· 4 min read
Booth Types Explained: Island, Peninsula, Corner, Inline
Exhibition stands fall into four main position types: the island booth, open on all four sides with the highest visibility; the peninsula, open on three; the corner booth, with two open frontages at an aisle intersection; and the inline booth, facing the aisle on one side only. Add the organiser-supplied shell scheme as the fifth category. More open frontage means more visibility and traffic — but space rental and the design budget needed to use it rise in step.
This guide covers each type's advantages, cost implications and ideal exhibitor profile — plus how to choose the construction method (modular, maxima, custom wood) independently of position.
The economics of position: why open frontage is valuable
Visitors flow along the aisles; how many aisles your stand opens onto determines how many directions you are seen from and how naturally people step in. An inline stand catches visitors only as they pass its single face; an island stand makes traffic from every direction part of the stand itself.
That is exactly why organisers price by open frontage: corners rent above inline positions, and islands above everything. The productive lens is yield, not cost — measured per visitor engaged, a well-designed corner or island stand is very often the cheapest option on the floor.
The island booth: maximum visibility, maximum responsibility
The island (open on four sides, typically 50 m² and up) is the hall's centre stage: visible from every direction, best suited to tall construction and suspended ceilings, and the natural choice of major brands. In return, all four facades must be designed — there is no 'back wall' to hide behind, and storage, kitchen and meeting rooms must be resolved architecturally inside the plan.
Islands are typically realised as custom-built construction, and a 360-degree composition demands an experienced design team. Budget accordingly: beyond the higher space rental, a four-facade build costs meaningfully more to produce than an inline design.
Peninsula and corner booths: the balanced strong points
The peninsula (open on three sides) approaches island visibility while giving you one wall to lean on: storage and technical space sit against it, freeing three facades for display and welcome. For mid-to-large exhibitors it is one of the sweetest visibility-to-cost points available.
The corner booth (two open sides) is the price-performance champion: it catches two-directional traffic at an aisle intersection, its rental premium over inline is moderate, and it is the position we recommend most often for exhibitors in the 20–50 m² band. The critical corner design decision: treat both open facades as one continuous composition and place the entrance on the corner itself.
Inline and shell scheme: efficient starting points
The inline booth faces the aisle on one side and is the most economical position; its success depends entirely on how that one facade works. A strong backlit graphic across the full back wall, an unblocked entrance and a counter moved to the side make an inline stand genuinely catchable. For ways to multiply impact at small sizes, see our small booth design ideas.
The shell scheme is the organiser's ready-made package: white panels, fascia lettering, carpet and basic lighting at roughly €60–150 per m² — a practical entry point for first-time exhibitors. Its limit is anonymity: dozens of identical units share every hall. We show how panel wraps and lighting upgrades transform one in what is a shell scheme and how to upgrade it.
Construction method: the second, independent decision
After position comes construction, with three main options: modular systems for speed and reuse (€150–280 per m²), maxima for tall walls and clean lines (€180–320), and custom wood for unlimited form and brand experience (€350–700 per m²). The same corner plot can carry any of the three — the difference lies in budget and brand ambition.
The practical pairing: shell schemes and small inline stands work best with modular; mid-size corners and peninsulas with maxima or hybrid builds; large corners and islands with custom construction. For the full construction comparison, see custom vs modular exhibition stands.
Choosing the right type: a three-question test
Three questions settle the choice: 1) What scale can your budget carry across space rental and design together? Both lines grow with position. 2) What is the goal — brand theatre, qualified meetings or a first market test? Theatre points to an island, meetings to a corner, testing to a shell scheme. 3) How many shows will you attend? Across multiple fairs, a reusable construction lowers total cost even as positions change.
At FUAR YAPIM we guide the process from position selection through construction choice with data; send your fair and floor area and we will prepare a comparative proposal with construction alternatives matched to your position.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main exhibition booth types?
By position, four: island (open on four sides), peninsula (three), corner (two) and inline (one) — plus the organiser-supplied shell scheme as the ready-made fifth category.
What is the difference between an island and a corner booth?
An island is visible from all four directions but carries the highest rental and design budget; a corner catches two-directional traffic at an aisle intersection and is the best price-performance position for most exhibitors.
Who should choose a shell scheme?
First-time exhibitors and companies running a low-budget market test — at roughly €60–150 per m². Panel wraps and a lighting upgrade lift it clear of the standard look.
Which construction suits which position?
Modular for small inline and shell scheme upgrades, maxima for mid-size corners and peninsulas, custom wood for large corners and islands — budget and brand ambition decide within each pairing.
Why is the corner booth so often recommended?
Two open frontages capture traffic from both aisles, the rental premium over inline is moderate, and in the 20–50 m² band it hits the most efficient visibility-to-cost point on the floor.
