If you have a trade show coming up and are wondering whether it’s more cost-effective to buy or rent your exhibit, here’s the bottom line.
You’ll generally spend less money in the long run if you purchase your trade show exhibit upfront and use it over several years. However, renting may be the better option based on numerous factors, which we’ll explore in this article.
Here’s the complete lowdown on the respective costs.
How much does it cost to rent a trade show exhibit?
We’re going to give you the two words no one wants to read — it depends.
Investing in show services and adding extra features to your exhibit can significantly increase the cost, which we’ll come on to.
But as a ballpark, here are some real-life figures to give you an idea of what you could pay (accurate as of August 2026).
- Inline 10x20 exhibit including the structure, selected accessories, and packaging: Between $9,600 and $12,500 for the first year ($6,500-8,300 for rental + $3,100-4,900 for graphics). This would cost $6,500-8,300 per year thereafter if you don’t change your graphics, as you can’t rent them. You would own the graphics for this exhibit.
- Island 20x20 exhibit including all of the above: Between $24,300 and $37,900 for the first year ($16,300-$28,200 for rental + $7,700-$12,600 for graphics, depending on the type of exhibit you opt for). $16,900 per year thereafter.
The cost of updating your graphics also varies, but you could typically expect to spend approximately $8,000 for this.
Bearing this in mind, you have to ask yourself — do I intend to rent the exhibit for the next three years without making any changes, or am I likely to update the graphics further down the road? If the latter, you will be much better off if you purchase your exhibit.
When is renting an exhibit a good idea?
Renting is best suited to exhibitors who are attending one or two shows per year. It also makes sense if you’re testing out a new market or audience or exhibiting at shows with very different layouts (i.e., a 10x20 inline exhibit at one show and an island at another).
In addition, renting eliminates recurring expenses for off-site warehouse storage, property insurance, and maintenance and repairs. You make savings in these areas, which could be critical for your business.
The obvious trade-off is that you don’t ever own the asset and could end up paying much more for it in the long run than if you purchased it outright.
How much does it cost to purchase a trade show exhibit?
When you buy a trade show exhibit, the cost of your graphics is included in the purchase price.
Here’s how much you could spend on purchasing an inline 10x20 exhibit or 20x20 island exhibit, using the same examples as above.
- Inline 10x20 exhibit: Between $19,900 and $25,800.
- Island 20x20 exhibit: Between $45,100 and $68,100.
Again, these costs don’t take into consideration certain services or supplementary accessories (more information and example scenarios are below).
How long can a purchased trade show exhibit last?
A typical purchased trade show exhibit that’s used at multiple shows per year can last between five and seven years with good upkeep. High-end modular or custom island exhibits have been known to even last ten years or more.
When is purchasing an exhibit a good idea?
Buying a trade show exhibit is the logical choice if you’re exhibiting at over three shows per year. It’s also a no-brainer if you want consistent layout and messaging, with visual features that are bespoke to your brand. Your ideal customers have a clear picture in their heads of what you ‘look like,’ which opens up more sales opportunities long term.
The trade-off here is that you’re putting more money down and liable for ongoing maintenance and other associated costs, as we cover below.
Additional costs when renting or purchasing a trade show exhibit
Let’s assume you purchase a 20x20 island exhibit for $47,000.
You add a 10x3 circular overhead hanging sign, a monitor, a kiosk, and some furniture to the front side. You also add shelves and a monitor to the back.
This adds just under $16,000 to your overall cost.
And then, of course, you have to take the following into account:
- Shipping
- Installation and dismantle
- Drayage
- Labor costs
- Carpet
- Electrical
- Material handling
- Sales tax
- Other on-site show services
- Island space
If you were to add up all of these costs, you could be looking at around $25,000 to $70,000 on top of the exhibit price. As a rule of thumb, total costs are around 1.5 to 2 times the design/construction figure once every category is included.
In addition to the above, you will also have ongoing insurance, maintenance, and storage costs to think about. These could amount to $5,000-$10,000+ per year for the more complex exhibits.
That said, these are not hard and fast, set-in-stone numbers. There are instances in which you can make savings and instances in which you will pay more, especially if you opt for a fully custom trade show exhibit that’s tailored to your brand.
At The Trade Group, we have a team of specialist account executives, client service directors, designers, and fabricators who can guide you through the process and help you make the most informed buying decisions. You can read more about our exhibit services here or contact us if you have any specific questions regarding cost.
What you get in return for your investment
Whether you decide to rent or buy your trade show exhibit, one thing’s for certain.
If you have a compelling visual asset, clear messaging, an engaged staffing team, and a trusted trade show partner by your side, you’ll make big returns on your investment.
On average, trade shows return $4 for every $1 spent, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). The ROI can be even higher than this in some cases, with 14% of Fortune 500 companies reporting a 5:1 ROI from exhibiting at trade shows (in other words, they earned $5 for every $1 spent).
Compare this to a $2 return for every $1 spent on Google Ads, and you can appreciate how lucrative trade shows are as a form of lead generation.
If you get 200 leads from a show, they are worth exponentially more than, say, paying an ad agency to gain 200 leads.
They’re also a faster way to advance your relationship with those leads, since you’re having quality face-to-face interactions with them.
And to put into perspective the scale of leads some exhibitors get — it’s estimated that over $40 billion of deals were done on Day One of the Farnborough Airshow in England.
While we can’t promise that you’ll close multi-million dollar deals as a direct result of your trade show exhibit, it’s your foot in the door and needs to be truly memorable.
We’ll give you an exhibit that is this and much more.
Plan your next trade show with The Trade Group today
As a strategic trade show partner, we’re here to make your trade show planning as slick as possible.
Since 1986, we’ve brought businesses’ stories to life with cutting-edge trade show exhibits that are storytelling assets.
From engineering, design, and fabrication to installation and dismantle (I&D), shipping, and storage, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re interested in partnering with us for your next event, send us a note here or give us a call at 800-343-2005.
