What Is a Peninsula Booth? A Guide for Trade Show Exhibitors

When laying the groundwork for your next trade show, choosing the right booth layout can make or break your success on the show room floor. One option that strikes a unique balance between being both distinctive and budget-friendly is the peninsula booth. But what is a peninsula booth, exactly—and when does it make sense to use one?

What Is a Peninsula Booth?

A peninsula booth is a trade show exhibit space that is open to aisles on three sides, with the fourth side backing up to another booth. These spaces are typically larger than standard inline booths and provide more exposure to foot traffic coming from multiple directions.

There are two main types of peninsula booth layouts:

1. Peninsula Booth Backed by Inline Booths
   In this layout, the peninsula booth shares its back wall with two inline booths. Positioned at the end of a row, it juts out into the aisle like a geographical peninsula—hence the name.
2. Split Island Booth
   This variation occurs when two peninsula booths back up against each other. This configuration gives the appearance of a larger, island-style booth but with shared structural elements.
   

According to International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) trade show guidelines, a peninsula booth is typically 20’ x 20’ (400 square feet) or larger, though other sizes like 10’ x 20’ or 30’ x 30’ are also common.

Curious to see how Cardinal Expo creates impactful peninsula booth displays for our clients? Review our past success stories here and explore our line of traditional and custom exhibit rentals here.

Why Choose a Peninsula Booth?

If you’re asking “what is a peninsula booth” because you’re considering whether it’s right for your trade show display, we have you covered. Many exhibitors use peninsula booths for their high visibility and flexibility—without the springing for the cost of a full island booth.

Benefits of Peninsula Booths

Below are just a few of the many benefits of this interesting booth configuration: 

Visibility from Multiple Angles

Unlike inline booths that only face one aisle, peninsula booths are accessible from three sides, dramatically increasing your visibility on the showroom floor. With sales professionals suggesting that face-to-face interaction is essential for 95% of lasting business relationships, a peninsula booth gives you plenty of additional room to engage with the crowd.

Room for Creativity

With more square footage and more open sides, you can include interactive displays, product demos, and multimedia elements. These types of features are harder to fit into smaller, more confined booth spaces.

Cost Savings Compared to Island Booths

While peninsula booths are not the cheapest option, they can offer similar space and design potential of an island booth at a lower cost, making them a good compromise for growing brands.

Custom Design Flexibility

When you partner with a full-service trade show services provider like Cardinal Expo, your peninsula booth can be tailored to your specific needs, from concept and 3D renderings to installation and breakdown. Renting your trade show booth allows for added flexibility in updating your graphics and booth structure from show to show.

Display Regulations and Limitations

It’s important to know that there are strict regulations that come with this booth type—restrictions that many first-time exhibitors may not be familiar with and may get overwhelmed by. Cardinal Expo’s experienced team helps you navigate these rules to ensure your booth is compliant with your trade show’s guidelines.

Some Limitations to Consider When Opting for Peninsula Booths

Height Restrictions

When a peninsula booth is positioned with its back against two linear booths, specific height regulations are in place to protect the visibility of surrounding exhibits. According to guidelines from the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), any portion of the back wall located within 5 feet of an aisle must not exceed 4 feet in height. This ensures an unobstructed line of sight for neighboring inline booths. Outside of those perimeter areas, the central section of the back wall (including any signage) is typically allowed to reach a maximum height of 16 to 20 feet, depending on show-specific allowances.

Extra Rules for Displaying Signage

To avoid obstructing nearby booths, double-sided graphics, logos, and signs in peninsula booths must be set back at least 10 feet from adjacent exhibits. This rule applies even if hanging signage is permitted in your booth type. While these regulations may limit how close branding can appear to neighboring spaces, they also help maintain fairness and visibility across the show floor.

Complex Logistics

Peninsula booths often feature custom layouts, which can complicate shipping, setup, and dismantling, especially if you’re exhibiting in multiple cities throughout the year. That’s where Cardinal Expo steps in, managing everything from coordinating your exhibition freight to booth assembly and dismantle.

Higher Cost Than Inline Booths

Although peninsula booths are more affordable than islands, they are still larger and more expensive than inline configurations and other scalable booth designs. Budgeting appropriately is key when considering whether a peninsula booth is right for your next expo. 

What About Split Island Booths?

Split island booths are created when two peninsula booths are positioned back-to-back, forming a mirrored layout that allows each exhibitor open access to aisles on three sides. Although this peninsula booth configuration offers greater design flexibility compared to standard peninsula configurations, there are still some important restrictions to keep in mind. 

• No Line-of-Sight Restrictions: Unlike standard peninsula booths, split islands can use the full cubic content of the space, with no height restrictions near aisles. Exhibits can rise to 16–20 feet, including hanging signage.
• Signage Rules Still Apply: Double-sided signage must still be set back 10 feet from neighboring booths to preserve sightlines and fairness on the show floor.

When to Consider a Peninsula Booth

Peninsula booths aren’t for everyone—but they can be an ideal solution if:

• You’re ready to grow beyond the limiting size of a standard inline booth, but you aren’t yet prepared for the cost of a full island booth.
• You want to increase your brand visibility, with a 20’ x 20’ footprint or larger.
• You plan to host product demonstrations, displays, or interactive stations that require more space or surface area.
• You want to construct a booth with greater exposure to encourage attendee engagement from many angles. 
• You feel fewer height restrictions would help you activate your booth’s vertical potential.
• You’re attending multiple trade shows this year and need a booth setup that is adaptable and professional across varied environments.

If any of the above apply to your business, a peninsula booth could be the best trade show booth rental for you.

Maximizing Your Peninsula Booth With Cardinal Expo

Knowing the answer to “what is a peninsula booth” is just the beginning. To truly make the most of your space, you need a strategic approach that balances design, functionality, and compliance with trade show regulations.

Here’s how Cardinal Expo supports you every step of the way:

1. We Start With Booth Design and 3D Rendering

Our in-house design team collaborates with you to create a booth that aligns with your goals. We produce detailed 3D layouts that account for traffic flow, product display, and visual appeal—while ensuring full compliance with show regulations.

2. Full-Service Exhibit Management

We take on the burden of coordinating with trade show organizers, gathering order forms, tracking deadlines, and submitting required documentation—so you don’t have to.

3. Logistics and On-Site Oversight

Our team handles every logistical challenge from load-in to load-out, from safe exhibit shipping, to supervising the setup and dismantle of your display.

4. Rental Flexibility and Cost Efficiency

Renting a peninsula booth with Cardinal Expo means no long-term storage headaches or capital expense. You can adapt your booth size and look depending on each show’s audience, format, or industry focus, maximizing ROI every time.

To learn more about our process for providing you with world-class exhibition services from start to finish, read more here.

Is a Peninsula Booth Right for You?

So, what is a peninsula booth and how can it help take your expo potential to the next level? With high visibility, design flexibility, and an open and engaging footprint, these mid-tier trade show booth layouts can help you stand out without breaking the bank. They’re a popular option for growing businesses that want to elevate their presence on the show room floor but still need to think strategically about cost and logistics.

Luckily, Cardinal Expo is here to help you decide which booth configuration is best suited to fit your aesthetic, your wallet, and your brand. Whether you choose a peninsula booth or a different show-stopping configuration for your next convention, we’re here to handle the heavy lifting every step of the way.

Ready to design your peninsula booth? Contact Cardinal Expo now to get started with our design and logistics team! Call us at (800) 695-3452 or fill out the contact form below for a free quote and consultation.