- 01. Drayage (a.k.a. material handling)
- 02. Electrical, internet, plumbing
- 03. Rigging, hanging signs, and AV
- 04. Lead retrieval, cleaning, security, freight insurance
Booth builders quote the booth. Show organizers, general contractors, and venue services charge for everything else. Here's the full list of costs that don't show up in your first PDF — and rough ranges for each so you can plan before the bills hit.
Drayage (a.k.a. material handling)
The single biggest hidden cost. The show contractor charges to move your crated freight from the loading dock to your booth and back. Rates run $90–$160/cwt (per 100 lbs) at most major U.S. shows, with overtime, weekend, and special-handling surcharges.
A 1,500 lb booth at $130/cwt = $1,950 each direction, so $3,900 round trip — and that's before overtime or marshaling-yard delays.
Electrical, internet, plumbing
Electrical drops run $250–$1,200 depending on amperage and 24-hour vs show-hours-only power. Hardwired internet runs $1,000–$3,500 per booth at most convention centers (Wi-Fi is rarely reliable enough for demos).
Compressed air, water, and drain hookups (food, beverage, healthcare demos) typically add $400–$1,500 each.
Rigging, hanging signs, and AV
Hanging signs and lighting trusses require union rigging at most union halls — $1,500–$8,000+ depending on weight, height, and electrical integration. Audio-visual rentals (monitors, audio, demo computers) add $2,000–$25,000+ for a typical island booth.
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Get matched with buildersLead retrieval, cleaning, security, freight insurance
Lead retrieval app/device: $300–$700/show. Booth cleaning: $50–$150/day. Booth security overnight: $200–$600/night for high-value displays. Freight insurance: 0.5–1% of declared value.
None of these are 'optional' in practice. They are baseline operating costs for being on the show floor.
- Drayage is the largest hidden cost — get rates in writing before signing
- Add 30–50% to any booth quote for total show services
- Wi-Fi at convention centers is rarely demo-grade — budget for hardwired internet
- Rigging, hanging signs, and AV are union-jurisdiction sensitive
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Zoom out to the full playbook
This article is part of a deeper hub — the pillar page collects every related guide on the topic.
Plan around your show, city, and industry
Use these directories to pressure-test the guide against your specific show, venue, and vertical.
Keep reading
You don't need a 30×30 island and a coffee bar to win a show. Here's how scrappy exhibitors out-perform booths that cost 10x more.
What drayage actually is, how it's calculated, and the practical strategies for cutting your material-handling bill.
A size-by-size breakdown of real booth costs — rental and custom — plus the line items most quotes quietly leave out.