Picture this. You've booked your spot at a trade show. You've got two weeks to sort your display. And you're staring at a website with 15 roller banner options, wondering what actually matters here.
Good news: it's simpler than it looks. A few basic choices decide whether your banner works hard for you or just sits there looking nice.
Think about which way people will be looking at it
This is the first question, and most people skip straight past it.
If your banner sits against a wall, or in a booth people only walk up to from one side, you only need graphics on one side. Single-sided banners face one way, cost less, and suit walls, shell schemes, and reception areas.Nobody's ever going to see the back, so why pay to print it?
But if you're set up in the middle of the room, at the end of an aisle, or somewhere people can walk past from either direction, that changes things. A single-sided banner in an open space loses half your audience, while a double-sided one lets your message reach people coming from any direction.
One thing worth knowing: double-sided banners aren't just single-sided ones printed twice. They use an opaque layer between the two printed sides, so the image on one side doesn't bleed through and ghost onto the other. That's why they cost a bit more.
Get the width right for your space
Pull up banner printing comes in a handful of standard sizes, and there's a reason most people land on the same one. 850mm wide by 2000mm tall is the most popular pull up banner size in the UK, and it's become the industry standard for trade shows, exhibitions, and reception areas because it balances visual impact with being easy to carry around.
Need more presence? Go wider. 1000mm to 1200mm gives noticeably more space for your message and suits wider exhibition bays, while anything from 1500mm up works best for large halls, entrances, or backdrop walls.
Wider isn't always better, though. A 1500mm banner crammed into a small reception desk looks like it's trying too hard. Match the size to the room, not the other way round.
Check if it's going indoors or outdoors
This one catches people out. Roller banners look tough, with their metal base and sturdy pole, but they're generally only recommended for indoor use, since wind can knock them over outdoors.
Heading to an outdoor market or a summer fete? Ask about an outdoor-rated stand before you order. It'll have a heavier base and might use different material. Standing your regular banner outside on a breezy day is a quick way to watch your display end up flat on the pavement.
Think about the crowd, not just the banner
A banner at eye level in an empty room looks great. The same banner in a packed exhibition hall, with people's heads in the way, is a different story.
Most roller banners stand around 2 metres tall once set up, and that's usually enough to clear a standing crowd. If you know the hall gets busy, ask about a taller premium option, some go up to 2.15 metres, which gives your message a bit more breathing room above people's heads.
Why it's worth checking with your printer first
Getting all of this right on your own is doable. But it's also the kind of thing that's easy to get slightly wrong, wrong side printed, wrong width for the space, indoor stand ordered for an outdoor stall.
That's really what separates the best online printing services from the rest. It's not just printing what you upload. It's someone checking your file and your setup before it's too late to change. Chelmer Print offers single, double-sided, and super-wide roller banners, and checks your artwork before it goes to print.
Sort out the side, the size, and where it's going, and the rest of the job takes care of itself.
FAQs
Do I need a double-sided roller banner or will single-sided do?
It depends on where it's standing. Against a wall or in a booth, single-sided is enough. In an open space where people walk past from both directions, double-sided gets you seen twice as often.
What's the best roller banner size for a trade show?
850mm wide by 2000mm tall is the standard choice for most trade shows. It's big enough to be seen and small enough to carry in one bag.
Can I use a roller banner outdoors?
Not usually, unless it's specifically built for it. Standard roller banners aren't designed to handle wind, so check for an outdoor-rated stand if your event is outside.
How tall should my roller banner be for a crowded event?
Most stand around 2 metres, which works for most rooms. If you're expecting a packed crowd, a premium stand at up to 2.15 metres gives your message extra height above people's heads.
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