What drives the cost of an exhibition stand

1–10 days

on-site installation time by stand type

Akros stand type price list

4/8

stand types that can be reused

Akros stand type price list

What the square metre price covers

The price per square metre covers design, production, graphic printing, installation and dismantling. Items outside it are budgeted separately: floor rental paid to the organiser, electricity and floor charges, international freight and customs, accommodation and on-site staff.

This boundary is the most common source of confusion when comparing quotes. One supplier folds freight into the square metre rate and looks expensive, another leaves it out and looks cheap, while both are doing the same work. Ask for the scope in writing.

Price ranges by stand type

The table below compares stand types by area range and build time; design, production and installation sit in one contract and the budget band comes in a written three-option quote. Within a single stand type, what pushes the budget up is height, the number of storeys, lighting density and the number of display units.

Stand type	Install (days)
Portable	1
Modular	1–2
Maxima System	1–3
Country Pavilion	4–10
Custom Timber Build	2–5
Island	3–6
Double Decker	4–8

For a company doing one large show, where the stand has to carry the brand, a custom build earns its price. Industry bodies such as AUMA and UFI publish material that is a useful reminder not to underestimate the non-stand items in a fair budget. Each type is described on the stand types page.

How the number of open sides affects price

An in-line stand open on one side has three closed walls; graphics and displays lean on those walls. A corner stand opens two sides, an island stand all four. As open sides increase, wall area falls and visitor flow rises — but every surface has to look finished, because there is no back.

This is why an island stand costs more than an in-line stand of the same area. The difference is not material but the amount of finished surface and the structure that holds it. Choose the space and the budget together: the position you take from the organiser sets the cost of the stand before design begins.

Three decisions that lower the budget

What actually lowers the budget is not cutting back on materials but taking three decisions in good time; all three are made before design starts and none of them costs the stand its appearance.

1. Decide early. If the design is approved four weeks before the fair, production runs on a normal schedule. Work squeezed into two weeks carries a rush cost.
2. Reuse. If you attend more than one fair a year, a system stand pays for itself on the second use.
3. Height. Going from 3.50 m to 5 m changes the structure and the installation time. Buy height when brand visibility needs it, not out of habit.

For fairs in Turkey, reading the technical regulations of venues such as Tüyap before design starts avoids revision costs later.

Do the prices include VAT?

The ranges exclude VAT. Export exemption applies to work abroad and is stated explicitly in the quote.

Why does the square metre price look high on small stands?

Fixed items such as design, tooling and the site crew are divided by the area. A 20 sqm stand shows a higher rate per square metre than a 100 sqm stand of the same type, while the total cost is of course lower.

What do you need in order to quote?

The fair name and dates, the floor area, the number of open sides and the floor plan if you have it. With those we come back within two working days with a concept and a budget range — send them through the quote form.