Marquee heating: warm guests in an uninsulated tent
Nobody in a marquee cares about the air temperature — they care whether they feel cold. That is why radiant heat wins under fabric: it warms guests directly instead of trying to hold a temperature in a tent the wind blows straight through.
How many kW do you need to heat a marquee?
As a working figure allow 100–150 W per m² of guest area for radiant heat, or roughly 0.5–1 kW per guest for air heating, then increase it in exposed or winter conditions.
The problem with marquee heating
A marquee has effectively no insulation and enormous air leakage, so any system that heats air is fighting the weather. Fabric also rules out most high-temperature emitters on safety grounds.
Zoning strategy: Heat the seated and standing guest areas; leave circulation and bar space unheated.
Options compared
| System | Verdict | Upfront | Running |
|---|---|---|---|
Infrared / radiant panels Warms guests directly, silent, no fumes and safe at rated clearances from fabric. | Best fit | Low | Medium |
Indirect diesel heaters Industry standard for large marquees; ducted outside so no fumes indoors, but noisy and fuel-hungry. | Viable | Hire | High |
Direct-fired gas / patio heaters Combustion products and moisture released inside; most reputable marquee firms prohibit them under fabric. | Poor fit | Low | High |
Electric fan heaters Heated air leaves through the fabric faster than you can produce it. | Poor fit | Low | Very high |
Indicative annual heating cost — 200 m², older / poorly insulated
Degree-day method at UK average 2000 HDD, Ofgem price cap (indicative, 2026). Whole-space figures — zoning typically cuts these substantially.
- Infrared panels£4,403/yr
- Air-source heat pump£1,764/yr
- Gas central heating£1,587/yr
- Old electric / storage heaters£5,645/yr
What marquee heating costs to install
- Small marquee hire heat (up to 60 guests)£150 – £400 per event
Two to four radiant units plus distribution.
- Large marquee (150–250 guests)£500 – £1,500 per event
Indirect or zoned radiant with generator allowance.
- Permanent structure / all-season pod£2,500 – £9,000
Owned radiant install for year-round hospitality use.
Marquee heating: FAQs
Reviewed by the Infrared Heat Solutions technical team · Last updated July 2026 · Data sources: Open-Meteo, Ofgem, Energy Saving Trust