What Size Marquee Do I Need for 50, 100 or 150 Guests?
The single most common question we get is "what size marquee do I need?" The answer depends on your guest count and what they'll be doing, standing with drinks, sitting in rows, or sitting down to dinner. This guide gives you a straight answer for 50, 100 and 150 guests, plus the simple formula to size any number in between.
The quick formula
Allow roughly:
- 0.6m² per guest standing (cocktail style)
- 0.9m² per guest seated in rows (ceremony style)
- 1.5m² per guest for seated dining (reception style)
Then add about 25% if you want a dance floor, bar, buffet or stage. Always size for your worst-weather plan, the day everyone needs to be under cover at once, not just a sunny afternoon.
Marquee size for 50 guests
For 50 standing you need ~30m²; for 50 seated dining you need ~75m². A 3x12m event shelter (36m²) or two 3x9m marquees handle a standing party of 50 well. For a seated dinner of 50, step up to the 10x5m wedding marquee (50m²), which gives everyone a chair and room to move.
Marquee size for 100 guests
One hundred guests standing needs ~60m²; seated dining needs ~150m². The honest answer here is that 100 seated diners is a two-marquee job, two 10x5m units joined or placed side by side, or one 10x5m for dining plus a 3x9m for the bar and food. For a standing/cocktail 100, a single 10x5m plus a 3x9m covers it comfortably.
Marquee size for 150 guests
One hundred and fifty standing needs ~90m²; seated dining needs ~225m². Plan for multiple marquees, typically two to three 10x5m units, configured around a central space. Because you own the marquees rather than hiring, scaling up for a big day and reusing them afterwards is far cheaper than paying hire rates on a large structure.
At-a-glance size table
| Marquee | Area | Standing | Seated (rows) | Dining |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3x6m Marquee | 18m² | ~30 | ~20 | ~12 |
| 3x9m Marquee | 27m² | ~45 | ~30 | ~18 |
| 3x12m Event Shelter | 36m² | ~60 | ~40 | ~24 |
| 10x5m Wedding Marquee | 50m² | ~80+ | ~55 | ~33 |
Don't forget the extras
A dance floor adds roughly 12 to 15m² for a small event and more for a big one. A buffet or grazing table needs a few square metres of its own. A bar, a cake table, a DJ, all eat into the floor. When in doubt, size up: a slightly bigger marquee feels relaxed, a too-small one feels cramped on the day.
Get your exact size in 30 seconds
Enter your guest count and event style into our marquee size calculator and it'll tell you which marquee (or combination) fits. Curious about pricing too? See how much a wedding marquee costs, or browse the full range.
Free delivery Australia-wide, dispatched in ~2 days. Need a hand choosing? Email support@brisbanemarqueesales.com.au, real humans, we actually reply.
Common questions
What size marquee do I need for 50 guests?
For 50 standing you need ~30m² (a 3×12m event shelter at 36m² works well). For a seated dinner of 50 you need ~75m², so step up to a 10×5m marquee (50m²) plus a second marquee.
What size marquee for 100 guests?
One hundred standing needs ~60m² (a 10×5m plus a 3×9m covers it). One hundred seated diners is a two-marquee job, two 10×5m units, or one for dining and one for the bar and food.
How much space do you need per guest under a marquee?
Allow about 0.6m² per standing guest, 0.9m² seated in rows and 1.5m² for seated dining, then add roughly 25% for a dance floor, bar or buffet.