Hosting Thanksgiving in San Antonio? How Many Tables and Chairs You Need (and Where to Put Them If It Rains)
Short answer: Plan one chair for every guest plus 2 or 3 spares, and one table for every 8 guests (a 60-inch round or an 8 ft table seats 8; a 6 ft table seats 6). Add one or two more tables for the food and desserts. Then measure your space: you need about 10 square feet per guest with long tables, or about 12 with rounds. If there’s any chance of rain, put the tables in the garage or under a tent. Contact us on the hero line at 210-255-9070 and we’ll help you size it.
How many tables and chairs for Thanksgiving?
| Guests | Chairs (with spares) | 8 ft or 60″ round tables (8 per table) | 6 ft tables (6 per table) | Extra tables for food |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18–20 | 20–23 | 3 | 3–4 | 1–2 |
| 30 | 32–33 | 4 | 5 | 1–2 |
| 40 | 42–44 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
Long tables or rounds? Long 8 ft tables lined up end to end give you that “one big family table” look and fit more people in a garage or narrow patio. Rounds are better for conversation and work well in an open backyard or under a bigger tent.
Don’t forget a kids’ table, a spot for drinks, and somewhere for the to-go plates at the end of the night.
Will it fit? Garage, driveway or backyard
Measure the clear floor, not the whole space. Then multiply your guest count by 10 (long tables) or 12 (rounds) to get the square feet you need.
- Garage: Move the cars out and push shelves and bins to the walls. Many two-car garages are around 20 by 20 feet, which can seat a good-sized family at long tables, but measure yours. Keep a clear path to the door and don’t block the water heater.
- Driveway: Flat and easy to set up on. A tent on concrete can’t be staked, so it’s held down with weights. Concrete weights are an extra charge, so tell us your surface when you book.
- Backyard: Pick the flattest spot. If the grass is soggy, table legs sink and chairs wobble, so check it the day before.
Rain plan for a San Antonio Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. Early long-range outlooks for South Texas lean warm with a chance of showers, but those outlooks change a lot, so check the forecast the week of.
- Pick your covered spot now. Garage, covered patio, or a tent.
- Size the tent to the tables. A 10×20 canopy covers roughly 18 to 20 seated guests at long tables. Bigger groups need a bigger tent or two canopies (food under one, seating under the other).
- Plan for wind and a cool evening. A canopy is a roof, not a room, so seat guests toward the middle, keep the food on the side away from the wind, and have jackets handy.
- Keep the food covered too. A wet buffet is the fastest way to end dinner early.
- Know the reschedule rule. We reschedule weather-related cancellations at no extra cost with 48 hours’ notice.
Hosting Friendsgiving in San Antonio
Friendsgiving uses the same table and chair math as Thanksgiving dinner. The two differences: it’s usually a potluck, and it usually runs past sunset.
- Seating: One chair per guest plus 2 or 3 spares, and one table for every 8 guests (or every 6 at 6 ft tables). For 24 friends, that’s 26 to 27 chairs and 3 tables that seat 8, or 4 six-foot tables.
- Potluck tables: Plan on 2 extra tables, not 1. When everyone brings a dish, slow cookers, desserts and a drink station fill a table fast.
- Lights for early sunset: In mid-November the sun sets around 5:40 PM in San Antonio, so a dinner that starts at 5 is in the dark by dessert. String lights can be added to any of our tents. Hang them over the tables and the food so guests can see their plates. See our lighting rentals.
- Cool evenings: After a cold front, November nights here cool off quickly. Seat guests under the tent close to the house, keep the food on the side away from the wind, and tell friends to bring a jacket.
For about 20 friends, a 10×20 canopy covers the seating. For a bigger group, or to fit the buffet under the same roof, our 20×20 High Peak Marquee seats about 40.
Setup: what’s included
Tent setup is included in the tent price. Table and chair setup isn’t included, but you can add it for a fee, which is worth it if you’d rather spend the morning on the turkey. Patio heaters are available as a separate rental if it turns cool after dark. They’re for outdoor use only, so set them up in the open yard or driveway, never inside the garage, and always keep them well away from any bounce house or inflatable.
Easy ways to book it
- Small family dinner (about 18): Our Backyard Shade & Seat Package puts three 6 ft tables and 18 chairs under a 10×20 canopy.
- Bigger crowd: Mix 60-inch round table sets (8 chairs each) or 8 ft tables with chairs, and add a tent from our tent rentals.
- Kids coming too? Our Hero Holiday Party bundle adds a bounce house, a cotton candy machine and a patio heater. Set the heater up well away from the bounce house.
- Not sure? Use our tent calculator or just tell us your guest count and space.
When we deliver
We can deliver on Thanksgiving Day, or earlier in the week if our schedule allows. Ask about your date when you book.
Thanksgiving week is busy for tables and chairs, so reach out early to check availability.
FAQ
How many tables and chairs do I need for 30 Thanksgiving guests?
About 32 to 33 chairs and 4 tables that seat 8 (8 ft tables or 60-inch rounds), plus 1 or 2 more tables for the food.
Can I set up rented tables and chairs in my garage?
Yes. Clear the floor, measure it, and allow about 10 square feet per guest with long tables. Keep a clear path to the door.
Can you put a tent on my driveway?
Yes. On concrete, tents are held down with weights instead of stakes. Concrete weights are an extra charge, so let us know your surface when you book.
Do you set up the tables and chairs?
Tent setup is included. Table and chair setup is available for an added fee.
What if it rains on Thanksgiving?
Have a covered spot ready: a garage, covered patio, or a tent. If you need to reschedule because of weather, we do it at no extra cost with 48 hours’ notice.
Can I add a heater?
Yes, patio heaters are a separate rental for cool evenings. They’re for outdoor use only, not inside a garage, and they’re always kept away from bounce houses and other inflatables.
Do you deliver on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes, we can deliver on Thanksgiving Day, or earlier in the week if our schedule allows. Ask about your date when you book.
Can you add string lights to a tent for an evening Friendsgiving?
Yes. String lights can be added to any of our tent sizes. The sun sets around 5:40 PM in San Antonio in mid-November, so if your Friendsgiving runs into the evening, add lights when you book.
Planning Thanksgiving for a crowd? Tell us your guest count and your space, and we’ll help you pick the right tables, chairs and tent. Contact us on the hero line: 210-255-9070 or www.littleherojumpers.com.