What you can hire
Party hire businesses commonly rent trestle and round tables, folding and padded chairs, cocktail or bar tables, stools, lounge furniture and tablecloths. Some also hire bars, buffet tables and children's tables and chairs. Most deliver to the door and some set up in place for an extra charge.
Seated or cocktail?
The first question a hire business will ask is how many guests and whether they will be seated for a meal or standing with drinks and canapés. A seated meal needs a chair for every guest and enough table length for plates. A cocktail party needs far fewer chairs, a few tall tables and somewhere to put glasses down.
Outside, under cover
Furniture set up outdoors is often under a marquee or gazebo, for shade in a northern summer or rain in a southern winter. If the chairs are padded or the tables are timber, ask the hire business what happens if they come back wet or marked.
Table and chair hire FAQs
Will they set the tables up?
Some hire businesses deliver to the door only and others set up in place. Ask which is included and what it costs to add.
Can I hire tablecloths too?
Usually, yes. Tell the hire business the table shapes and sizes so the cloths fit.
What if there are stairs?
Mention stairs, lifts and long carries when you ask for a quote. They change how long delivery takes.