Choosing a stage
How Many 4 ft x 4 ft Stage Decks Do You Need?
Divide the stage width in feet by 4, divide the depth by 4, and multiply. A 12 ft x 20 ft stage (3.66 m x 6.10 m) needs 15 decks, because every MyStage stage uses the same 4 ft x 4 ft (1.22 m x 1.22 m) deck. Round each side to a multiple of 4 ft first.
That formula covers any rectangle. The sections below handle metric floor plans, L-shapes and thrusts, and the counts that grow with every deck.
What is a 4 ft x 4 ft stage deck?
A 4 ft x 4 ft stage deck is one square platform that connects to identical decks to form a larger stage. A MyStage deck is aluminum with a black diamond-plate surface, measures 4 ft x 4 ft (1.22 m x 1.22 m), weighs 42 lbs (19 kg) and stands on five legs: four angled legs plus a center leg that reduces bounce.
Because MyStage makes no larger or smaller panels, the deck is the unit you count, and every modular stage layout is a grid of 4 ft (1.22 m) squares.
How do you calculate how many stage decks you need?
You calculate the deck count by turning each side of the stage into a number of 4 ft deck widths and multiplying. Follow these steps:
- Measure the space you can use. Measure the width (side to side, facing the audience) and the depth (front to back) of the area the stage can occupy, not the room.
- Round each side to a multiple of 4 ft (1.22 m). Decks only come in 4 ft steps, so a stage can be 8 ft or 12 ft wide, but not 10 ft. Round down if the space is fixed; see the rounding section below if it is not.
- Divide each side by 4. This gives the number of decks across and the number of decks deep. A 16 ft width is 4 decks across; an 8 ft depth is 2 decks deep.
- Multiply. Decks across x decks deep = total decks. 4 x 2 = 8 decks for a 16 ft x 8 ft (4.88 m x 2.44 m) stage.
- Add any extra sections separately. If the shape is not a single rectangle, count each rectangle on its own and add the totals.
In short: decks = (width in ft / 4) x (depth in ft / 4). Swapping width and depth does not change the count: a 12 ft x 20 ft stage and a 20 ft x 12 ft stage both use 15 decks.
How many decks do common stage sizes need?
Common stage sizes need between 1 deck (4 ft x 4 ft) and 15 decks (12 ft x 20 ft), as the table shows. The combined weight column uses 42 lbs (19 kg) per deck, and the price is the decks-only package from the MyStage Canadian catalog, in US dollars.
| Stage footprint | Metric | Grid (across x deep) | Decks | Combined deck weight | Decks-only package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft x 4 ft | 1.22 m x 1.22 m | 1 x 1 | 1 | 42 lbs (19 kg) | US$659 |
| 4 ft x 8 ft | 1.22 m x 2.44 m | 2 x 1 | 2 | 84 lbs (38 kg) | US$1,260 |
| 4 ft x 12 ft | 1.22 m x 3.66 m | 3 x 1 | 3 | 126 lbs (57 kg) | US$1,890 |
| 8 ft x 8 ft | 2.44 m x 2.44 m | 2 x 2 | 4 | 168 lbs (76 kg) | US$2,480 |
| 8 ft x 12 ft | 2.44 m x 3.66 m | 3 x 2 | 6 | 252 lbs (114 kg) | US$3,720 |
| 8 ft x 16 ft | 2.44 m x 4.88 m | 4 x 2 | 8 | 336 lbs (152 kg) | US$4,960 |
| 12 ft x 12 ft | 3.66 m x 3.66 m | 3 x 3 | 9 | 378 lbs (171 kg) | US$5,400 |
| 8 ft x 20 ft | 2.44 m x 6.10 m | 5 x 2 | 10 | 420 lbs (190 kg) | US$5,999 |
| 8 ft x 24 ft | 2.44 m x 7.32 m | 6 x 2 | 12 | 504 lbs (228 kg) | US$7,080 |
| 12 ft x 20 ft | 3.66 m x 6.10 m | 5 x 3 | 15 | 630 lbs (285 kg) | US$8,775 |
Larger stages follow the same rule: 16 ft x 20 ft is 4 x 5 = 20 decks, sold as a 20-deck package at US$11,600. Prices exclude freight and taxes. For every standard size listed in both feet and meters, see Portable Stage Sizes and Metric Measurements.
What if your space is measured in meters?
If your floor plan is in meters, divide each side by 1.22 and round down to a whole number of decks. That gives the largest grid that fits inside the space.
For example, a hall has a stage area 5 m wide and 3 m deep. 5 / 1.22 = 4.1, so 4 decks across (4.88 m). 3 / 1.22 = 2.5, so 2 decks deep (2.44 m). The answer is 4 x 2 = 8 decks, a 16 ft x 8 ft stage, leaving about 12 cm of width and 56 cm of depth spare.
Use this quick reference to read deck counts straight off a metric plan:
- 1 deck: 1.22 m
- 2 decks: 2.44 m
- 3 decks: 3.66 m
- 4 decks: 4.88 m
- 5 decks: 6.10 m
- 6 decks: 7.32 m
Watch the numbers that land just under a deck boundary. A 6 m wall reads as "about 6 meters" but is short of the 6.10 m that five decks need, so it takes four decks across, not five.
How do you count decks for an L-shape, T-shape, thrust or runway?
You count a nonstandard modular stage layout by splitting it into rectangles, counting each rectangle with the formula, and adding the results. Graph paper with one square per deck makes this quick.
The layouts below are illustrations of the method, not standard packages. Confirm any shape in the Stage Builder, which works out the decks for any footprint and shows the price.
| Layout | Rectangles | Deck count |
|---|---|---|
| Main stage with a center thrust (T-shape) | 16 ft x 8 ft main stage (8 decks) plus a 4 ft x 8 ft thrust (2 decks) | 10 decks |
| L-shape around a corner | 12 ft x 8 ft (6 decks) plus a 4 ft x 8 ft leg (2 decks) | 8 decks |
| Runway | 4 ft x 24 ft (6 decks) | 6 decks |
Count shared squares only once. Where a thrust meets the main stage, the deck at the join belongs to one rectangle or the other, not both. For catwalk-style layouts, MyStage also has a portable runway stages category.
Should you round your stage size up or down?
Round down when the room sets the limit; round up when the performers and equipment set it.
Before you round, check what has to fit around the stage:
- Stairs or a step up. These sit outside the footprint, so measure the space in front of the edge where they will go.
- Exits and aisles. Keep the routes your venue and local fire code require clear of the stage and its stairs.
- Performers and gear. Mark the proposed footprint on the floor with tape, then place the real setup inside it (a drum kit, a lectern, a choir in rows) before you settle on a size.
If two sizes both fit, start with the smaller one; you can add a row of decks later (see the last FAQ).
What else grows with the number of decks?
Legs, setup time, weight and storage space all grow with the deck count.
- Legs. Each deck comes with five legs, so a 15-deck stage arrives with 75 legs. Standard legs adjust from 4 to 28 in (10 cm to 71 cm). For other heights, Shorties have 8 in and 10 in (20 cm, 25 cm) settings and Biggies go up to 36 in (91 cm); ask MyStage how many you need for your deck count.
- Setup time. One person sets up a deck in about a minute, with no tools, and decks connect with wingnuts. As a planning assumption, 15 decks is roughly 15 minutes of deck setup for one person, before leveling, railings, stairs and skirting.
- Combined weight. Use the weight column above to plan how many trips it takes to move the stage from storage.
- Storage. Each deck folds in half to 2 ft x 4 ft (0.61 m x 1.22 m) and has a shoulder strap. A gear bag (US$88) holds one folded deck, so count one bag per deck if you want every deck covered.
How do railings and skirting relate to the deck count?
Railings and skirting follow the open edges of the stage, not the number of decks. Railings come in 4 ft (1.22 m) sections at US$99, so count the open edges in 4 ft lengths, minus any edge used for stairs.
Skirting comes in 16 ft x 28 in (4.88 m x 71 cm) lengths at US$58, in black or white, with Velcro adhesive. Divide the edges the audience will see by 16 ft. Two stages with the same deck count can need different amounts: an 8 ft x 24 ft stage has a much longer front edge than a 12 ft x 16 ft stage, even though both use 12 decks.
Some packages include both, such as the 8x12 package with 6 decks, 4 railings and 3 skirts (US$4,299) and the 12x20 stage with 15 decks, 7 railings and 6 skirts (US$9,200).
How do you turn a deck count into an order in Canada?
Once you know your deck count, ask MyStage for a freight quote before you order. Canadian orders ship from our warehouse in Ajax, Ontario, so there are no customs or brokerage steps for you.
- Choose your package or build the layout in the Stage Builder.
- Contact MyStage with the product list and your postal code. Checkout does not calculate Canadian freight, so the estimate comes from us before you buy.
- On the quote, ask about delivery timing and how the shipment arrives at your site, and confirm any applicable taxes on your quote. Confirm remote and northern addresses when you request your quote.
- Pay in US dollars. Your card issuer converts the charge to Canadian dollars at its own rate and may add a foreign transaction fee.
MyStage ships everywhere in Canada except Quebec. For the full buying process, read How to Buy a Portable Stage in Canada, or browse every size in the portable stage category.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build a 10 ft wide stage with 4 ft x 4 ft decks?
No. MyStage stages grow in 4 ft (1.22 m) steps, so the closest widths are 8 ft (2.44 m) with 2 decks across or 12 ft (3.66 m) with 3 decks across. Round down if the space is fixed.
How many decks do I need for a space about 3 m x 6 m?
Eight decks. 3 / 1.22 rounds down to 2 decks and 6 / 1.22 rounds down to 4 decks, giving an 8 ft x 16 ft (2.44 m x 4.88 m) stage. A 12 ft x 20 ft stage needs 3.66 m x 6.10 m, which does not fit.
Do the deck counts include legs?
Yes. Every deck includes five legs (four angled legs and a center leg), and standard legs adjust from 4 to 28 in (10 cm to 71 cm). Shorties and Biggies for lower or taller settings are ordered separately.
Is there a stage deck calculator?
Yes. The Stage Builder works out the decks for any footprint and shows the price.
Can I start with fewer decks and add more later?
Yes. Every MyStage deck is the same 4 ft x 4 ft size and connects to the others with wingnuts, so an 8 ft x 8 ft stage can grow to 8 ft x 16 ft by adding four decks.
Choose a deck package and send us your product list and postal code for a freight quote, or call 858-229-8388.