Our Recommendations

If you've found the extensive selection a little overwhelming, you've come to the right page!

Below are our recommendations on the best stands for different circumstances. These suggestions are obviously not the only possible options, but these are the stands we have found to work the best, and/or have proven to be the most popular for each situation.

The least expensive retractable banner stand.

Recommendation: The Expo or Prism retractable banner stands would be good choices. The Expo is our least expensive, and unlike competing models in this price range, this is a well made stand with many innovations including the unique snap rail roller mechanism that doesn't require any adhesive or leader to attach the banner. This makes it easier to change graphics than most stands, and makes a great choice for those who change graphics frequently. If you prefer the style of retractable stand with a larger base and no swing out foot, the Prism is a great value in a quality stand. It's unique shape is attractive and makes the stand very stable when set up.

Best value in a retractable for customers who don't plan to change the banner frequently.

Recommendation: The Prism is the best value retractable we offer. It is of similar quality to stands costing 2-3 times more from other companies, yet it is still one of our lowest priced retractable banner stands. It's an attractive stand with a nice padded carrying bag, good graphic attachment method and it comes in a nice size at 33.4 wide by 83.625 high.

The best retractable stand with the most features.

Recommendations: The Barracuda is the least expensive fully featured stand we offer. It can be used at any height from 30 to 84 inches, so it can be used on a table or on the ground. Most of the parts that eventually cause problems on cheaper stands have been upgraded, or eliminated completely from this design so it can function without problems over a long period of time. The graphic head rail as multiple attachment options for light weight or heavier banner materials. The graphics attach directly to a channel on the roller mechanism making graphic changes easy, and because this design has no leader, there is nothing to weaken or wear out over time, even with frequent banner changes. The stand also has an adjustable tension control so if the mechanism ever losses tension, you simply turn a knob to adjust the tension to the proper level without having to send the stand back for service. The Barracuda also has a deluxe molded soft case, pole storage on the underside of the base unit, magnetic end caps, and more. It has more features than other stands costing twice as much and is one of our favorites. It also comes in a double sided version called the Excalibur.

The highest quality, most full featured stands we carry are the Expand M2 and Expand MediaScreen 4, which are basically the same stand but with different case designs . They feature a new standard in retractable banner stands, the unique Modular Tension System, an innovative technology inspired by solutions found on racing yachts that eliminates the spring tension mechanisms found in all other retractable stands. This technology makes retracting the banner a breeze, The super-light media roll makes mounting the graphic simple without using tools. As you pull the graphic up, the display generates tension and once the graphic is retracted into the base, the rolled image does not have any tension. This makes changing graphics extremely easy and unlike most stands, the customer can actually change the graphic themselves without tools in a just a few seconds. Graphics can even be ordered on spare media rolls with their own carry case. The telescopic pole can be used from 63" up to the maximum height of 88 5/8", and it has an easy locking mechanism for precise height control, and there even measurements marked on the pole for convenience. This is literally one of the best made stands you can buy and it is backed by a lifetime warranty. While these are not inexpensive stands, we sell them at a significant discount off the suggested retail price to make them available to as many customers as possible. If you want a stand that you plan to use frequently or for a long period of time, these are your best options as the warranty alone makes them worth the price.

Best banner stands for linking together into a larger display.

Recommendations: This is a popular option since it's a less expensive way to create a graphic back wall, and it's more versatile as the stands can be used individually when necessary. Typically this is done with non-retractable stands as the nature of the retractable designs means that the there is an inch or two of the base on either side of the graphic, which leaves a gap between each graphic when you put them together. Depending on the design and your personal preference, this may not be important, but when it is, our best alternative has been the Uno 3 Mural. It's made up of 3 Uno stands, which are tension back models that don't retract, so the graphic extends to the edge of the display making it possible to put them together in a seamless configuration. The Uno 3 Mural includes connectors to joining the stands together at the base and headrail, and special edge-to-edge magnetic tape on the edges of the graphics so they will stick to one another and eliminate any gaps between banners. We recommend only using the Tradeshow Banner material with this configuration as it's stiff enough to not show the effect of the magnetic tape on the back side, and holds it's shape better in this type of use than a more fabric-like banner.

Another option is the new Alligator retractable stand. This stand was built with the concept of putting multiple units together to make a seamless wall. It eliminates the gap between graphics that all other retractable stands have through a unique "frameless" setup where the graphic actually exits the bottom of the stand and wraps over the front edge of the base. This way the graphic extends to the edge of the display so that multiple units placed together don't have any gaps between them. The head rails even have magnetic ends so they will magnetically connect when placed together. This stand comes in two sizes, a 33.5" wide model and a 47.25" wide model. By mixing and matching various sizes and quantities you can make configurations to fit most spaces. These are very advanced stands as well and have telescopic poles so they can be used at various heights, they have easy graphic changes and adjustable tension, a deluxe case and include a spotlight.

For a really large presentation, the Expand MediaScreen XL is a premium quality retractable stand with a graphic size of 47.25" x 118.125". It also has magnetic headrail ends to easily link multiple stands together without tools or a ladder. This setup will leave gaps between the graphics, but otherwise this is an excellent option. It can even be custom ordered at other heights if you don't want a 10' tall display. Like all Expand retractable banner stands, the MediaScreen XL is made from the highest quality materials and features Swedish quality and design, and includes a lifetime warranty.

Best oversized banner stands for really large presentations.

Recommendations: The Banner Bug retractable stands are available in some really big sizes. The Giant Bug model is 39.375" wide by 111.5" tall. If it's a wider graphic you want, there is a model that is 5' wide and an incredible 6' wide model as well. If you want width and height, the BannerUp Plus comes in both 4' and 5' wide models, and has optional extension poles that can increase the height up to nearly 10' tall. The BannerUp Plus models also feature a 10 year warranty.

For an even larger presentation, the Expand MediaScreen XL is a premium quality retractable stand with a graphic size of 47.25" x 118.125". It also has magnetic headrail ends to easily link multiple stands together without tools or a ladder so it's possible make a display of 8', 12', 16' or larger that you can set up in minutes. This configuration will leave 1"-2" gaps between the graphics, but otherwise this is an excellent option. It can even be custom ordered at other heights if you don't want a 10' tall display. Like all Expand retractable banner stands, the MediaScreen XL is made from the highest quality materials and features Swedish quality and design, and includes a lifetime warranty.

Best inexpensive, lightweight banner stand.

Recommendations: Because they don't have a base or retractor mechanism, non-retractable stands, often called portable, spring back, or tension back stands, are the lightest weight stands available. They do take a little more time and effort to setup, and the banner is generally more likely to get damaged since it's not protected in the stand like a retractable when not in use, and gets handled much more during setup and take down, but with a little effort and care, these stands are an excellent choice when you need something lightweight and inexpensive. Also, since they don't have any moving parts, there is less that can go wrong with the stand over time. The Extend Plus and Lightning are our two least expensive non-retractable models. The Extend Plus displays a very large banner, 39" wide by up to 89" tall. It's telescopic so it can be used as short as 61" tall and any height in between, so it's very versatile. It has a clever counter weighed foot design that doesn't require as much weight to make it stable as many other stands, which helps to keep it light weight and portable. The Lightning displays a smaller banner, but if you don't need as large a banner as the Extend Plus, it's an excellent stand that is simple to setup and looks nice. This has been a very popular model for displays in dealer showrooms.

Best banner stand for use in a retail environment.

Recommendations: The Apollo Stand is the perfect choice. It comes in a variety of widths from 22" to 60" wide, the height is telescopic up to 90" tall, and the bottom crossbar can be set to 4", 18", 24" or 30" off the floor so you can display banners of many different sizes and shapes. Since the support poles are on the sides, and sit on 11" round bases, it's extremely stable, and with no support pole in the back, it's possible to use a double sided banner to make it into a two sided display. The SnapGraphics rails are simple to use and securely hold even very thin materials such as light weight fabrics. There are also snap on literature baskets and sign clips available to further customize the display.

Best banner stand for both retail and tradeshow use.

Recommendations: The GripGraphic Banner Stand would be our suggestion. It can be configured for single or double sided use, and it comes standard with either a square weighted base, or a foldable travel base so you can take it to other venues. There are also the optional weighted round base or folding Presto base with internal shock cords that can be purchased to convert the stand back and forth from retail to travel use if desired. The stand comes in either a 24" or 36" width, and either a black or silver finish, and the stands telescope to 96" high for the 24" wide version, and 118" high for the 36" version. The SnapGraphics rails are simple to use and securely hold even very thin materials such as light weight fabrics. There are optional lights and carry bags also available.