Event hire prices in South Africa vary with the size of the event, the season, the distance and what is included in the quote. This guide gives rough 2026 ranges in rand for the items most people book: tents and marquees, tables and chairs, decor, sound, jumping castles, toilets and catering. It ends with a worked budget for a 100-guest function. Use it to plan, then request free quotes: suppliers near you will price your actual date, venue and numbers.
Tents, marquees, furniture and decor
Hire prices usually include delivery, setup and strike, but check the quote. Rough guides for a weekend:
- Peg-and-pole or frame tent: R12,000 to R30,000 for about 100 seated guests. See tent hire. Glass or clear marquees cost 50 to 100% more, see marquee hire.
- Stretch tent: about R200 to R450 per square metre, depending on shape.
- Tables and chairs: R35 to R110 per guest. A round table costs R120 to R250 and a chair R8 to R35, with linen and covers extra. See table and chair hire.
- Decor: R80 to R400 per guest for centrepieces, draping and a backdrop, see decor hire.
Sound, entertainment and kids' extras
Sound for 100 guests costs R3,000 to R8,000 with a technician, more for stage lighting. A DJ costs R3,500 to R9,000 for four to five hours. A photo booth costs R2,500 to R7,000 for three hours. A small jumping castle costs R600 to R1,800 a day, with larger castles and water slides at R1,500 to R4,500, see jumping castle hire. Ask about the generator or power point each item needs, because load shedding means a hired generator, at around R1,200 to R3,500 a day, is now a common extra.
Toilets, security and catering
Toilets cost R450 to R900 for a standard cabin and R1,200 to R2,500 for a VIP unit, see mobile toilet hire. Event security costs R350 to R650 per guard per shift. Catering costs R180 to R650 per guest, the widest range in this guide, because a braai and a plated dinner with waiters are different products. See catering services for what drives that range. Delivery beyond about 50 km from the supplier's depot is charged per kilometre, so a remote farm or game lodge adds to every line.
Worked budget: a 100-guest function
A daytime function on a lawn, with a tent, a buffet and a jumping castle for the children, might come to:
- Frame tent, about 10 x 15 m: R12,000 to R30,000
- 10 round tables, 100 chairs: R3,500 to R11,000
- Linen and basic decor: R8,000 to R40,000
- Sound with a microphone: R3,000 to R8,000
- Buffet catering for 100: R18,000 to R65,000
- Three toilet cabins: R1,500 to R3,000
- Jumping castle: R600 to R1,800
- Two guards for one shift: R700 to R1,300
The total is roughly R47,000 to R160,000, or R470 to R1,600 per guest. Add a 10% buffer for overtime, extra delivery and breakages.
What to include in your request
- Event date, start and end times and the venue
- Number of guests, seated or standing
- Every item you want priced, from tent to toilets
- Whether delivery, setup and strike are included
- Your total budget, so suppliers can suggest options
Event Hire Prices for different events
- Weddings and traditional ceremonies: a tent, tables, decor, catering and sound for 80 to 200 guests, often the biggest budget
- Corporate functions and year-end parties: a year-end function or launch with a tent or venue, catering, sound and staging
- Conferences, launches and expos: AV, screens, furniture and catering for a day of sessions and breakaways
- Birthdays and private parties: a lawn party with a tent, tables, a DJ and a braai or buffet
- Kids' parties and baby showers: a jumping castle, tables, decor and party food, priced per item rather than per guest
- School events and matric dances: stage, sound, chairs and toilets for a fun day, prize-giving or matric dance
- Funerals, church and cultural gatherings: a tent, chairs, catering and toilets for a funeral or unveiling with a large crowd
- Festivals, markets and sports days: stages, sound, toilets, security and food stalls priced per day for a public event
Frequently asked questions
How much does tent hire cost in South Africa?
What makes hire prices change so much between quotes?
Is it cheaper to hire items separately or as a package?
How much deposit do suppliers ask for?
Event Hire Prices by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg