Mise à jour : 17 juin 2026

Technical9 min de lecture

Heating a tent and a marquee: solutions, power and budget

Name: Location Tente France
Address: FR

Gas, forced air or electric? What power for what volume? The guide to heating your structure efficiently and keeping your guests until the end of the evening.

Par l'équipe éditoriale Location Tente France

Basé sur 100+ événements installés / an et la veille réglementaire CTS

Heating is the most underestimated option at an event under a tent — and the one that saves the most evenings. An unheated structure often empties after midnight, even in high summer: as soon as the night-time temperature drops below 15 °C, guests feel the cold and leave.

Properly sized, heating maintains a comfortable temperature of 18 to 20 °C whatever the weather, and makes autumn weddings, end-of-year corporate parties and winter receptions under a structure possible.

This guide reviews the types of heating, the method for calculating the power required, the safety rules and the budget ranges. The aim: to choose the right solution without overpaying or taking a risk.

Heating-power benchmarks by volume

Orders of magnitude for a properly sealed structure. The final sizing depends on the insulation, the date and the exposure.

Area	Volume (~3 m)	Mid-season	Winter
100 m²	~300 m³	12-15 kW	18-25 kW
200 m²	~600 m³	25-30 kW	35-45 kW
300 m²	~900 m³	35-45 kW	50-65 kW
500 m²	~1500 m³	55-70 kW	80-110 kW

Indicative values to target 18-20 °C. Good insulation greatly reduces these needs.

The types of heating for a structure

Three main families cover most needs, with different logics:

Gas forced-air heating (hot-air generator): the most powerful and the most common for large structures. Placed outside, it blows hot air into the tent through a duct. Ideal for heating a large volume quickly.
Gas radiant heating (patio heater, suspended radiant): localised heat, useful for outdoor areas (cocktail, smoking area) or as a supplement. Less suited to heating a large enclosed volume evenly.
Electric heating (fan heaters, radiant): silent and combustion-free, handy for small volumes or where gas is not allowed. Requires sufficient electrical power available (often a dedicated generator).

Calculating the power required

Heating power is calculated from the volume to be heated (area × average height) and the target temperature difference with the outside. A simple rule of thumb gives a good order of magnitude: allow around 35 to 45 W per m³ for a moderate difference (mid-season), and up to 60 W/m³ or more in deep winter with a poorly insulated structure.

Example: a 200 m² marquee with an average height of 3 m represents 600 m³. In mid-season, allow in the region of 25 to 30 kW; in winter, 35 to 45 kW. The quality of the insulation (lined walls, flooring) markedly reduces the need.

These benchmarks are for a rough estimate; the final sizing takes account of the canvas, the walls, the flooring, the exposure to wind and the date. Our team calculates it precisely for each project.

Insulation: halving the need

Before adding kilowatts, you reduce heat loss. A well-sealed and insulated structure can halve the heating need:

Solid, closed walls (vs open or single walls)
Insulating lining of the walls and roof for deep cold
Flooring: it cuts the rise of cold and damp from the ground
An entrance porch to avoid draughts every time the door opens
Sealing the joints and the wall bases

Safety: the rules to follow

Gas heating requires strict precautions. They are not optional: a poorly installed appliance is a fire and poisoning risk.

Gas generators placed outside the structure, never inside
Gas cylinders stored at the regulatory distance and ventilated
Hot-air ducts kept away from the canvas and from flammable materials
Suitable detectors and extinguishers nearby
M2 / B1 fire-rated canvas and a compliant installation
Work carried out by a provider who ensures the compliance of the system

Budget and good practice

The cost of heating depends on the installed power, the fuel (gas) or the energy (electricity + generator) and the duration. It is an item to anticipate from the quote, not to add in a hurry the day before.

Good practice: pre-heat the structure 1 to 2 hours before the guests arrive, especially in winter. The mass of cold air takes time to warm up; pre-heating avoids the “freezing tent” effect on arrival.

Finally, always allow a margin: it is easier to turn down an oversized heater than to warm up 150 frozen guests.

Let us heat your event to the right temperature

Give us your structure, your date and your venue: we calculate the exact heating power and build it into your turnkey quote.

Request a quote See the structures

FAQ

Vos questions, nos réponses

For a 200 m² marquee (about 600 m³) that is properly sealed, allow in the region of 25 to 30 kW in mid-season and 35 to 45 kW in deep winter, to target 18-20 °C. The exact power depends on the insulation (walls, flooring), the date and the exposure to wind. The sizing is done case by case.

Often, yes — at least as a supplement. Even on a fine day, the temperature drops after sunset and it is not unusual to fall below 15 °C in the second half of the night. An unheated tent then empties prematurely. Sized heating, even modest, keeps your guests until the end of the evening.

Gas forced air is the most powerful and the most economical for heating a large volume quickly: it is the default choice for marquees. Electric, silent and combustion-free, suits small volumes or where gas is not allowed, but requires substantial electrical power (often a generator). Radiant heaters are mainly used as a supplement or outdoors.

Not if it is properly installed. The golden rule: the gas generators and the cylinders stay outside the structure, with the hot air blown inside through a duct kept away from the canvas. With M2-rated canvas, compliant appliances and a professional installation, gas heating is safe and widely used.

Pre-heat the structure 1 to 2 hours before the guests arrive, longer in deep winter. The mass of cold air and the materials take time to warm up; pre-heating avoids the freezing effect on arrival and lets you reach temperature by the time the doors open.

By reducing heat loss before adding power: solid, closed walls, insulating lining for deep cold, flooring to cut the cold from the ground, and an entrance porch. A well-insulated structure can halve the heating need — and therefore the bill.

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Ressources associées

Reception tent guide

All the options in detail.

Flooring & ground for tents

Flooring cuts the cold from the ground.

Wedding under a marquee

The complete guide to weddings under a tent.

Event structure

B2B catalogue of temporary structures.

End-of-year corporate party

Getting your winter party right under a structure.

All types of structures

Choosing the structure suited to the season.

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