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Do I Need a Generator for my Event?

Last edited 15th December 2025

Do I Need a Generator for my Event?

Do I Need a Generator for my Event?  A very popular question I answer with my clients and in this article I will do my best to educate you enough to help you make a decision to what will work best for your event.

In most cases, no — especially for home-based marquee events. Around 95% of garden marquee events can safely run off house electrics, provided catering equipment is modest (mainly gas powered) and power is planned correctly. Generators are essential for field based events and strongly recommended when caterers bring heavy electrical equipment.

If your event is a wedding, and you are providing formal 2/3 course catering rather than informal catering such as a food van, it would be likely you will need a generator. Most domestic homes with single phase incoming power will not be enough to power the additional ovens & warming plates the caterer will be bringing with them to cook everybody’s meals on site inside a catering tent.

After all, with no power there is no event – so it’s crucial we get this right.  Any experienced marquee hire Company will be able to guide you through what options you have at your disposal – They should tell you whether you need a generator for your event.  This is where organising a site survey with your marquee hire company is such a good idea during your planning stages.  You can book a site visit with us online here.

Do I Need a Generator for my Event at Home?

If you’re hosting a marquee event in your garden, the answer is often no. Most modern homes in the UK have either:

A well-specified marquee setup (LED lighting, bar fridges, DJ/band power) will usually consume less than 13 amps at any one time, assuming there is no separate catering tent.

Why House Power Usually Works

A good marquee company will:

When House Power Might Not Be Enough

There are a few scenarios where a generator becomes a sensible option — even at home.

  1. Distance from the House

If your marquee is more than 60-80 metres from the nearest power source, voltage drop becomes a real consideration.

Think of electricity like water in a pipe:

In these cases, a generator closer to the marquee may actually be safer and more reliable.

  1. Older Properties

Shared circuits that already run kitchen appliances, car chargers, etc.

If you live in an older property, it’s worth having a qualified electrician spend 15 minutes checking your incoming supply. This small cost can save a lot of stress — and is far cheaper than hiring a generator unnecessarily.

Caterers & Catering Tents (This Is the Big One)

This is where power planning most often gets overlooked. If your caterer is bringing:

…then a generator is strongly advised.

These appliances draw significant electrical load and are usually:

Even though your house might have a 100 amp incoming supply, your home could already be using:

Add commercial catering equipment on top, and you can very quickly overload circuits.

Best Practice

This avoids last-minute surprises and ensures the power setup is designed properly from the outset.

Powering Marquees in Fields

If your event is in a field or remote location, the decision is simple:

👉 You will need a generator.

There is no alternative.

Modern event generators are:

We use proper distribution boards so that:

Important Tip

Tell your marquee company all suppliers who require power, including:

Your marquee supplier will usually provide power for everyone — but only if they know what’s coming. A lot of marquee hire Companies charge for this service, which is typically anything between £150-£300 on top of your generator costing. At Abacus, your generator hire cost includes this service already as we believe it should not be down to the customer to finish off the cable distribution)

Do I Need a Generator for my Event?

Generator Access & Placement

Most event generators are trailer-mounted, meaning vehicle access close to the marquee is ideal

If access isn’t possible:

For large or critical events, a backup generator can be installed.

Backup Generators (Do You Really Need One?)

Backup generators with an Automatic Mains Failure (AMF) system are typically used for:

In 15 years of running Abacus, we’ve never had a generator fail at an event — but mechanically, anything can fail.

An AMF system automatically starts the backup generator if the main one stops, ensuring uninterrupted power.

How Much Does a Generator Cost?

As a guide:

When getting quotes elsewhere check to see if fuel is included or not. Most companies like to bill your diesel usage after the event, to give you a more favourable quote to then be given a surprise £200-£500 bill after your event.

At Abacus, we don’t think that is fair, so we build into your generator cost your expected deisel usage within your price, and also have a reserve fuel as a backup if required.

It’s a cost many clients would prefer to avoid — which is why using house power where possible is always explored first.

Final Verdict

Power is one of those things that should feel boring on the day — because boring means it’s working perfectly.

Key Takeaways

📞 Need Help Planning Power for Your Event?

If you’re unsure whether you need a generator, our team is always happy to help. We’ll assess your site, talk to your suppliers and recommend the simplest, safest and most cost-effective solution — no upselling, just honest advice. Give us a call today on 01462 262012 to see if your event requires a generator.

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