Shell scheme, space only, custom build
What does an exhibition stand cost?
Nobody can give you a number until three things are settled: how much floor space you have taken, whether the organiser is giving you walls or bare carpet, and how much of the stand you intend to own afterwards. Everything else on your budget is a consequence of those three. Below is the decision structure, the cost drivers behind every quote, and the charges that arrive from the organiser rather than the builder. Then tell us about the show and stand builders will quote you properly.
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ways to buy a stand: shell scheme, space only, or a custom build on space only
Three steps
- Tell us the show, the space you have taken and the kind of stand you want. Two minutes, no account.
- We pass it to exhibition stand builders who cover your venues, and to no one else.
- They come back with an itemised quote for your stand. Compare, negotiate, or walk away.
Exhibition Stand Cost is a free introduction service operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd; we pass your details to relevant exhibition stand builders who quote you directly. We may receive a fee from providers; you pay nothing and are under no obligation. We are not a stand builder, an organiser or a venue, and we are not affiliated with the HSE or any show, venue or organiser named or linked on this site. Nothing here is design, structural or safety advice: the show's own exhibitor and technical manual governs what you may build.
The ten cost drivers behind an exhibition stand quote
Last updated
Stand quotes look wildly inconsistent until you realise they are all built from the same ten variables, and that different builders bundle them differently. This table names each one, what it does to the price, and the question that makes two quotes comparable. Organiser and venue charges sit on top of everything here.
Compiled from how exhibition stand work is scoped and quoted in the UK: the space contract, stand area and open sides, build type, height and structural complexity, graphics, AV and furniture, on-site labour and build schedule, transport and storage, reuse across shows, and lead time. No monetary totals are published because a stand price without a floor plan, a venue and a build schedule is not a price. Use the right-hand column to force two quotes onto the same basis. Reviewed August 2026.
| Cost driver | Why it moves the price | What to ask for on the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Space contract: shell scheme or space only | Shell scheme includes walls, fascia and usually carpet from the organiser, so the builder is dressing a box. Space only is bare floor, so every wall, floor and structure is yours to build and to pay for. | A line confirming what the organiser provides and what the builder is supplying |
| Stand area and number of open sides | Area drives materials, labour and build time. Corner, peninsula and island stands need finished rear faces and more graphics, because visitors see them from more angles. | The floor plan the quote was priced against, with open sides marked |
| Build type: dressed shell, modular system, or custom | Dressing a shell is the cheapest route onto a floor. A modular system costs more up front and less per show afterwards. A custom build is designed once and usually used once. | A per-show cost across your next three shows, not just this one |
| Height, decks and structural complexity | Anything above standard height, hung from the roof or built as a second storey brings structural design, sign-off, heavier build labour and organiser approval into the job. | Whether structural design, calculations and approval submissions are included |
| Graphics and print | Large format print is priced by area and substrate, and it is the item most often changed late. Reprints for a corrected logo or a new strapline are a real budget line. | Print area, substrate, and the cost of a reprint after artwork sign-off |
| Furniture, AV and lighting | Hire furniture, screens, brackets, media players and lighting are usually separate hire lines with their own delivery and collection charges. | An itemised hire list with delivery, collection and damage terms |
| On-site labour, build-up and breakdown | Crew time is priced by the shift, and venue build schedules push work into evenings, nights and weekends. Breakdown is a second crew visit that people forget to budget. | Number of crew, number of shifts, and whether breakdown is included |
| Transport, storage and handling | The stand has to reach the venue, get from the loading bay to the pitch, and go somewhere for the eleven months it is not in use. Storage is an annual cost on owned stands. | Transport both ways, on-site handling, and the annual storage charge |
| Reuse: how many shows this stand will do | The honest unit is cost per show, not cost per stand. A reusable system amortises; a one-off does not. Refresh graphics between shows and the maths changes again. | A cost per show over the planned life of the stand |
| Lead time | Short lead times mean express print, premium freight and crew booked at short notice. Late artwork does the same thing to the price as a late brief. | The artwork and sign-off deadlines, and what changing after them costs |
- Exhibition stand quotes are built from ten variables: space contract, stand area and open sides, build type, height and structure, graphics, furniture and AV, on-site labour, transport and storage, reuse, and lead time.
- Shell scheme and space only are different products: shell scheme supplies walls, fascia and usually carpet, so the builder is dressing a box; space only is bare floor and every element is built and paid for by you.
- The stand builder's invoice is not the whole cost of exhibiting: electrics, rigging, stand cleaning, wifi, waste and contractor passes are typically ordered from the organiser or the venue and billed separately.
- The comparable unit for an exhibition stand is cost per show, not cost per stand: a reusable modular system amortises across a season, a one-off custom build does not.
- Organiser-mandated contractor fees and approval processes apply on many shows, particularly for anything hung from the roof, built above standard height, or built as a second storey.
Cite this page
“The ten cost drivers behind an exhibition stand quote”, Exhibition Stand Cost, https://exhibitionstandcost.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-14). Compiled from how exhibition stand work is scoped and quoted in the UK: the space contract, stand area and open sides, build type, height and structural complexity, graphics, AV and furniture, on-site labour and build schedule, transport and storage, reuse across shows, and lead time. No monetary totals are published because a stand price without a floor plan, a venue and a build schedule is not a price. Use the right-hand column to force two quotes onto the same basis. Reviewed August 2026.
Read next
The longer answers, with sources.
Shell scheme vs space only: the decision that sets your stand budget
Shell scheme gives you walls, fascia and carpet; space only gives you bare floor and total freedom. What each includes, what each costs you in extras, and how to choose.
The exhibition stand costs everyone forgets to budget for
Electrics, rigging, stand cleaning, wifi, furniture hire, storage, transport and organiser contractor fees: the charges that arrive after the builder's quote.
Modular vs custom exhibition stands: cost per show, not cost per stand
Reusable modular systems cost more up front and less per show; custom builds are designed once and usually used once. How to run the maths across a season of shows.
Choosing exhibition stand builders: what to ask before you sign
How to compare exhibition stand builders on scope rather than headline price: what a proper quote itemises, who orders venue services, and the deadlines that cost money.
Questions, answered directly
How much does an exhibition stand cost?
It depends on three decisions before anything else: how much floor space you have taken, whether the organiser is supplying walls (shell scheme) or bare floor (space only), and whether the stand is hired, modular and reused, or custom built for one show. Those three set the range, and the ten cost drivers on this page set the number inside it.
What is the cheapest way to exhibit at a trade show?
A well-dressed shell scheme on a small space: the organiser supplies the walls, fascia and usually carpet, so you are paying for graphics, lighting, furniture and staff rather than for structure, structural approval and full build crews. It is also the fastest option to organise.
What costs are on top of the stand builder's quote?
Typically electrics and their testing, rigging, stand cleaning, wifi, water and waste, contractor passes, handling and waste removal, all ordered through the organiser or venue. Furniture and AV hire, transport, storage between shows and staff travel are also usually separate. Ask each builder in writing what their quote excludes.
Is it cheaper to hire or buy an exhibition stand?
Hire is cheaper if you exhibit once or twice a year, because there is no storage and no asset to manage. Buying a reusable modular system generally wins once you have a steady calendar of several shows, since the structure is reused and only graphics are refreshed. Compare cost per show, not cost per stand.
How far in advance should I book an exhibition stand?
As soon as your space is confirmed. Late briefs mean express print, premium freight and crew booked at short notice, and they usually cost you the organiser's early-order deadlines on electrics, rigging and other venue services, which are typically cheaper before the cut-off date.
Is this quote service really free?
Yes, free to you, with no obligation to accept any quote. We pass your details only to relevant exhibition stand builders, who quote you directly. We may receive a fee from those providers, which is how the service is funded.