The chairs are the one rental every guest touches, and they quietly set the tone of the whole room — you’ll see them in nearly every photo. Picking the right style isn’t about chasing the fanciest option; it’s about matching the chair to your event, your venue, and your budget. Here’s a rundown of the most popular event chair styles, where each one works best, and what they cost to rent.
The Most Popular Event Chair Styles
Chiavari Chairs
The wedding-industry standard. The slim bamboo-style frame photographs beautifully and comes in gold, silver, and natural finishes, so it dresses up a room without competing with your decor. At Opus they rent for $7 with the cushion included — one of the best value-to-elegance ratios in the catalog.
Cross-Back (X-Back) Chairs
The rustic-chic favorite that helped launch the farmhouse-wedding look. The X-shaped back suits vineyards, gardens, and outdoor receptions, and the solid wood build handles slightly uneven ground better than delicate styles. Comfortable enough for a long dinner, too.
Ghost Chairs
Clear acrylic, endlessly versatile, and a space-saver’s secret weapon — because you can see through them, they make a small venue feel larger. Great for modern weddings and cocktail settings, and easy to wipe clean.
Folding Chairs
Today’s folding chairs go well beyond the basic metal version — wood and resin options in white, natural, and fruitwood look sharp at ceremonies and set up fast for quick transitions. They start at $3 and are the one style you can pick up yourself (will-call), which keeps budget events affordable.
Banquet Chairs
When comfort matters most — think three-hour corporate keynotes or long receptions — padded banquet chairs keep guests comfortable, with the cushion included. Practical, stackable, and easy to deploy in volume.
Statement Chairs
For head tables and guests of honor, gold-and-white styles like the Dior and Washington ($25) add a focal point without needing a literal throne. Use a couple to mark the sweetheart table and let the rest of the room stay simple.
You can browse the full lineup — including Tolix, wishbone, willow, bentwood, French bistro, and LED chairs — on our chair rentals page.
Matching Chairs to Your Event
- Formal weddings & black-tie: Chiavari for the reception; white wood folding chairs for outdoor ceremonies.
- Corporate functions: padded banquet chairs for long sessions; bar stools and high-tops for networking to keep people moving.
- Outdoor celebrations: cross-back or wood chairs that handle grass and patios; skip delicate acrylic on uneven ground in full sun.
- Casual and milestone parties: banquet chairs for comfort, or ghost chairs for a modern cocktail look.
Mixing styles is not only fine, it’s often better — formal seating at the dining tables, relaxed lounge furniture and bar stools in the cocktail area. Keep one common thread (a shared color or material) so it reads intentional.
Comfort and Practicality
Beautiful chairs still have to be sat in, sometimes for hours. A few rules that save events:
- Over two hours of seating? Choose padded seats.
- Outdoors, favor weather-resistant materials and wider legs for stability on uneven ground.
- Allow about 24 inches per person at dining tables — a tight squeeze photographs fine but eats at conversation.
- Mixed-age crowd? Include some chairs with arms, which are easier for older guests to rise from.
If you have specific seating needs — kids, accessibility, or anything unusual — just tell us and we’ll help you sort the right mix.
Style, Color, and Photos
Chairs are supporting actors — they should enhance your palette, not fight it. Gold Chiavari warms a cool-toned room; silver reads modern; clear ghost chairs brighten a dark venue and disappear in a light one. Wood brings warmth, metal reads contemporary, acrylic opens up space. When in doubt, go neutral and let your florals and linens carry the color. And remember these chairs will be in hundreds of photos, so think about how the finish reads under your venue’s lighting.
What Chair Rentals Cost
Every chair is priced individually, so you can spend where it counts and keep it simple elsewhere. At Opus, basic folding chairs start at $3 (will-call eligible), Chiavari run $7 with cushions included, cross-back and ghost chairs land around $10–$12, and statement styles like the Dior and Washington are $25. There’s no order minimum, so you can rent a dozen or several hundred. Delivery and setup are charged separately, and booking early gets you the full selection and better availability. A smart money move: put premium chairs where they show — the ceremony and head table — and simpler ones everywhere else.
Booking and Delivery Tips
- Book 3–6 weeks ahead in peak spring and fall season; popular styles like Chiavari and cross-back go first.
- Reserve about 5–10% extra chairs as a buffer for last-minute guests.
- Confirm delivery access — stairs, elevators, and staging areas — before event day.
- Basic folding chairs are will-call eligible; most other styles are delivery-only.
Find the Right Seating for Your Event
The right chairs set the tone for the whole room, and they don’t have to break the budget. Opus rents the full range of event chairs across greater Los Angeles, and if you need tables too, our table and chair rentals page covers pairing and combined pricing. Tell us your guest count and event style — call (213) 373-1730 or visit our contact page and we’ll help you choose.