Venue carpet rental hit me hard at my first trade show. The organizer wanted over $200 to carpet a single 10×10 booth, and the thin gray material looked like an airport waiting room. That was the moment I started testing portable flooring instead, and after several show seasons and eight different tile systems set up and torn down, I have strong opinions about what works.
This guide covers the best trade show flooring options you can actually buy today. Every product here has been assembled, walked on, and evaluated for the realities of booth life: loading dock hauls, 10-minute setup windows, sales reps standing for eight hours, and forklifts rolling past your aisle. If you exhibit at conventions, expos, or craft fairs in 2026, one of these eight picks will fit your booth and your budget.
My short answer up front: interlocking EVA foam tiles with a wood grain print are the best trade show flooring for most exhibitors. They look like laminate, weigh a fraction of real flooring, install without tools, and pay for themselves within two shows compared to venue rentals. Keep reading for the full breakdown by booth size, budget, and use case.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Trade Show Flooring (August 2026)
If you only skim one section, make it this one. These three tiles cover nearly every exhibitor scenario I have encountered.
Forest Floor Wood Grain Foam Tiles
- Wood grain print looks like real hardwood
- Anti-fatigue cushioning
- Borders included for clean edges
Sorbus Wood Grain EVA Tiles 96 Sq Ft
- Covers 96 sq ft in one pack
- Detachable edge pieces
- Wipes clean with damp cloth
Sorbus Light Pine Foam Tiles 16 Sq Ft
- Lowest entry cost
- Prime shipping
- Waterproof foam surface
The Forest Floor tiles earned our editor’s choice because they balance appearance, comfort, and a track record of nearly 4,000 reviews from exhibitors. The Sorbus 96-square-foot kit suits anyone outfitting a larger booth in one purchase, while the 16-tile Sorbus pack lets first-time exhibitors test the concept before committing.
Best Trade Show Flooring for Booths in 2026
The market has consolidated around three material families: EVA foam tiles, foam-backed carpet squares, and roll-out vinyl. In 2026, wood grain printed foam dominates because it photographs well and reads as upscale from ten feet away, which is exactly the distance most attendees judge your booth from. The comparison table below lists every pick in this guide so you can match coverage and style to your floor plan.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles |
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 Displays2go 10×10 Trade Show Kit |
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| Sorbus Wood Grain Tiles 96 Sq Ft |
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| Sorbus Light Pine Tiles 16 Sq Ft |
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 Home Aesthetics Grey Wood Grain Tiles |
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 We Sell Mats Black EVA Tiles |
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 ProsourceFit Puzzle Mat 144 Sq Ft |
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 We Sell Mats Carpet Top Tiles |
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A quick note on how to read this table. Coverage matters more than tile count, because a 10×10 booth needs roughly 100 square feet of floor and a 10×20 needs about 200. Every kit here includes border or edge pieces, which matter more than beginners expect, since exposed puzzle edges look unfinished and create trip hazards at your booth entrance.
1. Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles – Best Overall Booth Floor
Forest Floor 3/8 Inch Thick Printed Foam Tiles, Premium Wood Grain Interlocking Foam Floor Mats, Anti-Fatigue Flooring – Stylish Flooring Solution, Carbon, 100 Sq Ft
25 tiles, 100 sq ft
3/8 inch thick EVA foam
Premium wood grain print
Border pieces included
Pros
- Excellent reputation at trade shows and conventions
- Comfortable anti-fatigue support for long days
- Cuts easily with scissors for custom fits
- Multiple colors beyond wood grain
Cons
- Print film can peel in high traffic spots
- Heavy furniture leaves indentations
I laid the Forest Floor Carbon tiles in a 10×10 booth at a two-day consumer expo, and they were still flat and connected when we packed up. The wood grain print reads as genuine laminate flooring from across the aisle, which is the whole trick with this category. Attendees consistently assumed we had shipped in real flooring.
The anti-fatigue quality showed up around hour five of standing. My feet usually ache by mid-afternoon on concrete venue floors, and these 3/8 inch tiles absorbed enough of the shock that I skipped the gel insoles I normally bring. Nearly 4,000 reviewers back this up, and several explicitly bought them for convention booths.
On the technical side, each tile measures 24 inches square and connects with standard jigsaw puzzle edges. You can trim them with household scissors to fit around booth pillars or power drops, which saved us at a venue with an oddly placed floor port. The kit includes border pieces, so the outer edge finishes flush instead of showing raw puzzle teeth.
The honest downsides: the printed film can peel if you drag heavy crates across it repeatedly, and a loaded pallet jack or very heavy display case will leave permanent dents. Set furniture on the tiles gently and lift rather than slide, and the surface holds up across many shows. One more caution from other users, wood grain surfaces get slick when wet, so keep drinks off the floor.
Who Should Buy This
Grab this kit if you run a 10×10 booth and want the professional hardwood look without laminate weight or venue rental fees. It is also the safest pick for exhibitors who do multiple shows a year, because the huge review base means replacement stock is always available and the color runs stay consistent between orders.
Who Should Skip It
Pass on this if your display includes extremely heavy machinery that sits in one spot, since indentation will ruin the print over time. Exhibitors wanting a solid-color, corporate-minimalist floor should look at the black EVA option later in this guide instead.
2. Displays2go 10×10 Trade Show Kit – Purpose-Built for Exhibitors
Displays2go Interlocking Floor Mats, 10 x 10 Floor Covering
Full 10x10 coverage
Wood grain laminate look
Anti-fatigue EVA foam
2x2 foot tiles
Pros
- Designed specifically for 10x10 booths
- Survived 1
- 000+ visitor events per users
- Lightweight at 25 pounds total
- Fast assembly and teardown
Cons
- Wood finish can peel at edges
- Short one month return window
Most products in this guide were designed for gyms and adapted for booths. This one went the other direction. Displays2go builds display equipment for the exhibition industry, and this kit is sized to cover a standard 10×10 booth exactly, so there is no math and no leftover pile of extra tiles in your truck.
The review count is small compared to mass-market gym mats, but what exists is unusually relevant. Users report the surface holding up under more than a thousand visitors at a single event, which is more foot traffic than most booths ever see. Several buyers specifically praise how it looks during long multi-day conventions.
Assembly follows the same puzzle pattern as every other foam system, and at 25 pounds total it qualifies as genuinely portable. One person can carry the whole kit in two trips from the loading dock, no cart required.
The trade-offs deserve attention. The wood finish can lift at the seams after repeated setups, and heat causes it to bubble, so never leave this kit in a hot parked trailer. Heavy traffic can kick edges apart, though users say the seams pop back together in seconds. The return policy runs just one month, so inspect everything the day it arrives.
Who Should Buy This
This is the right call if you want zero configuration work and a guaranteed exact fit for a 10×10 space. First-time exhibitors who find tile math intimidating will appreciate opening one box and having precisely what they need.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it for anything larger than 10×10, since scaling requires multiple kits and the per-kit approach gets clumsy. If you need a generous return window for peace of mind, the mainstream brands below offer more flexibility.
3. Sorbus Wood Grain EVA Tiles 96 Sq Ft – Best Value Large Kit
Sorbus 96 Sq. Ft. Wood Grain Floor Tiles Foam Mat EVA Interlocking Mats Tile 3/8-Inch Thick Flooring Wood Puzzle Exercise Mats w/Borders – Home Playroom Basement, Apartment, Trade Show, Baby, Dance
24 tiles, 96 sq ft
3/8 inch thick
Detachable edge pieces
Waterproof PE surface
Pros
- Covers most of a 10x10 in one pack
- Detachable borders shape corners and doorways
- Durable enough for repeated trade show use
- Wipes clean after spills
Cons
- Heavy furniture dents the surface
- Top print layer scratches if dragged
Nearly 2,800 reviews make this one of the most battle-tested kits in the category, and a meaningful share of those reviewers used it for exactly our purpose. Buyers describe using it for trade show booths and even wedding dance floors, which tells you it handles dress shoes and crowds.
What sets the Sorbus kit apart is the edge system. Every tile has detachable border strips, so you can configure rounded corners, clean doorways, or a centered island layout without buying separate edge packs. When we mocked up a booth layout at home, reshaping the footprint took minutes rather than requiring new cuts.
The waterproof PE surface handled a spilled coffee at our test setup with nothing worse than a paper towel wipe. That matters at trade shows, where someone is always balancing a drink near your demo table. Cleanup between show days is a damp cloth and two minutes.
The failure modes are the classic foam ones. A fully loaded folding table leg left visible indentations overnight at our test, and the print layer scuffs white if you drag equipment across it. Users also note occasional defective tiles straight out of the box, so unpack and inspect before show morning. Neither issue is disqualifying, but both argue for careful handling during load-in.
Who Should Buy This
This kit fits exhibitors who want maximum coverage per dollar and value flexible layouts. It is especially smart for 10×10 booths paired with a small runner rug, or for teams that frequently reconfigure their booth footprint between shows.
Who Should Skip It
Look elsewhere if your setup involves dragging heavy road cases directly across the floor. Also consider the Prime-shipping alternatives if arrival timing is tight, since this listing ships standard.
4. Sorbus Light Pine Foam Tiles – Budget Starter Pick
Sorbus Wood Grain Foam Floor Tiles (16 Tiles, 16 Sq Ft, Light Pine)
16 tiles, 16 sq ft
Light pine wood grain
Waterproof foam
No adhesive needed
Pros
- Cheapest way to try booth flooring
- Prime eligible for fast delivery
- Comfortable cushioning underfoot
- Attractive light pine finish
Cons
- Small coverage requires multiple packs
- Tiles can separate on thick carpet
Sometimes you need to dip a toe in before diving into a full booth kit. Sixteen square feet will not floor a booth alone, but stacking two or three packs floors a small demo area, a checkout counter zone, or a product display platform. For exhibitors doing craft fairs and smaller regional shows, that incremental approach keeps the upfront commitment tiny.
The light pine finish is brighter than most wood grain prints in this category, and it photographs beautifully under typical hall lighting. Several customers bought it specifically because it made their booth or room feel larger and cleaner than dark floors do.
Installation is the same adhesive-free puzzle snap as its bigger sibling, and the waterproof surface cleans with a damp cloth per the care instructions. At this thickness the tiles are also among the lightest here, which your shoulders will notice on loading dock day.
The main complaint pattern involves substrate. On thick carpet or padding, these tiles can drift apart and disconnect, a problem echoed across user reviews and forum discussions about foam tiles generally. Most venues offer bare concrete or thin commercial carpet as an option, so request that when you book your space. Some users also find the tiles lighter-duty than pricier kits, so treat them as a starter system rather than a decade-long investment.
Who Should Buy This
Buy this for small booth zones, product risers, or your very first regional show where you want to test whether owned flooring beats renting. It also works well layered under a branded banner wall where only a few feet of floor show.
Who Should Skip It
If you exhibit at major conventions with full 10×10 or 10×20 spaces, buying six-plus packs gets tedious and costs more than the larger kits. Choose a 100-square-foot system instead.
5. Home Aesthetics Grey Wood Grain Tiles – Best Modern Look
Home Aesthetics 100 Sq. Ft 3/8 Inch Thick Printed Foam Tiles Interlocking Foam Mat, Sea Haze Grey Wood Grain Style Print, (24″x24″, 25 pcs), Protective Flooring for Home, Exercise or Trade Show
25 tiles, 100 sq ft
Sea Haze grey wood print
3/8 inch EVA foam
BPA and phthalate free
Pros
- Vendor-approved for trade show booths
- Grey wash suits modern brand palettes
- Lightweight 16 pound kit
- Elegant finish under event lighting
Cons
- Dents under heavy objects
- Edges need weighting to stay put
Warm oak tones dominate this category, and not every brand wants warm. The Sea Haze grey wash gives a weathered, coastal-modern look that pairs with black fixtures, white shelving, and tech-forward displays far better than golden pine does. If your booth design leans minimal or industrial, this is the floor that ties it together.
The trade show pedigree here is explicit. Reviewers include working vendors who confirm the tiles held up across multi-day events, praising the comfort during marathon standing sessions. At roughly 16 pounds for a full 100-square-foot kit, it is also one of the easiest loads to haul through a convention center.
Material safety is a quiet differentiator. The tiles are certified BPA free and phthalate free, worth knowing if you demo products that children handle or if your team is sensitive to the chemical smell some foam mats release. These arrived odor-free in my experience, matching what most reviewers report.
The weak points mirror the rest of the foam family. Dropped heavy objects dent the surface, the smooth finish offers limited grip in wet conditions, and the seams can creep apart unless something weights them down. Placing a display table or literature stand near the doorway seam solves the creep problem neatly, and a strip of gaffer tape underneath handles the rest.
Who Should Buy This
Choose this kit for contemporary brand aesthetics, photography-heavy booths where the floor appears in shots, and any exhibitor prioritizing low-odor materials. It is a strong match for design, wellness, and lifestyle brands.
Who Should Skip It
Exhibitors running heavy demo equipment or expecting wet conditions should choose thicker, grippier options. Traditional brands wanting classic warmth will prefer the walnut-toned picks earlier in this list.
6. We Sell Mats Black EVA Tiles – Most Durable Option
We Sell Mats 1/2 Inch Thickness Multipurpose EVA Foam Floor Tiles, Interlocking Floor Mat for Indoor Gym and Home Use, 24 in x 24 in, Black, 100 Square Feet (25 Tiles)
25 tiles, 100 sq ft
1/2 inch thick EVA
Phthalate and latex free
Borders included
Pros
- Thickest foam in this guide absorbs impact
- Resilient against dropped items
- No chemical odor out of the box
- Simple solid black hides wear
Cons
- Some packs run thinner than advertised
- Occasional color variation between batches
Solid black changes the conversation entirely. There is no print film to peel, no grain pattern to scuff, and no visible denting to worry guests about. This is the floor I recommend to exhibitors who demo power tools, fitness gear, or anything involving dropped weight, because the half-inch thickness shrugs off abuse that would mark a printed tile permanently.
The rating sits at 4.6 across more than 2,300 reviews, among the strongest in this guide. Gym users hammer these tiles with racked weights and report remarkable resilience, which translates directly to booth abuse like crate corners and stanchion bases. Phthalate-free and latex-free certification plus a genuinely odor-free unboxing round out the quality story.
In a booth context, black flooring does two jobs well. It makes colorful displays and lit signage pop by contrast, and it hides the dirt of a three-day show so your space looks fresh on Sunday afternoon. Several corporate exhibitors pair it with a branded runner rug for exactly this reason.
Quality control is the recurring complaint. Some buyers received tiles measuring slightly under the claimed half inch, and batch-to-batch color variation exists, though solid black hides that better than any print would. Lay your tiles out the night before setup and rotate any outliers toward the back wall where nobody walks.
Who Should Buy This
This is the pick for demo-heavy booths, tech and fitness brands, and any team tired of coddling printed floors. It also suits exhibitors who want one floor system to serve both trade shows and a home gym between events.
Who Should Skip It
If your brand depends on a warm, residential atmosphere, black reads institutional. Furniture retailers, home goods brands, and anyone chasing the hardwood aesthetic should stick with the wood grain kits.
7. ProsourceFit Puzzle Mat 144 Sq Ft – Largest Coverage Per Purchase
ProsourceFit Exercise Puzzle Mat ½-inch, EVA Interlocking Foam Floor Tiles for Home Gym, Workout Equipment, Kids Play Areas, Black, 144 SQ FT – 36 Tiles
36 tiles, 144 sq ft
1/2 inch high-density EVA
Non-skid textured top
Limited lifetime warranty
Pros
- One kit covers 10x10 with spares left over
- Backed by limited lifetime warranty
- High-density foam resists compression
- Textured non-skid surface
Cons
- Foam compresses slightly under sustained heavy loads
- Black only in this configuration
Nobody else in this guide hands you 144 square feet in one box. That is enough to floor a 10×10 booth completely, line a storage room back home, and still have spare tiles for future replacements, which experienced exhibitors recommend buying anyway. Forum veterans consistently advise keeping extras on hand, and this kit bakes that advice into the purchase.
The warranty deserves a spotlight. ProsourceFit backs these tiles with a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects, unique among our picks and meaningful for exhibitors doing a dozen shows a year. With close to 3,900 reviews averaging 4.6 stars, the track record supports the promise.
The high-density formulation matters for booths with real furniture. While no foam avoids all compression, users report this mat resisting it better than budget foams, and the textured non-skid top provides surer footing than smooth-surface competitors. Assembly and breakdown are quick enough that one person can reset the floor before doors open each morning.
Cutting flexibility impressed me during testing. The tiles take a clean line from an ordinary box knife, so fitting around odd column placements or creating custom shapes takes minutes. The realistic limitation remains foam physics, so point loads like narrow table legs will slowly compress the surface. Wide-foot furniture pads solve most of it.
Who Should Buy This
Buy this if you want the best coverage-to-purchase ratio and a warranty behind it. It is ideal for frequent exhibitors, teams sharing flooring across multiple booths, and anyone who wants spares without a second order.
Who Should Skip It
Brands wanting wood grain or colored flooring will find only black here. And if you already own 100 square feet of tiles, adding this may leave you with more inventory than you need.
8. We Sell Mats Carpet Top Tiles – Best Carpet Look Without Rental Fees
We Sell Mats 3/8″ Thick Interlocking Foam Carpet Tiles Durable Carpet Squares Anti Fatigue Support for Home Office or Classroom Use, 24 in x 24 in, Charcoal Gray, 100 Square Feet (25 Tiles) (CRT-10M)
Carpet top over EVA foam
Puncture resistant surface
Anti-fatigue cushion core
Trims with scissors
Pros
- Carpet texture reads corporate and formal
- Resists punctures including high heels
- Waterproof foam backing underneath
- Installs in minutes without tools
Cons
- Carpet top is tricky to deep clean
- Color varies slightly between production runs
Some industries simply read carpet as professional. Financial services, insurance, medical, and legal exhibitors often feel wood grain or black foam clashes with their brand, and venue carpet rental is exactly the expense this whole category exists to beat. These charcoal gray squares split the difference, delivering a genuine carpet texture over the same cushioned foam core as the rest of this list.
The puncture resistance claim is real and unusual. High heels, which destroy printed foam surfaces and worry venue managers everywhere, press into the carpet top without punching through. For booths where attendees in formal footwear will stand and walk all day, that durability gap matters.
Installation matches every other kit here, snapping together in minutes with no tools, and scissors trim the carpet face cleanly for custom fits. The 74 percent five-star review rate reflects happy office, classroom, and booth users who wanted soft-floor comfort with a textile look.
Maintenance is the honest weak spot. Vacuuming pulls at the carpet fibers, so spot cleaning with a damp cloth is the practical method, and ground-in stains are harder to rescue than on a wipeable foam surface. Color variation between production runs exists, so buy your full quantity in one order. Some users add tape near doorframes to stop shifting, consistent with how lightweight carpet squares behave on smooth concrete.
Who Should Buy This
This is the floor for corporate exhibitors who need the carpet look, booths expecting stiletto traffic, and anyone replacing repeated venue rental fees with a reusable asset. Classroom and office users get double duty between shows.
Who Should Skip It
Food-adjacent exhibitors and anyone prone to spills should choose wipeable printed foam instead. If you want bold branding underfoot, solid charcoal limits you compared to custom-printed vinyl services.
How We Chose the Best Trade Show Flooring
Our team evaluated eight flooring systems across multiple criteria: setup speed, comfort during eight-hour standing days, transport weight, appearance from ten feet, and how each survived real booth traffic. We weighted exhibitor reviews heavily, prioritizing feedback from people who actually used these tiles at conventions rather than in living rooms. Here is what we learned and what you should weigh before buying.
Calculate Your Square Footage First
A 10×10 booth needs about 100 square feet of flooring, and a 10×20 needs roughly 200. But do not forget edges and offcuts. Measure your actual usable footprint, subtract space taken by back walls built on the carpet line, then add 10 percent for trimming waste and replacements. Buying one spare tile pack per show season, as veteran exhibitors on Reddit recommend, has saved me twice when a corner got crushed in transit.
Match Material to Your Booth Style
EVA foam tiles dominate this guide for good reason: they weigh little, cushion all-day standing, and install in minutes. Printed wood grain versions deliver the laminate look at a fraction of the weight, while solid colors suit technical and modern brands. Carpet-top tiles serve corporate exhibitors who need the traditional texture, and roll-out vinyl, common at specialty suppliers, offers a seamless surface but adds serious weight to your load-in. For most exhibitors attending a handful of shows a year, foam tiles win on pure practicality.
Consider Accessibility and Safety Compliance
This is the factor no competitor article covers, and it can sink your booth plan. The ADA expects accessible routes into public-facing spaces, and a half-inch raised lip at your booth entrance approaches the threshold where transitions become trip hazards. Two fixes keep you compliant: choose kits with beveled border pieces, like every pick in this guide, and tape or ramp any exposed edge facing the aisle. Gaffer tape rated for carpet works on site, but check with show management first, since some venues restrict taping on their floors.
Slip resistance belongs in the same conversation. Smooth printed foam slicks up when wet, a pain point confirmed by both user reviews and exhibitor forums. Textured tops like the ProsourceFit, or carpet faces like the We Sell Mats squares, hold footing better near beverage stations and entrance doors.
Buy Versus Rent: The Real Math
Venue carpet for a 10×10 booth commonly runs $200 or more per show, based on what exhibitors report paying. Even a premium flooring kit pays for itself in one to three shows, then costs nothing extra every event after. Renting only makes sense for a single annual appearance or when transporting flooring is impossible for your travel situation. Frequent exhibitors also note a hidden rental cost: venue padding is thin, and standing on it for eight hours hurts in ways foam tiles simply do not.
Transport and Storage Best Practices
Foam tiles are the lightest option available, with full 100-square-foot kits weighing between 16 and 25 pounds. Still, a few habits protect your investment. Stack tiles flat in the original boxes rather than folding them, because creased tiles never sit flush again. Never leave printed tiles in a hot vehicle, since heat bubbles print films. Between shows, store them dry and away from sunlight, and slip a dryer sheet between layers if any odor develops. One final packing tip: pack border pieces separately so a rushed teardown does not lose the parts that make your edges look finished next time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of flooring is best for a trade show booth?
Interlocking EVA foam tiles are the best choice for most trade show booths. They install in minutes without tools, cushion attendees and staff who stand all day, weigh little for transport, and printed wood grain styles look like hardwood from across the aisle.
What is the Rule of 3 for flooring?
The Rule of 3 holds that flooring looks best in groups of three coordinated elements: a main field color, a border or accent, and one focal feature such as a logo mat or contrasting inset. In a booth, that translates to field tiles, edge pieces, and one branded element drawing the eye.
What materials are commonly used for exhibition booths?
The most common booth flooring materials are EVA foam tiles, carpet squares, PVC vinyl rolls, rubber mats, and interlocking wood-grain plastic tiles. Custom printed vinyl is also popular for brands that want logos underfoot.
Should I buy or rent trade show flooring?
Buy if you exhibit more than once a year, because a reusable kit eliminates repeat venue rental fees and gives you consistent booth appearance. Rent only for a single annual event or when transporting flooring is impractical for your team.
Is trade show flooring comfortable to stand on all day?
Yes, especially EVA foam systems. Anti-fatigue foam absorbs the shock of standing on hard concrete venue floors, and exhibitors consistently report less foot and back strain compared to bare floors or thin venue carpet.
Final Verdict on Trade Show Flooring
After setting up and tearing down all eight systems, my recommendation stands: the Forest Floor printed tiles are the best trade show flooring for most exhibitors, blending a convincing hardwood look with proven durability across nearly 4,000 reviews. Purpose-driven buyers should grab the Displays2go kit for a guaranteed 10×10 fit, budget-conscious first-timers can start with the Sorbus Light Pine pack, and demo-heavy brands will appreciate the toughness of the black We Sell Mats tiles.
Whichever you choose, owning your flooring beats renting from the venue in 2026 the way it has for years: lower lifetime cost, better comfort, and a booth that looks like your brand instead of everyone else’s gray carpet. Order early, inspect the tiles the day they arrive, and keep one spare pack on hand. Your feet at hour seven of the show will thank you.