Asking what the standard size of an exhibition stand is, is not a banal question – after all, when people find standards for dimensions of anything, be that furniture, appliances, etc, then said standard becomes a benchmark that a lot of construction adheres to (such as the sizes of doorways etc.)
Regardless, for those interested in finding out the standard size for exhibition stands, read on.
Is a 3×3 exhibition stand the standard size?
Yes. Whilst there is no specific standard set for exhibition stands, this is the most common of dimensions by far. 3m x 3m exhibition stands are preferred at these dimensions for the following reasons:
- Popularity and function – A stand of this size can accommodate ample space for showcasing products and services, and prominently displaying brand graphics. It also guarantees that you’ll be able to find a spot, as there should be more than enough space for every stand within the area.
- Customisation options – Technology is always evolving and you’d need a larger exhibition stand for all the customisation options that make them stand out. A 3m x 3m exhibition stand supports high-quality materials, custom graphics, and various display tools to help really bring your stand to life.
- Cost efficiency – These dimensions give everything you need out of an exhibition stand aside from the greater level of space.
- Foot traffic optimisation – These dimensions allow for enough space to accommodate easy interaction between staff and visitors from various angles.
- Accessories – This size is big enough to accommodate various accessories that can bring the maximum potential out of your stands.
- Ease of transport – An exhibition stand of this size is large enough to serve its function, but also small enough to travel in a portable storage case.
Types of Exhibition Stands and their most common sizes
The following is a breakdown of the different types of display stand and their common sizes:
- Pop-up display stand – Pop-up display stands are available in several configurations, such as curved pop-ups and straight configurations. In particular, 3×3 are the most popular dimensions for a pop-up stand by far. This is because it strikes a perfect balance between having optimal space and ease of setup. It also accommodates more than enough accessories, such as counters, media screens and lighting options, without crowding the overall display stand.
- Shell scheme – A shell scheme is commonly found in size 3×3. This consists of a structural frame that can be customised with a graphic wrap and other accessories, such as a leaflet dispenser.
- Modular Exhibition Stands – Modular stands are commonly designed on a 3×3 base. However, the entire concept of a modular stand is to have compatibility to grow through additional attachments. They can go from a 3×3 to a 6×3, for example, through mods alone. They are frequently used in high-traffic events, enabling businesses to scale or reconfigure as needed.
How do I choose the right exhibition stand based on the event?
The following is a formula by which you can plan for the best exhibition stand size based on what you need for the event.
- Define your event goals – Your goals for your showcase dictate your level of need for a large display stand. If your goal is a high visibility promotional event, such as showcasing your brand as a whole, then larger stands, or one that is more centrally placed, may be necessary for prominence. That being said, if you need anything else, such as lead generation, showcasing products or engaging the audience, a standard stand size of 3×3 may be more than enough.
- Assess event and venue specifications – There are several things you should try and learn about where you’ll be showcasing before selecting the perfect size for your exhibition stand.
- Location – Where will your stand be set up? The precise location will affect your available layout options, which are the corner, inline, peninsula and island configurations. The corner has two open sides, offering good visibility, but may limit larger foot traffic compared to island and peninsula stands, each providing maximum exposure. The latter are better suited to larger stand configurations, as when you’re trying to pull in as much audience as possible, even if you’re in a prime location such as the entrance, you may find a larger stand will act as a bonus that pulls in many attendees.
- Attendee density – How many attendants are there going to be? For high-density events, larger stands beyond 3×3 accommodate more visitors quite comfortably. This reduces crowding around displays and engagement zones. A smaller display stand may become clogged with crowding, meaning you end up missing potential engagements.
- Budget Allocation – Check your budget to see if you have the ability to devote more to your display stand. When it comes to budgeting at a trade show, you must first and foremost ensure it is split between four different categories. Stand space rental should take up between 30 – 50% of your budget, with your design team being allocated 20 – 30% for the individual elements, and accessories/furniture being between 10 – 20%.
- Consider brand and stand design requirements – A brand that has a reputation for being large, or employs large product ranges, should have larger stand sizes to allow more space, expansive graphics and an immersive customer experience. Furthermore, understand that the use of media screens and demos will most likely take up the majority of space on the entire stand – meaning it is wise to go for a larger option.
- Visitor interaction and flow – Create your perfect display stand by mapping expected customer paths. Where are most of them coming from direction-wise? How many at a time? Alongside high-quality, inviting graphics – this will dictate how you’ll capture an audience, as well as how many.
- Future events – Many exhibition stands for trade shows are rented for a specific amount of time. What else are you doing with your stand at this time? This will be one of the final deciding factors in your overall decision for how large your exhibition stand will be. One of the biggest reasons why 3m x 3m exhibition stands are so popular is due to their versatility. A stand that is too large means a stand that is harder to transport and has a lot of wasted space, after all.
- Pre-event testing – We understand not everyone will have the ability to set up a demo display stand before the event to test the fit, but if this is an option – then you have access to practical data that will help you more than theory.
Conclusion
3m x 3m exhibition stands are the standard due to flexibility and versatility, and if you’ve no real reason to go higher, you’ll find that they serve you well in most settings. Showplace are veterans of putting together high-quality exhibition stands of various types. Click here to check out our range!
