What pipe and drape is
Pipe and drape is the standard divider system at most US trade shows: metal pipes with fabric drape forming the back wall and the low side walls of each booth. Shows usually include it in the space price, often with a small sign with your company name and booth number.
What it usually does not include, unless your show's package says so: carpet, furniture, lighting, electrical power, graphics, and the labor to put any of it up. Each of these is ordered from the show's contractor, at the contractor's prices.
What you can and cannot do with it
- You can hang light banners on the drape, within the show's rules.
- You cannot remove the drape or the structure, and you may not attach heavy items to it.
- Anything that needs tools, power or rigging is usually done by the show's labor, billed by the hour.
The result is a booth that looks like every other bare booth on the floor, unless you spend money on top of it.
What a rented booth adds
A rented booth stands inside your space, in front of or instead of the drape:
- Solid walls with your graphics printed edge to edge.
- A counter with your logo, lighting, and furniture.
- Options such as wall-mounted screens, lit logo signs, LED walls and a raised floor.
- Install and teardown by the crew, with drayage and power arranged for you.
At BoothJet a 10×10 rental costs $3,999 to $8,999 all-in. Compare that with the cost of carpet, furniture, lights, power and labor ordered one by one for a pipe-and-drape booth, and with how your booth will look next to your competitors'.
Which one to choose
Pipe and drape alone works for a first, low-budget test of a show, or a table-top presence. If the show matters for your sales, a booth that looks finished pays back in visitors who stop. Many exhibitors start with pipe and drape at one show and rent a booth from the second.
Questions
Is pipe and drape included with my booth space?
At most US trade shows, yes: the back drape, side rails and an ID sign come with the space. Check your exhibitor manual, because packages differ by show.
Can I put a rented booth in a pipe-and-drape space?
Yes. The rented booth stands inside your space; the drape behind it can stay or be removed, as the show allows.
Ready-made booths from $3,999: union labor, drayage, delivery, graphics and power included. See yours in 3D before you book.