Booking a stand before you understand its size is how exhibitors end up with graphics that do not fit and a layout that fights the traffic. Size comes first: it dictates the kit you buy, where everything goes, and how visitors move through your space. This guide covers the common booth formats and how to lay each one out. It sits under our exhibition marketing guide.
Why size comes first
Every other decision — backdrop or banners, counter placement, how much to print — follows from the dimensions and which sides are open. A 3×3 with one open front is a different design problem from a 3×3 island open on all sides, even though the floor area is identical. Confirm the size and the open edges on the floor plan before you order a single graphic.
The 3×3 shell scheme
The most common booth: roughly 3m × 3m, usually with a back wall and two sides, open at the front. A 3×3 pop-up fills the back wall edge to edge. Centre your logo and headline at eye level, put a counter to one side, and keep the front open so people can walk in. Add a roll-up at the open edge to catch aisle traffic.
The 3×6 double booth
Twice the width gives room to split the wall into zones — brand story on one half, product on the other. Use a wider backdrop or a 4×3 pop-up plus flanking roll-ups, and create two entry points so traffic flows through the stand rather than past it. The extra space also lets you separate a demo or sampling area from the conversation area.
Island and peninsula booths
Open on multiple sides, an island booth system has no back wall to hide behind, so graphics must read from every angle. Build a central tower, hanging sign or double-sided backdrop, keep sightlines open across the stand, and place demos where they are visible from the main aisle. A peninsula — open on three sides — is similar but keeps one wall for a backdrop and storage.
Tabletop and pop-up-only stands
At the smallest end — a shared pavilion spot or a tabletop — a mini roll-up and a printed table cover do the job. Keep it to one message and one clear call to action; a small space rewards focus and punishes clutter.
Reading the floor plan before you book
The organiser's floor plan tells you more than the size. Check which sides are open, where the aisles and entrances are (corner and end-of-aisle stands get more traffic), where pillars or services intrude, and what the height limit is. A corner stand with two open sides is worth more than a mid-row stand of the same size.
Layout rules for any size
- Eye level wins. Key messages sit 1.2–1.8m from the floor.
- Open the front. A counter across the entrance blocks the people you want in.
- Leave breathing room. A crowded stand feels smaller, not busier.
- Mind the seams. On framed systems, design around the panel joins.
Zoning your space
Even a small stand works better with zones: a welcome and brand zone at the front, a demo or product zone in the middle, and a quiet conversation or storage zone at the side or back. Zoning stops the stand becoming one undifferentiated clump and gives staff somewhere to take a serious conversation without blocking the entrance.
Traffic flow and the open front
Design for how people move. Pull them in from the aisle with a backdrop and edge roll-ups, give them a clear path in and out, and never seal the front with a table — the single most common layout mistake. If you sample or demo, put it where it is visible from the aisle so the activity itself draws a crowd.
Lighting and sightlines
Halls light the aisles, not the inside of stands, so plan your own lighting to lift the backdrop and counter out of shadow. Keep sightlines open so a visitor at the front can see what is happening deeper in the stand; a wall of tall furniture at the entrance hides everything behind it.
Matching graphics to the frame
Framed booth systems and pop-ups have seams and panel joins. Design with the joins in mind — keep faces and logos off the seams, and align key elements to panel centres — so the artwork looks intentional under lighting rather than broken across a join. Confirm the exact panel layout with your supplier before sending files.
Common layout mistakes
- Closed front. A counter across the entrance turns people away.
- Over-furnishing. Too much furniture shrinks the usable space.
- Ignoring open sides. An island designed like a shell scheme wastes three viewing angles.
- Graphics across seams. Logos split by a frame join look like a mistake.
- No quiet zone. Nowhere to take a real conversation means losing serious leads.
Make use of the vertical
Floor space is expensive; the air above it is often free. Where the venue allows, a hanging sign, a tall backdrop or a raised header takes your brand above the crowd so people find you from across the hall. Check the height limit on the floor plan first — many halls cap stand height — and design the top of your structure to read as signage, not just as the edge of a wall.
Storage and the back of the stand
Every stand needs somewhere to hide boxes, coats and stock, and a cluttered stand undoes good graphics instantly. Build storage into the plan: a cupboard or shelf behind the counter, or a lockable unit on a larger stand. A printed counter with an enclosed base hides a surprising amount and keeps the front looking tidy all day.
Power, internet and services
The floor plan shows more than dimensions — it shows where power and services reach. Order electrics early if you need them (lighting, screens, a kettle for samples), confirm whether the venue provides Wi-Fi or you need your own, and route cables safely so nothing trails across the aisle. Running out of sockets, or finding the nearest one three stands away, is a common and avoidable setup headache.
Planning for staff and stock
Size the stand for the team and the goods it has to hold, not just the graphics. A 3×3 comfortably holds two staff and a counter; cram in four people and a demo and it feels crowded and closed. Leave room for staff to stand without blocking the entrance, and for a day's stock of handouts and samples within reach but out of sight.
Booking the right stand in the first place
The best layout cannot fix a badly chosen stand. When you book, favour corners and ends of aisles (more open sides, more traffic), positions near entrances or big-name exhibitors that draw crowds, and avoid spots behind pillars or in dead-end aisles. A slightly smaller stand in a high-traffic position usually out-performs a larger one tucked away. Walk the floor plan as a visitor would before you sign.
A quick size-to-kit cheat sheet
- Tabletop / shared: mini roll-up + printed table cover.
- 3×3 shell scheme: 3×3 backdrop + counter + one or two roll-ups.
- 3×6 double: wide backdrop or two pop-ups + counter + flanking roll-ups + a demo zone.
- Island: double-sided or central structure + hanging sign + open sightlines.
Match the kit to the size and you neither rattle around an empty stand nor cram a busy one.
Designing for the three-second glance
Whatever the size, a visitor decides whether to step in within a few seconds and a few metres. Put your name and what you do high and clear, keep the front open and uncluttered, and let one strong image or message do the inviting. The layout's real job is to make that three-second glance say "this is for me, and I can walk straight in".
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common booth size? The 3×3 shell scheme — plan for a back wall, two sides and an open front.
Can I change my booth size after booking? Sometimes, subject to availability — but confirm early, because your whole print kit and layout are sized to the stand you booked.
What height can I build to? Check the floor plan; many halls cap stand height (often around 2.4–2.5m for shell schemes), and hanging signs may need separate approval.
Do I have to use the venue's shell scheme? Usually yes for a standard stand, but you bring your own graphics, lighting and furniture to dress it — that is what turns a plain shell into your booth.
Are corner stands worth more? Yes — two open sides and aisle junctions bring more traffic than a mid-row stand of the same size.
How do I use an island booth? Design for every angle: a central tower or double-sided backdrop, open sightlines and demos visible from the aisle.
Once you know your size, choose between a backdrop and banners with pop-up vs pull-up displays, then browse the Exhibition & Booth range.
