Trade Show Shipping Case Buyer's Guide

Aug 7, 2026

A trade show shipping case protects your display between your door and the show floor, where it will be stacked, dropped and moved by people who have never seen it before. The right case depends on what goes inside it: flat hardware such as counters and flooring, tall banner stands, or rolled graphics. This guide compares three cases that cover those jobs, explains why a rotomolded case outlasts a blow-molded one, and shows what to measure before you buy.

XD Flat Shipper Case

Slip n' Ship Banner Stand Case 12 x 38 Smartpak IQ Case

Smartpak IQ Case CA700 Case to Counter with black fabric wrap

CA700 Case to Counter OCF Large Molded Freight Case

OCF Freight Case

Why a hard case is worth it

Shipping is rough. Whatever carrier you use, display cases are bulky, awkward to handle and easily damaged in transit.
A box is single use. Cardboard gets a display to one show. A hard case brings it home again and does the next show too.
Storage. Between shows, a case keeps every part of the display together and clean.
Damage costs more than a case. A broken display on the morning of a show cannot be replaced in time.

Rotomolded or blow-molded?

Most plastic shipping cases are made one of two ways, and the difference matters for how long the case lasts.

	Rotomolded	Blow-molded
How it is made	Plastic is rotated inside a heated mold, building up a thick, even wall	Plastic is inflated against a mold, like a bottle, giving a thinner wall
Durability	More durable, and built for repeated shipping	Crush resistant and fine for lighter loads
Best for	Counters, desks, kiosks, flooring and banner stands that ship again and again	Rolled graphics and lighter loads
Our cases	XD Flat Shipper Case and Slip n' Ship Banner Stand Case	Smartpak IQ Case

Our XD Flat Shipper Case and our Slip n' Ship Banner Stand Case are both rotomolded, which makes them more durable than the blow-molded cases they are often compared with. For a display that ships again and again, that is the difference between a case that lasts for years and one that cracks at a corner.

Three shipping cases compared

	XD Flat Shipper Case	Slip n' Ship Banner Stand Case	Smartpak IQ Case
Holds	Counters, desks, kiosks and flooring tiles	Up to three small banner stands, or one large one	Rolled graphics, or 3 to 4 value retractable banner stands
Interior	49" x 25.5" x 8.5"	12" x 3.375", 28.375" to 44.25" tall	12" diameter x 38" tall
Exterior	50.375" x 27.125" x 11"	17" x 7", 31" to 46" tall	18" x 15" x 40"
Empty weight	42 lb	9 lb	20 lb
Design	Rotomolded, with a telescoping lid and built-in wheels	Rotomolded, with a height that adjusts using latches on either side	Blow-molded, with wheels, two handles and a shoulder strap
Ships	1 business day	1 business day	Same business day if ordered by noon Eastern

XD Flat Shipper Case 49x25

Best for: counters, desks, kiosks and flooring that ship again and again.

This extremely durable, rotomolded shipping case is built to last. The chrome plated steel buckles are far stronger than the plastic buckles on similar cases, and the handle is molded directly into the case so there is no chance of it breaking off in shipping. A telescoping lid lets the case grow from 11" to 15" high when you need the room. With built-in wheels it is easy to move, and it can ship by UPS.

Interior: 49" x 25.5" x 8.5"
Exterior: 50.375" x 27.125" x 11", extending to 15" high
Weight: 42 lb including packing materials
Padding: optional closed cell foam around the edges plus foam and cardboard dividers, made for shipping counters and kiosks
What fits: our Twist counters, desks and kiosks, or a full 10 x 10 set of flooring tiles

See the XD Flat Shipper Case

Slip n' Ship Banner Stand Case

Best for: one to three retractable banner stands.

The rotomolded Slip n' Ship fits up to three smaller banner stands, such as our Penta or Associate, or one larger banner stand, like our Advance or Alpine. Durable latches on either side let the case adjust in height from 31" up to 46", so you get the right amount of space whatever the size of your banner. At 9 lb it adds very little to your shipping weight.

Construction: rotomolded
Interior: 12" x 3.375", from 28.375" to 44.25" tall
Exterior: 17" x 7", from 31" to 46" tall
Weight: 9 lb

See the Slip n' Ship Banner Stand Case

12" x 38" Smartpak IQ Case

Best for: rolled graphics, and travel by air.

SmartPak provides a protective shell for your graphics and display hardware. The blow-molded case is crush resistant, weighs only 20 pounds empty, and comes with a detachable shoulder strap, two molded handle grips and heavy duty plastic wheels. It closes with a durable, padlockable twist latch. It can be shipped by FedEx or UPS, or checked as airline luggage.

Interior: 12" diameter x 38" tall
Exterior: 18" x 15" x 40"
Weight: 20 lb empty
Capacity: 3 to 4 value retractable banner stands
Warranty: lifetime from the manufacturer against damage or defect, not including misuse or shipping damage

See the Smartpak IQ Case

Two more cases worth knowing

CA700 Case to Counter: a wheeled hard case that converts into a counter at your show. It holds a complete pop-up fabric display, and you can add a printed graphic wrap in place of the standard black one.
OCF Large Molded Freight Case: a large, stackable freight case for oversized items that will not fit in a standard case. It moves on built-in casters or by forklift, and it requires LTL truck shipment.

What to check before you buy

Interior size against your display

Measure the longest part of your display when it is broken down, then compare it with the interior dimensions, not the exterior. Leave room for padding.

What you are packing

Hardware and banner stands that ship again and again are best protected by a rotomolded case. Rolled graphics are light and can travel in a blow-molded case.

Empty weight

Carriers charge on weight and size. A 42 lb case protects heavy hardware but adds to every shipment. A 9 lb banner case barely registers.

How it moves

Wheels matter the moment you leave the loading dock. The XD Flat Shipper and the Smartpak IQ both have them. For air travel, choose a case that can be checked as luggage, such as the Smartpak IQ. An oversized case such as the OCF has to travel by LTL truck.

Security

If the case will be out of your sight, look for a lockable latch. The Smartpak IQ's twist latch takes a padlock.

Which one should you choose?

You are shipping a counter, desk, kiosk or flooring: the XD Flat Shipper Case.
You are shipping one to three banner stands: the Slip n' Ship Banner Stand Case.
You are shipping rolled graphics, or flying to the show: the Smartpak IQ Case.
You want your case to double as a counter: the CA700 Case to Counter.
You are shipping oversized items by LTL truck: the OCF Large Molded Freight Case.

Common questions

What is the difference between rotomolded and blow-molded cases?

A rotomolded case has a thicker, more even wall and is more durable, which suits displays that ship again and again. A blow-molded case has a thinner wall and suits rolled graphics and lighter loads. Our XD Flat Shipper Case and Slip n' Ship Banner Stand Case are rotomolded.

Can these cases ship by UPS or FedEx?

The XD Flat Shipper Case can ship by UPS, and the Smartpak IQ can ship by FedEx or UPS or be checked as airline luggage. The OCF Large Molded Freight Case is for oversized items and requires LTL truck shipment.

Do I need a case if my display came in a box?

For a single show, a box can be enough. If you exhibit more than once, a hard case protects the display on every trip and gives you somewhere to store it.