LED Bar Rental: 5 Essential Steps for Corporate Events
An LED bar, also called a light-up or illuminated bar, is a bar-height service counter that glows from inside. At corporate evening events such as awards dinners, welcome receptions, sponsor parties, and client appreciation nights, an LED bar gives the caterer a working counter and gives the room a lit focal point. We rent LED bars from a 24 inch corner unit up to a 12 foot round island bar, all at 42 inch bar height.
This guide covers LED bar rental and illuminated furniture for large corporate events in five steps: which bar sizes to use, how many bars a reception needs, how to build a lit zone around them, and what to plan with your venue and caterer.
Quick facts: LED bars from Modern Event Rental
- Sizes: 24″ corner unit, 4 ft, 6 ft, and 8 ft straight bars, Matrix 6 ft and 8 ft bars, a 6 ft curved bar, and a 12 ft round bar.
- Height: every LED bar is 42″ high, standard bar height.
- Color: lit from inside, with selectable color on many illuminated pieces.
- Service: delivered, installed, and struck by our own crews in all 50 states, with one point of contact.
When an LED bar makes sense
An LED bar rental does its best work in rooms with the house lights down: ballroom receptions, awards shows, evening sponsor events, and after-hours parties at a conference. The lit front draws guests to the bar and helps people find it in a crowded room. In daylight or outdoors at midday, the glow is much less visible, and a standard bar may be the better choice.
They are also a simple way to bring a brand color into a room without printed graphics. Pair the bar color with uplighting and the space reads as designed rather than rented.
Which LED bar size do you need?
| Bar | Size (L x D x H) | Weight | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED Light Up Corner Bar | 24″ x 24″ x 42″ | 52 lb | Corners and compact spaces |
| 4ft Light Up Bar | 48″ x 24″ x 42″ | 68 lb | Small satellite bars and coffee or water stations |
| 6ft Light Up Bar | 72″ x 24″ x 42″ | 89 lb | A standard bar for two bartenders |
| 8ft Light Up Bar | 96″ x 24″ x 42″ | 115 lb | Busy main bars |
| Matrix 6ft LED Bar | 72″ x 24″ x 42″ | 50 lb | A lighter 6 ft option |
| Matrix 8ft LED Bar | 96″ x 24″ x 42″ | 79 lb | A lighter 8 ft option |
| Illuminated Curved Bar | 72″ x 24″ x 42″ | 62 lb | Softer, curved bar fronts |
| 12ft Diameter Round LED Bar | 144″ diameter x 42″ | 372 lb | A center-of-room island bar |
See every bar in our bar rentals.
How many bars does a corporate reception need?
A common catering rule is one bar for every 75 to 100 guests at an open bar. Short cocktail hours, where everyone orders at once, push toward the higher count. Six to eight feet of bar front gives two bartenders room to work.
| Guests | Bars at 1 per 75 to 100 guests |
|---|---|
| 150 | 2 |
| 300 | 3 to 4 |
| 500 | 5 to 7 |
| 1,000 | 10 to 13 |
Your caterer sets the final number for your LED bar rental, since drink menu and service style change it. Once you have it, we match bar sizes and finishes to the layout.
Keep one bar section accessible. Every LED bar here is 42 inches high. The 2010 ADA Standards call for at least 5 percent of seating and standing spaces at dining surfaces to be accessible, with surfaces 28 to 34 inches high, so plan a lower service point or nearby standard-height tables with your caterer.
Build a lit zone around the bar
A single LED bar looks like an accent. A bar with matching illuminated furniture around it looks like a planned space. Pieces that pair well include:
- Illuminated high boys (15″ x 15″ x 42″, 36 lb) as standing perches near the bar.
- 6 ft and 8 ft illuminated communal tables for groups.
- The illuminated serpentine communal table, 12 ft long, as a centerpiece.
- Light up coffee tables and coffee cubes for a nearby lounge.
- Bar and display shelving behind the bar for a finished back bar.
Browse the full LED furniture collection.
What to plan with your venue and caterer
- Power: LED bars and illuminated furniture are lit from inside. Plan a power source near each bar and lit piece, and mark them on your floor plan.
- Weight and access: most straight bars weigh 50 to 115 lb, but the 12 ft round bar weighs about 372 lb. Check freight elevator and load-in paths early.
- Caterer needs: confirm bar count, length, and back bar space with your caterer before you finalize the floor plan.
- Room lighting: LED pieces show best with house lights dimmed. Share your lighting plan so bar colors and uplighting work together.
- Move-in and move-out: our crews work inside your venue schedule, and we provide certificates of insurance and follow venue and union labor rules.
How to get a quote
For an LED bar rental quote, send your venue, dates, guest count, and the bars and pieces you want through our Request a Quote form or by email to rentals@moderneventrental.com. Please send real quantities: they decide availability, labor, and trucking. Our guides on getting an event furniture rental quote and reserving after your quote explain each step.
Frequently asked questions about LED bar rental
What sizes do LED bars come in?
Our LED bars range from a 24 inch corner unit to 4 ft, 6 ft, and 8 ft straight bars, a 6 ft curved bar, and a 12 ft diameter round island bar. All stand 42 inches high.
Do LED bars need power?
Yes. The bars are lit from inside, so plan a power source near each bar location and mark it on your floor plan. We confirm power needs for every illuminated piece with your quote.
Can the LED color match our brand?
Many of our illuminated pieces offer selectable colors. Send your brand color with your quote request and we will confirm which pieces can match it.
How many bars do I need for 500 guests?
A common catering rule is one bar for every 75 to 100 guests, which means five to seven bars for 500 guests. Confirm the final count with your caterer, since service style changes it.
Do you set up LED bars outside Chicago?
Yes. Our own crews deliver, install, and strike LED bars and illuminated furniture at venues in all 50 states.