Pipe & Drape Uprights & Extensions

Pipe & drape uprights & extensions

Uprights are the vertical posts that set the height of your backdrop — the backbone every other part hangs from. A telescopic upright adjusts within a range, so a single post covers many heights instead of locking you into one. Ours are black powder-coated steel and take a standard WENTEX crossbar on top and a base plate underneath, so the whole system goes together tool-free and stays interchangeable across a fleet.

Telescopic vs. fixed

Choose by how much you need to change height on site:

• Telescopic 2-way — adjusts across a shorter range (e.g. 4–6 ft or 6–10 ft); ideal for table skirting, low dividers, and standard booth walls.
• Telescopic 3-way and 4-way — reach taller stage heights (up to ~14 ft and ~16 ft) with more adjustment; for full backdrop walls and stage masking.
• Fixed uprights — a single set height for repeatable, quick-build setups where you always run the same dimension.

Each telescopic upright locks at height with a compression brake and tightening handle — snug the handle and the sections hold. (It's a compression brake, not a cam lock.)

How many uprights do I need?

You need one more upright than you have crossbar sections, because the middle uprights are shared between adjacent sections:

Number of uprights = number of crossbar sections + 1.

A 20-ft-wide backdrop built from two 10-ft crossbar sections uses three uprights and three base plates. For a full walkthrough, see our Pipe & Drape Hardware Guide and the Sizing & Buying Guide, or run the numbers in the pipe & drape calculator.

Building a complete system

Uprights are one of four core parts — pair them with crossbars, base plates, and drapes to build à la carte, or start with a complete pipe & drape kit sized to work together. Outfitting or maintaining a fleet? See our wholesale & bulk options for volume pricing.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pipe and drape upright?

An upright is the vertical steel post that sets the height of a pipe and drape backdrop. A crossbar mounts across the top of two uprights, and a base plate weights the bottom. Telescopic uprights adjust within a height range so one post covers many setups.

What is the difference between telescopic 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way uprights?

The number refers to how many telescoping sections the upright has, which sets its adjustable range. 2-way covers shorter ranges for table skirting and standard booth walls; 3-way and 4-way reach taller stage heights (roughly 14 ft and 16 ft) for full backdrop and masking walls.

How do the uprights lock at height?

Each telescopic upright holds its height with a compression brake and a tightening handle — snug the handle and the sections stay put. It is a compression brake, not a cam lock.

How many uprights do I need for a backdrop?

One more than the number of crossbar sections, because middle uprights are shared: uprights = sections + 1. A 20-ft backdrop of two 10-ft sections uses three uprights and three base plates.

Do the uprights fit my crossbars and bases?

WENTEX uprights, crossbars, and base plates are one system and connect tool-free. If you're mixing brands or unsure, send us your setup and we'll confirm compatibility.

Not sure what you need? Request a quote or call (877) 371-3847, Mon–Fri 9–5 ET, and we'll spec the exact uprights, crossbars, bases, and drape for your setup.