Hidden Trade Show Costs: What Exhibitors Pay Beyond the Booth

Electrical

Power is ordered from the show's electrical contractor and is never part of the booth space. Two published examples from California:

• WEST 2026, San Diego Convention Center (CTS): a 120V 500W outlet costs $184.50 if ordered by the advance deadline and $276.50 after; a 1000W outlet $318 / $477; a 20A (2000W) outlet $423.50 / $635.50. Island booths also pay labor and materials for distribution; labor is $175 an hour straight time, with a one-hour minimum.
• Edlen, San Jose McEnery Convention Center: 500W $183 / $275, 1000W $286 / $429; 24-hour power at double the outlet rate.

Edlen's own guidance: ordering after the deadline, usually 21–30 days before the show, "can be 25-50% more expensive." See trade show electrical.

Material handling (drayage)

The contractor's charge to move your freight from the dock to your booth and back, billed by weight: $1.11 per pound at SEMA 2026, $122.25 per 100 lb at IMEX America 2026, with 25–60% surcharges for late, loose or overtime freight. Full detail in drayage explained.

Install and dismantle labor

If you do not set up yourself, the show's labor does it by the hour. Freeman's labor forms bill a one-hour minimum per person, then half-hour increments, with supervision at 30% of the labor bill (minimum $45). GES Las Vegas forms add a 30% supervision surcharge and charge dismantle at 50% of install labor. Overtime and double time cost more. Current Las Vegas hourly rates are only published inside each show's ordering site.

Internet

Cox Business's price list for the Las Vegas Convention Center (effective January 2025): shared 10 Mbps $750 in advance or $900 standard; shared 20 Mbps $1,200 / $1,440; a dedicated 10 Mbps line $4,500 / $5,400; a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 10 users $1,750 / $2,100. Orders inside 72 hours add a 20% expedite fee.

Carpet, cleaning and trash

Most shows require a floor covering: RE+ 2025 at the Venetian calls it "MANDATORY", and at HD Expo 2025 (Mandalay Bay) booths without one get carpet from the show contractor "at the exhibitor's expense". Cleaning is often exclusive to the contractor (NAB Show 2025: "Freeman is the exclusive provider of cleaning services"), and bulk trash can mean a dumpster and disposal fee.

Badges, lead scanners and rigging

• Badges: usually 4–5 per 100 sq ft are free (CES 2026: five per 100 sq ft, minimum ten; HD Expo 2025 and MJBizCon: four). Extra badges cost more at many shows.
• Lead retrieval: at SHOT Show 2027 the lead app starts at $579 in advance.
• Rigging and hanging signs: done only by the venue or contractor (Mandalay Bay is the exclusive rigger for items of 200 lb or more), billed as labor plus equipment such as lifts and hoists.

And the space itself

Space is priced per square foot by the organizer: CES 2026 $46.50 (members) / $51.50; NAB Show 2027 $50 / $56, plus material handling of $4.10 per sq ft for small booths; SHOT Show 2027 $43, plus $1,000 per corner; SEMA 2026 $24.95 / $39.95. A 10×10 space at these shows costs about $2,500 to $5,600 before anything stands on it.

How to keep the extras down

1. Order electrical, internet and carpet before the advance deadlines.
2. Crate your freight and ship to the advance warehouse on time.
3. Keep freight and labor on straight time.
4. Or rent a booth with all of it included. A BoothJet booth includes drayage, union install and teardown, delivery and power, from $3,999 for a 10×10. The space, badges, internet and lead scanners stay with the show.

Questions

Related guides

• Trade Show Drayage Explained: How Material Handling Is Billed
• Trade Show Electrical: What to Order, When, and What It Costs
• What "All-In" Booth Rental Pricing Includes