HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a marquee in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A marquee hire in Ireland costs €1,000–€8,000 per event, typically around €3,000. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a marquee in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers marquee work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — customisation Options — many marquee hire services offer customisation options to match your event theme.
- How does several factors including size change the price?Size is the single number most quotes are built from. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of hire change the price?The duration you choose is the main thing you control. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does additional features like lighting or flooring change the price?An awkward approach is the first thing a provider asks about. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Typically, marquee hire does not include catering services, entertainment, or decoration unless specified in the package — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a marquee job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers marquee work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — customisation Options — many marquee hire services offer customisation options to match your event theme.
A good answer: Size is the single number most quotes are built from. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The duration you choose is the main thing you control. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: An awkward approach is the first thing a provider asks about. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Typically, marquee hire does not include catering services, entertainment, or decoration unless specified in the package — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a marquee job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — setup and Dismantling — professional setup and dismantling services are typically included in marquee hire.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the marquee starts, and an itemised invoice after — accessories and Extras — marquee hire often comes with additional accessories such as flooring, lighting, and heating.
Getting the quote right
- Several factors including size — size is the single number most quotes are built from.
- Duration of hire — the duration you choose is the main thing you control.
- Additional features like lighting or flooring — an awkward approach is the first thing a provider asks about.
- Size of the structure — scale is the first thing a provider measures before quoting.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: several factors including size — size is the single number most quotes are built from
- They will not talk about it: duration of hire — the duration you choose is the main thing you control
- They will not talk about it: additional features like lighting or flooring — an awkward approach is the first thing a provider asks about
- A price for the marquee before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the marquee has begun
What a marquee costs: €1,000–€8,000 per event
The figures are for the job, per event, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Wedding marquee hire and Corporate event marquee hire each carry their own band. Marquee Hire price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Marquee hire companies near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstSeveral factors including size — size is the single number most quotes are built from — that is what the marquee is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneDuration of hire — the duration you choose is the main thing you control — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAdditional features like lighting or flooring — an awkward approach is the first thing a provider asks about — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSize of the structure — scale is the first thing a provider measures before quoting — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the marquee is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, materials used — the spec sheet is where most of the cost difference sits.
- Size and Capacity
- Marquee hire includes a range of sizes to accommodate different guest numbers.
- Accessories and Extras
- Marquee hire often comes with additional accessories such as flooring, lighting, and heating.
- Setup and Dismantling
- Professional setup and dismantling services are typically included in marquee hire.
- Customisation Options
- Many marquee hire services offer customisation options to match your event theme.
- Wedding Marquee Hire
- Specialised marquee setups designed for weddings, often including decorative elements and flooring.
- Party Marquee Hire
- Flexible marquee options for private parties, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for celebrations.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a marquee: questions people ask
The cost of marquee hire is influenced by several factors including size, location, duration of hire, and additional features like lighting or flooring. Seasonal demand can also affect pricing, with peak times typically costing more.
Marquees can typically be hired for a single day or for multiple days, depending on your event needs. Longer hire periods may come at a discounted rate, so it's worth discussing your requirements with the supplier.
Availability for same-day or emergency marquee hire varies by provider, but many companies can accommodate short notice requests, especially during off-peak seasons. It's best to contact suppliers directly to check availability.
Yes, many marquee hire companies offer packages that include related services such as catering, furniture rental, and event planning. Bundling services can often lead to cost savings and a more streamlined event planning process.
Typically, marquee hire does not include catering services, entertainment, or decoration unless specified in the package. Be sure to clarify with your provider what is included in your hire agreement.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
MORE GUIDES