The Complete Guide to Pipe & Drape: Systems, Hardware & How to Spec a Setup

Pipe and drape is the modular backdrop system behind almost every professional event you have ever walked into — the clean black wall masking a backstage area, the elegant draped ceremony backdrop, the uniform booth dividers running down a trade-show aisle. If you have ever wondered what it is, how it goes together, or how to spec the right setup, this guide covers the whole system end to end.

Expo Warehouse is the exclusive authorized WENTEX distributor for the USA and Canada, and everything below is the working knowledge our crew uses to spec setups every day. By the end you will be able to build a parts list or confidently pick a ready-made kit.

What is a pipe and drape system?

A pipe and drape system is a freestanding framework of vertical uprights and horizontal crossbars that holds fabric drapes up off the floor — creating instant walls, backdrops, and dividers without touching the building. It is modular and tool-free, so the same components reconfigure from a 3-foot table skirt to a 16-foot stage wall. Because nothing is permanently attached to the venue, it sets up and strikes in minutes and travels from show to show.

The four parts of every pipe and drape system

Every freestanding setup uses the same four building blocks. Learn these and the whole system makes sense:

• Uprights — the vertical poles that set your height. Telescopic uprights adjust on the fly (2-, 3-, and 4-way models cover 4 ft up to 16 ft); fixed uprights lock to one height.
• Base plates — weighted steel feet that hold each upright straight and stable. Taller setups need heavier bases.
• Crossbars (drape supports) — telescoping horizontal bars that span between uprights and carry the drape. They adjust to fit any booth or backdrop width.
• Drapes — flame-retardant fabric panels that slide onto the crossbars.

How a pipe and drape system goes together

Assembly is deliberately tool-free. A base plate sits on the floor, a pin locates the upright into it, and the upright is locked at height with a compression brake — a built-in tightening handle, not a fragile cam. Telescoping crossbars drop between adjacent uprights, the drapes slide onto the crossbars, and the wall is up. To extend a run, you add another upright-and-crossbar section in line. The rule of thumb: number of uprights = number of sections + 1, because the middle uprights are shared.

How to size a pipe and drape setup

Three numbers spec a system: width, height, and fullness.

• Width — the total run you need to cover. Crossbars telescope (commonly 6–10 ft), so divide your width into sections and count uprights (sections + 1).
• Height — set by your uprights. 8 ft is the standard trade-show booth wall; 3 ft for table and stage skirting; 10–16 ft for stage backdrops and tall room dividers.
• Fullness — how much fabric you gather. Flat (1.0×) is clean and economical; pleated (1.5–2×) is fuller and more formal. Multiply section width by the fullness factor to get drape width.

For step-by-step sizing with quick-reference tables, see our Pipe & Drape Sizing & Buying Guide.

Choosing your drapes: fabric, color, and finish

The drape sets the look, the light control, and the price. The workhorses:

• Velvet Napoli — premium 260 g/m² polyester velvet (with a heavy 480 g/m² option), deep and rich for stage, galas, and premium booths. Available in eight colors, from black blackout to white and grey neutrals.
• MGS — a lighter, more economical stage drape; the rental-house standard for booth walls and dividers.

Browse the full range on the Drapes & Curtains page. Need a true matte blackout or backstage masking? Pair the system with flame-retardant Duvetyne.

Pipe and drape hardware, explained

Building à la carte instead of buying a kit? Here is the hardware side of the system:

• Uprights & extensions — telescopic 2/3/4-way poles from 4 ft to 16 ft, plus fixed heights.
• Base plates — powder-coated steel feet from 14×12 in up to 24×24 in; match the base to your height.
• Base weights — slide-on rubber ballast (20 and 30 lb) for tall walls, doorways, aisles, or anywhere a bump could tip the setup.
• Connectors & clamps — 4-way connectors, flex adapters, and scaff clamps to branch, angle, and rig from truss.
• Replacement parts & covers — pins, knobs, and covers to keep a fleet show-ready.

Kit or build your own?

If you want a known-good, travel-ready setup, a pipe & drape kit bundles uprights, bases, crossbars, and drape sized to work together and ships on a steel rolling trolley. For broadcast and camera-surround backdrops, see the FOH kits. Prefer to spec exactly what you need? Build from the full WENTEX range — or send us your dimensions and we will spec it for you.

Eurotrack: pipe and drape for permanent installs

When the drape needs to open and close — conference rooms, broadcast studios, ballrooms, houses of worship — Eurotrack is the ceiling-mounted curtain-track system. Rails connect into continuous runs, carriers glide the drape, and it can be operated by hand or with an optional rope system. It is the permanent-install counterpart to freestanding pipe and drape.

What pipe and drape is used for

• Trade shows & exhibits — booth back walls and side rails, aisle dividers, registration areas.
• Weddings & events — ceremony backdrops, head-table draping, room transformation.
• Stage & theatre — masking, legs and borders, full-height backdrops.
• AV & broadcast — camera surrounds, equipment masking, clean compositions.
• Houses of worship & corporate — production backdrops and blackout.

Fire safety and flame-retardant certification

Most venues and authorities having jurisdiction require flame-retardant drape. Our drape fabrics are independently certified to NFPA 701 (USA) and CAN/ULC-S109 (Canada), and a Certificate of Flame Resistance is available on request. Always confirm your venue's specific documentation requirements before the show.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common pipe and drape height?

8 ft — the standard back-wall height for a 10×10 trade-show booth. 3 ft is standard for side rails and table skirting.

How many uprights do I need?

Number of uprights = number of crossbar sections + 1, because the middle uprights are shared between sections.

Is pipe and drape flame retardant?

The drape fabric is. Our Velvet Napoli and MGS drapes are certified to NFPA 701 (USA) and CAN/ULC-S109 (Canada). The metal hardware is non-combustible steel.

Should I buy a kit or individual parts?

Buy a kit for a guaranteed-compatible, travel-ready setup. Build à la carte if you need a specific size or are expanding an existing system.

What is the difference between pipe and drape and Eurotrack?

Pipe and drape is freestanding and temporary; Eurotrack is a ceiling-mounted curtain track for permanent and semi-permanent installs where the drape needs to open and close.

Spec your setup

Tell us your room dimensions, backdrop height, drape color, and quantity, and we will spec the exact uprights, bases, crossbars, and drape — with pricing and lead time. Request a quote or call (877) 371-3847, Mon–Fri 9–5 ET.