What is the difference between space only and shell scheme?

Space only is bare floor: you supply and build the stand. Shell scheme includes walls, a fascia name board and usually carpet, so it costs more per square metre but removes a separate build cost.

Is the stand rate the full cost of exhibiting?

No. Stand space is one line in the total. Stand build, electrics, furniture, staff time, travel, accommodation, meals, pre-event marketing, print and giveaways all add to the true investment.

Where can I find audited attendance figures for a UK exhibition?

ABC publishes audited event attendance certificates for UK business events, and UFI audits figures for many international shows. An audited certificate reports total unique attendance separated into visitors and exhibitor staff. Figures quoted in organiser marketing are not necessarily audited.

What UK trade shows cost to exhibit at

Stand rates published by the organisers themselves, so you can see the range before you budget. Every figure below links to the document it came from and names the edition it applies to.

Rates last checked: 5 September 2026.

Published stand rates

AgriScot 2026

£40 to £74 per m²

Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh

Open space from £40 to £61 per m², modular stands from £52 to £74 per m², by hall.

Source: AgriScot Trade Exhibitor Pack 2026, 2026 edition.

SALTEX 2026

£166 to £280 per m²

NEC Birmingham

Space only £166 per m² at the show rate rising to £248 per m² at the late rate; shell scheme £205 to £280 per m², depending on booking date.

Source: SALTEX 2026 booking form, 2026 edition.

Futurebuild 2026

£455 to £840 per m²

ExCeL London

Space only £455 early bird, £480 standard. All-in package £580 early bird, £605 standard. All-in Plus £780 early bird, £840 standard.

Source: Futurebuild 2026 sales brochure, 2026 edition.

ESS Expo 2026

£95 to £599 per m²

NEC Birmingham

Shell scheme £599 per m², space only £580 per m², outdoor space only £95 per m², all excluding VAT.

Source: ESS Expo prices and stand application page, 2026 edition.

TravelTech Show 2027

From £930 per m²

ExCeL London

Space only from £930 per m², shell scheme from £999 per m², plus an e-registration fee of £565 for stands up to 14 m² and £750 above that.

Source: TravelTech Show stand packages page, 2027 edition.

ISBA Annual Conference 2026

£5,995 to £8,195 per stand

ICC Wales

Priced per built stand rather than per m²: £5,995 for 6 to 8 m², £7,195 for 8.75 to 9 m², £8,195 for 10 to 12 m², excluding VAT.

Source: ISBA 2026 exhibition stand costs, 2026 edition.

These are the rates those organisers published, not an average, a benchmark or a guide to what any other show charges. Organisers reset rates each year and most operate tiered deadlines, so confirm the current figure with the prospectus before you budget.

Turning a rate into a cost

Multiply the rate by the size of stand you want, then treat that as the first line of your budget rather than the whole of it.

Stand size: 18 m²
Rate: £230 per m²
Space cost: £4,140
Stand build, furniture and electrics: Additional
Staff time, travel, accommodation and meals: Additional
Marketing, print and giveaways: Additional

Worked example using one of the published rates above. Illustrative only.

Checking attendance before you book

Visitor numbers quoted in a brochure are not always independently checked. Two sources publish verified figures:

ABC event attendance certificates report total unique attendance for UK business events, split into visitor attendance and exhibitor attendance, with duplicate visits removed.
UFI audited statistics cover many international exhibitions under a common set of auditing rules.

Ask the organiser for the certificate. If a show reports attendance without an audit, treat the number as a claim rather than a measurement, and note whether it counts unique people or total visits across all days.

What the numbers do not tell you

A cheap stand at the wrong show costs more than an expensive stand at the right one. The figure that matters is what each lead and each customer ends up costing you, which depends on your own conversion, not on the rate card or the attendance total.

Common questions

Published rates vary widely by sector and venue. Among the shows listed on this page, space-only rates run from around £40 per square metre at an agricultural show to over £900 per square metre at a specialist London technology show. Always check the organiser's current rate card, as rates are set each year.

Price up your own event

Put your stand cost and the rest of your budget into the calculator to see your cost per lead, break-even customers and return.

Open the calculator

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