Double Decker Exhibition Stands
A double decker stand buys you a second floor of usable space on the same footprint. It is the most effective way to add private meeting space at a busy show - and the most heavily regulated thing you can build on a stand.
What a second storey actually gets you
Floor space at a major show is expensive, and doubling it vertically is usually cheaper than taking twice the footprint. The upper deck typically becomes what the ground floor cannot be: quiet meeting rooms, private hospitality, a space to take a serious conversation away from the noise.
There is a presence argument too. On a crowded floor a two-storey stand is visible from across the hall, which is difficult to buy any other way.
The approvals are the hard part
A double decker is a temporary structure carrying people, and it is treated as such. It needs structural calculations from a qualified engineer, drawings submitted to the organiser well in advance, and sign-off before anything is built. Occupancy on the upper deck is limited, escape routes are specified, and venues set their own additional requirements on top of the show's.
Build-up also takes longer, which means an earlier slot and a schedule that has to hold. None of this is a reason not to do it - but it is the reason double deckers need to be committed to early rather than added to a design late.
Is your space suitable?
Not every space can take one. The hall needs the ceiling height, the show has to permit two-storey builds, and the stand usually needs to be a minimum size before a second level makes sense. Those three things are worth checking before any design work begins, and we check them first rather than designing something that cannot be approved.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a double decker exhibition stand cost?
More per square metre than a single-storey stand, because of the structure, the engineering sign-off and the longer build. Against the alternative - taking twice the floor space at a major show - it often comes out cheaper. The comparison worth making is not against a single-deck stand of the same footprint, but against a single-deck stand of the same usable area.
Do you need special permission for a two-storey stand?
Yes. Structural calculations and drawings must be submitted to and approved by the organiser before build, and the venue may have further requirements. Deadlines for this sit well before build-up, which is why the decision needs making early.
How much ceiling height does a double decker need?
Enough for two usable levels plus structure and services, and the exact limit is set by the individual show rather than the venue alone. Tell us the show you are booked into and we will confirm whether a second storey is permitted and what height you have to work within.
Talk to us about your stand
Tell us the show you are booked into and the space you have taken, and we will come back with what is possible within your budget and the show regulations.