How to weight a marquee for an outdoor event

Many councils and event organisers will tell you how much weight each marquee leg needs, whether you can use pegs, and what happens when the wind picks up. The rules we checked asked for anything from 20 kg to 65 kg per leg, and several banned pegs outright. So the safe approach is simple: find the event's own rule, weight every leg to it or above, and agree in advance who decides when the marquee comes down.

Below: what councils and events asked for when we checked on 4 October 2026, how to turn a per-leg rule into total ballast, and a sign-off checklist. For how ground surfaces, rain and forecasts affect an outdoor site more generally, see our guide to weatherproofing outdoor brand activations.

What councils and events asked for

Each comes from the council's own page or document. The figures vary, so never assume the last event's rule applies to the next one.

#1 - Read the event's own rule first

The figure that counts is the one in the stallholder guide, exhibitor manual or event permit for that site. Where there isn't one, follow the marquee manufacturer's instructions, and go heavier if in doubt. The City of Boroondara's outdoor event guide puts it this way: anchoring should match the structure size, surface and expected weather, so "Use additional weights where there is any doubt."

Look for three things:

• The weight per leg, and whether it changes with marquee size or walls.
• Whether pegs are allowed. Several of the councils above ban them, and one cites the risk of hitting irrigation lines, so plan on weights unless the rules say otherwise.
• What paperwork they want, such as a wind rating certificate, a risk assessment or a site plan showing where the marquee goes.

#2 - Work out the total ballast

A per-leg rule soon adds up. Multiply the figure by the number of legs:

• A 3 x 3 m marquee at 40 kg per leg: 4 x 40 kg = 160 kg.
• A 3 x 6 m marquee at 65 kg per leg: Merri-bek counts six legs, so 6 x 65 kg = 390 kg.

Now compare that with the marquee itself. Our Gazebo 2 Go 3 x 3 m weighs 23 kg for the frame and 5 kg for the roof, so 23 + 5 = 28 kg in all. At 40 kg per leg, the 160 kg of ballast is about 5.7 times the marquee's own weight (160 / 28 = 5.7). Plan the van, the trolley and the set-up crew around it.

#3 - Find out whether your marquee has a wind rating

Some organisers set their rules around a documented wind rating. Whitehorse's lower and higher per-leg figures apply only where the marquee doesn't have one, and Merri-bek asks for certification from the manufacturer or an engineer before it accepts a stallholder's own marquee, noting that assembly instructions on their own won't do.

The NSW Government's event starter guide says "All structures have wind ratings", and that a wind management plan should set out the wind speeds at which items are secured and when to evacuate the area. If the marquee you're using doesn't come with a documented rating, plan to the stricter figure in the event's rules and ask the organiser what they will accept.

#4 - Use proper weights, not makeshift ones

Whitehorse lists sandbags, steel leg weights, concrete weights or water ballast, and rules out "makeshift weights (i.e. Plastic bags or buckets filled with sand)". Whatever you use:

• Know what each weight weighs, so you can show the organiser you meet the rule.
• Fit it to every leg, not just the corners facing the wind.
• Keep it tidy. SafeWork NSW expects anchors at events to be protected against trips, impalement and traffic. Weights with a low profile and no sharp edges are easier to manage around a crowd.

You can order weighted steel base plates and sand bags as Gazebo 2 Go accessories, at the same time as the marquee. Our branded marquee buyer's guide covers frames, sizes and printed walls.

#5 - Agree the wind plan before bump-in

Decide, in writing, when walls come off, when the marquee comes down and people move away, and who makes that call. Councils word this differently. Whitehorse says to remove walls in high winds and pull the structure down where it is safe to do so. The City of Greater Geelong tells organisers to pack umbrellas and other lightweight items away "before it gets windy", and in high winds to close marquees "down on all four sides". Boroondara says that if forecast winds are likely to exceed the marquee's rating, you must postpone or cancel, or add safety measures such as removing side walls, windbreaks or extra weights. Follow the instruction for the site you're on.

As a reference point, the Bureau of Meteorology issues Severe Weather Warnings for damaging winds when it expects sustained gale force winds of 63 km/h or more, or damaging gusts of 90 km/h or more (thresholds differ in Tasmania and the NSW alps). Don't wait for a warning: set your own trigger below it, based on the marquee's rating and the organiser's plan.

#6 - Keep checking during the event

On the organiser's side, SafeWork NSW's events guide calls for a severe-weather safety procedure that all workers are trained in, and for marquees to be inspected at regular intervals during the event (loose ropes or broken sections, for example). As the exhibitor, make it someone's job to:

• watch the Bureau of Meteorology forecast and warnings for the site through the day
• walk around the marquee at set times and after any gust, checking that every weight is still in place
• re-tension walls and straps that have worked loose
• keep cables, weights and guy ropes clear of walkways.

#7 - Know when a marquee needs a permit

Larger structures can need their own approval. In Victoria, the Building and Plumbing Commission says a tent or marquee with a floor area greater than 100 m² needs an occupancy permit from the Commission before it is used for public entertainment. Its definition covers events the general public can attend, ticketed or not, and leaves out private or invite-only events and use for purposes such as retail or dining, so check with the Commission how it applies to your stand. It asks for a complete application at least 30 business days before the structure is first used. Boroondara also notes that, depending on its size and location, you may need a permit to put up a marquee. Ask early if you're planning anything bigger than a standard stallholder marquee.

Marquee sign-off checklist

Before the event, confirm:

• the weight per leg the event requires, and the total ballast for your marquee
• whether pegs are allowed on the site
• whether the organiser wants a wind rating certificate or other documents
• what you'll use as weights, and that each one's weight is known
• the wind trigger for removing walls and taking the marquee down, and who makes the call
• who will check the marquee during the day
• whether the marquee's size or the site needs a separate permit.

For more on running a stand outside, see our outdoor events page, or browse our branded marquees. If you're ordering a marquee for an outdoor event, add weights to the order or ask us what to include. Call 1300 240 250 or send us an enquiry.