The standard roll up (retractable) banner size is 33 × 80 inches (85 × 200 cm). Below are all common sizes, design file specs, and a zone layout guide so nothing important gets cut off by the base unit.
| Name | Inches (W × H) | cm (W × H) | mm (W × H) | Feet (approx) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tabletop small | 11 × 17 | 28 × 43 | 280 × 432 | 0.9 × 1.4 ft | Tabletop counters, reception desks |
| Tabletop large | 12 × 18 | 30 × 46 | 305 × 457 | 1.0 × 1.5 ft | Tabletop point-of-sale, menus |
| Narrow | 24 × 80 | 61 × 200 | 610 × 2000 | 2.0 × 6.7 ft | Slim narrow spaces, retail columns |
| Standard | 33 × 80 | 85 × 200 | 850 × 2000 | 2.75 × 6.7 ft | Most common trade shows, events, retail |
| Standard (alt) | 32 × 79 | 81 × 200 | 810 × 2000 | 2.67 × 6.6 ft | Common many EU/Asian suppliers use this |
| Wide | 47 × 80 | 120 × 200 | 1200 × 2000 | 3.9 × 6.7 ft | Wide stage backdrops, wide displays |
| Extra-wide | 59 × 80 | 150 × 200 | 1500 × 2000 | 4.9 × 6.7 ft | XL exhibition stands, entrances |
| Giant / double | 47 × 92 | 120 × 235 | 1200 × 2350 | 3.9 × 7.7 ft | Tall high-ceiling venues, arenas |
The most common roll up banner size worldwide is 85 × 200 cm (33 × 80 inches). This is the size stocked by the majority of banner stand suppliers and print shops globally. It is sometimes described as "roughly 3 feet wide by 7 feet tall" in everyday conversation. In the US and UK, you will also see the dimensions listed as 33" × 80" or 32" × 79" depending on the manufacturer — these are functionally the same size, the slight difference comes from how different brands design their hardware.
The standard roll up banner (85 × 200 cm) is 2.75 feet wide by 6.67 feet tall. In round numbers, this is approximately 3 feet wide by 7 feet tall. A wide banner (120 × 200 cm) is approximately 4 feet wide by 6.7 feet tall. Tabletop roll up banners are typically 1 foot wide by 1.5 feet tall (30 × 46 cm).
At a normal viewing distance of 1.5–3 metres, use at minimum:
If designing at 1:10 scale in Illustrator or InDesign (document = 8.5 × 20 cm), multiply the above point sizes by 10 for your working canvas size.
They are all the same product — a printed banner that rolls up and retracts into a portable base unit. "Roll up banner", "retractable banner", and "pull up banner" are used interchangeably. The terms "retractable" and "pull up" are more common in North America; "roll up" is more common in the UK, Australia, and Europe.
Design at 100–150 DPI at full print size (e.g., 85 × 200 cm at 100 DPI). Roll up banners are viewed from 1.5–3 metres, not up close, so 300 DPI is unnecessarily large and creates unmanageably huge files. Most large-format print shops require a minimum of 72 DPI and recommend 100–150 DPI. If you work in a design app at 1:10 scale, use 300 DPI on the smaller canvas — the result is equivalent to 30 DPI at full size, which is fine for large format output.
Most print suppliers accept PDF (preferred), high-resolution JPEG (at 150 DPI+), TIFF, or AI/EPS with fonts outlined. PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 are the most reliable for color accuracy. Avoid sending RGB files unless the print shop explicitly accepts them — always convert to CMYK before submitting.
Most economy banner stands cover approximately 8–15 cm (3–6 inches) of the bottom of the banner. Premium stands with adjustable feet may cover less. Keep all text and important design elements at least 15–20 cm (6–8 inches) from the bottom of the print to be safe. Always check the specific stand model's dimensions, or ask your supplier how much the base covers.
The most common tabletop roll up banner sizes are 12 × 18 inches (30 × 46 cm) and 11 × 17 inches (28 × 43 cm). Some suppliers also offer 10 × 16 inch (25 × 40 cm) tabletop units. These are used on counters, registration tables, and at point-of-sale locations.