A standard 10 x 10 ft inline booth needs a backwall (one pop-up or tension fabric wall, or two or three retractable banner stands), a printed table cover, and the handouts you will give away. A 10 x 20 doubles the wall. Most North American shows follow the IAEE display guidelines, which let an inline booth reach 8 ft only in the back half, cap the front half at 4 ft, and expect display materials to be flame retardant with a certificate on hand.
Your show's exhibitor kit has the final say. At the Javits Center the venue's own rules also apply: its operational policies, including the fire safety section, bind every exhibitor and contractor. Read the kit before you design anything, because a graphic that breaks a height rule can be ordered down on the show floor.
What does a 10 x 10 trade show booth need printed?
A 10 x 10 booth needs one backwall graphic, one table cover and your print collateral. Everything else is optional. The table below shows how the list grows for a 10 x 20.
| Item | 10 x 10 inline | 10 x 20 inline | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backwall | One 10 ft pop-up or tension fabric wall, or two to three retractable stands | One 20 ft wall, two 10 ft walls, or four to six retractables | Stays under 8 ft and inside the back half of the space |
| Table cover or throw | One, for a 6 ft or 8 ft table | One or two | Fitted for a tidy front, draped if the table size is unknown |
| Front of booth | Tabletop banner on the counter | Tabletop banners or a low counter graphic | Anything in the front half stays under 4 ft |
| Hanging sign | Usually not allowed | Usually not allowed | Hanging signs are normally for peninsula and island booths |
| Handouts | Flyers, sell sheets, business cards | The same, in larger quantities | Bring more than you expect, and a box for leftovers |
For handout sizes and paper weights, see our flyer sizes and paper guide.
Retractable, X-stand, pop-up or tension fabric: which display should you choose?
Choose a retractable stand if you exhibit more than twice a year, an X-stand for one or two events on a tight budget, and a pop-up or tension fabric wall when you want one continuous backwall rather than a row of stands.
| Display | How it works | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retractable banner stand | Graphic rolls into a base and pulls up onto a pole. Padded travel case. | Repeat shows and fast setup | Graphic sizes differ by model, so build the file on that stand's template. |
| X-stand banner | Graphic hooks onto the corners of a lightweight X frame. | One-off events and light travel | Less stable, and the graphic travels rolled with no case of its own. |
| Tabletop banner | A small retractable that stands on a counter or table. | Registration desks, health fairs, shared tables | Text has to be large enough to read from the aisle. |
| Pop-up display | Fabric graphic on a folding frame, curved or straight. | A full backwall in one piece | Bulkier case. Count the frame size against your booth width. |
| Tension fabric display | Stretch fabric pulled over an aluminum frame, with no visible joins. | The cleanest backwall, reused for years | Fabric needs flame-retardant paperwork at most shows. |
Most standard retractable stands take a graphic about 33 to 33.5 in wide. Visible height depends on the model: one manufacturer's 33.5 in stand accepts a graphic adjustable from 60.5 to 83.25 in tall, per the Orbus Orient 850 specifications. Always ask for the exact template before artwork starts.
How tall can a trade show display be?
In an inline booth, 8 ft in the rear half and 4 ft in the front half, under the IAEE Guidelines for Display Rules and Regulations. The point is line of sight: your neighbors' booths must stay visible from the aisle. Shows adopt these guidelines with their own changes, so treat the figures below as the starting point and the exhibitor kit as the rule.
| Booth type | Typical size | Maximum height | Hanging signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inline (linear) | 10 x 10 ft, 10 x 20 ft, 10 x 30 ft | 8 ft in the rear half, 4 ft in the front half | Not normally permitted |
| Perimeter | Inline booth backing onto an outside wall | 12 ft back wall | Up to 20 ft, at the organizer's discretion |
| Peninsula | 20 x 20 ft or larger | 16 to 20 ft; back wall 4 ft high within 5 ft of each aisle where it backs onto inline booths | Allowed, set back 10 ft from neighbors |
| Island | 20 x 20 ft or larger | 16 to 20 ft including signage | Allowed, set back 10 ft from neighbors |
When three or more inline booths are combined, the 4 ft limit applies only within 10 ft of an adjoining booth. Hanging signs, at any height, should be approved by the organizer at least 60 days before installation. Both points are in the IAEE guidelines.
Do trade show graphics need to be flame retardant?
Yes, at most shows. The IAEE guidelines say all materials used in display construction or decorating should be fire retardant and certified as flame retardant, with samples available for testing and a flame-proofing certificate available for inspection. That covers fabric backwalls, table covers, banners and draped material.
- Ask for flame-retardancy documentation for every fabric and vinyl item when you order it, from whoever supplies it.
- Keep copies in the booth case, not in an inbox. Inspectors ask on the show floor.
- Check the Javits fire safety rules and your show kit for anything stricter, such as rules on draped fabric or items in the aisle.
What else gets printed for a show or conference?
Beyond the booth itself, shows and conferences use a second layer of print that organizers, sponsors and outdoor exhibitors order.
- Trade show graphics: booth panels, backwall graphics and hanging signs for larger spaces. See large format and trade show graphics.
- Backlit film prints: translucent film made to be lit from behind, for booths with lightbox frames. An ordinary paper print is not made to be lit from behind.
- Conference signage: directional, session and sponsor sign packages for organizers, covered on our event printing page.
- Sponsor banners: vinyl or fabric banners for stages and step-and-repeat walls. Our banner material guide explains which to order.
- Feather flags and teardrop flags: tall outdoor flags on a ground stake or cross base, for street fairs, outdoor expos and venue entrances. The teardrop shape holds its form in wind, while a feather flag shows more text.
- Pole banners: double-sided street pole sets with mounting hardware, for outdoor festivals, business districts and campuses.
- Health fair materials: banners, table covers, flyers and giveaways for community health events, where a tabletop banner and a printed throw often make the whole display.
When should you order trade show printing?
Start six weeks before the show, or nine if you need a hanging sign. Printing is quick: most of our print turns around in 2 to 3 business days, with 24 to 48 hour rush on most products. The weeks go on rules, approvals and artwork.
| When | Task | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 9 weeks out | Submit hanging sign drawings (peninsula and island booths) | Organizers usually want approval 60 days before install |
| 6 weeks out | Read the exhibitor kit, confirm booth type and size, choose hardware | Height and fire rules decide what you can print |
| 4 weeks out | Artwork final, sent as a print-ready PDF on the stand maker's template | A file built on the wrong template has to be reprinted |
| 3 weeks out | Proofs approved | Leaves room for one round of changes |
| 2 weeks out | Graphics printed; set the booth up once in the office | Find the missing pole now, not on the show floor |
| Final week | Pack graphics, hardware, flame certificates and contractor forms | Paperwork travels with the booth |
Our print-ready files guide covers bleed, resolution and vector logos, which matter more at banner size than anywhere else.
Keep text and logos out of the bottom of a retractable graphic. That part sits inside or just above the base, and on most stands it ends up hidden behind the table anyway. Put the message in the top half, at eye level for someone walking past, and follow the safe area marked on the template. A logo placed at the very bottom of the file tends to vanish behind the table cover.
Trade show printing questions
What size is a standard trade show booth?
The most common is a 10 x 10 ft inline booth. Larger inline spaces come in 10 ft multiples, such as 10 x 20 and 10 x 30 ft. Peninsula and island booths are usually 20 x 20 ft or larger.
What size is a retractable banner?
Most standard retractable stands take a graphic about 33 to 33.5 in wide and roughly 80 in of visible height. Sizes vary by model, so build the artwork on the template for the exact stand.
How tall can my booth be at the Javits Center?
It depends on the show. Most follow the IAEE guidelines: in an inline booth, 8 ft in the rear half and 4 ft in the front half. Check your exhibitor kit, which can be stricter.
Do trade show banners need to be flame retardant?
At most shows, yes. The IAEE guidelines call for display and decorating materials to be flame retardant, with a certificate available for inspection. Keep copies in the booth.
Can you deliver to the Javits Center?
Javits is in Manhattan, and we deliver free anywhere in Manhattan. Your exhibitor kit sets how items reach the show floor, so check what you may hand-carry before choosing a delivery address.
See our banner stands and trade show displays, or send your booth size, show dates and exhibitor kit and we will tell you what fits.
Need this printed? We are at 40 Wall Street, and we deliver free anywhere in Manhattan.