01Six items every enquiry must provide
Miss any one and the quote cannot be accurate. These are the first things we confirm when an enquiry arrives.
| Item | Why it drives the price |
|---|---|
| Show name | Determines the venue, its rules, submission requirements and move-in schedule — and local labour rates |
| Stand number | Determines position, orientation, whether you have a wall behind you and surrounding footfall — and therefore the design and structure |
| Area | The most direct cost factor, but the shape (length × width) must be given too; the same area in a different shape costs differently |
| Open sides | One, two, three or four open sides need completely different structures. Four-side island stands are usually the most expensive |
| Exhibiting goals | Display-led, meeting-led or demo-led — this sets the functional zoning and space ratios |
| Budget range | Used to steer the concept, not as a bargaining chip. Without a range, the proposal can go completely off track |
Most common gap
In the enquiries we actually receive, area and open sides are the items most often missing. Some write only "36 sqm" without shape or open sides; some don't even include a stand number. Without these two, the quoted price tells you nothing.
02Four more items worth adding
These do not decide whether a quote is possible, but they clearly affect its accuracy.
- Height restrictionVenues usually cap height, and limits vary between zones. This decides whether a double deck or tall structure is possible
- Move-in and move-out timesA tight schedule means rush work and higher labour costs; some venues charge extra for night work
- Style preference or referencesReference images greatly reduce back-and-forth and prevent the concept going in the wrong direction
- Must-have exhibitsLarge equipment, products needing powered demos and exhibits requiring water all change the structural design
03Line items a quote should contain
A quote you can check line by line usually contains the following. Ask about anything missing.
| Line item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design fee | Render design is priced by area; construction drawing design is billed separately. The two are distinct |
| Structure fabrication | Timber backdrop walls, counters, tabletops, platforms, steps — priced by finish and area |
| Graphics and print | Large-format print, photo print, light box film, 3D lettering — priced by material and area |
| Lighting and power | Light fixtures, distribution boards, cables, electrician labour |
| Multimedia equipment | Screens, projectors, interactive installations — usually listed separately |
| Furniture rental | Meeting tables and chairs, display counters, storage cabinets |
| Transport | Factory to venue, including handling into the hall |
| Build labour | Priced by person-day, directly tied to the schedule |
| Submission and permits | Stand approval fee, work permits, build passes, vehicle passes |
| Dismantling and waste removal | Dismantling labour, rubbish removal |
| Management fee and tax | Site management fee, taxes |
How to read a quote
First check for missing items, then look at unit rates, then at the total. A quote with gaps is not comparable however low the total — it has simply moved the money into later extras.
04Same area, different price: where the gap comes from
| Variable | Impact |
|---|---|
| Open sides | From one to four open sides, structure volume and cost rise step by step |
| Structure height | Above a certain height you need structural calculations, reinforcement and lifting — cost jumps |
| Surface finish | Laminated paper versus sprayed lacquer — the same backdrop can differ several times in price |
| Whether multimedia is included | Screens, projectors and interactive installations are often in the same order of cost as the structure itself |
| Domestic or overseas | Overseas involves freight, customs, local labour and local regulations — usually significantly higher than domestic |
| Schedule | Normal schedule versus rush work — labour costs differ markedly |
| Reusability | One-off structures and demountable reusable structures differ in both design and materials |
05A brief template you can use for your enquiry
Fill in the template below and send it over — the quote we can give will be far more accurate than for "how much for 36 sqm".
Booth enquiry brief
- Show name / venue / stand number:
- Stand area and shape (L × W):
- Number of open sides:
- Venue height limit:
- Exhibiting goals (display / meetings / demo / launch):
- Must-show exhibits and their dimensions:
- Multimedia required (screens / projection / interactive):
- Move-in date / move-out date:
- Style references or brand guidelines:
- Budget range:
CaseRelated projects
Custom battery-show stand · Power demand for exhibits and equipment
Domestic stand design · Concept and build in one