Linen rental: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What linen rental is

A linen rental company supplies tablecloths, napkins, runners and chair covers in the colors and fabrics you choose. The linens are delivered to your event and collected afterward for cleaning, so you do not have to wash, press or store them.

Signs you need it

  • You want table linens that match a specific color or fabric you cannot buy easily
  • The guest count needs more tablecloths and napkins than you own
  • You are hosting at a venue that does not provide linens
  • You want chair covers and sashes that match the room's palette
  • You do not have time to wash, press and fold linens before and after the event

What the pro does

  • Takes your table count, table shapes, colors and fabrics
  • Confirms the quantities for each table, napkin and chair cover
  • Delivers the linens to the venue or home at the agreed time
  • Places the linens on the tables if setup is part of the service
  • Collects the used linens after the event and checks them for stains or tears
  • Cleans and presses the linens for the next booking

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of tablecloths, napkins, runners and chair covers
  • Fabric type, such as polyester, cotton or a specialty weave
  • Table shapes and sizes, since round and long tables need different lengths
  • Custom colors or specialty patterns that the company must source
  • Delivery and pickup distance and whether setup is included
  • Stain or damage charges, which depend on what comes back

What a written quote should spell out

  • Each linen item by type, size, color and fabric
  • Quantities for each table, napkin and chair cover
  • Delivery and pickup times, and whether setup is included
  • Cleaning terms and how stains and tears are charged
  • What happens if a color or fabric is not available on the date

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can I see a swatch of the fabric and color before I order?
  • What is the length of each tablecloth for my table size?
  • How do you handle a stain or a tear on the day, and who pays for it?
  • When will you collect the linens, and what if the event runs late?
  • Do you provide chair covers and sashes, and in what colors?
  • Will you help me plan the quantities for napkins and runners?

Red flags

  • Cannot show a swatch or a sample of the fabric and color
  • Will not say how stains and tears are charged
  • Gives the table length without asking your table size or shape
  • Has no written terms for pickup and late collection
  • Offers a color that is listed as available but cannot confirm stock for your date

What you can do yourself

You can wash and press a few tablecloths yourself for a small gathering, following the care label on each fabric. Hire a linen rental company for large orders, specialty colors, chair covers, or a set of linens that must match across many tables and be collected after the event.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to rent linens. Ask whether the company carries liability insurance for its deliveries and whether its cleaning process meets the rules of the venue you are using.

Linen rental questions

How do I measure my table for a tablecloth?

Measure the table top and the drop you want on each side. Ask the company for its length chart, since round and rectangular tables need different sizes.

Are the linens clean when they arrive?

Ask the company. Ask whether the linens are cleaned before delivery and pressed when needed, and confirm the answer in writing before you order.

Do I need to fold or bag the linens after the event?

Usually not. Ask the company whether it will collect the linens as they are, or whether you need to set them in a bag for pickup.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More events and rentals guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request linen rental