Buyer guides
Banquet chairs for a rental fleet: what to check before you buy
Stacking or folding, how many guests per table, finishes, transport and the questions to ask any supplier. A plain guide for event rental companies, with real chair sizes.
Short answer:
- A rental chair is judged by how it travels, not only by how it looks. Stacking or folding decides how much fits in your warehouse and your van.
- Plan from the table: a 152 cm round seats about 8, a 183 cm round about 10.
- Choose one finish for the whole fleet, so every order matches.
- Ask every supplier the same questions (list at the end), for the exact model.
Stacking or folding?
Both work. What matters is your storage, your vans and your crew.
- Stacking chairs go up in piles and move on a trolley. Ask how many go in one safe stack.
- Folding chairs fold flat and are stored on a trolley or in racks. Ask how many fit on one trolley.
In our range there are 11 stacking banquet chairs and 1 folding chair (the Michelle). We also make a trolley for stacking chairs and two trolleys for folding chairs (small and big) (source 3).
How many chairs and tables per event
Event planners use simple rules (source 1):
| Table | Guests |
|---|---|
| Round, 152 cm (60") | 8 |
| Round, 183 cm (72") | 10 |
| Rectangular, 183 × 76 cm (6 ft) | 6–8 |
| Rectangular, 244 × 76 cm (8 ft) | 8–10 |
For a seated banquet, plan about 0.9 to 1.0 m² per guest, walkways included (source 2). For a multi-course dinner, many planners choose the next bigger table.
Our seating planner does this maths for any number of guests.
Chair width decides your rows
"Chiavari" is a style, not a size. Widths and seat heights vary between makers. Before you plan rows or table settings, check the width of the exact chair.
Our banquet chairs, as published (source 3):
| Seat height | Width | Seat depth | Overall height | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range of our 14 banquet chairs | 460–510 mm | 380–490 mm | 350–460 mm | 830–970 mm |
| Chivari UK and Chivari USA (same sizes) | 510 mm | 410 mm | 410 mm | 920 mm |
One finish for the whole fleet
Clients often rent from you more than once, and orders grow. If every chair has the same finish, any chair can go to any event.
Our banquet chairs come in 8 frame finishes: Green Gold, Red Gold, Silver, White, Black, Mahogany, Natural and Lime wash (source 3). Pick one or two for the whole fleet.
Protect what travels
Most damage happens in transport and storage, not at the event.
- Seat pads get dirty in vans. We make two bags for seat pads, one with a window to see what is inside.
- Covers protect upholstered chairs. We make a cover for the Maximus chair.
- Trolleys keep stacks stable and save lifting.
Questions to ask any supplier
- How many chairs in one safe stack? On one trolley? In one van?
- What is the exact width and seat height?
- Which finishes are available, and will a re-order match the first batch?
- Are seat pads fixed or loose? Can they be replaced?
- Can I get spare parts, and how fast?
- What does the warranty cover for rental use?
Ask us the same six questions for the model you choose.
Sources
- WebstaurantStore, How many people can different size tables seat: https://www.webstaurantstore.com/blog/115/how-many-people-can-different-size-tables-seat-comfortably.html. Inches converted to cm and rounded.
- Designing Buildings Wiki, Structuring a restaurant floor plan (banquet: 10–11 sq ft per person): https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Structuring_a_Restaurant_Floor_Plan
- Models and dimensions as published on rikostyle.com, November 2026.
