Akros Mimarlık
Cost calculator
The budget item by item: what the square metre rate covers, what the organiser charges separately and how the total cost of attending is worked out.
A rate per square metre is not a budget but a starting point. It covers the stand itself, not what the organiser charges, not freight, accommodation or staff. The total cost of attending sits on top of it.
We have written the items out one by one so you can do the sum yourself. The aim is not to justify our quote but to let you see which line is missing from the quote in front of you.
Current ranges per square metre are on the exhibition stand costs page. For the schedule, see the preparation checklist.
01
What the square metre rate covers
Our rate per square metre covers concept design, 3D visualisation, technical drawings, fabrication, printed graphics, on-site installation and dismantling. There is no separate charge at concept stage.
What it does not cover is just as clear: floor rental paid to the organiser, electricity and floor charges, international freight and customs, accommodation and staff on the stand during the fair. Suppliers do not split these items the same way, so ask for the scope in writing before comparing quotes.
The non-stand side of a participation budget is often underestimated. Guides from industry bodies such as AUMA suggest looking at the budget as a whole rather than one line at a time.
| Budget item | Whose budget | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Floor rental | Organiser | Charged per square metre; open sides change the rate |
| Design and visualisation | Stand builder | Part of our quotation stage, charged separately by some |
| Production and materials | Stand builder | The largest part of the square metre rate |
| Printed graphics | Stand builder | By surface area; brand files come from you |
| Furniture and display units | Stand builder | Hired or built; quantity drives the price |
| Installation and dismantle | Stand builder | Site crew, equipment and crew accommodation included |
| Power, water, internet | Organiser | Connection fee and consumption billed separately |
| Floor and carpet charge | Organiser | Separate from floor rental at some venues |
| Freight | Stand builder | Abroad, the shipping window affects the price |
| ATA carnet and customs | Stand builder | Required for fairs outside the customs union |
| Storage | Stand builder | An annual item for reusable systems |
| Staff and accommodation | Exhibitor | The team on the stand during the fair |
| Literature and samples | Exhibitor | Printed material, product samples, catering |
02
The order of the calculation
- 01
Write down the space
Square metres and the number of open sides. At the same area, the gap between an island and an in-line stand comes from finished surface.
- 02
Pick the stand type
Take the range for that type from the price table. The difference between a system stand and a custom build shows up here.
- 03
Multiply
Area times unit price gives the rough stand cost. Design, production, print, installation and dismantling are inside it.
- 04
Add the organiser items
Floor rental, power, floor charge. These do not appear in a stand builder quote and are paid straight to the organiser.
- 05
Add the participation items
Freight, customs, accommodation, staff, literature. A stand budget and a participation budget are not the same thing.
- 06
Count the reuse
A system stand returns for the second fair at the cost of freight, installation and new graphics. One fair on its own is a misleading figure.
- Does the square metre rate give the total budget?
No. The rate covers the stand itself. Floor rental, power, freight, accommodation and staff are separate items, and the total cost of attending sits on top of them.
- Why does the rate 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 unit rate than a 100 sqm stand of the same type, while the total is of course lower.
- What pushes the budget up most?
Height, the number of storeys and the amount of finished surface. A second storey depends on the organiser and changes the structure. An island stand has no back, so every surface has to be finished.
Do you have your fair dates?
The fair name, dates, floor area and number of open sides are enough. We come back within two working days with a concept and a budget range.