Double-decker stand
Double your exhibition space without renting a single extra square metre, with a VIP level that towers over the aisle.
Is your pitch too small for your brand's ambition?
Floor space is costly and scarce
On the biggest shows, every square metre of floor commands a premium and goes fast. Staying single-level means holding your presence back for want of available space.
Nowhere to host clients
It is impossible to give an important client any privacy when reception, demonstration and negotiation all fight over the same floor, open to every gaze.
The technical side puts you off
Load-bearing floor, load calculations, a compliance certificate to file weeks before the show: a poorly anticipated R+1 file can be refused at build-up.
Quote within 48h · No commitment · A single point of contact
What is a double-decker exhibition stand?
A double-decker exhibition stand, also known as a two-storey or mezzanine stand, stacks two levels on a single footprint: a load-bearing technical floor creates a second space above the stand, reached by an integrated staircase or lift. For the same rented floor area, you exploit twice as much space as a single-storey trade show booth, and you gain an architectural presence that towers over the aisle. It is the most technical challenge a stand builder can take on: structure, load calculations and safety come on top of the design.
Double-decker or single storey: the space contest
| Double-decker stand | Single-storey stand | |
|---|---|---|
| Usable space | Doubled on the same floor footprint | Capped at the m² you rent |
| VIP area | Upstairs, quiet, away from the traffic | On the open floor, in full view |
| Visibility | A silhouette rising above the aisles | At the same height as neighbouring stands |
| Technical file | Load calculations and compliance certificate required | Standard declaration to the organiser |
| Minimum floor area | Around 40 to 50 m² of floor space required | No particular threshold |
| Indicative budget | €900 to €2,500 per combined m² | €700 to €1,500 per m² |
Indicative table. Permission to build upwards depends on each show's own regulations.
Two levels, four immediate effects
You double the space, not the pitch
Floor space is the scarcest, most expensive resource at any trade show. The upper deck creates square metres without renting a single extra m².
You finally host in peace and quiet
A private lounge, meeting room or hospitality suite upstairs: your negotiations take place away from prying eyes while the ground floor works the crowd.
You physically dominate the aisle
An overhanging terrace and high-level signage: your brand rises above the fray and can be spotted from right across the hall.
You exhibit with complete peace of mind
Safety plans, load calculations, compliance certificate: we carry the entire technical file with the organiser.
Estimate your stand budget
Four quick questions for a realistic range. No personal data required.
Double-decker stand prices: three levels of finish
A double-decker stand is priced per combined square metre, meaning the ground floor and the upper deck added together. The rate covers the load-bearing structure, technical floor, staircase and safety sign-off, which places it above the single-storey cost of an exhibition stand.
| Level of finish | Budget per combined m² | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| Bespoke double-decker stand | €900 to €1,300 per combined m² | a first two-storey stand on a compact footprint |
| Premium double-decker stand | €1,300 to €1,800 per combined m² | a VIP area and polished hospitality |
| Signature double-decker stand | €1,800 to €2,500 per combined m² | spectacular architecture and large spaces |
Indicative ranges, excluding pitch rental and utilities billed by the organiser. Precise figures on quotation.
Where a double-decker budget goes
- Load-bearing structure & floor34 %
- Fit-out of both levels20 %
- Build & logistics16 %
- Staircase & balustrades12 %
- Engineering & safety file10 %
- Signage & cladding8 %
Typical breakdown for a turnkey double-decker. Illustrative values.
A compliant double-decker stand in 5 milestones
A double-decker needs an early start: the structural study begins several months before the show, as soon as your floor space is booked.
Feasibility & show regulations
Minimum floor area, permitted heights, submission deadlines: we check that your pitch can take a second storey.
3D design & structure
Both levels, the staircase, balustrades and high-level signage are designed, modelled and signed off with you.
Technical file & safety
Load calculations, safety plans and the compliance certificate, filed with the organiser on schedule.
Manufacturing & pre-assembly
The load-bearing structure, floor and fit-out are produced, then dry-assembled in our workshop.
Build, inspection & dismantling
On-site installation, compliance checks before opening, then removal and storage after the show.
Quote within 48h · No commitment · A single point of contact
Stands that sell
Actemium
An industrial stand for a major engineering player, combining visual strength and a welcoming feel for business meetings.
A space that reinforced the client's expert image and enabled quality business conversations.
G7 Taxis
A high-visibility stand for G7, France's leading taxi company, built around its 'la ville est belle' brand campaign.
A stand spotted from afar that sustained a continuous flow of visitors throughout the show.
Brumont
A stand designed like a contemporary wine cellar for A. Brumont, an emblematic winegrower from South West France, at a major international wine fair.
An elegant setting that asserted the standing of both estates and sustained a steady flow of professionals around the tasting bar.
Which double-decker for your show presence?
The upper deck adapts to how you work: hosting, negotiating, dominating or making a statement. If the structure needs to travel from show to show, we design it in reusable elements, in the spirit of a modular trade show booth. Our teams build your double-decker across Europe and beyond, including through our team of exhibition stand builders in London.
Open mezzanine
An upper platform open onto the stand, ideal for a bar or a lounge overlooking the aisle.
Enclosed meeting deck
A closed, soundproofed room upstairs, to negotiate and sign away from the noise of the show floor.
Hospitality terrace
An overhanging reception balcony that turns your stand into the meeting point of the hall.
Brand duplex
Two fully staged levels that unfold your brand universe, from the floor to the high-level signage.
- A single point of contact, from first sketch to dismantling
- An in-house workshop, to keep deadlines
- Fine materials and careful finishes
- We operate across France and worldwide
Compliant double-deckers, delivered turnkey
“The VIP deck transformed our show: key clients came upstairs to sign in peace while the ground floor ran at full tilt.”
Charlotte D. Sales Director“The safety file was accepted by the organiser without a single reservation. We had nothing to deal with.”
Oliver A. Trade Shows and Events Manager“Same pitch as last year, twice the usable space. The maths speaks for itself.”
James T. Managing DirectorFrequently asked questions
A two-level structure that doubles usable space without more floor area, with an upper level for meetings, demos or VIP zones.
Yes. A double-decker stand often needs technical validation by organisers: safety plans, load calculations and a compliance certificate may be required.
Absolutely. Many double-decker stands use modular, demountable elements that can be reused across shows depending on available space.
For a single-level bespoke stand, budget 700 to 1,500 €/m² in general. A double-decker stand runs from 900 to 2,500 €/m² developed, structure and safety included. On top come the space rental, logistics and utilities billed by the organiser, and Decore Studio Events agrees a total budget upfront.
The two terms are largely interchangeable: stand is the common word in Europe, booth in North America, for the same space you occupy at a show. Whatever the name, Decore Studio Events builds it bespoke, including the double-decker version that stacks two levels on the same footprint.
Height and architecture make you unmissable: a double-decker level towers over the aisle, while a raised fascia, a single strong message and controlled lighting draw the eye. A clean black and white Decore Studio Events signature, with impeccable finishes, sets you apart from cluttered neighbours.
Double-decker stands, eco-design with reusable structures, private hospitality spaces and a clean architectural aesthetic dominate 2026. Premium restraint, like our black-and-white signature, is winning out over visual clutter.
Stop paying ever more for floor. Start building upwards.
Book your space and hand us the study: design, load-bearing structure and compliance secured from end to end, without the slightest coordination to manage on your side. Detailed quote within 48h.
Quote within 48h · No commitment · A single point of contact
Let's bring your next stand to life
Tell us about your show, your space and your goals. We come back to you with a first concept.