Stand in an empty hall before a show and you’ll see taped-out rectangles on bare concrete. No walls, no power, no flooring. That’s space only before anyone’s touched it, and it’s the closest thing the exhibition industry has to a blank page.
A space only booking gets you a defined floor area from the organiser and nothing else. The tape marks the boundary. Everything inside it, structure, branding, lighting, furniture, utilities, is yours to design, source and build. That’s the commitment. It’s also the entire opportunity.
What’s included when you book space only
In most cases, the organiser provides the floor area you’ve booked, marked out on the hall floor. No structure, no walls, no flooring, no lighting, no power. Everything else is arranged by you or your stand builder, including electrical supply, internet connectivity, AV equipment, and water or plumbing if your stand needs it.
Read the exhibitor manual carefully and ask the organiser exactly what’s included versus what has to be arranged separately. Some events include electrical connections up to a certain load, others charge for everything independently, and the gap between the two assumptions gets expensive fast.
Space only vs shell scheme
The alternative is shell scheme, a pre-built structure with walls, basic flooring and lighting already in place, a ready-made frame you dress rather than design.
Where shell scheme hands you a starting point, space only hands you a decision. You’re choosing complete creative control over a faster, cheaper, lower-commitment route, and that choice carries real consequences in lead time, budget and compliance work. Most first-time exhibitors are better served by shell scheme. Space only is where a brand goes once it has the budget and runway to make a genuine statement on the floor.
Common configurations
Your position in the hall determines how many open sides you have, which shapes visibility and design choices:
- Row or inline – one open side facing the aisle, the most budget-friendly position
- Corner – two open sides, better visibility from two directions
- Peninsula – three open sides, room for more complex layouts
- Island – four open sides, full exposure from every angle
Corner and peninsula cost more than row and consistently pull more visitors. Island commands the highest premium, suited to a brand wanting a flagship presence rather than a presence full stop.
What size gets you what
A small plot, 9-12m², falls within shell scheme territory by size but gives full control over design. A well-crafted small stand creates a stronger impression than a larger, poorly planned one, expect high-impact graphics on one or two walls, a clear focal point, and storage built into furniture rather than bolted on.
A medium plot, around 16m², starts to feel like a destination rather than a stop. Expect defined zones for product, demo and meeting space, seating for longer conversations, and branding spread across multiple walls.
A large plot, 36m² and above, is built for brands wanting a full environment rather than a stand. Expect multiple zones running simultaneously, lounge or hospitality seating, and architectural features, sometimes a double-deck structure for added space and separation.
Why choose space only
Space only removes the constraints of a shell scheme frame entirely. Height limits rise to 4m or 6m with approval, and curved walls, suspended features and multi-level structures all become possible. Space only plots also tend to sit in the higher-visibility positions in a hall, so a well-designed stand there earns attention before a visitor’s read a single word.
Built with reuse in mind, a custom space only stand can work across several events: modular elements reconfigure for different floor sizes, panels take fresh graphics for a new show, and across three or four events the cost per show drops while quality holds steady.
The disadvantages, honestly
Space only costs more than shell scheme at every size, and that gap doesn’t close until you’ve used the stand across several shows. Lead time is longer too, properly planning, designing and approving a custom build takes months, not weeks.
The compliance burden is heavier as well. Structural calculations, RAMS documentation and rigging approvals all sit on you or your stand builder rather than being handled by the organiser as part of a standard package. An ambitious design that hasn’t been checked against venue regulations early enough can get modified or rejected on build day, at your cost and on a timeline you don’t control.
None of that makes space only the wrong choice. It makes it the considered one, and considered choices need the lead time and budget to back them up.
How to make the most of it
Start with sightlines. On a corner, peninsula or island plot, visitors see your stand from multiple angles before deciding whether to walk in. Every open side is a first impression, and a design that only considers the front wall wastes the position it paid for.
Use the height. A stand that uses vertical space draws the eye across the hall before a visitor’s close enough to read anything. Suspended signage, tall architectural features and LED rigs all do work from a distance no floor-level design can replicate.
Zone deliberately. Separate the areas where visitors browse from where conversations happen, and keep storage out of sight rather than visible from the aisle. A well-zoned stand feels spacious even at 16m², a poorly zoned one feels cluttered at twice the size.
Treat graphics as a whole. They carry more weight than on a shell scheme, since there’s no standard white frame holding the look together. Everything printed needs to be high resolution and considered as a single story, not four walls competing for attention.
Common mistakes
- Starting too late and compromising design or build quality
- Ignoring venue regulations and having elements rejected on build day
- Cluttered layouts that reduce visitor flow
- Overcomplicating the design with too many suspended elements
- Forgetting to arrange utilities and arriving without power or connectivity
- Skipping proper storage and looking disorganised once the day gets busy
Working with a stand builder who’s navigated each of these before is the most reliable way to avoid them.
What to check before booking
Build regulations. Maximum height is typically 4m, with 6m or above possible under specific approval. Walls taller than 2.5m need a neutral finish facing any neighbouring stand, at least 50% of any side must stay open or use transparent materials, platforms can’t exceed 100mm without prior approval, and rigging needs permission from both venue and organiser, installed only by approved teams. Double-deck structures require additional engineering documentation. Check the exhibitor manual for venue-specific rules before briefing your builder.
Utilities. You’re responsible for arranging electricity, internet, AV systems and any water or plumbing. Plan and book these in advance through the organiser’s service forms, last-minute bookings cost more and availability isn’t guaranteed once the show’s close to opening.
Lead time. Contact a stand builder at least 12 weeks before your event, and 16 weeks for larger or more complex builds. Starting late doesn’t just create stress, it creates compromises that show up on the stand.
Sustainability and accessibility. Reusable modular components, FSC-certified timber and recyclable materials are worth building in from the start, not retrofitting later. Aisles, demo zones and meeting areas should suit visitors with mobility needs too.
How to book
- Reserve your space by selecting the space only option when booking with the organiser
- Choose your size and location, high-traffic spots like corners cost more and generate more footfall
- Sign the booking form and pay the deposit or full amount by the stated deadline
- Brief your stand builder with objectives, brand guidelines and budget, allowing at least 12 weeks, 16 for larger builds
Before booking, ask what’s included in the base price, the cost per square metre, whether there are premiums for specific positions, mandatory fees like insurance, deadlines for deposit and design approvals, height and structural restrictions, and the order deadlines for power, AV and internet. Pass all of it to your stand builder as soon as you have it.
Working with a stand builder
A space only build isn’t a DIY project. The planning, compliance, coordination and construction involved all require experience to execute properly. A good stand builder manages everything from design through to installation and breakdown, knows the regulations, and has worked with venues, organisers and rigging teams before.
We offer two routes: READY, our off-the-shelf package, configurable to your plot and branded to your specification, delivering the quality of a custom build with the simplicity of a hire, and a fully CUSTOM build, designed and constructed from the ground up with over 15 years of show floor experience behind every decision.
Every week without a brief is a week of build time gone. The good positions fill early, and the stand builders worth working with fill their diaries faster.
Tell us about your show. We’ll tell you what’s possible.
