Heater hire · Norfolk & Suffolk

Heater hire for marquees and events.

Indirect diesel heaters for the marquee, infrared and patio heaters for the spaces outside it, and fan heaters for the rooms behind the scenes. Delivered, set up and collected by us, on its own or alongside your sound and lighting.

Get a heater quote Call the office

Norfolk · Suffolk · Quote within one working day · Rated 4.9 on Google

Size your heating 9 × 12 m marquee
Floor area
108 m²
Heat needed
≈ 20 kW
BTU per hour
≈ 68,000
Typical set-up
1 indirect heater
Season
Marquee

Rough guide: about 125 W per m² for a lined marquee in spring or autumn, up to about 200 W per m² unlined in winter. Guests, wind and exposure all change it, so we size it properly when we quote.

4 types
Diesel, infrared, patio and fan heaters
No fumes
Inside the marquee: indirect heaters vent outside
1 quote
Heating, power, sound and lighting together
£10m
Public liability cover

The heaters

Four kinds of heat, each with a job.

Most events need more than one. The marquee needs steady warmth, the bar outside needs heat you can feel in a breeze, and the green room just needs the chill taking off.

Indirect diesel heaters

The standard for marquees, tipis, stretch tents and barns. The heater stands outside and blows clean, dry warm air in through a duct, so the flame, the fumes and most of the noise stay outside. Most run on a thermostat, so the marquee holds a steady temperature all evening. Indirect diesel marquee heater

Best for marquees, tipis, stretch tents, barns

Electric infrared heaters

Infrared warms people rather than the air around them, so it still works on an open terrace in a breeze. Instant heat, silent and no fumes. Ideal where people stand still for a while. Electric infrared heater

Best for terraces, outdoor bars, smoking areas, marquee entrances

Gas patio heaters

Free-standing propane heaters for open-air spaces with no power to hand: drinks receptions, garden terraces, bar queues and fire-pit areas. Open air only, never inside a marquee. Gas patio heater

Best for outdoor receptions, gardens, courtyards

Electric fan heaters

Compact heaters for the small rooms that get forgotten until someone is cold: green rooms, bridal prep, catering tents, toilets and reception desks. Electric fan heater

Best for back-of-house and small spaces

Heater Use inside? Needs Best for
Indirect diesel Yes, burner stays outside Diesel and a 230 V supply Marquees, tipis, barns
Electric infrared Yes, clear of linings 230 V, about 1.5–2 kW each Terraces, bars, entrances
Gas patio No, open air only Propane, no power Receptions, gardens
Electric fan Yes, small spaces 230 V, 2–3 kW each Green rooms, prep tents

Sizing

How much heat does a marquee need?

Allow about 125 W per square metre of floor for a lined marquee in spring or autumn, rising to around 200 W for an unlined one in winter. Guests add heat; wind, exposure and open doors take it away. Two smaller heaters also spread the warmth more evenly than one big one.

Marquee Floor area Spring or autumn, lined Winter, unlined
6 × 9 m 54 m² 10 kW 15 kW
9 × 12 m 108 m² 15 kW 25 kW
9 × 18 m 162 m² 25 kW 35 kW
12 × 24 m 288 m² 40 kW 60 kW
15 × 30 m 450 m² 60 kW 95 kW

Heat output rounded up to the nearest 5 kW. A guide, not a spec: we size the heating for the actual marquee, site and date, and plan for it to go on a couple of hours before guests arrive so the marquee is warm when they walk in.

What you get

More than a heater on a pallet.

Where the heaters stand, where the warm air comes in and where the power comes from all affect the event, so we plan heating like the rest of the production. Book it on its own, or with your marquee sound and lighting and staging for one delivery and one point of contact.

  • Site plan — heater, duct and cable positions agreed with you and your marquee company
  • Delivery, set-up and collection — across Norfolk and Suffolk
  • Quiet where it matters — outlets kept away from the top table, the band and the speeches
  • Power planned with your AV — heaters, sound and lighting on one plan, with power distribution where it’s needed
  • Fuel and power on the quote — confirmed up front, so nothing is left to find on the day
  • Straight advice — tell us the marquee and we’ll tell you what it needs, and what it doesn’t

Where our heaters go

Marquee weddings

Autumn and winter weddings, with the heat planned around the top table, the dance floor and the doors. Wedding AV · Hearing loops

Parties and celebrations

Birthdays, anniversaries and garden parties that carry on long after the sun goes down.

Corporate hospitality

Client events, launches, galas and Christmas parties in marquees, courtyards and outdoor venues.

Festivals and outdoor events

Bar tents, green rooms, artist areas and crew catering: the spaces that make or break a cold night. Outdoor production · Martyn’s Law comms

Bonfire nights and Christmas markets

Warm spots for queues, stalls and seating, with patio and infrared heaters where there’s no roof. Christmas event hire

Schools, clubs and villages

PTA fairs, club dinners and village events in marquees and halls. Community AV

Before you ask

Heater hire questions.

How much does heater hire cost?
It depends on the heaters, how many you need, how long for, fuel and delivery. Send us the marquee or space, the date and the venue and we’ll come back with a quote within one working day.
What size heater does my marquee need?
Allow roughly 125 W per square metre of floor for a lined marquee in spring or autumn, and up to about 200 W for an unlined marquee in winter. A 9 × 12 m marquee needs around 15–25 kW, which is usually one indirect heater. Use the calculator at the top of this page, or tell us the size and date and we’ll size it for you.
Is it safe to heat a marquee with a diesel heater?
Yes, with an indirect heater. The burner and its exhaust stay outside and only clean warm air is ducted in. We position the heater and flue away from doors and seating and keep ducts clear of linings. We’d still recommend a carbon monoxide alarm in any heated marquee.
Can gas patio heaters go inside a marquee?
No. Gas patio heaters are for open-air spaces such as terraces, drinks receptions, bar queues and smoking areas. Inside the marquee we use indirect diesel or electric heating.
Will the heaters be noisy during speeches?
The burner and fan sit outside the marquee, so inside you mainly hear air from the duct outlets. We keep outlets away from the top table, the band and the speakers, and agree with you how the heating is handled during speeches.
What power do heaters need?
Indirect diesel heaters need a standard 230 V supply for the fan and controls. Electric heaters draw roughly 1.5–3 kW each, so more than a few need proper power distribution. If we’re supplying your sound and lighting, we plan all the power together.
When should I book heaters?
As soon as your date and marquee are confirmed. Autumn and winter weekends go first, especially around Bonfire Night and Christmas.
Which areas do you cover?
We’re based near Diss on the Norfolk–Suffolk border and deliver heaters across Norfolk and Suffolk, including Norwich, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth, Thetford and King’s Lynn. Further afield on request; see areas we cover.

Next step

Tell us the marquee. We’ll size the heating.

Send the marquee size, the date and the venue. You’ll get a quote back within one working day.

Get a heater quote Call the office

£10m public liability · PAT-tested stock · RAMS available · ICO registration ZB988850 (MAV HIRE LTD)