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Hanging banner sizes are given as the width (or diameter) of the frame and the height of the printed fabric band. Our exhibition hanging banners go from a small 1.8m circle up to 6m wide structures, and the lighter blimps from 8ft to 15ft wide, so there’s a size for most stands. Which one is right depends on your stand, what the venue lets you hang and how far away people need to read it.
Below is every size we sell and what each one weighs, then how hanging banners are actually rigged at UK exhibitions, with the deadlines and fire rules to check before you order. Prices are our live prices, ex VAT with printing included, checked on 21 October 2026.
Common banner sizes for exhibition hanging banners
| Shape | Sizes (width x height) | From (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Circular structure | 1800 x 508mm, 3000 x 610mm, 4500 x 1200mm, 6000 x 1200mm | £488.95 |
| Square structure | 2400 x 2400 x 1070mm, 4800 x 4800 x 1220mm, 6100 x 6100 x 1220mm | £1,221.95 |
| Triangle structure | 3000, 4200 or 6100mm sides, all 1070mm high | £1,064.95 |
| Rectangular structure | 6000 x 3000 x 1200mm | £2,184.95 |
| Blimp (tube, quad, trio) | 8ft, 10ft, 12ft or 15ft wide, 24in to 48in high | £401.95 |
| Curved, ellipse and tapered blimps | 10ft or 12ft wide, 24in to 48in high (tapered 10ft x 36in to 48in) | £413.95 |
Every option is printed fabric stretched over an aluminium frame, which is what keeps it light enough to hang from the roof. See the full range of hanging banners for exhibitions, or go straight to circular, square or triangular shapes.
Banner dimensions in feet, inches and millimetres
Hanging structures are listed in millimetres. Blimp systems are listed in feet and inches, so here are the conversions as given on our product pages, with the rest rounded (divide millimetres by 10 for centimetres):
- Widths. 8ft is 2440mm, 10ft is 3000mm, 12ft is about 3660mm and 15ft is 4572mm.
- Band heights. 24in is 610mm, 32in is about 813mm, 36in is 915mm, 42in is about 1067mm and 48in is 1220mm.
- Circular diameters. The 1800mm, 3000mm, 4500mm and 6000mm circles measure 1830mm, 3050mm, 4572mm and 6096mm as built.
So a 10ft x 36in tube blimp is about 3m across with a 915mm band, close to the 3000mm x 610mm circular structure in width but with a deeper graphic.
Choosing the right banner size for your stand
There is no single standard size for an exhibition hanging banner, because the size depends on your space, the venue and how far away people will see it. I’d work through these questions in order:
- How big is your stand? Start with your stand footprint. On a 3m x 3m or 6m x 3m stand, a 3m triangle, a 3m circle or a 10ft blimp keeps the banner within the stand width, while the 4.5m and 6m structures are for larger island stands. Check whether your exhibitor manual requires the banner to stay inside your stand area.
- What is the viewing distance? A banner overhead is seen from a distance, across the hall and over other exhibition stands. A deeper banner height (1070mm to 1220mm, or a 42in to 48in blimp) gives you room for a larger logo, which does more for visibility than extra width.
- Which sides are open? A circle or tube shows the same face all the way round, so it suits island stands open on four sides. A square lines up with a square stand, and a triangle shows three faces.
- What can the venue hang? Rigging points, maximum weights and heights are set by the venue and the organiser. Read the rigging section of your manual before you choose a size, not after.
- Who will build it? Our structures use push-fit aluminium poles with no tools, and the blimp systems use a 32mm aluminium frame. Either way the banner is assembled on the floor before it is lifted, so plan the build into your stand schedule.
How hanging banners are rigged at exhibitions
At the UK shows we looked at in our study of exhibitor manual deadlines, rigging is a service you order from the organiser or venue, with its own deadline, rather than something you put up on the day. A few examples from that study:
- EICC Edinburgh (Pensions UK Investment Conference 2026): rigging orders were due on 24 February for a show opening on 10 March.
- Olympia London (BOA Annual Congress 2026): the rigging order deadline was 21 August for a show opening on 22 September.
- SEC Glasgow (ESCRS Congress 2026): the deadline to request rigging or submit a technical rigging plan was 3 July, for a congress opening on 11 September.
- NEC Birmingham (UK Games Expo 2026): the organiser listed a drop banner rigging rate of £438 + VAT for banners up to 6m x 2.4m.
Across the whole study, freight, lifting, storage, rigging, cleaning, water and waste orders had a two-week step: ordering at least two weeks before opening met the earliest verified deadline at three quarters of the events. Some deadlines, like the Olympia and Glasgow examples, fall much earlier, so treat two weeks as the latest point, not the plan.
Our hanging structures come with hooks, and the blimp kits include a hanging harness system. How the banner connects to the roof, and who does it, is set by the venue’s rigging service, so order the banner early enough to give its exact size and weight on your rigging form.
Fire rules for hanging banners
In our exhibition fire safety research, 11 of 15 UK venues pointed exhibitors to the eGuide in their rules or by hosting a copy. Its section on drapes, curtains and hangings says they must be inherently or durably flame-proofed, or treated with a proprietary flame retardant, and that test certificates must be available for inspection.
Our hanging structures list a B1 fire rating in their specifications. Check that line against your event manual, and if your organiser asks for test certificates, raise it with us before you order rather than at the show.
Weights, packing and care
Weight matters twice: once for carrying the banner in, and again on the rigging form. These are the weights published on our product pages:
- Triangle 3000mm, 11.9kg. Triangle 4200mm, 15.8kg. Triangle 6100mm, 20.1kg.
- Circular 3000mm x 610mm, 12.3kg.
- Square 2400mm x 1070mm, 13.6kg. Square 6100mm x 1220mm, 27.1kg.
- Rectangular 6000mm x 3000mm x 1200mm, 32.3kg.
Each structure comes with a carry bag, and the fabric is 220gsm stretch display polyester that is machine washable at 30 degrees, so a creased or marked graphic can be cleaned between shows. The structures carry a one-year warranty excluding the graphic. The blimp systems come with a nylon carry bag and a lifetime warranty on the hardware, with one year on the graphic.
Single or double sided printing
A single-sided banner is printed on the outside of the band with a plain inside. Double-sided printing adds the inside face, which people see when they stand under the banner or look up from inside your stand. On the 1800mm circular structure the double-sided version costs £563.95 against £488.95 single-sided. The 8ft x 24in tube blimp is the lowest-priced tube shape at £461.95 single-sided.
How a hanging banner differs from a PVC banner or outdoor banner
Search for banner sizes and most results are about flat PVC and mesh banners with eyelets (grommets) for a fence, a wall, outdoor signage or outdoor advertising. Those are a different product. A standard PVC banner hangs flat against something, and its size is simply its width and height. An exhibition hanging banner is a three-dimensional fabric structure seen from every side and hung from the roof, so its size is the frame width plus the band height. We do not sell flat PVC banners; ours are custom printed fabric banners for indoor trade shows, events and retail spaces.
Pull up banners and roller banner sizes for the floor
If you need something that stands on the floor rather than hangs, a pull-up banner is the usual choice. Our guide to pull up banner sizes covers every width from 600mm to 2400mm, from the standard pull up banner at 800mm x 2000mm or 850mm x 2000mm to wide backdrops, alongside the roller banners we stock.
Design tips for viewing distance, visibility and banner printing
- Use your logo and at most a few words. People read a hanging banner from a distance, often while walking, so a strapline or stand number is enough.
- Make the logo as tall as the band allows and leave a margin top and bottom, because the fabric wraps over the frame at the edges.
- Repeat the same artwork on each face. Visitors approach from different aisles, and every side should say who you are.
- Use strong contrast. The banner is seen from below, against the roof and the hall lights, so a dark logo on a light background, or the reverse, reads best.
Our large format banner printing is dye-sublimation onto the fabric. You get FREE artwork design or proofing on every order, so send us your logo and our design team can lay out each face to the exact banner size. Printed and dispatched within 5 days with express options available.
Custom banner sizes and shapes
If none of the standard sizes fits your stand, the blimp product pages note that custom shapes are available on request, and the smaller banners in each range can be combined, for example a 3m circle over the main stand and a smaller blimp over a meeting area. If you need a custom size, tell us your stand size and what the venue allows overhead, and we will suggest the right dimensions or quote for anything custom.
Frequently asked questions
What size hanging banner do I need?
Choosing the right size starts with your stand. Match the width to it: a 3m circle, triangle or 10ft blimp for a 3m x 3m or 6m x 3m stand, and 4.5m to 6m structures for larger island stands. Then choose the deepest band your budget allows, because band height decides how big your logo can be.
What are the standard hanging banner sizes in mm?
Our circular structures are 1800mm, 3000mm, 4500mm and 6000mm across. Square structures are 2400mm, 4800mm and 6100mm, and triangles are 3000mm, 4200mm and 6100mm. Band heights run from 508mm to 1220mm. Blimps are 2440mm to 4572mm wide with 610mm to 1220mm bands.
Can I hang a banner over my stand myself?
At the UK shows in our deadlines study, rigging was ordered as a service from the organiser or venue, with a deadline. Check the rigging section of your exhibitor manual before you buy, and book rigging at least two weeks before opening, earlier where the manual says so.
How much does it cost to rig a hanging banner?
It depends on the venue and the organiser. One example from our research: UK Games Expo at the NEC listed a drop banner rigging rate of £438 + VAT for banners up to 6m x 2.4m. Your exhibitor manual will list the rate for your show.
Are hanging banners fire rated?
Our hanging structures list a B1 fire rating. Venue rules based on the eGuide say hangings must be flame-proofed and that test certificates must be available for inspection, so check your manual and ask us before ordering if certificates are required.
What is a blimp hanging banner?
A blimp is a lightweight hanging banner system: a 32mm aluminium frame with a fabric graphic and a hanging harness. It comes in tube (round), quad (square), trio (triangle), ellipse, curved and tapered shapes, from 8ft to 15ft wide.
