Pipe and Drape: Heights, Fabrics and How Trade Show Booths Use It

Pipe and drape is the frame that turns an empty hall into rows of booths. It is cheap, fast to install, reusable and easy to reconfigure, which is why general service contractors use it on almost every US trade show floor. The same kit, at different heights and in different fabrics, also makes backdrops and temporary walls at conferences, weddings and galas.

• Base plates: flat, heavy steel plates that keep each upright stable, usually with a pin or socket to hold the pipe
• Uprights: vertical poles that sit in the bases, either fixed height or telescoping so one kit covers a range of heights
• Crossbars: horizontal bars, often called drape supports, that hang between uprights and carry the fabric; many adjust in length
• Drape panels: fabric panels with a rod pocket or loops at the top, hung from the crossbar
• Hardware: hooks, clamps and, for taller or outdoor setups, extra weights or sandbags

Adjustable uprights and crossbars mean the same parts can build an 8 ft booth wall today and a taller stage backdrop tomorrow. That flexibility is why decorators and AV companies often stock it alongside staging.

Heights for a pipe and drape booth are set by the show, usually in line with the venue's rules and common industry practice. The figures below are common at US shows, not a standard every show follows.

Drape fabric is chosen for opacity, weight, look and budget. Trade shows mostly use durable polyester in solid show colors; events and stage work use a wider range.

Show drape usually comes in a small set of solid colors: black, navy, gray, white and a few accents, often in two alternating show colors so booths are easy to tell apart. Venues and fire authorities commonly require drape to be flame retardant, and in the US many ask for certification to NFPA 701. Rental companies and contractors can usually provide the certificate; ask for it if you are bringing your own drape.

In a pipe and drape booth, the drape is the boundary, not the display. Exhibitors set up their back wall, banner stands or counter in front of it. A few practical points save problems on move-in day.

• Measure the depth the drape takes: base plates sit inside the booth line and eat a few inches of floor
• Ask before attaching anything to drape. Many contractors don't allow pins, tape or adhesives on show drape; some allow hooks or clips on the crossbar
• A back wall or pop-up in front of the drape usually looks more finished than signs hung on it
• If you buy two adjoining booths, ask the contractor whether the side rail between them can come out
• Don't move drape or uprights yourself; ask the service desk

For layout ideas inside a standard drape booth, see the 10x10 trade show booth guide. A trade show banner or two in front of the drape is the simplest upgrade.

Away from the exhibit floor, a pipe and drape backdrop is one of the cheapest ways to change how a room looks or works.

• Stage backdrops: black or dark drape behind a speaker hides the hotel wall and gives the camera a clean background
• Photo backdrops: sheer or colored drape with uplighting, or a printed graphic in front of plain drape
• Room dividers: split a ballroom into breakout rooms or close off unused space so a smaller crowd doesn't look thin
• Masking: hide registration storage, catering service areas, AV equipment and cable runs
• Poster sessions and tabletop areas: drape lines behind rows of tables to define each space

Drape walls block sight, not sound, so a draped divider between two sessions won't stop noise from carrying. Taller backdrops need more base weight, and outdoor pipe and drape needs extra ballast and a wind plan. Our guide to event room setup styles covers how dividers and backdrops fit with seating layouts.

The base booth package is what an exhibitor gets for the price of the space. Organizers agree it with the general service contractor and publish it in the prospectus and exhibitor manual. What is included varies, so these are common patterns rather than rules.

Write the package in plain terms and repeat it everywhere exhibitors look. This wording can go in the prospectus, the booth description and the exhibitor manual.

BOOTH PACKAGE: [BOOTH TYPE, e.g. 10x10 INLINE]

Each booth includes:
- [HEIGHT] high back drape in [COLOR]
- [HEIGHT] high side rails in [COLOR]
- One [SIZE] ID sign with company name and booth number
- [TABLE SIZE] draped table, [NUMBER] chairs and a wastebasket [IF INCLUDED]
- [NUMBER] exhibitor badges

Not included (order from the service kit):
- Booth carpet or flooring [STATE IF REQUIRED]
- Electrical
- Internet
- Additional furniture, lighting and labor

Service kit and ordering deadlines: [LINK OR DATE]
General service contractor: [COMPANY, CONTACT]
Booth height and display rules: [SECTION OF EXHIBITOR MANUAL]

1. 1

   Set the Spec

   Agree drape colors, back and side heights, and which booth types get drape, with the general service contractor. Islands usually don't.

2. 2

   Send the Floor Plan

   Give the contractor a floor plan with booth numbers, sizes and aisle widths. Mark combined booths so the side rail between them is left out.

3. 3

   Publish the Package

   Put the booth package and height rules in the exhibitor manual template and the prospectus, in the same words.

4. 4

   Check at Move-In

   Drape goes up before exhibitors arrive. Walk the rows at the start of move-in and check that booth numbers, sizes and ID signs match the plan.

5. 5

   Handle Changes Through the Service Desk

   Exhibitors who want a different drape color, extra tables or higher walls should order through the service kit, not move drape themselves.

For where drape and decorating fit in the wider move-in plan, see trade show logistics.