Chair hire
Folding, Chiavari and limewash, one per seated guest plus spares. Delivered, set up and collected by suppliers who cover your patch.
Chair hire typically costs £1.50 to £3 per folding chair and £4.50 to £8 per Chiavari or limewash chair. Order one per seated guest plus 5 percent spares. A ceremony plus dinner usually reuses the same chairs if staff can move them during drinks.
Chairs are the largest single quantity on most kit lists and the most style-sensitive item after the marquee lining. Folding chairs do fetes, funerals and festivals; Chiavari and limewash do weddings; bistro and cross-back do the rustic middle. The count is simple (one per bottom) but the moves are not: if the ceremony and dinner are in different spaces, either hire two sets or schedule a chair move during the drinks reception.
The same 20 to 30 mile depot radius that covers the Oxfordshire–Cotswolds end of the corridor also holds further east: Reading, Newbury, Hungerford and Wokingham in Berkshire quote at the same guide prices, so chair hire there is one supplier conversation rather than several.
PLANNING RATIOOne chair per guest for seated events; about 0.3 per guest for standing events with perching room.
What it costs
| Item | Typical guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Folding chair (plastic/steel) | £1.50–£3 | |
| Bistro / cafe chair | £3–£5.50 | |
| Chiavari with seat pad | £4.50–£8 | |
| Limewash / cross-back | £5–£9 | |
| Ghost / clear acrylic chair | £3.50–£6 | |
| Kids chair (folding or cross-back) | £3.50–£6 | |
| Bench, 6ft (seats 3–4) | £8–£15 |
Guide prices exclude VAT and vary with season, region and site access. Quotes from suppliers are always the real number.
Chairs hire across the launch corridor
Local pages for every corridor town, with the same honest ratios and local site knowledge.
Chairs hire: questions organisers ask
How many chairs do I need for a standing reception?
Plan seating for about 30 percent of guests: a 150-person drinks reception is comfortable with 45 to 50 seats spread across poseur stools, benches and lounge corners. Everyone standing for three hours is a hosting mistake the over-60s will remember.
Is there chair hire near me?
Yes: chair hire suppliers across the Oxfordshire–Cotswolds–M4 corridor typically quote a 20 to 30 mile delivery radius, covering market towns from Oxford and Cirencester through to Reading, Newbury and Wokingham in Berkshire. Delivery and collection usually sit inside the per-chair price within that radius: describe your event once and get matched to whichever verified supplier actually covers your postcode.
Does chair hire include delivery, or is there a minimum order?
Most suppliers include delivery and collection within their standard local radius, commonly 20 to 30 miles, in the per-chair price. Very small orders sometimes carry a flat delivery or minimum-order charge instead, since a van trip costs the same for 10 chairs as 100: ask when comparing quotes, especially for a small ceremony-only booking.
What is the difference between Chiavari and limewash chairs?
Both are wedding-grade wooden chairs. Chiavari has the vertical spindle back and comes in gold, silver or natural, usually with a tie-on pad. Limewash Camelot chairs have a softer washed-oak look. Pricing is similar: choose on photos of your actual venue.
How much does it cost to hire ghost chairs?
Clear acrylic "ghost" chairs typically run £3.50 to £6 ex VAT each, close to a Chiavari, with delivery and a minimum order on top at most suppliers. They suit marquees and light, modern rooms where a solid wooden chair would look heavy, and read well in photos because they let the table and flowers show through rather than blocking them.
Can I hire smaller chairs for children at a wedding or party?
Yes: kids folding, cross-back and ghost chairs are widely available from the same suppliers, usually £3.50 to £6 each, so you can match the children's seating to the adult style rather than leaving them on a folding chair that is too tall. Confirm the number of under-12s with your venue coordinator before ordering, since it is easy to under-count.
