A portable exhibition stand has three jobs. It has to look good, fit in a car, and go up without an installer.
Most stands manage two of the three. Which two matters depends on your show, so here's how the main types compare, and what we'd pick for each situation.
If this is your first show, start with our shorter guide: which exhibition stand should you buy for your first show?
Which stand for which show
- You're setting up alone: an SEG fabric pop-up. One person, about 15 minutes, and the frame packs into a carry bag.
- You want the lightest kit: a stretch fabric economy stand. The graphic folds into the bag with the frame.
- You need a wide or curved backdrop: stretch fabric walls, from 1m to 6m.
- You want the cleanest finish: SEG again. Nothing shows on the face.
- You do several shows a year: a pop-up stand. Keep the frame and print a new graphic when the message changes.
SEG fabric pop-ups: the cleanest finish
SEG stands for silicone edge graphic. A thin silicone strip is stitched round the printed fabric and pushed into a groove in the frame, which pulls the graphic tight with no clips, poles or Velcro on the front.
- Four widths, from 770mm to 2970mm, all 2235mm high.
- One person can put a unit up in about 15 minutes, and it packs back into its carry bag.
- Units join into a longer wall or a corner, and the feet steady it on uneven floors.
Stretch fabric stands: the lightest to carry
Stretch fabric stands use an aluminium frame that snaps together, with a printed fabric cover pulled over it like a pillowcase. They're the easiest kit to carry and store.
- Economy stands: 850mm to 2500mm wide. The graphic folds into the carry bag with the frame.
- Walls: straight from 1m to 6m, or curved from 2m to 6m.
- Display stands: 2.5m to 6m in straight, curved or wave shapes, also sold as graphic only for a frame you already own.
Stretch fabric economy stands · Stretch fabric walls
Pop-up stands: built for repeat shows
Pop-up stands open out on a folding frame. They take more room in the car than fabric, but they're sturdy and go up the same way every time.
- Traditional pop-up display: five sizes, curved or straight. Semi-rigid printed panels hang on magnetic bars, and it travels in a wheeled case that doubles as a table with a wooden top. The hardest-wearing option.
- Fabric pop-up stand: a concertina frame with a Velcro-fixed fabric graphic, in 3x3 or 3x4, with a wheeled bag. You can buy the graphic on its own when your design changes.
Traditional pop-up display · Fabric pop-up stand
What finishes the stand
A backdrop on its own rarely makes a stand. These pieces turn it into somewhere people stop and talk, and they all pack into a bag.
- A counter to talk across. The pop-up counter goes up in about 5 minutes and has a shelf inside. The portable budget display counter adds a header sign and takes 5 to 10.
- A banner stand with one message. The Xscape tension stand comes in three sizes up to 1200 x 2000mm, and you can swap the graphic later.
- Roller banners at the edges. They mark the corners of your space and point people in.
Outdoor shows
Outside, the problem is wind and ground you can't peg into. The outdoor water base roller banner has a base you fill with water on the day, so it stands on tarmac or paving. It's rated to Beaufort 4 when filled and weighs 3.6kg empty, so it's still easy to carry.
Get the artwork right
Every stand has a template for its exact size. Keep logos and text inside the safe area, run the background to the edge, and remember people read a stand from across the hall while walking. One clear line does more than a page of detail.
Every file is checked by a real person before it prints. If something's off, we tell you first.
Quick answers
What's the best portable stand for a small business? For most, a stretch fabric economy stand or an SEG fabric pop-up. Both pack into a bag and one person can put them up.
What's the lightest exhibition stand? A stretch fabric stand. The frame snaps together from aluminium tubes and the fabric folds into the same bag.
Can one person set up a stand? Yes. An SEG fabric pop-up takes one person about 15 minutes, and a pop-up counter about 5.
Can I reuse my stand with new graphics? Yes. Most of our stands sell the graphic on its own, so you keep the frame and reprint when your message changes.
Not sure which fits your space? Send us your stand size and how you're getting to the show, and a real person will tell you which stand suits it before you order.
