Answer first: you can seat a large holiday dinner without buying a single piece of furniture. Folding tables on LEND-IT.CA start around $8 a day for a 6ft rectangular that seats six to eight, and folding chairs start around $1 a day each. Rent the seating for the weekend you actually need it, return it Monday, and skip the part where eight folding chairs live in the garage until next October.
Canadian Thanksgiving lands on 12 October this year, and the December stretch follows it. Both create the same problem in the same houses: the dining table seats six and the guest list says eighteen.
What does it actually cost to seat a big dinner?
Real rates from listings live on the platform right now, from one Toronto-area lender:
Two 6ft tables and twelve basic folding chairs is $28 for the day. Buying the same setup runs a few hundred dollars and then you own storage furniture.
Rates are set by each lender and vary by item and location, so check the listing you are booking. Most of these are quoted as 24-hour rentals.
What about linens, risers and the serving side?
This is the part people forget until the Thursday before. The platform carries the dressing as well as the furniture:
Browse the full furniture rentals category or search what is listed near you to see current availability.
How far ahead should you book?
Earlier than feels necessary. Tables and chairs are the items most likely to be booked out on the same weekend everyone else is hosting, because a lender who owns twelve chairs owns exactly twelve chairs. Thanksgiving weekend and the two weekends before Christmas are the pinch points.
The practical rule: book the seating first, because it is the constrained item, and add the linens and serving gear afterward. Each listing shows its own calendar, so you can see availability before you commit.
Does the second oven problem have a rental answer?
Usually, yes. The oven bottleneck is what turns a manageable dinner into a stressful one, and it is solved by moving one dish off the oven entirely. An 18-quart electric roaster will hold a turkey or a large ham on the counter. Chafing dishes hold everything else at temperature while the oven does one job at a time. For a crowd outdoors, there is a Blackstone portable griddle and a reversible party grill and raclette set .
How does pickup and return work?
You book the dates on the listing, pay through the platform, and arrange pickup or return directly with the lender through in-app messaging. Some lenders offer delivery on their own listings; it is shown on the listing when they do.
A security deposit may be held on your card during the rental to cover minor damage, cleaning or a late return. Take a photo of the tables and chairs when you collect them and again when you hand them back. It takes a minute and it settles any question about condition before it becomes a conversation.
FAQ
How much does it cost to rent a folding table in Ontario?
Rates on LEND-IT.CA currently start around $8 a day for a 6ft rectangular table seating six to eight, with 8ft rectangular and round tables in the $12 to $18 a day range. Each lender sets their own rate and it varies by location.
How many chairs do I need for a 6ft rectangular table?
Six to eight, depending on whether you seat anyone at the ends. For a 6ft round table, plan on eight.
Can I rent tablecloths and chair covers too?
Yes. Fitted table covers, runners, chair covers and chair sashes are all listed, usually by the same event lenders who list the tables, so it can be one pickup.
Is renting cheaper than buying folding tables and chairs?
For occasional hosting, generally yes, and it avoids storing them for the other fifty weekends of the year. If you host large groups most months, buying may work out better. The break-even depends on how often you actually use them.
How early should I book for Thanksgiving or Christmas?
As early as you can. Seating is the item most likely to be unavailable on peak weekends, because each lender only has as many chairs as they own.
Related reading: Where to rent party and event equipment and how to use LEND-IT.CA as a business or individual lender .
