Trade Show Booth Types Compared
Trade show booth types are defined by exposure: how many sides face an aisle. Exposure drives everything that follows, including the traffic a booth can draw, how tall the exhibit can be without blocking neighbors, and what the organizer can charge. The names below are widely used at US shows, though individual shows sometimes define them a little differently, so the show's own floor plan and exhibitor manual are the final word.
| Type | Open sides | Typical sizes | Height considerations | Usual placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inline (linear) | 1 | 10x10, 10x20, 10x30 | Back wall commonly up to 8 ft; lower toward the aisle | Rows of booths back to back |
| Perimeter | 1 | 10x10, 10x20 | A taller back wall is often allowed against the hall wall | Along the outside walls of the hall |
| Corner | 2 | 10x10, 10x20 | As for inline, with care along the open side | End of an inline row at a cross aisle |
| End-cap | 3 | 10x20 (10 ft deep, 20 ft wide) | Taller elements kept toward the back line; lower toward the aisles | End of a back-to-back row, facing the aisle |
| Peninsula | 3 | 20x20 and larger | Taller back wall usually allowed in the center, stepping down near neighbors | End of a row, backing onto inline booths |
| Split island | 3 | 20x20 and larger | Shares a back wall with another peninsula | Two peninsulas back to back |
| Island | 4 | 20x20 and larger | Highest allowance on the floor; hanging signs commonly permitted | Open blocks near entrances and main aisles |
Inline Booths
An inline booth, also called a linear booth, sits in a straight row with neighbors on both sides and one side open to the aisle. Most inline booths are 10x10 or multiples of 10 ft along the aisle, and they make up most of the floor at a typical trade show.
Because neighbors share the side lines, inline booths carry the tightest line-of-sight rules. A common pattern is a back wall up to 8 ft, with anything placed toward the aisle kept low, often around 4 ft, so visitors walking the aisle can see along the row. Perimeter booths against the hall wall are inline booths that are often allowed a taller back wall, since no one sits behind them.
- Price inline space as your base rate; every other type is priced as a premium on top of it.
- Sell inline runs so exhibitors can expand into a 10x20 or 10x30 beside their current booth.
- Avoid long unbroken rows. Cross aisles create corners, which sell for more and help traffic reach the middle of the hall.
Corner and End-Cap Booths
A corner booth is an inline booth at the end of a row, open on two sides: the main aisle and the cross aisle. It gets traffic from two directions and is usually the first inline space to sell, so most organizers add a premium for each extra open side.
An end-cap booth sits at the end of a back-to-back row, facing the aisle, and is open on three sides. End-caps are commonly 10 ft deep and 20 ft wide. They give island-like visibility at inline scale, which makes them a good step up for mid-size exhibitors. Height is usually limited toward the edges that face the inline booths beside and behind them.
- Price corners per open side, so a 10x20 corner and a 10x10 corner follow the same logic.
- Sell end-caps as a single 10x20 rather than two booths, so one exhibitor controls all three open sides.
- Keep corner and end-cap height rules in the exhibitor manual next to the inline rules, so exhibitors can compare them.
Peninsula and Split Island Booths
A peninsula booth is open on three sides and backs onto other booths, usually the inline row behind it. Peninsulas are typically 20x20 or larger. Because the back faces neighbors, shows commonly let a peninsula build a taller back wall in the center and require it to step down near the shared edges, so the inline booths behind are not boxed in.
A split island is two peninsulas placed back to back, sharing a back line instead of backing onto inline booths. Each exhibitor gets three open sides, and because both sides of the shared wall belong to large exhibits, its height rules are often more generous than for a peninsula with inline neighbors.
- Place peninsulas at row ends along the main aisle, where all three open sides face real traffic.
- Publish back wall rules for peninsulas in the exhibitor manual, including how far any taller section must sit from neighbors.
- Price peninsulas as a premium over inline space and slightly below a comparable island.
Island Booths
An island booth is open on all four sides, with aisles all around and no neighbors. Islands are typically 20x20 or larger and are where the show's anchor exhibitors build custom exhibits. At many shows islands get the highest height allowance on the floor and are the only booths where hanging signs are permitted, subject to the venue's rigging rules.
Islands shape the floor around them. A well-placed island at the entrance or at a junction of main aisles draws visitors deeper into the hall; a badly placed one blocks sightlines and leaves the inline booths behind it out of view.
- Put islands where they pull traffic: entrances, main aisle junctions, and near food and feature areas.
- Leave clear sightlines past them to the rest of the hall.
- Require drawings for structures, ceilings, multi-level builds and hanging signs by a set deadline.
- Price islands at your highest premium, and consider whether a large island should come with a sponsorship.
Height and Line-of-Sight Rules
Height and line-of-sight rules exist so that one exhibitor's build does not hide another's booth. The principle is consistent across most shows: the fewer neighbors a booth has, the taller and more enclosed it can be. The specific limits are not consistent. They vary by show and by venue, and fire codes, ceiling heights and rigging rules all play a part.
| Booth type | Common approach |
|---|---|
| Inline and corner | Back wall commonly up to 8 ft, with display height near the aisle kept low |
| Perimeter | A taller back wall often allowed against the hall wall |
| End-cap and peninsula | Taller elements allowed toward the center of the back, stepping down near neighbors |
| Split island | A shared back wall, often allowed more height than a standard peninsula |
| Island | The highest allowance on the floor, with hanging signs commonly permitted |
How to Price and Place Each Booth Type
Treat the booth type as your price list. Set an inline base rate, add a premium for each extra open side, and adjust for location within the hall. Publish the logic so exhibitors understand why a corner costs more than the booth beside it.
- 1
Grid the Floor First
Lay out inline rows, then block out islands and peninsulas where traffic is strongest. See trade show booth sizes for the sizes each type typically uses.
- 2
Assign a Type to Every Booth
Every booth on the plan should carry a type with its size and price, so the floor plan and the price list never disagree.
- 3
Hold Back Premium Space
Reserve islands and prime peninsulas for sponsors and anchor exhibitors before general sales open, then release what does not sell by a set date.
- 4
Show Types Clearly to Buyers
Use a distinct color for each type on the floor plan legend so exhibitors can spot corners, peninsulas and islands at a glance.
- 5
Review After Each Show
Compare which types sold first and at what price. Types that sell out early are underpriced or undersupplied; types that sit unsold may be in the wrong place.
Selling booth types online works best when the price, size and inclusions come from the type automatically. See how that works in booth sales software.
