How Much Does an Exhibition Stand Cost in the UK?

Updated 2 October 2026

Curved white exhibition stand with blue flooring, lounge chairs and product displays

When you exhibit, you pay for two separate things: renting your space at the show, which you pay to the show organiser, and the stand that goes in it, which you pay to a stand builder. Most budgets go wrong because people only plan for one of them.

The figures below come from price guides published by UK stand builders and from organisers’ own price lists. Every show and every builder is different, so treat them as a starting point for your budget, not a quote. All prices are before VAT.

The quick answer

Type of stand	What it is	Typical stand cost
Shell scheme with upgraded graphics	The organiser’s basic booth, made to look like yours	£1,000 to £2,500
Modular stand	A reusable frame system with printed graphics, designed for your space	From about £375 per m², so roughly £3,400 for 3m x 3m
Custom (bespoke) stand	Designed and built from scratch for your brand	From about £400 to £1,500 per m²; larger custom stands often £15,000 to £50,000+

On top of the stand, you pay the organiser to rent your space at the show.

Cost 1: renting your space at the show

Organisers charge by the square metre. UK builders’ guides put space only (an empty patch of floor for your builder to fill) at roughly £180 to £500 per m², and shell scheme (space that comes with basic walls, a fascia name board and lighting) at roughly £220 to £625 per m², depending on the show and venue.

Shell scheme costs more per square metre because the organiser provides the basic booth. Space only is cheaper per metre, but the empty space has to be filled with a stand.

Big European shows publish their prices. At IFAT Munich 2026, for example, hall space cost €219 to €254 per m² depending on how many open sides the stand had, plus fixed fees for things like registration, marketing and waste disposal. That kind of price list is worth reading closely, because the fixed fees add up.

So just renting a small 3m x 3m space typically costs from about £2,000 to £5,600, before you’ve spent anything on the stand.

Cost 2: the stand itself

Shell scheme upgrade

If you book shell scheme space, the cheapest way to look professional is to upgrade it: printed wall graphics, better lighting, a counter and some furniture. Builders typically quote £1,000 to £2,500 for a 3m x 3m shell scheme upgrade. It’s a good choice for a first show or a tight budget.

Modular stand

A modular stand uses a reusable frame system with printed fabric or panel graphics. One UK builder publishes modular prices from £375 per m² including design, graphics, delivery, build and take-down. On that rate:

3m x 3m (9m²): about £3,375
4m x 3m (12m²): about £4,500
6m x 5m (30m²): about £11,250

Because the frame can be reused, a modular stand often works out cheaper over several shows. You pay mostly for new graphics each time.

Custom (bespoke) stand

A custom stand is designed and built for you, usually from timber and other materials, with features a modular system can’t easily do, like curved walls, a raised floor, a meeting room or a second storey. UK guides put custom stands at roughly £400 to £1,500 per m², with larger custom stands commonly costing £15,000 to £50,000 or more.

What three real-world stands might cost

Here’s how the two costs add up for three typical exhibitors. The numbers are rough, using the middle of the price ranges above. Your show and builder will be different.

A small stand for your first show

You book a small 3m x 3m booth at a UK trade show. The organiser provides the basic walls and lighting, and you pay a builder to make it look like yours with printed walls, better lighting and a counter.

Renting the booth from the organiser: about £3,500
Making it look like yours: about £1,800
Total: about £5,300

A medium stand you can use again

You book an empty 6m x 3m space, about the size of a single garage, and a builder fills it with a reusable stand. The frame can go to your next show, so you mostly pay for new graphics next time.

Renting the empty space: about £6,300
The stand, designed, built and taken down for you: about £7,000
Total: about £13,300

A large stand built just for you

You book an empty 6m x 6m space and a builder designs and builds a one-off stand, perhaps with a meeting room, storage and a bar.

Renting the empty space: about £12,600
The stand, designed, built and taken down for you: about £30,000
Total: about £42,600

All three totals are before VAT and before the extras below.

The extras people forget

Some of these may be included in a builder’s quote and some may not. Check every line.

Electrics: power points and lighting connections are often ordered from the venue or its official contractor, not your builder.
Rigging: hanging a sign or banner from the hall ceiling is charged separately.
Furniture and AV: screens, chairs, fridges and coffee machines are often hired.
Shipping and storage: especially for European shows.
Venue charges: some venues and organisers add fees for things like waste disposal, cleaning, internet or stand plan checks.
Insurance: most organisers require public liability insurance.
People: staff time, travel, hotels and food for the days of the show.

How to keep the cost down

Book early. Builders charge more for rushed work, and the best ones fill up. Our exhibition calendar shows the date to brief your builder for each show.
Compare like with like. Give every builder the same brief and ask what’s included. A cheaper quote that leaves out electrics or take-down isn’t cheaper.
Don’t send your brief to everyone. A small shortlist of builders who suit your stand gets better proposals than a tender sent to dozens. Here’s why.
Think beyond one show. If you exhibit several times a year, a reusable modular stand can cost far less over time than a new build for each show.
Start smaller. A good shell scheme upgrade at the right show can do more for you than a big stand at the wrong one.

How Stand Between can help

We introduce exhibitors to a small shortlist of vetted stand builders who suit their stand size, budget and show. It’s free for exhibitors: the builder you choose pays us, and our fee is the same whichever builder that is. Tell us about your show and we’ll put you in touch with builders who work at your budget.

Sources

Common questions

Are exhibition stand prices quoted with or without VAT?

Almost always without. UK builders and organisers usually quote prices plus VAT, so add 20% when you set your budget. At European shows you may be charged local VAT, which your accountant can often reclaim.

Why do quotes for the same stand vary so much?

Builders price in different things. One quote might include design, graphics, furniture, electrics, delivery and taking the stand down afterwards, while another lists some of those as extras. Ask every builder to price the same brief and to list what is and isn't included.

How far ahead should I book a stand builder?

For a custom or modular stand at a UK show, aim to brief a builder about six months before the show opens, and about eight months for a European show. Leaving it late usually costs more, as builders fill up and rush jobs carry extra charges.

Is a cheaper stand a false economy?

Not always. A well-designed shell scheme or small modular stand can work very well. What matters is that the stand fits your goals for the show, and that you compare like with like before choosing.