 2026. A guide, not a quote.