Shell scheme is a basic frame provided by the show's official contractor that you decorate within it; space-only is an empty floor area where your own stand company builds from scratch. Shell scheme costs less and suits a first show or a smaller budget; space-only costs more but gives you full design freedom, and becomes the standard choice above roughly 9m². Which one is right for you comes down to budget, design ambition, and how much your stand needs to stand out.
What Is a Shell Scheme Stand?
Shell scheme is the venue's own contractor providing a basic framed structure — walls, a fascia board with your company name, and sometimes basic lighting — included in your stand space booking. You then dress it with graphics, furniture and branding. It's the lower-cost, lower-risk option, and it's why most first-time exhibitors and smaller stands use it: less to plan, less to go wrong, and a predictable starting point.
What Is a Space-Only Stand?
Space-only is an empty floor area with no structure provided — your stand company designs and builds everything from the ground up, using systems like modular T3 or Aluvision frames or a fully bespoke structure. This is where genuine design freedom lives: double-deck stands, unusual shapes, integrated AV, and a look that doesn't resemble every other shell scheme stand on the aisle.
Cost Differences
Shell scheme dressing can start modestly — graphics and furniture on top of a space you've already booked. A fully-kitted package stand on a modular system runs from £127/m² all-in, with entry-level designs typically under £4,000. Space-only builds start around £5,000 for a small footprint and scale significantly for larger, more technical stands — double-deck structures or heavy AV integration can run £30,000–80,000+. See our full cost breakdown for what drives the price at each level.
Design Freedom: What You Actually Get
Shell scheme restricts what you can attach to the provided walls and how far your display can project into the aisle — fine for a straightforward graphics-and-counter setup, limiting if you want a distinctive shape or a taller structure. Space-only removes those constraints almost entirely, which is why most stands above roughly 9m² move to space-only: at that size, the design flexibility starts to matter more than the cost saving.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose shell scheme if this is your first show, your stand space is small, or your budget is tight — it's a sensible, low-risk starting point. Choose space-only once your stand needs to do more than display graphics: bigger footprints, a distinctive look, AV integration, or a multi-show programme where a reusable modular structure pays for itself over time. If you're unsure, ask your stand company to design both options — a good one will tell you honestly which suits your show rather than defaulting to whichever is more profitable for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between shell scheme and space-only exhibition stands?
Shell scheme is a basic frame provided by the venue's official contractor that you decorate within; space-only is an empty floor area where your own stand company builds a structure from scratch, giving full design freedom.
Is shell scheme or space-only cheaper?
Shell scheme is generally cheaper, since the basic structure is already provided. Space-only starts around £5,000 for a small footprint and scales up with size and complexity.
At what stand size should I move to space-only?
Space-only typically becomes the standard choice above roughly 9m², where design flexibility starts to matter more than the cost saving of shell scheme.
Can I use a modular system on a space-only stand?
Yes — most space-only stands today use modular systems like T3 or Aluvision rather than fully bespoke builds, combining design freedom with reusability across shows.
Not sure which suits your show? Talk to us — we'll design both and let you choose.
