Pop-up stand buyer's guide: 3x3 and 3x4 portable stands

Pop-up stand types compared

These are the portable stands and counter in our range that suit a 3x3 or 3x4 site. All figures come from the current product pages. Prices exclude GST and freight.

Standard production lead time is 1.5 weeks for all four, counted from order and print-ready artwork. Allow extra time for delivery. Compare the SuperWall Expo kit and the pop-up counter for full details.

Sizes: fitting a 3x3 or 3x4 site

3m x 3m. The usual layout is a 3m back wall and two 3m side walls. The SuperWall Expo kit is three 3m walls for exactly this. With the Executive pop-up, check depth as well as width: the 3.2m curved frame is wider than the site, so use the 2.5m curved frame (600mm deep) or the 2.7m straight frame (340mm deep). A 2.5m curved wall on a 3m-deep site leaves 2.4m of floor in front of it.

3m x 4m (4m along the aisle). For a 4m back wall, we recommend one custom-width SuperWall rather than joining a 3m and a 1m wall. The 3.4m straight Executive pop-up leaves 300mm each side. The 4.2m straight frame is too wide.

Shell scheme sites. On a shell scheme stand the organiser supplies the walls, and your pop-up stands inside them. The wall panels may not be exactly 1m wide. The organiser's exhibitor manual for Sydney Build 2025 (a show at ICC Sydney), for example, listed 2.5m-high walls made of 990mm-wide panels in an aluminium frame. Another show at the same venue can use different walls. Your internal space can therefore be smaller than the nominal size. Measure the internal width or get it from the organiser before you order a 3m wall, and if it is under 3m, ask us for a custom width.

Space-only sites. Read the height rules. The same manual said space-only exhibitors "must build a wall of at least 2.5m" where a line between stands is shown on the floorplan. A standard 2.25m pop-up won't meet a rule like that, so ask for a custom size or check with the organiser. The rules differ from show to show and year to year, so always work from the current manual.

SuperWall or magnetic pop-up: which suits your team?

Both take new graphics on the existing frame, so one frame can serve several campaigns. SuperWall fabric skins can be machine washed cold.

Graphics, lighting and add-ons

• Artwork. Each product page carries artwork templates. Send print-ready files, or brief our in-house design team.
• Lighting. A pair of LED lights for a SuperWall is a $215 add-on. If you want lighting built into the wall itself, look at the Illuminated SuperWall. The Executive pop-up includes a light kit, with two spotlights as standard.
• Counters. The pop-up counter comes with a white, black or wood-grain top. Add-ons include a carry bag ($98), an extra shelf ($66) and a cable entry cap ($34). The top holds up to 15kg, enough for a laptop or product samples.
• Layout. Put the counter at a front corner rather than across the front, so visitors can step in. Use the back wall for one message that can be read from the aisle, and use the side walls for product detail.

Set-up time, cases and freight

• Set-up. One person can assemble a 3m SuperWall frame in about five minutes, then slide on the skin and zip it closed. The pop-up counter takes under three minutes. Across our pop-up range, one or two people can usually have a stand up in less than ten minutes, with no tools.
• Cases. SuperWalls ship in canvas carry bags. A wheeled carry case is a $275 add-on with the Expo kit. The Executive pop-up includes a hard-shell wheeled case. The counter packs into a bag measuring 800 x 900 x 110mm.
• Freight. We ship Australia-wide. Freight is calculated from the size and weight of your order and the delivery address.
• Installation. No installer is needed. If you'd prefer the stand to be installed at the venue, ask when you book. On show days we can also help on site or after hours with equipment we supplied.

Buy, hire or kit?

• Hire suits a one-off show or a trial. Our exhibition wall hire covers SuperWalls printed with your artwork. For a complete stand, our exhibition hire kits add flooring, counters, shelving and overhead signage for 3x3 and 3x4 sites. Kits are quoted for up to five days, enough for most shows with bump-in and bump-out.
• Buy if the same stand will be used at several shows a year. Every SuperWall can be bought, and the skins can be reprinted for later shows.
• Kit if you want everything chosen to match. Our portable exhibition kits are numbered 1 to 12, each sold as one package at one price and customisable to fit the space you've booked.

Portable vs custom stand: which to choose?

A portable stand is set up by your own team, goes from show to show and can be reconfigured, for example as a 3x3 at one show and a single back wall at the next. A custom stand is built to your brief for one space. It is the better choice for large space-only sites, raised floors or tall walls, which usually need extra approvals. At Sydney Build 2025, for example, custom stand designs with walls 2.5m high or over, or floors raised above 115mm, needed organiser and venue approval. Some brands use both: a custom stand for the main annual show and a pop-up for regional events and conferences.

How long does a pop-up stand last?

Our guide to the lifespan of exhibition displays puts pop-up displays and banner stands at 2 to 5 years, modular exhibits at 5 to 10 years and custom-built stands at 10 years or more. Expect printed graphics to show wear or fading after 1 to 3 years. The four products compared above carry a one-year warranty on non-graphic components. To get the most from the frame, pack each wall into its own bag and store the skins clean and dry.

Next step

See the full range of pop-up display stands. Then send us your stand size, whether it's shell scheme or space only, and the show's exhibitor manual, or call 1300 240 250. We'll recommend the layout that fits.