Custom trade show table covers: how do you get one that fits right?
Four decisions come before the artwork.
Start with the table the venue provides
One distributor advises ordering for the table the venue supplies, not the booth: tables from show decorators are often 24 in. deep, while banquet tables are usually 30 in., and the drop equals the table height [1]. A cover made for a longer table bunches at the ends and pushes the front graphic off-centre; one that is too deep sags into loose folds along the sides [1]. Another distributor points out that the mistake surfaces at unboxing [2]. The first suggests a hem about an inch clear of the carpet: dragging fabric gets trampled and dirty [1].
Throw, fitted or stretch?
A throw drapes loosely, a fitted cover is cut to size, a stretch cover pulls taut over the frame [1][3]. The first distributor cited finds stretch covers the neatest, but fits one size only, a gamble if furniture changes; a throw with open corners only tolerates an inch or two of difference [1]. An event equipment retailer says a stretch cover stays smooth but limits access underneath, while a fitted cover lets you pull the fabric aside, at the cost of wrinkles or slipping; anchored under the legs, a stretch cover would also resist wind [3].
Open back or closed back?
An open back covers the front and sides, handy for a seated host or supplies underneath. A closed back is for a table seen from every side [1][4][5]. At the Palais des congrès de Montréal, however, storage is not allowed around or inside booths [6], so check the rules before counting on that space.
Flame retardancy: the paperwork matters
At the same venue, booth construction fabrics must be flame-proofed to CAN/ULC-S109-M, and decorative fabrics must be non-combustible or flame-proofed to CAN/ULC-S109-3 or NFPA 705, with certificates available on request [6]; how table covers are classed is to be confirmed with the venue. The venue may flame-test a fabric and refuse a non-compliant setup [6][7]. Rules may differ by venue: read the exhibitor kit and ask the supplier for a certificate naming the standard and testing body. If unsure, call the fire department, a U.S. trade show columnist suggests [8].
What gets printed, and where?
Suppliers print the front panel or the whole cover, and can match the background colour to a Pantone reference [9][4]. According to one manufacturer, a blank cover costs less, and a booth often pairs one or two printed covers with plain ones [9]; one distributor charges extra for full coverage [10].
According to a distributor, dye sublimation, especially on polyester, handles gradients and photos; it costs more to set up but less per piece on long runs. Screen printing, which works on cotton and is cheaper to start, is often limited to 4 or 5 colours, gets pricier with each added colour and stays the most economical for a simple design in large quantities [11]. Another advises against QR codes on stretch fabric, where they may scan poorly (to be confirmed) [12].
Écran Blanc's advice
Get table dimensions and venue rules before finalizing the artwork. If your shows change often, save stretch covers for a table you know. One printed feature table with matching plain covers often balances impact and budget. Fold it only once dry to limit creases, as one printer recommends [13].