Renting for a backyard party runs in two layers: the tent, then everything under it. Tents go for $250-$400 (20x20) to $1,000-$2,000 (40x60) for the day. Under it: chairs $1.25-$3 each, round tables $8-$18, linens $6-$20, dance floors $1.50-$4 per square foot. A 100-guest reception stacks to $2,515 typical ($1,765-$3,980); a 30-guest cookout stays under $500.
Furniture is the easy part of the quote. Resin chairs, the white or black stacking standard, rent for $1.25-$3 each depending on market and color. Round 60-inch tables (seats 8-10) run $8-$18, and 8-foot banquet tables for buffet lines run $8-$15. Do the multiplication before you compare quotes: 100 guests need 10 rounds and 100 chairs, roughly $320 typical in furniture.
Linens deserve their own line. Basic polyester cloths rent for $6-$20 each, with 120-inch rounds for 60-inch tables around $12 typical. Premium fabrics run $15-$40, and that per-table difference is where near-identical quotes diverge. Many yards sell a table + chair + linen bundle at $12-$20 per guest; if you're renting premium linens anyway, the bundle usually wins.
Tent sizing follows three planning rules that every rental yard uses:
| Tent | Sq Ft | Seated at rounds | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20x20 | 400 | 32-40 | ~50 |
| 20x30 | 600 | 48-60 | ~75 |
| 20x40 | 800 | 64-80 | ~100 |
| 40x40 | 1,600 | 104-130 | ~200 |
| 40x60 | 2,400 | 160-200 | ~300 |
| 40x80 | 3,200 | 208-260 | ~400 |
For 100 seated guests with a dance floor, the math runs 1,200 sq ft for tables, 300 for dancing, and about 200 more for the head table and bar: 1,700 sq ft, which means a 40x60. A 40x40 technically seats 100, but there's no room left to dance. When you're between sizes and the price gap is small, take the bigger tent. Crowded tents are the most common complaint in backyard event reviews.
Day rates by size, setup usually included within the yard's radius:
| Tent | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 canopy | $50 | $75 | $150 |
| 20x20 | $250 | $325 | $400 |
| 20x30 | $300 | $400 | $500 |
| 20x40 | $450 | $625 | $800 |
| 40x60 | $1,000 | $1,400 | $2,000 |
| 40x80 | $1,800 | $2,600 | $3,400 |
Frame tents (no center poles, more layout freedom) price above pole tents at the same size, and clear-top premiums can double the number in some markets. If your yard quotes a 40x60 at $1,200 flat with setup included, that's a fair deal in most of the country.
Here's the full order, priced at typical rates: 40x60 tent ($1,400), 10 round tables ($120), 100 chairs ($200), 10 linens ($120), 300 sq ft dance floor at $2 per square foot ($600), local delivery ($75). Total: $2,515, with honest ranges running $1,765-$3,980 depending on market. Add catering, and you begin to see why venues charge what they charge.
The other end: 30-guest graduation cookout. A 20x20 ($325), 3 rounds ($36), 30 chairs ($60), 3 linens ($36), delivery included. Total: $457. Renting beats almost any venue the moment your crowd is small and your yard exists.
Guest count to tent size, per-item quantities you can override, and low/typical/high totals in one pass.
Open the Party Rental Cost Calculator →Delivery and setup run $50-$150 when not included; many yards include it within 15-25 miles. Tent permits cost $50-$300 where towns require them, and the yard usually handles the paperwork if you ask early. Damage waivers add roughly 8-12% on some orders. Watch the cancellation window too: items cut inside 72 hours of delivery are often billed in full, so finalize the guest count before signing.
The rental stack is the venue line, not the whole party. The catering cost calculator prices the biggest remaining line per guest, the bartender cost calculator handles the bar (staff, mobile bar rental, and the tip jar question), and for the version of this party with kids involved, the birthday party cost calculator runs the full kids-and-adults budget. If a bounce house is on the wish list, the bounce house rental calculator prices it and its three add-on fees.
Chairs run $1.25-$3 each (about $2 typical), so 100 chairs cost around $200. Ten 60-inch round tables at $8-$18 each add about $120, and ten linens at $6-$20 add another $120. The furniture stack for 100 guests lands near $440 typical before the tent, floor, and delivery. Many yards bundle a table, chair, and linen at $12-$20 per guest ($1,200-$2,000 for 100), which is worth comparing when you want premium linens anyway.
Plan 10-12 square feet per guest seated at 60-inch rounds, 6-8 for standing cocktail style, and add 2-4.5 square feet per guest for a dance floor. A 20x20 tent (400 sq ft) seats 32-40; a 20x30 seats 48-60; a 20x40 seats 64-80; a 40x60 seats 160-200 with room to dance. For 100 seated guests with dancing, budget 1,700 sq ft total including the head table and bar, which means a 40x60.
Small canopies (10x10) run $50-$150. A 20x20 rents for $250-$400, a 20x30 for $300-$500, a 20x40 for $450-$800, and a 40x60 for $1,000-$2,000 in most markets. The biggest structures climb fast: 40x80 frame tents quote $1,800-$3,400, and clear-top versions in some Connecticut-class markets reach past $3,300 for a 40x40. Most day rates cover setup and teardown within the yard's delivery radius.
For 100 guests, the full backyard rental stack runs about $2,515 typical ($1,765-$3,980): tent, tables, chairs, linens, a 300 sq ft dance floor, and local delivery. Saturday-night venue rentals commonly start at $3,000-$6,000 before catering minimums, so the yard usually wins if you have the space. The tent math sours once you add rented restrooms, generators for catering, and sidewalls or heaters in cooler months.
Delivery and setup run $50-$150 when they're not included (many yards include it within 15-25 miles). Tent permits, where towns require them, cost $50-$300. Damage waivers, where offered, add a small percentage of the order in exchange for forgiving normal wear. And last-minute changes are expensive: yards often charge full price for items canceled inside 72 hours of delivery, so lock the guest count before you sign.