What size should a roll-up banner be?
A standard roll-up banner is 80 × 200 cm or 85 × 200 cm (about 31.5 or 33.5 × 79 in): the most common sizes for trade shows, receptions and retail. Wider 100, 120 and 150 cm banners serve as stand backdrops and carry richer layouts, still about 200 cm tall.
What are the standard roll-up banner sizes?
A roll-up banner is made of an aluminium base that holds the rolled print, a pole, and a printed graphic that pulls up vertically. The height is almost always around 200 cm (about 79 in). The width is what changes with the use.
| Size (width × height) | Best for | What fits on it |
|---|---|---|
| 80 × 200 cm (31.5 × 79 in) | Reception desks, corridors, tight spaces, several banners side by side | Logo, one headline, one image |
| 85 × 200 cm (33.5 × 79 in) | The all-rounder: trade shows, retail, conferences | Logo, headline, image, three key points |
| 100 × 200 cm (39 × 79 in) | Trade show stands, product launches | A wider product shot, a detailed offer |
| 120 × 200 cm (47 × 79 in) | Stand backdrops, photo spots | A richer layout, several products |
| 150 × 200 cm (59 × 79 in) | Light stand backdrops, an alternative to a full display wall | A complete scene, panoramic artwork |
The 80 × 200 cm and 85 × 200 cm formats are the ones most people order: they fit in a car boot, one person can set them up, and they work almost anywhere. Above 100 cm, a roll-up becomes part of the stand decor more than an information panel.
These widths are the usual ones in Morocco, West Africa and Europe; American suppliers often quote the same hardware in inches, such as 33 × 80 in.
How do you choose the right width?
Four questions settle it.
- How much floor space do you have? Allow the banner width plus about 20 cm on each side for people to move around. In a lobby or corridor, stay at 80 or 85 cm.
- From how far will it be read? Trade show visitors look at a banner from two to four metres. A wider banner gives your artwork room, but a short message still beats a large, crowded one.
- How much information? Logo and one line: 80 cm. Product image and three points: 85 or 100 cm. A full range or a backdrop: 120 or 150 cm.
- How often will you use it? For frequent use (trade shows, roadshows, branches), choose a sturdy base. For a single event, an economy base is enough.
Tip: three 80 cm banners side by side make a 2.4 m backdrop that you can also use separately at reception or in your branches.
X-banner vs roll-up banner: which one should you choose?
| Criterion | Roll-up banner | X-banner | Hanging banner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Aluminium roll-up base and pole | X-shaped frame, graphic held by eyelets | Rails at the top and bottom |
| Setup | Under a minute, no tools | A few minutes | Depends on the hanging point |
| Stability | Good | More sensitive to drafts | Depends on the fixing |
| Graphic in transport | Protected, rolled inside the base | Rolled separately | Rolled separately |
| Common sizes | 80 to 150 × 200 cm | 60 × 160 and 80 × 180 cm | Custom |
| Best for | Frequent use, trade shows, branches | One-off events, tight budgets | Shop windows, stand ceilings |
An X-banner usually costs less and weighs less, but the graphic stays exposed and wears faster. If the banner will be used more than a few times a year, the roll-up is the better investment.
In French-speaking markets you will also hear "kakemono": it is the general word for a vertical printed banner, and a roll-up is one type of kakemono.
What should you put on a roll-up banner?
People read a roll-up in about three seconds, standing, a few metres away. Organise it in three zones:
- Top (150 to 200 cm): your logo and main message, at eye level. This is the zone everyone sees, even over a crowd.
- Middle (80 to 150 cm): one strong image and three points at most. A QR code belongs here, at hand height.
- Bottom (below 80 cm): your website or contact details. Keep the last 10 cm free of information: on most bases, the bottom of the graphic stays partly inside the base.
Three rules prevent most mistakes: one message per banner, text readable from three metres (bold, large headlines on a contrasting background), and one sharp photo rather than several small ones.
How do you prepare the print file?
- Ask your printer for the exact template before you start: the visible area and the rolled-in area vary from one base to another.
- Work at final size (or at the scale your printer specifies), in CMYK.
- 100 to 150 dpi at full size is enough: a roll-up is viewed from a distance, so higher resolutions only make the file heavier.
- Outline the text or embed the fonts, and export to PDF.
How much does a roll-up banner cost?
The price of a roll-up depends on five things: the width, the base quality (economy or premium with a replaceable graphic), the printed material, single or double-sided printing, and the quantity. An 80 × 200 cm economy banner is the entry level; a 150 × 200 cm double-sided premium banner costs several times more.
To compare quotes, check that they cover the same items: size, base type, printed material, carry bag, delivery and, if needed, installation. A cheaper quote that leaves out the bag or uses a material that curls is not a saving.
LeadAd produces roll-ups and stand displays in-house and handles delivery and on-site installation across Morocco. Ask for a quote with the size and the date of your event.
How do you set up and look after a roll-up banner?
- Set up: put the base flat, unfold its feet, assemble the pole, slot it into the base, then pull the graphic up gently and hook it to the top of the pole.
- Take down: unhook the graphic while holding it, let it roll back slowly into the base without letting go, then pack the pole.
- Care: wipe the graphic with a soft, slightly damp cloth, and always store the banner in its bag, away from heat.
Printing flyers or brochures for the same event? Our guide to offset vs digital printing helps you pick the right process for your quantity.
