Dance floors · Prices checked
Dance floor hire: how big, and what it costs
At most parties only a third of the guests dance at once. Size the floor for them, not for everyone, and you will save money and fill the floor.
By Claire Dunmore · 2 min read
A dance floor that is too big looks empty, and an empty dance floor stays empty. Hire companies size floors for the number of people dancing at the busiest moment, not for the whole guest list.
The rule of thumb
Curated Events, an event rental company, puts it at 30 to 40 percent of guests dancing at any one time, rising towards half with a high-energy band. It allows 4 to 5 square feet a dancer, about 0.37 to 0.46 square metres.
For 100 guests that means 30 to 40 dancers and roughly 11 to 18 square metres of floor: a 4 x 4 metre floor at the small end, a 5 x 5 metre floor at the comfortable end.
What floors cost
| Dance floor (Bargain Party Hire, Sydney) | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic black and white flooring 4m x 4m | 16 m² | $270 |
| Black plywood flooring 8m x 3m | 24 m² | $480 |
| Plastic black and white flooring 5m x 5m | 25 m² | $500 |
| Plastic black and white flooring 6m x 6m | 36 m² | $560 |
| Black plywood flooring 6m x 6m | 36 m² | $720 |
| Black plywood flooring 8m x 6m | 48 m² | $960 |
| Black plywood flooring 5m x 10m | 50 m² | $1,000 |
| Black plywood flooring 6m x 9m | 54 m² | $1,080 |
| Black plywood flooring 6m x 12m | 72 m² | $1,440 |
| Black plywood flooring 5m x 15m | 75 m² | $1,500 |
| Black plywood flooring 8m x 12m | 96 m² | $1,920 |
From Bargain Party Hire’s published flooring prices, read 3 October 2026.
Hard plywood flooring suits a lawn or a marquee, where it also gives a level surface. Black and white plastic tiles are a cheaper look for a smaller party.
Before you book
- Ground. On grass, ask whether the floor needs a sub-floor or levelling.
- Placement. Put the floor near the band or DJ and away from the main entrance, so arriving guests don't walk across it.
- Not sure? The planner below gives the range for your guest numbers.
The Arrival Planner
Enter the length of your entrance and your guest numbers. The planner works out the runner, the posts and ropes, the marquee floor and the dance floor, and prices them from published Australian hire lists.
- Red carpet
- Posts and ropes
- Marquee floor
- Dance floor
Rules: runners 1.2 m wide in 3, 6, 9 and 12 m lengths, posts about 1 metre apart on both sides (Events Fantastic); 1 m² a guest seated, 0.5 m² standing (Barlens); 30 to 40% of guests dancing at once, 0.37 to 0.46 m² each (Curated Events). Prices: Events Fantastic (carpet, + GST) and Bargain Party Hire (marquees, floors), read 3 October 2026. A guide, not a quote.