The basic space-per-guest rule
Allow roughly 1 square metre per person for a stand-up cocktail party, and 1.5 to 2 square metres per person for a seated event with tables. So 50 seated guests need around 75 to 100 square metres of marquee, which is about a 6m by 12m or 8m by 12m. The same 50 as a cocktail crowd fit in roughly half that. These figures cover the people, not the extras.
Add space for the bar, dancefloor and more
On top of the seating, add space for anything else under the roof: a bar (around 6 to 10 square metres), a dancefloor (roughly half a square metre per dancing guest), a buffet or grazing station, a band or DJ, a cake or gift table, and circulation room so people can move. For a wedding, these add up fast, so it is common to size up a notch from the bare seating figure.
A few rough starting points: a 6m by 9m marquee suits about 50 seated; a 6m by 12m around 60 to 70 seated; a 10m by 15m around 120 to 150 seated with room for a dancefloor. A supplier confirms the exact size after seeing your guest count, run sheet and site.
See the full range of marquee hire in Adelaide, from clear-roof and white-peak to tipis, and get sizing advice for your event.
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Get a QuoteSite and shape matter too
The shape of your space affects what fits: a long narrow yard suits a long marquee, while a square lawn suits a wider one. Slope, soft ground, overhanging trees and access for setup all influence the size and style a supplier will recommend. This is why a site visit or some photos and measurements are so useful before you commit to a size.
