Last-Minute Booth Rental for AHR Expo
Short on time before AHR Expo? Here's what's still possible for a fast booth and LED wall rental at McCormick Place — and the deadlines that matter.
AHR Expo is next on Jan 25–27, 2027, McCormick Place, Chicago. AHR rotates cities: after Chicago 2027 it moves to Orlando (Feb 7-9, 2028), then back to Chicago (Jan 22-24, 2029).
Show services (drayage, electrical, labor) are cheapest at the advance-order deadline, which lands weeks before move-in — the maths is in our drayage guide.
Dates from the official AHR Expo site, checked 2026-08-16. Always confirm move-in times in the exhibitor manual.
Short on time before AHR Expo? You still have good options. We hold modular rental systems, SEG lightboxes and LED panels in stock in Las Vegas, so the constraint on a rush booth at McCormick Place is almost never the hardware — it's graphics and the venue's own deadlines.
What a rush booth costs at AHR Expo
Rush does not mean a different price list. These are the same rates we quote six months out; what changes is which options are still open.
| Item | Buy | Rent per day | Setup & teardown |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED poster (2.3' x 6.5') | $3,200 + tax | $300 – $400 | $500 per poster |
| Tri-fold LED poster | $4,200 + tax | $400 – $500 | $600 |
| 3-sided LED tower (12' tall) | $35,000 | up to $6,500 | $1,800 |
| Curved LED panels | Quote on request | $200 – $250 per panel | Quoted with the build |
Booth structure itself runs the standard bands — see AHR Expo booth rental cost for the full size-by-size breakdown. We do not charge a rush premium on in-stock inventory.
What's still possible, by how long you have
| Time to AHR Expo | What we can still do | What's closed |
|---|---|---|
| 4+ weeks | Everything — custom modular build, full LED wall, printed graphics, advance-warehouse freight at the lower rate. | Nothing. |
| 2–4 weeks | Modular booth, in-stock LED, SEG lightboxes, new graphics printed and shipped. | Advance electrical pricing is usually gone; custom fabrication is tight. |
| 1–2 weeks | In-stock modular kit, LED posters and panels, rush graphics (48-hour print). | Custom build, hanging signs needing rigging approval, advance freight rates. |
| Under 1 week | In-stock booth and LED delivered direct to showsite, graphics printed in Las Vegas, our crew installs. | Anything shipped, anything fabricated, anything hung. |
Because we are physically in Las Vegas, the under-one-week row is real rather than theoretical — the booth does not have to survive a freight lane to reach McCormick Place.
The deadlines that actually bind at McCormick Place
- Graphics are the real clock — dye-sub fabric prints in 5–7 business days, or 48 hours on a rush. Lock artwork first; everything else can move.
- Electrical — the advance-order discount (typically 30–50%) is the first thing you lose. If it has passed, order anyway; floor pricing beats no power.
- Drayage — McCormick Place freight and material handling is Teamsters work, billed per hundredweight by the show's official contractor — the same advance-warehouse-versus-showsite maths applies as in Las Vegas.
- Labor — Chicago is the opposite of Las Vegas on self-install: McCormick's Exhibitor Bill of Rights lets your own full-time employees set up a booth of ANY size using their own ladders, hand tools, cordless and power tools. IBEW still owns anything past a standard outlet, and Carpenters/IATSE own overhead rigging and hanging signs.
- Local advantage — Design for your own crew to assemble. Chicago is the one major hall where power tools and ladders in your own booth are permitted, and that is where the labor saving is.
Timing: AHR Expo runs each January, and a January show means your graphics and freight deadlines land in the middle of the holidays — print shops and carriers both run short weeks, so lock artwork in November.
Tell us your AHR Expo date and booth size — we'll tell you exactly what's achievable and what it costs, today.
Frequently asked
Can you do a last-minute booth for AHR Expo?
Often yes — modular rental systems, in-stock LED, and our Las Vegas warehouse let us move fast. The main clock is graphics and show deadlines at McCormick Place. Call us and we'll tell you what's possible today.
What's the latest I can order?
Sooner is always cheaper and safer, but tell us your date — we're built for tight Vegas timelines and will be straight with you about what's achievable.
More for AHR Expo exhibitors
Exhibitor guides
Exhibiting at AHR Expo?
Tell us your booth size — a free quote, usually same day.