Everything about the standard booth size for trade shows

Everything about the standard booth size for trade shows

In today’s competitive exhibition landscape, selecting the correct standard booth size is one of the decisions that most influences your success. Understanding the available standard booth sizes will make your planning easier, faster, and far more cost-effective. This post explains the most popular sizes, what is typically included in every package, and, most importantly, how to choose the right exhibit booth size for your company’s goals and budget.

Most popular standard booth sizes for businesses

Choosing the right booth size is one of the most important decisions for any business preparing for a trade shows in Vietnam. Standard booth sizes such as 10×10 ft, 10×20 ft, and 20×20 ft are widely used because they fit most venue layouts, budgets, and display needs. Each size offers different advantages depending on how many products you plan to showcase, how much branding space you require, and how you want visitors to experience your booth.

Booth 9m square (3m x 3m)

The 10×10 ft (3×3 m) booth, offering exactly 9 square meters, remains the most common standard booth size worldwide. It is typically configured as an inline (linear) booth with only one side open to the aisle. This compact space works perfectly for startups, small businesses, or companies that are entering a new market for the first time. Even with its modest footprint, a thoughtfully designed 3m x 3m booth can easily welcome between eighty and one hundred fifty qualified visitors per day at major Vietnamese shows.

Booth 9m square (3m x 3m) is one of the most common standard booth size worldwide
Booth 9m square (3m x 3m) is one of the most common standard booth size worldwide

Booth 18m square (3m x 6m)

It usually appears as an inline booth with two open sides or as a corner position, which instantly doubles natural foot traffic. This standard trade show booth size is the single most frequently booked option among growing businesses in Vietnam. The extra depth provides space for live product demonstrations, a proper reception counter, comfortable seating for meetings, and storage for brochures and giveaways. Events such as Vietfood & Beverage (food trade show in Vietnam 2025) or pharmaceutical trade shows in Vietnam are filled with successful 3m x 6m exhibits because the size offers an ideal balance between visual impact and manageable cost.

Standard booth size 18m square (3m x 6m) at pharmaceutical trade shows in Vietnam
Standard booth size 18m square (3m x 6m) at pharmaceutical trade shows in Vietnam

Booth 36m square (6m x 6m)

For brands that want to dominate the show floor, the 6×6 m island booth, covering 36 square meters, is the choice that guarantees maximum visibility. Because it is open on all four sides, visitors can approach from any direction, and hanging signs can reach sixteen to twenty feet high (when permitted). This size is suitable for booths at exhibitions that require display, such as Vietnam’s largest renewable energy event or Furniture Fair Vietnam.

Standard booth size 36m square (6m x 6m) designed by Gia Long
Standard booth size 36m square (6m x 6m) designed by Gia Long

Beyond these three core options, organizers also offer larger multiples for heavy-industry or flagship exhibitions. Common examples include 10×30 ft (27 m²), 20×30 ft (54 m²), 20×40 ft (72 m²), and even 30×30 ft (81 m²) or bigger. These are some special booth models with large sizes by Gia Long.

Gia Long is the leading exhibition booth designer unit in Vietnam.
Gia Long is the leading exhibition booth designer unit in Vietnam.

 

What’s included in a standard booth package

When you reserve any standard booth size, the organizer almost always supplies a basic shell-scheme package. Understanding the exact inclusions prevents unpleasant surprises and helps you budget accurately for upgrades.

The structural elements normally consist of a lightweight aluminum modular frame system, white or grey PVC wall panels that reach 2.44 meters (8 feet) high for inline booths, a fascia board carrying your company name and booth number, and carpeted or raised flooring in a neutral color. Furniture is kept simple yet functional, consisting of one or two information counters, two to four chairs, a wastebasket, and sometimes basic shelving. 

Electrical supply in Vietnam typically includes a 500–1000-watt outlet and two to four spotlights for smaller booths; larger configurations receive two to five kilowatts and additional lighting fixtures. Height restrictions are strict: inline booths are limited to 2.44 meters on the back wall and often only one meter on the side walls for the first half of the booth, while approved island booths may hang signage up to five or six meters high. Always download the specific exhibitor manual for each event, as minor variations may exist from show to show.

What’s included in a standard booth package
What’s included in a standard booth package

How to pick out the right exhibit booth size

Successfully picking out the right exhibit booth size is a strategic exercise rather than a random choice. Start by clarifying your primary objective. If pure brand awareness is the goal, choosing a larger island layout ensures your presence stands out among standard trade show booth size options. If qualified lead collection and hands-on product demonstrations are the priority, a 10×20 or bigger inline space usually works best. Companies that are simply testing market reaction can begin safely with the classic 3x3m (6m square).

Next, count the number of staff members who will work inside the booth throughout the day and the quantity of products you plan to display. One or two people with a handful of samples fit comfortably in 9 square meters. Three to five staff members plus a live demonstration zone require at least 18 square meters. Six or more team members, together with a private meeting corner, almost always demand a 20×20 island or larger.

Then perform a quick space calculation. A reception counter needs roughly four to six square meters, each displayed product requires two to four square meters, a demonstration island asks for nine to twelve square meters, and hidden storage plus staff circulation adds another four to six square meters. Always add twenty percent extra room so visitors never feel squeezed.

Budget obviously plays a major role. Current 2025 pricing in Vietnam shows that a complete 10×10 shell-scheme package (space and basic build) ranges between forty and seventy million VND. The popular 10×20 configuration falls between 80 and 130 million VND, while a full 20×20 island typically costs 180 to 300 million VND, depending on position and show prestige.

How to pick out the right exhibit booth size
How to pick out the right exhibit booth size

Quick Q&A about standard booth sizes

What is the standard booth size?

The globally recognized standard booth size is 9m square or 18m square.

How big is a 4-person booth?

For four staff members to work all day comfortably while still welcoming visitors and displaying products, the recommended minimum is 9m square.

What is a 10×10 booth?

A 10×10 booth is a compact 100-square-foot (9 m square) inline exhibit with three walled sides and one completely open front facing the aisle. 

Partner with Gia Long – Vietnam’s leading exhibition booth designer with over 20 years of expertise and more than 5,000 successful projects. From creative trade show booth ideas that stop visitors in their tracks to flawless execution of every standard booth size (3×3 m, 3×6 m, 6×6, and custom large-scale exhibits), Gia Long delivers stunning 3D designs, modern in-house production, and on-time installation that consistently help brands stand out at Vietbuild Hanoi, VIFA Expo, Vietbaby, and hundreds of other major events. 

Let Gia Long transform your vision into the most memorable booth on the show floor. Contact us today for a free 3D design consultation and competitive quotation tailored to your goals and budget!

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