Staking vs. Ballasting: How to Safely Secure Frame Tents and Clearspan Tents with Concrete Weights

Proper anchoring is essential for the safety of any tent installation. Staking remains the best and most effective method whenever soil conditions permit. It delivers superior resistance to wind uplift and lateral forces at a lower cost. However, on hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt, or sites where staking is restricted by permits or utilities, concrete block ballasting is the reliable alternative for both frame tents and clearspan tents.

Tents For Rent always prioritizes staking when possible and uses ballasting solutions only when necessary.

Why Proper Weighting Matters

Frame tents and clearspan tents offer larger unobstructed spaces and the ability to be installed without stakes. Insufficient ballast risks uplift, shifting, or collapse. Industry standards (e.g., from ARA/ATA guidelines) emphasize calculating ballast based on tent size, wind exposure, surface, and other variables.

Key Disclaimer: These are standard recommendations under normal circumstances. Each installation must be adjusted for specific location, event duration, anticipated wind speeds, ground/surface conditions, sidewalls, and other factors. Tents For Rent provides site-specific guidance; always comply with local codes and manufacturer specs. Contact us for a professional assessment.

Frequently asked questions:

• Can tents be secured with sand bags?

  Sand bags are not a safe way to secure a tent. They don’t weigh enough, and they don’t have a safe attachment point.

• Can tents be secured with water barrels

  Water barrels are not an ideal way to secure a tent. The plastic slides easily in a storm, and water can leak out of them, reducing their weight.

• What does it cost to ballast a tent?

  The price of a ballasted frame tent is approximately 3 times the cost of a similarly sized staked pole tent.

• How much ballast is required?

  While there are many factors that determine how much weight a tent requires, a good rule of thumb is 10 pounds of ballast per square foot of tent.

Tents For Rent Standard Ballast Recommendations

We recommend solid concrete blocks (typically 500 lb, 1,100 lb, or 1,600 lb units) properly secured to tents. Here are our guidelines for common sizes:

Tent Size (feet)	Tent Size (meters)	Qty 500 lb	Qty 1,100 lb	Qty 1,600 lb	Total Weight (lbs)
10x10	-	2	-	-	1,000
10x20	-	4	-	-	2,000
15x15	-	4	-	-	2,000
20x20	-	8	-	-	4,000
20x30	-	10	-	-	5,000
20x40	-	-	8	-	8,800
20x50	-	-	10	-	11,000
20x60	-	-	12	-	13,200
30x30	-	-	8	-	8,800
30x40	-	2	-	10	17,000
30x50	-	2	-	12	20,200
30x60	-	-	-	14	22,400
40x40	-	-	4	6	14,000
40x50	-	-	4	8	17,200
40x60	-	-	-	12	19,200
40x70	-	-	-	14	22,400
40x80	-	-	4	14	26,800
40x90	-	-	4	16	30,000
40x100	-	-	-	20	32,000
40x110	-	-	-	24	38,400
40x120	-	-	-	26	41,600
40x130	-	-	-	26	41,600
40x140	-	-	-	30	48,000
65x49	20M x 15M	-	6	30	54,600
65x65	20M x 20M	-	6	36	64,200
65x82	20M x 25M	-	6	42	73,800
65x98	20M x 30M	-	6	48	83,400

Note: Quantities and totals reflect standard installs. Larger clearspan structures often require significantly more ballast due to their design.

Cost Considerations

Switching from a pole tent (staked) to a weighted frame or clearspan tent roughly triples the price due to the additional equipment, transportation, and labor for safe ballasting. This investment ensures compliance and guest safety. Sometimes a frame tent can be installed in such a way that a portion of the tent can be secured by stakes. This can reduce cost significantly. For example, when a tent is installed on asphalt, sometimes we can locate the tent along the edge of the asphalt and drive stakes into the grass.

Best Practices for Concrete Block Ballasting

• Use purpose-built concrete blocks.

• Secure blocks directly to tent legs to prevent shifting.

• Monitor weather forecasts and adjust as needed.

• Concrete blocks outperform water barrels, which can slide, leak, or lose effectiveness.

For detailed engineering or custom scenarios, we rely on proven tools and our extensive experience with commercial, government, and industrial events.

Situations that require ballasting:

• Asphalt where staking is not allowed

• Astroturf sports fields

• Decks and patios. Sometimes, stakes can secure these tents around the perimeter.

• Boardwalks

• Parking garages

• When there is insufficient time to locate underground utilities before installing the tent

• Where there are so many underground utilities that no stakes may be driven into the ground

• On building rooftops. In this situation, the building must be engineered to support the weight of the tent structure and the required weights. The additional height and wind exposure also requires more weights than a standard installation.

Ready for your next event? Contact Tents For Rent LLC for expert advice, precise ballasting plans, and reliable rentals serving PA, NJ, MD, DE, WV, and surrounding areas. Safety is our priority—stake when you can, ballast correctly when you must.

This information is general guidance based on industry standards and our experience. It is not a substitute for site-specific engineering or local regulations.