Price ranges by structure
Read this as national ranges. Every band includes delivery, rigging and take-down on a standard hire — rig the day before, strike the day after.
| Structure | Typical guests | Price range | What it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peg-and-pole package | 20–30 | R999–R1,800 | Yard functions, small gatherings |
| Peg-and-pole marquee | 100–200 | R4,500–R13,000 | Traditional functions, funerals, large family events |
| Frame tent | 20–240 | R1,850–R18,000 | Paving, courtyards, anywhere pegs are not allowed |
| Stretch tent | 30–180 | R1,650–R12,000 | Open-sided, warm weather, coastal and garden functions |
| Gazebo | Stall / 12–30 standing | R450–R1,500 per day | Markets, stalls, food stations |
| Glass marquee | 100 | R14,000–R25,000 | Upmarket weddings and corporate |
The five things that actually move a quote
- Structure before size. A frame tent costs roughly 60–90% more than a peg-and-pole of the same footprint, because it carries an aluminium skeleton and ballast instead of pegs and rope.
- Season. December and the summer wedding months price 15–25% above a winter date for the identical structure.
- Ground. Soft lawn takes pegs and stays cheap. Paving, decking and anything over services forces a weighted frame — see frame tent hire in East London.
- Dressing. Draping, flooring and lighting carry most of the gap between a R6,500 and a R14,000 marquee. The structure itself is often the smaller half of the bill.
- Distance. Delivery inside a metro is normally included; outlying towns carry a quoted charge.
For the East London metro specifically, the full local bands, add-on rates and worked examples sit on tent hire prices in East London.
What the price includes — and what it usually does not
Included on almost every hire: delivery to site, professional rigging, take-down and collection, and the basic structure with its roof. Usually excluded: dressing and draping, flooring, lighting, heating, generators, furniture beyond the basic package, and any municipal permit for a public site. Ask for the inclusions in writing — the gap between two quotes is very often inclusions rather than margin.
Furniture is the most common add-on and the easiest to underestimate: see how many tables and chairs per guest before you sign anything.
Common questions
How much is it to hire a tent for 100 guests?
A 100-guest tent runs about R4,500–R7,500 as peg-and-pole and R6,500–R9,500 as a frame marquee, including delivery and rigging. Dressing the same tent for a wedding takes it to R8,500–R18,000.
Is it cheaper to hire a tent or book a venue?
Yes, a tent is normally cheaper — a tent, furniture and a yard usually lands well under a per-head venue rate for the same guest count, though a venue includes kitchens, bathrooms and parking that a tent hire does not.
Does tent hire include tables and chairs?
Yes on small packages, no on large ones. Peg-and-pole packages from about R999 usually bundle tables and chairs; larger marquee hires price furniture separately at R7–R60 per chair and R60–R160 per table.
How far in advance should I book?
Book six to eight weeks ahead for a December or wedding-season date, and two to three weeks outside peak. Funeral hires are the exception and are arranged in 24–48 hours.