On the published price pages of seven US rental companies we read on 10 November 2026, a 20x20 frame tent rented for $380 to $950, a basic folding chair for $2.50 to $4, and a 6-foot table for $14 to $20. Delivery fees, minimum orders, deposits from 25% to full payment, and damage waivers of 10% sat on top, and what each price included varied as much as the price.
This guide is for rental owners setting their own prices, not for someone renting a tent. Seven companies is a sample, not a survey: no reliable national price survey for tents, tables and chairs exists that we could find. Every price below links to the company’s own page and is as listed on that date. Prices change by date and season, so check them again before you rely on one.
20x20 tent prices at a glance
The spread is wide because the items aren’t the same. A pole tent is cheaper than a frame tent of the same size. One price includes setup and assumes a grass lawn with truck access; another is the lowest weekday price before a delivery fee, a minimum order and a tech fee. Compare what is included before you compare the number.
Tent prices by size
| Company and region | 20x20 | 20x30 | 20x40 | What the page says is included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Majestic Events, Rochester, MN (Upper Midwest) | $380 frame, $250 pole | $495 frame | $645 frame | “Tent prices include set-up and tear down”; assumes truck access and grass; extra for sidewalls, concrete weights and winter conditions |
| Colorado Party Rentals, Denver, CO (Mountain West) | $560 | $690 | $830 | White frame tents; rental period and delivery not stated on the page |
| Sky High Party Rentals, Houston, TX (South) | $950 | $1,125 | $1,525 | Frame tents; crew delivers, sets up and anchors; lowest price, weekends and holidays can cost more; delivery fee extra |
Majestic also lists larger kedered frame tents, such as 30x30 for $750, and quotes its biggest structures on request. Colorado Party Rentals publishes prices up to 40x200. Big tents are often quoted after a site visit, because ground, access and permits change the job.
Tent packages with tables and chairs
Many companies sell the tent with the seating it holds, priced as one delivery:
| Company and region | Package | Price | Included and terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awesome Entertainment of Ohio, Columbus, OH (Midwest) | 20x20 high peak tent, five 48-inch round tables, two 6-foot tables, 25 chairs | $650 on grass, $850 on a hard surface | One day of up to 8 hours; tent setup only, renter sets chairs and tables; paid in full at booking |
| Ocean State Rental, Providence, RI (Northeast) | 20x20 frame tent, four 60-inch rounds, two 6-foot tables, 40 white folding chairs | $715 plus tax and delivery | Set up Thursday or Friday, taken down Monday or Tuesday, priced as one day |
| Classic City Event Rentals, Athens, GA (Southeast) | 20x20 high peak frame tent, four 60-inch rounds, two 6-foot tables, 40 white folding chairs | $1,150, or $1,000 cash | Delivery, setup and removal included on grass within 20 miles of Athens |
Two details are worth copying. The Columbus company charges $200 more for a hard surface, where the tent is held down with concrete blocks instead of stakes. The Providence company sets up before the weekend and collects after it, for a one-day price, which spreads its crew’s work across quieter weekdays.
Add-ons that raise the ticket
The Athens company lists its extras next to the package, so a customer can build a bigger order without a call. On the day we read it: warm white string lights for $40, basic white tablecloths for $20 each, windowed sidewalls for $25 per 20-foot panel, a garden-chair upgrade for $80, an extra 10x10 tent for $75, and high-top cocktail tables for $12 each (Classic City Event Rentals).
Add-ons like these ride on a delivery you are already making. Lights, linens and sidewalls are light to carry, but each still takes crew time to hang and clean, so price each one to cover that. List them on the package page with a price, and offer them again in the booking confirmation.
Table and chair rental prices
Specialty seating runs much higher. The Denver company lists Chiavari chairs at $12 and crossback chairs at $12 to $15. Houston prices the chair for the whole day, and its minimum order means a few chairs on their own often can’t be booked.
Delivery, minimums and setup
This is where companies differ most, and where a low headline price can still lose money.
| Company | Delivery | Minimum order and other charges |
|---|---|---|
| Sky High, Houston | From $65, typically $65 to $105, set by ZIP code | $75 to $775 by ZIP and date; 3% tech fee plus sales tax |
| A Classic Party Rental, Indianapolis, IN (Midwest) | $200 round trip in Indianapolis and nearby; will-call pickup free | Timed delivery $250 for AM or PM, $500 for a set time |
| Awesome Entertainment of Ohio, Columbus | Free on residential orders over $499; non-residential from $99 | $300 rental minimum; distance fees past 15 miles; tents count as bulky items, $50 and up |
| Classic City, Athens | Included within 20 miles | Package price assumes grass and no underground hazards |
| Majestic Events, Rochester | Setup and teardown included in tent prices | Extra for concrete weights, sidewalls and winter conditions |
Notice the pattern: the companies that publish low per-item prices protect themselves with minimum orders, delivery zones and charges for hard surfaces or timed delivery. A chair at $2.50 only works if a delivery truck doesn’t go out for ten of them.
Deposits
- Sky High, Houston: 50% at booking, or 25% on orders of $1,000 or more, with the balance charged two days before the event.
- Colorado Party Rentals: reservations are confirmed with a 50% deposit. Tents can be cancelled for a full refund up to 30 days before delivery, other items up to 10 days.
- A Classic Party Rental: a 25% prepayment and a card on file, with full payment due 7 days before.
- Awesome Entertainment of Ohio: packages are paid in full at booking.
Tents get a longer cancellation window than chairs for a reason: a tent date blocks a crew and a truck, and is hard to resell at short notice.
Damage waivers: what they cover
A damage waiver is a fee the customer pays so that you absorb some accidental damage. Of the three companies that publish terms, two charge 10%, and all three draw the line in different places:
- A Classic Party Rental, Indianapolis: 10% of the rental equipment total, non-refundable. It covers general wear and tear, not material damage, vandalism, misuse or lost items.
- Awesome Entertainment of Ohio: 10%. It covers 80% of the cost of repairing or replacing accidentally damaged items, up to $5,000, and nothing that was misused, such as a chair used as a ladder. The same company sells a weather waiver at 10% if added 21 or more days ahead, or 15% at 10 to 20 days, and a 10% prepaid cleaning waiver.
- Colorado Party Rentals: its waiver is optional, non-refundable and excludes tents and tent hardware. Its terms say plainly that the waiver “IS NOT INSURANCE”.
If you offer one, write down exactly what it covers, what it excludes and whether it is optional, and put that next to the price. A waiver is not a substitute for your own insurance. Ask your agent how your policy treats damage to your equipment and to the customer’s property, and have your rental agreement checked by an attorney in your state.
A worked event quote
Here is how the pieces add up for a backyard party of 40. Every price is an example, not a quote from any company above:
| 20x20 frame tent, set up and taken down (example) | $450.00 |
| 40 folding chairs at $3.00 (example) | $120.00 |
| 4 round tables at $15.00 (example) | $60.00 |
| 2 six-foot tables at $14.00 (example) | $28.00 |
| Rental subtotal | $658.00 |
| Damage waiver, 10% of rental (example) | $65.80 |
| Delivery and pickup, zone 2 (example) | $150.00 |
| Before tax | $873.80 |
| Sales tax at 8% (example rate; rules vary by state) | $69.90 |
| Total | $943.70 |
| Deposit at booking, 50% (example) | $471.85 |
Laid out like this, the customer sees what they pay for, and you see that the tent and the delivery carry most of the job. Sales tax rules on rentals, delivery and waivers differ by state. Check yours before you quote.
How to set your own prices
- Count your local market. Pick five to ten companies that deliver to your area. For each, write down tent prices by size, chair and table prices, delivery fees, minimums, deposits and waivers. Note whether setup is included. The tables above show how much those details move the price.
- Work out your floor. Tents carry real labor: two or more people, an hour or more to set up, the same to take down, and a truck. Put the item cost, crew time, delivery, insurance and repairs into our rental pricing calculator. Price below that floor and you are paying to work.
- Protect the truck. Set delivery zones, a minimum order and a charge for hard surfaces, stairs or set delivery times. These are what make $2.50 chairs pay.
- Sell packages. Bundle each tent size with the tables and chairs it seats. One delivery, one decision for the customer, a bigger ticket for you.
- Decide your deposit and waiver. Pick a deposit that holds the date, a longer cancellation window for tents, and a waiver only if you can say clearly what it covers.
- Publish your prices. Put the price and what it includes on every item’s page, with a Book button. Our bounce house rental prices guide explains why showing prices works, and the same reasoning holds for tents.
Before you rent your first large tent, check your city’s permit rules. Many fire marshals require a permit above a size threshold, and the threshold varies. Our guide to starting a party rental business covers permits, insurance and the legal setup.
What to do this week
Look up five local competitors and fill in the same columns as the tables above. Run your 20x20 tent through the calculator. If your price is far below companies with good reviews, raise it for new bookings next season. If it is far above, check whether your delivery area or minimum is the real problem. Then check how your prices look on a phone, or request a free audit and we’ll look at your Google profile, your site and how many steps it takes to book.
