Exhibition Stand Cost Calculator

Estimate what an exhibition stand costs by size, build type and venue. Real UK and European per-sqm build rates, including freight, install and dismantle.

Set your stand size and build type to get a realistic budget band. The rates below are the ones we quote from — full custom joinery, modular hybrid or rental — and they already include design, production, freight, installation and dismantle.

Cost bands

  • Rental / modular — £280–£520 per unit. Reusable frame skinned in your graphics. Best under three shows a year.
  • Custom-modular hybrid — £400–£700 per unit. Modular structure with bespoke joinery features and lighting.
  • Full custom build — £500–£950 per unit. Bespoke joinery, integrated AV, engineered structure.
  • Double-deck — £1200–£1900 per unit. Two-storey structure, per sqm of ground footprint.

Optional add-ons

  • AV and screens — £60–£180 per unit. LED wall, screens, media playback, sound.
  • Rigging and hanging banner — £3,500–£12,000. Venue rigging order, banner production and fit.
  • Storage between shows — £1,800–£6,000. Racked storage and condition reporting, per year.
  • Stand staffing and hospitality — £4,000–£15,000. Hosts, baristas, catering for the show run.

What these figures assume

  • Rates include design, production, freight, install, on-site supervision and dismantle
  • They exclude the organiser's space rental, which is billed to you directly by the show
  • Central-city venues with restricted get-in sit at the top of each band
  • Drive-in venues such as the NEC and Telford sit at the bottom of each band

Frequently asked questions

How much does an exhibition stand cost per square metre?
In the UK and Europe, rental stands run £280–£520 per sqm, custom-modular hybrids £400–£700, full custom builds £500–£950, and double-decks £1,200–£1,900 per sqm of ground footprint. Those figures include design, build, freight, install and dismantle.
Does the calculator include space rental?
No. Space rental is charged by the show organiser directly and varies enormously by event and hall position — typically £250–£700 per sqm at major European shows.
What makes a stand cost more than the estimate?
Short build windows forcing overtime labour, complex rigging, heavy exhibits needing engineered decks, and last-minute design changes after structural approval. All four are avoidable with an earlier brief.

Minimum project £30,000. Send the brief and we return a budget band, format recommendation and outline timeline within 24 hours. Call +44 207 183 3436 or email info@pearllemongroup.com.