What an Inline Booth Is
An inline booth is any booth in a straight row that is open to the aisle on one side only. It has a back wall (or back drape) and a neighbor on each side, usually separated by side rails. Most trade show floors are mostly inline booths, typically 10x10 and 10x20, arranged in back-to-back rows. The trade show booth types guide covers every type; this page is about the inline booth and how organizers set its rules and price.
| Type | Open sides | Typical size | Typical price position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inline (linear) | 1 | 10x10, 10x20 | Base rate |
| Perimeter inline | 1, against a hall wall | 10x10, 10x20 | Base rate; sometimes a small premium for the taller back wall |
| Corner | 2 | 10x10, 10x20 | Base rate plus a corner premium |
| End cap | 3 | 10x20 | Above corner |
| Peninsula | 3 | 20x20 or larger | Above end cap |
| Island | 4 | 20x20 or larger | Highest |
Inline Booth Rules: Height and Line of Sight
Inline booths share sightlines, so line-of-sight rules matter most here. A common rule, based on widely used IAEE-style guidance, is: back wall up to 8 ft high; anything in the front 5 ft of the booth no taller than 4 ft; side dividers above 4 ft only in the back 5 ft. Many shows relax the front-height limit when three or more inline booths are combined, applying it only within 10 ft of a neighbor. These are starting points. Set your own numbers with your venue and fire marshal, and read booth height restrictions for how other booth types compare.
Inline Booth Pricing vs Corner, Peninsula and Island
The inline price is the base of your rate card. Every other type is a step up from it, so get it right first. The ladder below is a planning example, not market data; build yours from your costs, past sales and what comparable shows publish.
| Booth | How it is priced | Example price |
|---|---|---|
| 10x10 inline | Base rate, $30 per sq ft | $3,000 |
| 10x10 corner | Inline plus 15% | $3,450 |
| 10x20 inline | Two inline booths | $6,000 |
| 10x20 end cap | 200 sq ft at $36 | $7,200 |
| 20x20 peninsula | 400 sq ft at $30 plus a $1,500 premium | $13,500 |
If inline booths in back rows are your slowest sellers, consider a lower rate for back sections rather than discounting late. The corner booth guide covers the first step up from inline, and premium booth location pricing covers the full ladder. To set the base rate itself, start with how to price trade show booths.
How to Lay Out Rows of Inline Booths
- 1
Use Back-to-Back Rows
Lay out inline booths in back-to-back rows of two, so every booth faces an aisle and the back drapes share one line.
- 2
Break Up Long Rows
Long rows mean fewer corners and longer walks. Break rows with cross aisles at intervals your fire marshal accepts.
- 3
Set Aisle Widths First
Size aisles for traffic and code. Many shows use 10 ft aisles for most of the floor; main aisles are often wider.
- 4
Number for Merges
Number booths so they stay readable when two or three inline booths are combined into one.
- 5
Keep the Grid Flexible
Draw rows of 10x10s even where you expect 10x20s, so you can sell either without redrawing.
The trade show aisle width guide covers aisle sizing, and the booth capacity calculator estimates how many inline booths fit your hall. When the rows are drawn, event floor plan software can publish them as a map exhibitors book from.