How much does an exhibition stand cost in Australia?

There are two separate costs. Floor space is sold by the show organiser, usually per square metre — for example, the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo 2026 published rates of $575–$658/m² (ex GST) for space only and $690–$856/m² for shell scheme in its later booking tier. The stand itself (design, build, graphics, furniture, AV, freight, labour) is quoted by the builder and varies widely with size, finish and reuse. We don’t publish build prices; send a brief for a quote based on your show and footprint.

What is the difference between shell scheme and space only?

Shell scheme is a ready-made booth supplied by the organiser — typically white walls, carpet, a fascia sign, lights and a power point. Space only is bare floor (sometimes with carpet) where you bring your own stand, designed and built to the footprint by a stand builder.

How far ahead should I brief a stand builder?

Work back from the organiser’s exhibitor-manual deadlines: stand plans, rigging and electrical orders are due well before bump-in. Briefing a builder a few months out leaves time for design, approvals and production; shell scheme upgrades can be turned around faster.

Do I need a stand builder for a shell scheme booth?

Not necessarily — you can exhibit in the bare shell. Many exhibitors still use a builder to add printed wall graphics, a counter, lighting, shelving and flooring so the booth doesn’t look like every other one in the aisle.

Who handles the brief I send through this site?

Briefs go to Brijnco , an Australian exhibition stand builder. AU Trade Shows is an independent calendar and is not affiliated with any show organiser or venue.

Guide · Updated 6 Oct 2026

Exhibition stand builders

How to choose, brief and budget for a trade show stand in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and beyond — written for exhibitors, not for the industry.

Four ways to build a stand

Before you compare builders, decide what kind of stand you need. The choice is usually made for you by the organiser’s floor plan: smaller sites are sold as shell scheme, larger sites as space only.

Shell scheme: The organiser’s ready-made booth. ARBS 2026, for example, lists 2.4 m white walls, carpet tiles, a printed fascia sign, two LED spotlights and a single power point in its shell scheme package. A builder can upgrade it with wall graphics, counters, shelving and lighting.
Space only: Bare floor — sometimes just carpet tiles — and complete creative freedom. You need a stand builder to design, engineer, build and install the stand, and to submit plans to the organiser for approval.
Modular / system: Reusable aluminium frames with fabric or panel graphics. Lower cost per show if you exhibit several times a year or in several cities, and easy to freight to Perth, Adelaide or Darwin.
Custom build: Bespoke joinery, structures, meeting rooms and integrated AV. The flagship option for large sites at shows like IMARC, Fine Food Australia or the Security Exhibition & Conference.

What drives the cost

Exhibiting has two separate bills: the floor space, sold by the organiser, and the stand, quoted by your builder. Venue services (power, rigging, internet, cleaning) and logistics sit on top.

Sourced example · floor space onlyISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo 2026 (MCEC) — organiser-published rates, per m², ex GST, booking tier from 1 April 2026.

Stand type	ISSA member	Non-member
Shell scheme (18 m² and under)	$690/m²	$856/m²
Space only (18 m² and over)	$575/m²	$658/m²

Source: ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo — Exhibit(checked 2026-10-06). Rates differ for every show; always use your organiser’s prospectus.

Estimate · worked from the rates above

9 m² shell scheme (3 × 3 m):$6,210–$7,704 ex GST for the space and shell package alone.
36 m² space only (6 × 6 m):$20,700–$23,688 ex GST for floor space — before any stand is built.

Arithmetic estimates for one show, not quotes. Other shows price differently.

Line items your builder will quote

01
Design — concept, 3D renders, technical drawings for organiser approval.
02
Structure & joinery — walls, counters, storage, flooring; hired system vs built-to-own.
03
Graphics — fabric or rigid prints, signage, hanging banners (rigging is often extra).
04
Furniture, AV & lighting — hire or supply; screens, LED walls, track lighting.
05
Logistics & labour — freight, storage, bump-in and bump-out crews, on-site supervision.
06
Venue services — power, water, rigging points, internet; usually ordered through the organiser or venue.

The budget bands on our stand brief form (under $15k through $80k+) are planning bands that help a builder respond sensibly — they are not price quotes.

Stand builders by city

Every Australian venue has its own rules, loading docks and approved contractors. A builder who regularly works the venue will know them; one who doesn’t should say how they’ll manage it. Here is what to ask for in each city, with the shows coming up.

Exhibition stand builders, Sydney

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), Darling Harbour · The Dome & Exhibition Halls, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park

Check the organiser’s exhibitor manual for stand-plan approval and height limits — ICC Sydney halls are frequently booked back-to-back.

Coming up: Good Food & Wine Show Sydney — Christmas Edition, Reed Retail Fairs Sydney (formerly Reed Gift Fairs), Sydney Home Show and 10 more

Exhibition stand builders, Melbourne

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), South Wharf · Melbourne Showgrounds, Ascot Vale · Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens, Carlton

Long shows (4–5 days) justify sturdier flooring, lockable storage and spare graphics.

Coming up: Global Sourcing Expo Melbourne, Melbourne Build Expo, Good Food & Wine Show Melbourne — Christmas Edition and 8 more

Exhibition stand builders, Brisbane

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), South Brisbane

Vehicle and machinery exhibits: confirm floor loading and move-in sequence with the organiser early.

Coming up: AusRAIL PLUS, Brisbane Truck Show, ARBSQLD and 2 more

Exhibition stand builders, Adelaide

Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace · Adelaide Showground, Wayville · Adelaide Oval, North Adelaide

If you exhibit in several cities, ask for a modular stand that can be re-configured and freighted.

Coming up: AHICE APAC — Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Conference & Exhibition, Australian Dental Congress

Exhibition stand builders, Perth

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC), Perth CBD · McCallum Park, Victoria Park · Claremont Showground, Claremont

Interstate freight to Perth can take a week or more by road — factor it into the build schedule.

Coming up: Perth 4WD & Adventure Show, Energy Exchange Australia (EXA, formerly AOG Energy), Perth Caravan & Camping Show and 2 more

Exhibition stand builders, Gold Coast

Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC), Broadbeach · Sanctuary Cove, Hope Island

Conference-led shows: design for conversations — seating, meeting nooks and charging points.

Coming up: APP2027 — Australasian Pharmacy Professional Conference & Trade Exhibition, Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

Exhibition stand builders, Canberra

National Convention Centre Canberra

Expect security-screened audiences; build a private meeting area into the stand plan.

Coming up: MilCIS 2026, MilCIS 2027

Exhibition stand builders, Darwin

Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin Waterfront

Freight times into Darwin are long — lock in your design early.

Coming up: NT Resources Week

Ten questions to ask a stand builder

01
Have you built at this venue — and at this show — before? Can I see photos?
02
Is design and fabrication in-house, or subcontracted?
03
Can you provide a certificate of currency for public liability insurance at the level the organiser requires?
04
Will you prepare and submit stand plans to the organiser, and manage approval changes?
05
What’s included — and excluded? Power, rigging, furniture, freight, storage, cleaning?
06
Who supervises bump-in and bump-out on site?
07
Can parts of the stand be stored and reused at future shows or in other cities?
08
How do you handle sustainability — reusable systems, recyclable graphics, waste?
09
What are the payment terms and the deadline for design sign-off?
10
How many revision rounds are included in the design fee?

A sensible timeline

The fixed points are the organiser’s deadlines in the exhibitor manual — stand plan approval, services orders and freight cut-offs. Work backwards from those. A suggested sequence for a space-only stand:

Book space
Secure the site and download the exhibitor manual. Note every deadline.
Brief
Send one structured brief to builders: show, footprint, budget band, goals, must-haves.
Design
Concept, revisions and sign-off — leave room before the plan-approval deadline.
Approve & order
Builder submits plans; you order power, rigging and internet on time.
Build
Production, graphics printing, pre-build checks, freight.
Show
Bump-in, the show, bump-out — and storage for next time.

What to put in your brief

Good briefs get better quotes. Include the show and dates, your site size and type, a budget band, the date you need designs, what the stand must achieve (leads, launches, meetings, sales), must-have features, and whether you have brand assets ready.

Our stand brief collects exactly that in about three minutes and sends it to Brijnco, an Australian exhibition stand builder, who replies directly. It’s free and there’s no obligation.

Start your stand brief Find your show first

Stand builder FAQ

Short answers to the questions exhibitors ask most.

How much does an exhibition stand cost in Australia?
There are two separate costs. Floor space is sold by the show organiser, usually per square metre — for example, the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo 2026 published rates of $575–$658/m² (ex GST) for space only and $690–$856/m² for shell scheme in its later booking tier. The stand itself (design, build, graphics, furniture, AV, freight, labour) is quoted by the builder and varies widely with size, finish and reuse. We don’t publish build prices; send a brief for a quote based on your show and footprint.
What is the difference between shell scheme and space only?
Shell scheme is a ready-made booth supplied by the organiser — typically white walls, carpet, a fascia sign, lights and a power point. Space only is bare floor (sometimes with carpet) where you bring your own stand, designed and built to the footprint by a stand builder.
How far ahead should I brief a stand builder?
Work back from the organiser’s exhibitor-manual deadlines: stand plans, rigging and electrical orders are due well before bump-in. Briefing a builder a few months out leaves time for design, approvals and production; shell scheme upgrades can be turned around faster.
Do I need a stand builder for a shell scheme booth?
Not necessarily — you can exhibit in the bare shell. Many exhibitors still use a builder to add printed wall graphics, a counter, lighting, shelving and flooring so the booth doesn’t look like every other one in the aisle.
Who handles the brief I send through this site?
Briefs go to Brijnco, an Australian exhibition stand builder. AU Trade Shows is an independent calendar and is not affiliated with any show organiser or venue.

AU Trade Shows is an independent calendar and is not affiliated with any show organiser or venue. Stand briefs submitted on this site are passed to Brijnco. Figures above are either quoted from the named organiser’s published rates or clearly labelled estimates.