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It’s always great to be in the Outdoors with your family, especially when the weather’s friendly – whether it’s in your backyard for a wedding celebration, or under the stars in the Backcountry with a troop of Scouts.

But as it turns out, the weather can be very unpredictable – it could turn from sunny to rainy in a couple of hours – and you’ll sometimes need to shelter.

Now, imagine you’re hosting an outdoor party or you’re out in the open but the weather changes suddenly.

It starts to rain.

Arghh.

A bit of a mood killer unless you’re prepared.

Luckily, there’s a solution.

An outdoor shelter.

But for your group of family or friends – you’re going to need a large tent, which begs the question – how much are large tents?

Well, tents come in different sizes – hence different prices.

Fortunately, you don’t always have to buy a tent that will fit your number of guests.

You could always rent one.

In fact, I’ve done both – there are pros and cons of each, and it’s up to you to pick the option that works best for you.

So, I’m going to walk you through the information you might need if you’re thinking of buying or renting some of the best large tents.

Buckle up…

Types Of Large Tents

Before I delve further into extra-large tents, you need to know the types you’ll find out there.

First, we have pole tents.

They require you to stake them on the ground, preferably on grass. And they also include center poles. But you’ll notice some have just one center pole.

Secondly, you’ll find frame tents. Usually, most people prefer these because of their versatility.

What do I mean? You can place them on multiple surfaces, including concrete.

Better yet, frame tents will have a lot of square footage inside because they don’t have poles inside them to take up space.

As you can see, you have two main styles of large tent to choose from.

However, you’ll find they also come in different shapes and designs – now you’ll need to choose the design that will suit your event(s).

Should I Rent A Tent?

If you’re looking for the best ‘cheap’ large tent, I’d recommend you consider renting.

Here’s the deal:

You should look for large tent rentals if you intend to use the tent for only a few times a year.

Additionally, renting is a good option if you want to use a really large tent for one occasion, say a wedding.

Besides, renting is always a hassle-free experience.

What does this mean for you?

You won’t need to look for long to find exactly the right tent.

Instead, look for a large tent rental company near you, tell them the number of guests you expect to show up, expected weather and space you’ll have.

The company will then choose the ideal tent.

As if that’s not enough, the tent company will actually set up the tent you’ve rented.

Their team of experts will also take down the tent when your event is over.

But we advise you to do enough research to answer this – how much are large tent rentals in your area?

Overall, we discovered that the cost varies with the size of the tent you want. If you’ll be hosting a large event, you need a sizable tent, which will cost more.

For a smaller tent, the tent company will charge you less, but fees do vary a lot so do your price research early on.

But knowing how much large tents cost to rent is just one side of the story…

Renting a tent also has its downsides.

The major one being limited use.

Remember you’ll only rent the tent for a specific (usually quite short) time period.

So, if you need to extend the agreed limit, you’ll have to cough up more cash.

Additionally, you’ll have to work with the options that the tent company has.

This means that if you’re looking for the best wedding large tents with a particular design and the company doesn’t have them, you’ll have to work with what they have.

Occasionally, tent rental companies will supply low quality or old tents. So, if you’re holding a fancy party – shop around.

Moreover, you have to pay for labor, and I found out that most companies charge by the hour. Therefore, if setting up a tent takes a long time, you’ll pay for it.

There’s also a high likelihood for the company to charge for hidden extras such as the delivery fee.

But with all that said, large tent rental companies can be very convenient and offer a really cost effective solution.

Should I Buy A Tent?

If you decide to buy a tent, you have to know that doing so has its advantages – and disadvantages.

Fortunately, the pros do beat the cons.

Let’s have a look at what you can expect when you invest in a large tent.

For starters, the difference in costs between buying and renting a tent isn’t that huge. Especially if you use it alot.

Why?

Because the rental and labor costs will exceed the costs of buying it at some point.

Also, owning your own tent means you can use it whenever you want.

And the best part?

You can also rent it out yourself to make a bit of extra cash.

I also advise people to buy their own tents because you get to choose the specific quality and design.

Besides, you can customize your tent to suit various events.

You’ll have plenty of options. You’ll find 20’ x 20’ tents right up to 40’ x 80’ tents.

From all this choice, you can select the tent that’s most suitable for your needs.

As you can see, buying a tent has plenty of advantages.

Different sizes of tents for specific crowds

Now that we’ve walked you through the costs of large tents, you need to know about different sizes. It’s very important you get a tent that your guests will fit in comfortably.

So, without further ado, let’s get to it…

What size of tent do I need for 40 guests? – 20’ x 20’
What size of tent do I need for 60 guests? – 20’ x 30’
What size of tent do I need for 80 guests? – 20’ x 40’
What size of tent do I need for 90 guests? – 30’ x 30’
What size of tent do I need for 100 guests? – 20’ x 50’
What size of tent do I need for 120 guests? – 30’ x 40’
What size of tent do I need for 180 guests? – 30’ x 60’
What size of tent do I need for 240 guests? – 40’ x 60’
What size of tent do I need for 320 guests? – 40’ x 80’

Above, I’ve listed the ideal sizes of tents in feet for a specific number of persons. However – these sizes only cover the seating space.

So, if you intend to include tables and other party equipment, or a dance floor etc. consider getting a larger tent. By larger, I mean a tent that has a bigger capacity than your number of guests.

Our Top Large Tent Recommendations

Conclusion: How Much Are Large Tents?

To sum up…

It doesn’t matter if you need the best large tents for festivals, barbecues, weddings or a few nights in the woods with your pals.

One of the most important things to consider, should be the cost.

But as you can see, the cost depends on whether you’re buying or renting a large tent.

We recommend you rent one if you plan to use it once or a few times throughout the year. Furthermore, renting is much better if you don’t want the hassle of putting it up.

On the other hand, you should buy a large tent if you hold events frequently, and you have somewhere to store it. Also, it’s an ideal option if you’re looking for excellent quality and convenience. And remember – you can always make money from your tent by renting it out.