Exams

Hire exam desks, chairs and invigilator tables for schools, colleges and temporary exam halls across England and Wales, with live stock online.


Start Planning Your Event Today

Exam furniture hire needs accuracy before style. You need stable desks, the right chair count, space for invigilators, clear aisles and a layout that the site team can repeat across multiple rooms or multiple days.

A good exam setup lets candidates focus and lets the venue team reset the room fast between sittings. Hiring also helps when a school hall, sports hall or conference room needs short-term capacity during the exam period.


Why hire from Expo Hire

  • Sunday delivery and collection available.
  • Live order tracking on every delivery and collection.
  • Every order confirmed before payment. No substitutions and no shortfalls.
  • No security deposit. No damage deposit. Standard hires do not carry either charge.
  • Free Minor Damage Waiver on every hire. Normal accidental breakages are covered.
  • One supplier for the full event order. Chairs, tables, catering equipment, glassware and linen from one place.
  • Live chat support seven days a week, 8am to 8pm.

Equipment for Exams

Most jobs on this page start with chairs, tables and a clear service layout. The order then grows into the support stock that keeps guests, staff and suppliers moving in the same room or on the same site.

For most orders, the core links sit in Chair Hire, Table Hire, Catering Equipment Hire, Glassware Hire and Linen Hire. Outdoor formats often add stock from Outdoor Hire.

  • Exam desks and plain chairs for a consistent candidate layout.
  • Invigilator tables and admin desks for scripts, stationery and sign-in.
  • Barriers and waiting furniture for bag-drop, access needs or late arrivals.
  • Spare tables for access arrangements and smaller side rooms.
  • Simple office-style furniture for paperwork and controlled storage.

The exact mix changes with guest numbers, service style and venue access. A standing launch needs more bar surfaces and fewer seats. A dinner, exam or conference needs stronger seating counts and more disciplined aisle space.

Live examples from this category


Quantities guide

Start with the busiest point of the day, not the quietest. Count who needs a seat, who only needs a standing surface and what support stock the service team needs at the same time.

Group sizePlanning guide
50 guests50 candidates often means 50 desks, 55 chairs and 3 invigilator tables
100 guests100 candidates often means 100 desks, 110 chairs, 5 invigilator tables and 2 sign-in points
200 guests200 candidates often means 200 desks, 220 chairs, more admin desks and barriers at entry

Double sittings need spare desks and chairs for swaps or damage.

Bag-drop systems need more tables and route space than the seat count alone suggests.

These figures give you a planning baseline, not a fixed rule. The venue shape, the weather, the menu and the delivery route can all change the final count.


Planning considerations

Set aisle widths before you lock the order.

Keep the build in place for the full exam window where possible.

Treat the entrance as part of the operation, not only the hall.

Use ground-floor or service-lift routes because drivers do not use stairs.

Plan for scripts, spare materials and access rooms from the start.


How hire works

Standard hire runs for 3 days: delivery day, event day and collection day. That structure suits most event jobs because it gives you time to build, trade or host, then clear the stock without forcing everything into one shift.

Expo Hire delivers across England and Wales. Delivery starts from £40 ex-VAT and is calculated by distance from the nearest depot. Equipment arrives clean and tested. The service is dry hire, so your team, venue staff or caterer place the stock in final position after delivery.

Drivers do not set equipment up, connect gas or carry items up and down stairs. If the order includes refrigeration, ask for delivery the day before so the units can pre-cool for 6 to 8 hours. LPG equipment must be connected by a competent person. Fixed installations need a Gas Safe engineer. Many commercial catering items need a 16A or 32A supply rather than a standard 13A socket.


Ordering

Build the order online at expohire.com once the dates, quantities and venue details are ready. The basket shows live stock and pricing, so you can size the job around the real guest count or room plan rather than a rough estimate.

If you need help with quantities, carriage or specialist equipment, call 0800 910 1100 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If the order needs sign-off before payment, use the basket as the base for an internal quote.

Add access notes, room names, hall numbers, stand details or site contacts before checkout.


FAQ

What equipment do people usually hire for exams?

Most orders start with chairs, tables and service equipment, then add the extra stock that fits the format. That can include bars, glassware, linen, refrigeration, outdoor furniture or temporary kitchen equipment. The exact mix depends on guest numbers, service style and venue access.

How many tables and chairs do I need for exams?

Start with the real guest count, then check how much of the event is seated and how much is standing. A drinks-led event needs fewer seats and more poseur or service tables. A dinner or exam setup needs a full seat count and clearer aisle space.

Can Expo Hire deliver for exams in England and Wales?

Yes. Expo Hire delivers across England and Wales. Carriage starts from £40 ex-VAT and is calculated by distance from the nearest depot.

What should I check before ordering catering or refrigeration equipment?

Check power, gas responsibility and access before you place the order. Fridges and coolers should arrive the day before so they can pre-cool for 6 to 8 hours. LPG equipment must be connected by a competent person, and fixed installations need a Gas Safe engineer.

No security deposit

Expo Hire does not charge a security deposit. A free minor damage waiver covers minor damage and loss. Excessive or negligent damage is charged at 10 times the hire price. Full details in our terms and conditions.

Delivery and collection

Use the carriage calculator to find your nearest branch and get an accurate delivery quote. At checkout we show an itemised delivery cost before you confirm the order.

On the day, track your driver in real time on our order tracking page, or use the link in the automated text we send.

Advance deposit

For orders over £1,000, you can confirm a booking with a 25% deposit and pay the balance up to 28 days before delivery. The checkout offers this automatically. Full details in our terms and conditions.

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