850mm roller banners
Ask for a roller banner without naming a size and 850mm (33.5in) is usually what people have in mind. It is the safe default, and for most events that is exactly why you should buy it.
Why this width stuck.
It is a little wider than a typical internal door and around 2000mm tall on most stands, which puts it close to human scale. It is wide enough for a normal logo and a readable headline, yet the whole thing packs into a bag one person can carry to a train or sling into a car boot. Design templates, replacement graphics and venue expectations have all grown up around it, which keeps life simple when you come to reorder.
Treat it as a kit, not a one-off
Organisations rarely stop at one. The useful question is how a set will work across the different places you turn up.
| How many | What it covers | A sensible plan |
|---|---|---|
| One | Foyer, reception, a small seminar | Your name and what you do, nothing dated |
| Two | Both sides of a stage or entrance | Matching pair, or one brand and one offer |
| Three | The back of a small exhibition stand | Three panels that also make sense apart |
Worked example: a 3m back wall
You have a 3m wide shell scheme stand and want to dress the back wall. Three banners give 3 x 850mm, which is 2550mm of graphic. Allow 100mm between each, adding 200mm, and you reach 2750mm. That leaves 125mm at either end. It fits, but only just, because the feet of a stand are usually slightly wider than the graphic. Check the real base width and the height of the stand against the rules for your show before you commit.
Could you run one image across all three? You can, though each one then depends on the others, and a single banner in a hotel foyer next month will show a third of a picture. Self-contained panels are the better long-term bet.
Keep the message from dating
Put anything that changes, such as a date, offer or stand number, in one place low on the graphic, and keep the rest timeless. When the stand is sound but the words have moved on, a replacement graphic is available for it.
When to pick something else
- The gap is under about a metre, or the walkway is tight: see 600mm.
- Your logo is very wide, or the room is large: see 1000mm.
- You need a full wall behind you: a pop-up may be the better tool.
Roller banners are quoted to order and include a carry bag, so tell us how many you need and we will price them together.
Display print at events.
Your questions.
Is an 850mm banner the same as an 800mm banner?
No. The 50mm difference means artwork set up for one will not fit the other exactly, so always check the width before you print or reorder.
Can one person put up an 850mm banner?
Normally, yes. You stand the base down, pull the graphic up and clip it to the support pole. Practise once before the event.
Can I take one on a train?
Usually, as the bag is designed to be carried by hand. Check its length if you are travelling at a busy time.