Definition
A table throw is a printed fabric cover that drapes over an exhibition table and turns it into a branded surface. It is the cheapest large-format branding you can buy for an event, because a standard 6ft table hands you almost two square metres of logo at eye level for everyone walking the aisle. Most are dye-sublimated polyester, machine washable, and fold into the same case as your banner.
Definition
A table throw is cut to a specific table length and drops to the floor at the front and the ends, hiding the trestle legs, the cables, and the boxes underneath. Standard event tables are 6ft long, which is 183cm, or 8ft long, which is 244cm, with a depth of 76cm and a height of 74cm to 76cm, so throws are sold against those sizes rather than made to measure. A careers fair exhibitor, for example, orders a 6ft open-back throw with the logo centred on the front panel and a plain colour on the right, so a laptop and leaflets sit against a clean background.
How a table throw works
Construction decides how the throw sits and what you can hide. An open-back throw covers the front and both ends and leaves the back open, so you can push cases and a chair under the table without a bulge in the fabric. A closed-back throw covers all four sides and reads better in an island booth where visitors walk behind you. A fitted or box-style throw is stitched at the corners so the fabric hangs square instead of drooping. Stretch throws use a spandex blend and pull taut over the frame, though they only fit the table size they were cut for.
Fabric and print go together. Nearly every table throw is 100% polyester, usually a poplin or twill around 200 to 260 gsm, because polyester takes dye sublimation and holds the colour through repeated washes. Sublimation bonds the ink into the fibre rather than sitting on top of it, so the print never cracks, and full-bleed artwork costs the same as a one-colour logo. Wrinkle recovery matters most here, because the throw spends its life folded in a flight case and gets one shake before doors open.
Two trade-offs are worth pricing before you order. Venues often require flame-retardant fabric certified to NFPA 701 in the US or EN 13501-1 class B1 in Europe, and stand builders can ask to see the certificate on site. And if your calendar mixes 6ft and 8ft tables, a convertible throw or a stretch fit covers both, which saves you buying and storing two.
Table throws in branded merch
- Trade show and exhibition stands: The throw is the largest branded surface most exhibitors own, and it does the work of a backdrop at a fraction of the cost, carrying the logo and often a QR code where visitors read it while they talk to you.
- Recruitment and campus fairs: Careers teams work from a bare trestle table in a sports hall, so a printed throw is the only thing separating one employer from the next, and it makes the stand findable from across the room.
- Sponsored events and retail activations: Sponsors get a table and a slot, not a booth, so a throw plus a trade show booth kit turns that table into a visible presence for a sampling stand or a pop-up.
A table throw is a fitted or draped fabric cover, printed with a brand's artwork, that covers an exhibition table on three or four sides.
5 tips to elevate your Table throw strategy
| Tip | Steps |
|---|---|
| Design for the visible zone | Keep the logo in the top 40cm of the front panel, because chairs and visitors block the lower drop. |
| Choose open back by default | Unless people walk behind the table, an open back gives you hidden storage and costs less. |
| Ask for the fire certificate | Get the NFPA 701 or EN 13501-1 paperwork with the order, since venues can refuse a stand without it. |
| Steam, do not iron | Hang the throw the night before and steam it, because a hot iron can scorch sublimated polyester. |
| Buy two if you tour | A second throw covers a day-one spill and lets you wash one while the other travels. |
Key Terminologies
Frequently Asked Questions
What size table throw do I need?
Measure the table length first: 6ft, or 183cm, and 8ft, or 244cm, are the two standard exhibition sizes, and throws are sold to match them. Check the depth and height too, because a 76cm deep table needs a different cut.
What is the difference between an open-back and a closed-back table throw?
An open-back throw covers the front and both ends and leaves the rear open, so you can store boxes and sit close to the table. A closed-back throw covers all four sides and suits stands visitors can walk behind.
How do you wash a table throw?
Machine wash a polyester throw cold on a gentle cycle and tumble dry low or hang it to dry. Sublimated ink is bonded into the fibre, so the print survives washing, but avoid bleach and hot ironing.
Do table throws need to be fire retardant?
Many venues require it, especially large convention centres, and they can ask for NFPA 701 or EN 13501-1 certification at stand build. Check the exhibitor manual before you print, because an uncertified throw can be pulled from the floor.
Is a table throw better than a table runner?
A throw covers the table and hides everything under it, which suits a stand where storage and full branding matter. A runner is cheaper and lighter to carry, so it works for a small activation or as a second-day change.
