Design ideas
Stall design ideas by size
Layout, branding and lighting ideas for every common stall size, from 9 sq.m to 100 sq.m.
Every stall size has one dominant constraint, and it is rarely the one exhibitors worry about. Below 18 sq.m the problem is storage: without a plan, bags and stock end up visible and the stand reads as a stockroom. Between 18 and 54 sq.m it is zoning — enough space to need a plan, not enough to waste. Above 54 sq.m it becomes dwell, because a large stand with nothing happening in the middle looks empty rather than premium.
These guides work through the common sizes using the same arithmetic as our stall planner, so you can sanity-check a design against the space you have actually booked rather than against a render.
9 Sq.m Stall Design Ideas
A 9 sq.m (3 x 3 m) stall works best with one clear message: a backlit brand wall, one display counter and a small storage space. Keep the floor open so two or three visitors can step in comfortably.
12 Sq.m Stall Design Ideas
A 12 sq.m (3 x 4 m) stall works best with one clear message: a backlit brand wall, one display counter and a small storage space. Keep the floor open so two or three visitors can step in comfortably.
18 Sq.m Stall Design Ideas
A 18 sq.m (3 x 6 m) stall works best with one clear message: a backlit brand wall, one display counter and a small storage space. Keep the floor open so two or three visitors can step in comfortably.
24 Sq.m Stall Design Ideas
A 24 sq.m (4 x 6 m) stall can fit a reception counter, two or three display zones, a small meeting table and a storage room, while staying open and easy to walk into.
36 Sq.m Stall Design Ideas
A 36 sq.m (6 x 6 m) stall can fit a reception counter, two or three display zones, a small meeting table and a storage room, while staying open and easy to walk into.
54 Sq.m Stall Design Ideas
A 54 sq.m (6 x 9 m) stall has room for distinct zones: a hero product display, demo stations, a meeting lounge, storage and often a hanging banner or a second floor for private meetings.
72 Sq.m Stall Design Ideas
A 72 sq.m (6 x 12 m) stall has room for distinct zones: a hero product display, demo stations, a meeting lounge, storage and often a hanging banner or a second floor for private meetings.
100 Sq.m Stall Design Ideas
A 100 sq.m (10 x 10 m) stall has room for distinct zones: a hero product display, demo stations, a meeting lounge, storage and often a hanging banner or a second floor for private meetings.
How we size a stand
- Storage takes 10% of the area up to 18 sq.m, and 15% above it
- A meeting corner takes 5% unless you are genuinely hosting meetings, then 20%
- Whatever remains is display area
- Display area ÷ 2.5 is roughly how many visitors fit at once
- Staff needed is area ÷ 9, minimum two
FAQ
Common questions
What size exhibition stall do I need?+
Work backwards from how many conversations you want at once. Divide display area by 2.5 for visitors at a time, and area by 9 for staff. If your footfall expectation exceeds what the stand physically holds, the constraint is the stand rather than the marketing.
How much display space does a 36 sq.m stand actually have?+
About 28.8 sq.m once storage takes 15% and a meeting corner takes 5%. That holds roughly 11 visitors at a time and needs about 4 staff on duty.
What is the most common design mistake?+
No planned storage. Bags, stock and packaging end up visible, and the stand looks untidy from the aisle for the whole run of the show.
How long does a stand of this size take to build?+
Three weeks is the base lead time, with a week added from 24 sq.m and two more from 54 sq.m, so most mid-size custom stands are four to six weeks from approved design.
Exhibiting soon? Let's build your stall.