In short
IFA mixes trade visitors and the public, so stands work like showrooms: products in realistic home settings people can touch, staff to demonstrate, crowd space in front of launches, and a separate trade lounge for retailers and press. Start a custom stand about 9–12 months ahead and confirm dates, height limits and rules in the exhibitor manual.
Key points
- Where and when: Berlin, annual, in early September.
- The audience is mostly retail buyers.
- Room sets (kitchen, living room) that show products in use.
- Touch-and-try units secured for heavy public handling.
- Plan a custom stand about 9–12 months before the show.
IFA Berlin for exhibitors
IFA in Berlin covers TVs, audio, mobile, smart home and large and small appliances. Big brands build entire halls into branded worlds; smaller brands share halls with distributors and start-ups. Public days bring large crowds.
| IFA Berlin | |
|---|---|
| City | Berlin |
| Venue | Messe Berlin |
| Sector | Consumer electronics and home appliances |
| Cycle | Annual, in early September |
| Main stand activity | Hands-on experiences |
| Custom stand lead time | 9–12 months |
Who you are designing for
Retail buyers, distributors and press, plus consumers on public days. Trade visitors want to see ranges and talk terms; consumers want to try products.
What matters most on a IFA Berlin stand:
- Room sets (kitchen, living room) that show products in use.
- Touch-and-try units secured for heavy public handling.
- A trade lounge separated from public traffic.
- Space for crowds at launch moments and press events.
Layouts for hands-on experiences, by stand type
Most IFA Berlin exhibitors build around hands-on experiences. How that works depends on how many sides of your plot are open. If you are unsure which type you have, see exhibition stand types.
| Stand type | Open sides | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Row (inline) | 1 | One try-it station at the front with the queue held inside the stand, not in the aisle. |
| Corner | 2 | An experience station facing each aisle and a content screen high on the corner. |
| Peninsula | 3 | A stage or play area at the front, the queue along one side and a quiet back area for press and partners. |
| Island | 4 | A central stage or arena, stations around the perimeter, queues inside the footprint and meeting space on a deck. |
Stand ideas for IFA Berlin
- A kitchen or living-room set where appliances are used as at home.
- Secured touch-and-try units with spare stock for public days.
- A trade lounge with its own entrance away from public crowds.
Planning, approvals and logistics
Public days mean security, crowd management and spare demo units. Water and drainage are needed for working appliance demos.
Allow about 9–12 months for a custom stand. The exhibitor manual sets height limits, open-side rules and service deadlines; see venue approval and technical drawings.
Mistakes we see at IFA Berlin
- Designing only for trade and being overrun on public days.
- Appliances displayed in rows like a warehouse instead of in context.
Try your IFA Berlin layout in 3D
ExhibitionBase Studio turns your plot size, open sides and a brief about hands-on experiences into an editable 3D stand for 5 credits, renders it and exports a plan for your builder. New workspaces get 5 free credits.
Frequently asked questions
01Is IFA a trade or public show?
Both: trade visitors and the public attend. Design for both flows, with a trade area that stays usable when public crowds arrive.
02Can appliances be run on the stand?
Usually yes, with suitable power and, for washing or cooking demos, water, drainage and approval. Plan these services early.
03How early should I start designing a IFA Berlin stand?
For a custom stand, about 9–12 months ahead: long enough for design, organiser approval, production and shipping. Shell scheme stands can be planned in weeks.
04Can I reuse my IFA Berlin stand at other shows?
Often, if it is modular. Design the core (walls, counters, hands-on experiences area) to work on several plot sizes, and swap graphics per show. See [modular vs custom stands](/guides/modular-vs-custom-exhibition-stands).
Put it into practice
From a client brief to a 3D stand concept in minutes
An editable 3D exhibition stand concept from a written brief and the brand's website, at your exact size.
Guidance here reflects common practice. Venues, organisers and countries set their own rules: always check the exhibitor manual and work with a qualified stand builder and engineer for structures.
