3 Side Open Stall Design – Peninsula Layouts and Free Quotes from Up to 5 Builders
- Free for exhibitors
- No obligation
- Up to 5 quotes
A 3 side open stall design has one job above all: make the single back wall work hard while keeping the other three sides inviting. These stalls, often called peninsula stalls, sit at the end of a row and face three aisles. That gives you more visibility than almost any other position in the hall, but only one solid side for branding, shelving and storage.
Below you will find layout ideas for common sizes and the points to agree before anything is built. When you are ready, send one brief and Stand Supplier will pass it to up to 5 stall builders who can design and build it. The quotes are free and there is no obligation. We connect you with builders; we don't build stalls ourselves.
What "3 side open" means
A 3 side open stall has a closed side at the back, usually against the stall behind it, and aisles on the other three sides. It is different from an island stall, which is open on all four sides and stands on its own, and from a corner stall, which is open on two.
Because people can approach from the front and from both ends, the stall is seen from far down the row. The flip side is that anything tall placed in the middle blocks the view from at least one direction.
When a peninsula stall makes sense
- Product demonstrations. A crowd can gather on three sides without blocking the aisle in front of your neighbours.
- Launches and larger teams. More open edge means more people can be served at once.
- Machinery and large products. Big items can be walked around and seen from several angles.
Spaces with more open sides are usually priced higher by organisers, and the build needs more finished surfaces. Check the rate for the space before you commit to it.
Layout ideas by stall size
The drawings show the stall from above. The solid line is the back wall; dashed lines are open sides on an aisle. Use them as a starting point with your builder.
6 x 3 m (18 sqm, about 194 sq ft)
Put everything tall against the back wall: a full-width graphic, shelving and a slim store behind a door in the wall itself. Keep the counter low and towards the front so it is reachable from all three sides, and leave both ends open as entrances.
6 x 6 m (36 sqm, about 388 sq ft)
With more depth, the back wall can hold a proper storeroom with the main logo on its face. Place the key product on a low central island that people can walk around, and add a small seating area to one side for conversations. Keep everything in the front half of the stall below eye level.
9 x 6 m (54 sqm, about 581 sq ft)
At this size you can divide the stall into zones: storage and a meeting room against the back wall, a demonstration area in the middle and a reception counter facing the main aisle. A hanging sign above the stall, where the organiser allows one, makes it easy to find from across the hall.
Design tips for a 3 side open stall
Make the back wall the hero
It is the only large surface you have. Use it for the logo, one clear message and the storage you need, so the rest of the stall can stay open.
Keep the middle low
Counters, plinths and furniture in the open area should stay low enough not to hide the back wall from the aisles at either end.
Plan the visitor flow
Decide where people come in, where they see the product and where you talk to them. Two entrances at the ends and a counter in the front work well for most stalls.
Think about storage early
Brochures, samples, bags and coats need a place to go. A store built into the back wall keeps them out of sight without closing an open side.
Check sightlines from all three aisles
Ask your builder for views from each approach, not just the front. A design that looks good head-on can show the back of a cabinet from the side.
3 side open, 2 side open or island?
| 2 side open (corner) | 3 side open (peninsula) | 4 side open (island) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open sides | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Solid sides for graphics and storage | 2 | 1 | none (built inside the stall) |
| Typical use | Small and medium stalls | Medium and large stalls, demos | Large stalls, flagship displays |
For a corner space, see our 2 side open stall design page.
What to check before the design starts
- Height limits for walls and hanging signs, which differ by show and sometimes by hall.
- Rules for the back wall, such as whether its rear face must be finished where it can be seen from neighbouring stalls.
- Raw space or shell scheme. Most 3 side open spaces are raw space, built entirely by your builder.
- Drawing approval and build times set by the organiser.
What decides the cost
The quote depends mainly on the size of the space, the materials and finishes, how much is built into the back wall, lighting, screens, flooring and furniture, and how much time the builder has. Give every builder the same brief, including your size, open sides, budget and must-haves, so the quotes can be compared side by side.
Stall builders in your city
If your show is in one of the cities we cover, see the local page for venues and nearby builders:
How it works
Three steps from brief to the right stand builder.
Tell us about your stand
Share the event, city, stand size and budget in one short form. Send your requirement.
We find up to 5 stand builders
Our team selects builders suited to your event and city, and passes them your brief.
Compare and choose
Compare designs and prices, and choose the one that fits. It is free, with no obligation.
Why use Stand Supplier
We connect you with builders. We never build stalls ourselves.
Save time
One short form instead of calling builders one by one.
Compare prices
Compare designs and prices from several builders side by side.
Free, no obligation
You never pay us, and you don't have to accept any quote.
Deal directly
The contract is between you and the builder you choose.
Get up to 5 free quotes for your stall
Tell us about your stand once. We pass your brief to up to 5 stand builders, free and with no obligation.
- You send one brief with your show, stand and contact details.
- We pass it to up to 5 stand builders suited to your event and city.
- You compare their proposals and choose the one that fits, or none.
- Free for exhibitors
- You deal directly with the builder
Frequently asked questions
More stall layout guides
Exhibition Stall Design
Design ideas by goal and size, 2D and 3D designs explained, the design process and how to brief a designer.
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2 Side Open Stall Design
Corner stalls are seen from two aisles. Layout ideas by size, the rules to check, and free quotes from builders.
Learn more
Shell Scheme Stall and Octanorm Stall
Shell scheme, Octanorm (modular) or custom: what each one is, when to choose it, and how to make a shell scheme look its best.
Learn more
Exhibition Stall on Rent
What a rented stall includes, when renting beats building, what you can customise and what to ask before you book.
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