Pull up, roll up, roller or pop up? Types of banner stand explained

There are fewer types of banner stand than there are names for them: a pull up banner, a roll up banner and a roller banner are all the same thing, a printed graphic that rolls into a base and pulls up onto a pole. Pop up displays, fabric walls and totems are genuinely different products, and choosing the right one depends on how much space you have and how often you will set it up.

Here is each type in plain English, with what it is good for.

One product, four names #

If you have been searching for a pull up banner, a pull-up stand, a roll up banner or a roller banner, you are looking for the same thing. The names are used interchangeably across the UK:

• Roller banner: the name most printers use.
• Pull up banner: describes how you set it up, pulling the graphic up out of the base.
• Roll up banner: describes how you pack it away, rolling it back in.
• Pop up banner: sometimes used for the same product, but also used for pop up displays (below), which are different. Check which one a supplier means.

All our roller banners are 2000 mm tall and come in widths from 800 to 1500 mm, with a choice of three stand levels.

The main types of banner stand compared #

Type	What it is	Best for
Roller banner	Graphic on a sprung roller in a base, held up by a pole	Receptions, events, shop floors, exhibitions. Quick to set up and carry
Pop up display	A folding frame with a fabric graphic, forming a curved wall	The back wall of an exhibition stand
Stretch fabric wall	A tube frame with a fabric graphic pulled over it like a pillowcase	Larger stands, backdrops, events
Backdrop banner	A large banner hung from a frame or fixed to a wall	Photo walls, stages, press backdrops
Totem	A free-standing printed column, often cardboard	Shop floors, promotions, short campaigns
Flags	Feather or teardrop flags on a pole and base	Outdoor events, forecourts, entrances

Roller banners #

The most popular of all the types of banner stand, because they are cheap to make, quick to set up (usually under a minute) and fit in a car boot. A standard budget roller banner suits a one-off event; sturdier stands suit regular use. Roller banners are indoor products; outdoors they catch the wind and tip.

Widths matter more than people expect. An 850 mm banner fits beside a reception desk or in a shop doorway without blocking anyone. A 1200 or 1500 mm banner starts to act like a small backdrop, which is great behind a speaker but awkward in a corridor.

They work alone at a reception, in pairs either side of a doorway, or three side by side to make a wall behind a table.

Pop up displays #

A pop up display is a folding frame that opens out like a concertina, with a printed fabric graphic attached to make a curved wall. Our fabric pop up display stand 3×3 suits a stand about 3 m wide, and a 3×4 version suits wider stands. They take longer to set up than a roller banner and need more floor depth for the curve, but they give one continuous back wall that three roller banners cannot.

Stretch fabric walls and backdrops #

Stretch fabric walls use a lightweight tube frame with a fabric graphic pulled over it. They come in straight, curved and wave shapes and in widths from 2.5 m to 6 m, single or double sided. Backdrop banners are simpler: a large printed banner hung from a frame, a wall or a truss. Both suit larger spaces than a roller banner can fill.

Totems and counters #

Cardboard totems are free-standing printed columns, useful for shop-floor promotions and short campaigns. Promotional counters are fabric-covered counters that give you a branded front to stand behind at an event. Neither replaces a banner stand, but both complete a display.

Types we do not sell #

You may also see X-banners (a graphic held by an X-shaped frame with bungees at the corners) and L-banners (a graphic hanging from a top bar on an L-shaped base). They are lighter and cheaper than roller banners but less stable and less tidy. We do not sell them; for the same job we would suggest a budget roller banner.

Choosing between the types of banner stand #

• One banner for a reception, shop or small event: a roller banner.
• An exhibition stand around 3 m wide: a pop up display, or two or three roller banners.
• A big back wall or photo wall: a stretch fabric wall or a backdrop banner.
• Outdoors: not a banner stand at all; use flags or a banner tied to railings.

Our article comparing a banner, a roller banner or a flag helps if you are still deciding between indoor and outdoor options.

Mixing types of banner stand #

Most good exhibition stands use more than one type. A common mix is a pop up display or fabric wall at the back, a promotional counter at the front, and a roller banner at the aisle corner where people approach. The back wall carries the brand, the counter gives you somewhere to work, and the roller banner catches people walking along the aisle.

When you mix types of banner stand, keep the design consistent: the same logo position, the same colours and the same headline style on each piece. It looks like one stand rather than three purchases.

What about carrying and storage? #

Roller banners are the easiest to live with: each one packs into its own bag, and one person can carry two. Pop up displays and fabric walls pack into a case or a bag with the frame and graphic separate, and are heavier; plan on two people and a car with a decent boot. Backdrops roll up small but need somewhere to hang at the venue. If storage space is tight at your office, count that into the choice between the types of banner stand, not just the look on the day.

Where to go next #

If you have settled on a roller banner, the roller banner buying guide covers widths, stands, materials and artwork. For bigger displays, browse our exhibition displays. Many venues publish rules on stand heights, fire safety and materials in the exhibitor manual; the HSE also has general guidance on event safety for organisers.

UK mainland delivery is £7.95 per order and free when your goods total is £99 or more after discount codes.