When you’re planning to attend an event, the type of branded tent structure you choose makes a big difference in how your brand shows up and the experience your team will have.
At TentCraft, two of our most popular lines of tent products, custom pop-up canopy tents and frame tents have two very different use cases.
That’s where our team of service reps comes in to help event marketing professionals and small business teams choose the right product for their specific event goals.
So if you’ve been trying to do the research on the differences between custom pop-up canopy tents and frame tents, this article is written with you in mind.
In this article, we’ll cover:
A pop-up canopy tent is often a lighter weight, portable shelter that expands and collapses with a scissor-style frame and legs with multiple extension options. The collapsing and extending features mean there is no assembly required outside of additional attachable accessories such as countertops or custom flags. Most manufacturers design them to easily fold up to a size that allows them to slide into a carrying bag.
You’ll see these at local community events, non-profit or government agencies, farmers markets, sporting events, on college campuses, used as food vendor tents all the way up to large corporate brand activations at conventions or industry trade shows.
While the most common sizes are often 10’x10’ tents and 10’x20 tents, you’ll find that they come in a wide range of sizes from 5’x5’ (perfect for information booths) all the way up to 13’x26’ tents and 10’x30’ tents.
You can explore our pop-up canopy tent products and specs below to see more:
Recommended Readings:
A frame tent is an event structure built with an aluminum frame and typically no center poles, creating a large, open interior. Unlike its pop-up canopy tent counterparts, frame tents do require some assembly.
However, with advancements in technology and engineering, more and more custom frame tents come with convenient tool-less setups that make installation a breeze (and mean you’ll save on any event installation fees you’re looking to avoid.
Example: Our E-Series Frame Tents have been engineered for tool-less, quick setup.
They're available in a wide range of sizes, from small 10’x10’ setups to massive 50’x100'+ footprints.
Frame tents are engineered for durability, scalability, and long-term use, making them ideal for large events, corporate activations, and semi-permanent installations where your tent will need to be left up.
You’ll often see these at large outdoor events such conventions and expos where vendors are given larger footprints to showcase their products. You will also commonly see these used by companies looking to add additional square footage outside their storefronts or to elongate seasons and provide winter outdoor spaces for guests/customers.
You can see the different frame tent options that TentCraft offers to get a sense of the sizes and spec offerings amongst these products:
|
Feature |
Pop-Up Canopy Tent |
Frame Tent |
|
Structure |
Lightweight, scissor-style frame with telescoping legs; collapses into a compact size for transport |
Engineered aluminum frame; typically no center poles for unobstructed space |
|
Setup |
No assembly required; quick setup in minutes by 1–2 people; accessories attach as needed |
Requires some assembly; tool-less engineered options available, though larger sizes may need a setup crew |
|
Typical Sizes |
Commonly 10’x10’ and 10’x20’, with options from 5’x5’ to 13’x26’ and 10’x30’ |
Wide range from small 10’x10’ footprints up to massive 50’x100’+ spans |
|
Portability |
Compact, lightweight, fits into a carrying bag; easily transported in most vehicles |
Larger and heavier; requires truck/trailer transport for big sizes |
|
Interior Space |
Compact footprint, lower clearance; best for small to mid-size activations |
Large, open interior with no center poles; scalable for expansive, long-term coverage |
|
Use Cases |
Farmers markets, sports events, college campuses, food vendors, non-profit and government agency events, sponsor activations, corporate trade shows, both indoor and outdoor applications |
Large outdoor events, festivals, conventions, expos, corporate activations, semi-permanent storefront or hospitality extensions |
|
Strengths |
Quick setup, portability, cost efficiency, wide range of sizes, heavy-duty, medium-duty, and lightweight options, customizable canopy branding with sidewalls, accessories & frame colors |
Available in larger sizes, durable, scalable, engineered for volatile weather, customizable canopy branding with sidewalls & accessories |
|
Limitations |
Smaller footprint, limited height clearance, not intended to be left standing for long periods of time or in severe weather |
Longer setup/dismantle than pop-up canopy tents, higher initial costs, certain sizes may require professional installation and teardown services at events |
If you need something portable, quick to set up with just one or two people, and brand-forward for small to mid-sized events, a pop-up canopy tent will likely do the trick. They provide all the essential branding impact and customizability and lend themselves to activations where speed and mobility matter most.
And with the range of durability options, you’ll still be able to handle adverse weather and wind with the addition of weight.
On the other hand, if your activation needs to make a bigger impact with a larger footprint, cover a crowd, or stay standing for days or weeks at a time, a frame tent is the smarter investment. With greater stability, larger sizing options, and engineered durability, frame tents excel at large outdoor conventions, expos, and semi-permanent installations.
Be sure to read reviews, ask other companies you see at events, and understand what each company selling tents is really offering. Especially with pop-up canopy tents, you’ll see a wide range of options from cheap steel frames for as little as a couple hundred dollars to thick, all aluminum, heavy-duty frames with lifetime warranties and price tags of several thousands of dollars. You get what you pay for with tent products, and everyone has different needs.
Recommended Reading: The 8 Best Companies Selling Customizable Canopy Tents in 2025
Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. At TentCraft, we often help clients create hybrid setups to strike the right balance between budget, use cases, footprint needs, event regulations, and brand impact.
We’ve been engineering these solutions for decades, and we’re here to help you find the right fit for your unique event challenge.
You can contact us at info@tentcraft.com or speak with one of our representatives at (800) 950-4553