Table and Chair Hire: Sizes, Styles & How Many You Need

Getting the table and chair setup right is one of the decisions that most affects how an event feels on the day. Too few tables and the space feels cramped. Too many and it feels empty. The wrong chair style can look out of place against an otherwise polished interior, and a mix of table sizes that was not thought through carefully creates gaps that make the room look unfinished.

This guide covers every table and chair type available to hire for events across the North West, how to calculate the right quantities for your guest number and layout, what works for different event types, and how to combine furniture with linens and chair covers for the best overall finish.

Table Types Available to Hire

Round tables (4ft and 5ft) are the standard choice for seated dinners and wedding breakfasts. A 4-foot round seats 6 guests comfortably, a 5-foot round seats 8 to 10. Round tables are particularly popular for weddings and corporate dinners because they allow conversation across the whole table and create an elegant finish when dressed with linen and centrepieces.

Trestle tables (6ft) are the most versatile option and the most widely used for birthday parties, garden parties, and less formal seated events. A 6-foot trestle seats 6 to 8 depending on how tightly guests are spaced. Trestle tables work well for buffets, bar setups, gift tables, and as the catering operation surface. They are lighter and quicker to set up than round tables, which matters for events with a tight installation window.

Poseur tables are tall bar-height tables without seating, designed for standing cocktail events, drinks receptions, networking areas, and as fill-in furniture between seating zones. They work best in pairs or groups of three around a space to create natural gathering points.

Banquet tables (long rectangular, 8ft) are used for formal banquet-style seating, top tables, and corporate conference layouts where participants need to face a presenter. They are the preferred layout for conference and seminar events where a theatre or cabaret arrangement is required.

Chair Styles Available to Hire

Banqueting chairs are padded, stackable, fabric-covered chairs suited for formal seated meals. They are the most requested style for corporate events and traditional wedding breakfasts. Available in ivory, black, and other covered options.

Folding chairs are a lighter option suited for garden parties, outdoor ceremonies, standing-to-seated events, and situations where chairs need to be moved or repositioned during the event. Less formal than banqueting chairs but practical and clean in appearance when covered or the event aesthetic allows.

Chiavari chairs are the most widely photographed wedding chair in the UK. The slim, resin or wooden frame with a cushion pad creates an elegant, airy look that photographs well from every angle. Available in gold, silver, clear (ghost style), white, and natural wood finishes. These are the preferred choice for weddings and formal corporate events where interior styling is a priority.

Ghost chairs (clear polycarbonate) are the modern alternative to chiavari, giving a contemporary clean look that works particularly well with lighting effects and in visually styled corporate environments.

Throne chairs and VIP seating are available for head tables, top tables, and special occasions where the host or couple needs a statement piece of furniture.

How Many Tables and Chairs Do You Need?

The table below gives a starting point for common event sizes and configurations. All of these assume a standard seated layout without a dance floor. Add a dance floor and you lose the equivalent of 20 to 40 seats depending on its size, which affects the total table count.

Always order chairs with a 10% buffer over your confirmed guest count. Chairs get damaged, moved, or taken for purposes other than seating during events. Ordering tight means running short.

Outdoor Events and Chair Selection

For outdoor events on grass, the ground surface affects both table and chair stability. Chiavari chairs have thin legs that can sink into soft ground. Folding chairs with flat feet are more stable on grass. Trestle tables sit more evenly on uneven outdoor surfaces than round tables on pedestal bases.

Interlocking hardwood flooring, which Aries Leisure includes in the marquee base package, solves this problem entirely. It creates a level, stable surface for all furniture types and protects the lawn from damage under heavy loads.

Combining Tables with Linens and Chair Covers

The visual impact of hired furniture is significantly improved by table linen and chair covers. A round table dressed with a floor-length satin or polyester tablecloth in your colour scheme, with coordinating napkins and matching chair cover bows, transforms the look from functional to polished.

Aries Leisure coordinates linen hire alongside table and chair hire for wedding and formal event clients. A full matching set (tablecloth, napkins, chair covers, sashes) ordered through one supplier means colours are guaranteed to match and delivery coordination is simpler.

Table and chair hire is available as a standalone service for clients supplying their own marquee or venue, or as part of a full private marquee hire or corporate marquee hire package. Contact the team with your guest number and event format for a same-day quote.