Choosing the Right Size Tent Rental:

A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re looking to host your upcoming event under a tent, it can be hard to determine what size you need. One question we commonly hear at FLEXX Productions is, “What size tent rental do I need?” With many tent styles and more than 100 sizes available in our inventory, our Event Specialists can help you narrow down your options to find the perfect size for your event.

When you contact our team to find out what size tent you need, one of our Event Specialists will ask questions to help determine the square footage you need. From there, we will discuss different options and styles to match your vision (and available space) for your event.

For those who prefer to determine the tent size for themselves, we have a handy step-by-step guide (and real-life example) we use to calculate the right tent size for your event and help explain our calculation method. Keep reading to learn more, and if you want guidance on what size tent you need, simply give us a call or book a showroom appointment today.

Will Your Tent Be Staked or Weighted?

First, we need to determine whether the tent can be staked into the ground, which is preferable. It’s best if the area for your tent rental allows for this. Staking a tent doesn’t cost extra and is available for all our tent styles. We can even stake into asphalt and provide asphalt patching at a much lower price than concrete weights.

If staking isn’t possible, we have tent styles that can be secured with concrete weights. However, our tension-based options, like the Pole and Tidewater tents, must be staked into the ground.

Example: A recently engaged bride calls to determine what size tent she needs for her wedding reception. Her backyard has beautiful views of the front range and she can’t think of a better spot to host the wedding reception. She lets you know that the reception tent can be staked into the ground.

Call us today to find out more about staking and weighting tents.

Gathering the Details About Your Event

Next, our Event Specialists will gather the information about your event to better understand what will go under the tent, along with the square footage needed. This ultimately helps us determine the best tent rental size for your needs. Once we have all the necessary details, we will build a complimentary custom CAD layout to visualize how everything might look under the tent.

Here is a list of questions to help narrow down what will go underneath the tent:

• Will all your guests be seated? If so, will they be sat on round or rectangular tables? How many guests per table? From there, you can determine how many guest seating tables you require. For weddings, don’t forget to include a head table or sweetheart table. 
• Do you require a dance floor or stage? If so, what size?
• Do you need tables for a buffet? 
• Will you have a cocktail or bar area under the tent? 
• What additional tables do you require? Some examples include a cake table, gift/card table, or silent auction table(s). 

Example: The bride is estimating about 80 guests. She would like tables of eight and will have a head table of 16. The dance floor will be 12’ x 12’ with no stage, but needs room for a DJ table. Dinner will be a buffet, so she would like two tables for the food, plus, a table for the cake. The cocktail hour will be outside, but she wants one bar under the tent.

Reach out to our Event Specialist team today to receive your complimentary layout!

Calculating the Square Footage for Your Tent Rental

When planning what goes under the tent, figuring out how many tables you need is key to determining the tent size. We estimate that each table takes up about 100 square feet. While some tables might need a bit more or less space, using 100 square feet keeps things straightforward. For larger items, like a dance floor or stage, we will measure them by multiplying their width by their length

Example:

• Guest Seating = 800sqft (64 guests/8 guests per table is 8 tables for guest seating)
• Head Table = 400sqft (Based on 4 chairs on one side of each table, the head table will need 4 tables to accommodate 16 people)
• Dance Floor = 144sqft (12’ x 12’)
• DJ = 100sqft
• Buffet & Cake Tables = 300sqft (2 buffet tables + 1 cake table)
• Bar = 100sqft
• Total Square Footage required = 1,844sqft

Need some event inspiration? Check out our gallery, where you will find photos for various types of events including weddings, corporate functions, non-profit events and fundraisers, festivals, and more.

Determining the Tent Profile Size

Now that you have determined the square footage, you can learn what size tent will work best for your event. First, consider whether the space where the tent will go has any size restrictions. Is the space long and narrow? Then, perhaps a 20’ wide tent is the best option for your space. Do you have multiple acres to work with? Then, the sky’s the limit! You can compare various tent sizes and layouts to see what fits your event the best.

Example: The bride mentioned her backyard can only fit a tent that is 30’ wide. Therefore, to determine the length of the tent, simply divide the square footage by 30’ (1,844 divided by 30). Based on our example, a 30’x60’ tent is the perfect size for our bride’s wedding reception. 

Watch our video, which guides you through the different tent styles and width profiles, as well as a range of features, add-ons, and other accessories we offer.

FLEXX Has You Covered With 5-Star Tent Rentals for Any Event

We hope this step-by-step guide helps you determine the best size tent rental for your event. Please don’t hesitate to contact our Event Specialist team Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. We’re happy to help walk you through these steps and create your complimentary quote and layout for your event.

With over 20 years of experience in the tent rental industry in Colorado, Wyoming, and beyond, our team is here to help! With our wide variety of tent styles and sizes, we have the perfect tent rental for your event. Give us a call today or book a showroom appointment with one of our Event Specialists.