Common tent sizes and capacities
| Tent | Sq ft | Seated (rounds) | Cocktail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 x 20 | 400 | 32 | 66 |
| 20 x 40 | 800 | 66 | 133 |
| 30 x 45 | 1,350 | 112 | 225 |
| 30 x 60 | 1,800 | 150 | 300 |
| 40 x 60 | 2,400 | 200 | 400 |
| 40 x 80 | 3,200 | 266 | 533 |
Capacities above are furniture-free maximums; dance floors, buffets, bars, and stages all eat into them, which is what the toggles in the calculator account for. Size the dance floor itself with the dance floor calculator, and count the tables and chairs going under the tent with the banquet seating calculator.
Common questions
What size tent do I need for 100 guests?
For a seated dinner on 60 inch rounds, 100 guests need about 1,200 sq ft, so a 30 x 45 ft tent. Add a dance floor and buffet and you are at roughly 1,600 sq ft, a 30 x 60 ft tent. Cocktail-style, a 20 x 40 covers the same 100 guests.
What size tent for 150 guests with a dance floor?
Seated on rounds, 150 guests need about 1,800 sq ft, plus roughly 270 sq ft of dance floor and buffet space, landing near 2,300 sq ft, so a 40 x 60 ft tent.
How many square feet per person under a tent?
Use 12 sq ft per guest for seated dinners on round tables, 10 for banquet-table seating, 8 for ceremony rows, and 6 for standing cocktail receptions, then add dance floor, buffet, bar, and stage space on top.
Do pole tents and frame tents hold the same number of people?
No. Frame and clear-span tents keep the full footprint usable. Pole tents lose layout space to center poles, so size up one increment or plan the floor around the poles.
Furnishing the tent?
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