<p>A marquee without heating is a gamble from May onwards and a certainty in September. This guide covers which heater types work inside a marquee, how many you need, and what to check with your marquee supplier before you order.</p>
<p>A marquee without heating is a gamble from May onwards and a certainty in September. This guide covers which heater types work inside a marquee, how many you need, and what to check with your marquee supplier before you order.</p>
The main choice for marquee events is between gas patio heaters and infrared heaters. Each works differently and suits different marquee setups.
Pyramid and mushroom patio heaters run on LPG gas cylinders and produce a wide radiant heat zone around the heater head. They work best in open-sided or partially open marquees where air circulation keeps them safe to operate. Most marquee suppliers will specify whether gas heaters are permitted inside their structure — check before ordering.
A single pyramid heater covers a radius of roughly 3–4 metres. For a 9m × 12m marquee with 80–100 guests, four heaters positioned at the corners keeps the temperature comfortable on a cool evening. Add one more for every 20–25 additional guests beyond 100.
Infrared gazebo heaters mount to a frame or hang from the marquee structure and heat people and surfaces directly rather than heating the air. They work well in fully enclosed marquees and under outdoor canopies where gas heaters cannot be used. They require a 13-amp socket within reach of the unit.
Infrared heaters are also faster to warm up — no waiting for gas to heat. For seated dinners where guests arrive cold, infrared mounted above the tables is more effective than gas heaters positioned around the perimeter.
For large marquee events, many bookers use gas heaters around the perimeter of open-sided areas and infrared units above dining tables inside. The combination covers both comfort zones without over-relying on one fuel type.
Gas heaters are hired without fuel — LPG cylinders are widely available from local suppliers and most venues hold stock. For a 6-hour evening event with 4 heaters running continuously, budget two 13kg cylinders per heater as a safe margin. Infrared heaters run on standard 13-amp power — confirm with your venue or generator supplier that sufficient sockets are available.
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