Height Restrictions and Line-of-Sight Rules

Height restrictions and line-of-sight rules, usually found in your exhibitor kit, are two regulations that will affect the design and layout of your exhibit.

Height restrictions are usually determined by the venue’s ceiling height. These values, along with specific show regulations can restrict your overall exhibit height to as low as 8 feet or as high as 24 feet. However there are standards for height restrictions based on the following booth configurations: 8 feet for an inline, 12 feet for a perimeter inline, and 16 to 20 feet for a peninsula/split island or island exhibits 400 square feet or larger. If height restriction rules are broken, show management will ask you to reduce the height of the exhibit and may possibly issue a fine for the violation.

Just because you’re exhibiting at a trade show doesn’t mean you have free reign over how you use your space. The line-of-sight rule dictates no obstruction, of any kind, taller than 4 feet in the front half of your linear booth space giving attendee visibility to the exhibiting neighbors. This “rule of fairness” among exhibitors ensures your neighboring booths will not get overlooked by the trade show attendees.

The only time either of these regulations may be broken, is with a variance request submitted and approved by show management. A good tip in getting a variance approved, is to get the exhibitors around you on board with your changes. Usually if your neighbors don’t mind what you are trying to do, show management won’t either.

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Contributed by: Mike Carvalho – Designer