Exhibition Stands & Trade Show Displays

Which Exhibition Stand Do I Need?

The right exhibition stand depends on four things: your booked floor space, how often you exhibit, how the display will be transported and whether you want to build it yourself or have the whole project managed for you.

Portable Exhibition Stands

Choose portable displays when quick setup, lower cost and easy transport matter most.

Good options include roller banners, pop up exhibition stands and fabric exhibition stands.

These are well suited to smaller stands, roadshows, conferences and exhibitors who transport their own equipment.

Modular Exhibition Stands

Choose a modular system when you exhibit regularly and want hardware that can be reused across different floor spaces.

Systems such as QwikFRAME, Twist2 and ModuLIGHT can create larger backwalls, L-shaped stands, U-shaped stands and more structured layouts.

Fully Managed Stand Hire

Choose Exhibition Stand Design & Hire when you want one team to manage the design, graphics, flooring, lighting, furniture, project management, installation and breakdown.

This route is best for space-only plots, larger stands and exhibitors who do not want to coordinate multiple suppliers.

Shop by Exhibition Space

If you already know your booked footprint, start with the stand-size categories on this page.

Common exhibition footprints include:

• 2m x 2m: compact portable and fabric displays

• 3m x 1m: narrow backwalls and linked display systems

• 3m x 2m: larger pop ups, fabric stands and modular backwalls

• 3m x 3m: enough room for larger modular systems, counters and visitor space

Always confirm the exact dimensions, open sides and height restrictions with the organiser before ordering.

Shop by Stand Shape

The shape of the booked space can narrow the choice quickly.

• Backwall stands: ideal for inline plots and simple branded backdrops

• L-shaped stands: useful for corner plots with two open sides

• U-shaped stands: create a more enclosed booth with three branded walls

• Island stands: designed for open plots approached from several directions

Use the shape navigation above to compare products that are already grouped around these layouts.

Portable vs Modular vs Hire

Choose Portable When:

• You need to transport the display yourself

• Setup needs to be quick

• The stand footprint is relatively small

• Budget is a priority

• You attend occasional events

Choose Modular When:

• You exhibit several times a year

• Stand sizes change between events

• You want to reuse hardware

• You need a more substantial branded backdrop

• You may want to add arches, lighting, storage or AV

Choose Managed Hire When:

• The stand is space-only

• You need a more bespoke appearance

• You want professional installation and breakdown

• Flooring, lighting, screens and furniture are required

• Venue documentation and project management need to be handled centrally

How Much Does an Exhibition Stand Cost?

Exhibition stand pricing varies significantly by size and format.

Portable displays can start with simple banner and pop up systems, while larger modular stands cost more because they use more structure, graphics and accessories.

For fully managed stand hire, Display Wizard currently uses fixed square-metre pricing:

• 0-12m²: £429 per m²

• 13-24m²: £379 per m²

• 25m² and above: £349 per m²

The current Vision hire-kit range starts at £3,861, with larger configurations priced individually.

For the latest managed-hire costs and inclusions, see Exhibition Stand Design & Hire.

Shell Scheme or Space Only?

A shell scheme usually gives you pre-built walls and a defined booth structure. In that situation, portable displays, counters and shell scheme graphics are often the easiest way to personalise the space.

A space-only booking gives you an empty floor area and more freedom to use modular or fully managed stand systems.

If you are unsure which format you have booked, check the organiser paperwork before ordering.

What to Check Before Ordering an Exhibition Stand

Before choosing a display, confirm:

• Exact stand width and depth

• Number of open sides

• Maximum build height

• Whether the booking is shell scheme or space only

• Venue access and build times

• Power requirements

• Screen or AV requirements

• Storage needs

• Furniture and counter requirements

• How the stand will be transported

• Whether you need professional installation

• Artwork deadlines

These checks help prevent ordering a stand that does not fit the booked space or venue rules.

Exhibition Stands for Repeated Use

If you exhibit regularly, consider the long-term cost rather than just the first event.

A modular system can often be more economical over several shows because the main hardware can be reused while graphics, connectors or layouts are changed.

Portable fabric and pop up systems can also be reused repeatedly where the same footprint is required.

Adding Counters, Screens and Furniture

The main backdrop is only one part of the stand.

You can complete the space with exhibition counters, portable TV stands and AV displays and portable exhibition furniture.

Plan these elements at the same time as the stand so visitor flow and usable floor space are not compromised.

Need Help Choosing?

Use the stand-shape and floor-space categories above if you already know the layout you need.

If you are comparing stand types, the Exhibition Stand Buyer's Guide and Trade Show Guide on this page provide more detailed planning help.

For a complete managed project, request a quote through the Exhibition Stand Design & Hire service.