How Much Does a Booth at SEMA Show Cost?

Budgeting a booth for SEMA Show at Las Vegas Convention Center comes down to three things: booth size, how much custom build and LED you want, and the Las Vegas show costs that catch first-timers off guard (drayage, labor, electrical). Here are realistic 2026 ranges for an exhibit rental at SEMA Show.

That band covers the booth, graphics and show services below. It excludes the floor space itself, which you buy from the SEMA Show organiser.

What our LED costs at SEMA Show

Most companies quoting SEMA Show are reselling somebody else's panels and will not put a number in writing. We own and install ours, so here is the actual price list.

Posters join together into walls and the tower's panels build walls too, so an SEMA Show LED budget often starts as a poster count rather than a square-footage quote. On these rates buying pays back in roughly two shows — see the LED cost guide for the full rent-versus-buy arithmetic.

What SEMA Show exhibitors actually spend it on

SEMA Show is a automotive aftermarket show with roughly 2,000+ exhibitors, and that changes where the money goes. LED video walls for vehicle reveals, turntable staging, SEG lightbox product backdrops.

Build for the reveal: a turntable or raised platform, a wide LED canvas for hero footage, and clean sightlines so the product is visible from across the aisle.

Timing: SEMA Show runs each November, and November butts against the holidays — anything shipping late risks a carrier blackout, so treat the graphics deadline as immovable.

• Custom vs. modular — a rental modular system costs far less than a fully custom build.
• LED video wall — fine-pitch LED is the biggest single upgrade (and the biggest traffic driver).
• Show services at Las Vegas Convention Center — Material handling (drayage) at the LVCC is billed per hundredweight by the show's official general contractor — typically $0.95–$1.50/lb with weight minimums — so palletizing and advance-warehouse shipping save real money.
• Labor — The LVCC leans union, but it's largely up to each show's rules: a lot of display work — LED posters, SEG lightboxes, backwalls, fabric, ground-supported LED walls, and booth set/dismantle — can be exhibitor- or vendor-installed, while electrical beyond simple plug-in and any overhead rigging or hanging signs go to union trades (Teamsters, electricians & riggers). Confirm the specifics in your show's exhibitor manual.

The Las Vegas Convention Center line items exhibitors miss

These land on the official contractor's invoice rather than your booth vendor's, and they are where SEMA Show budgets break.

• Drayage is billed by weight, round trip — per hundredweight, with a minimum per shipment that is usually 200 lbs. Three 150 lb boxes bill as 600 lbs, not 450. The same freight on one pallet bills about 25% less, which is why everything we ship goes in rolling flight cases. Full breakdown in the drayage guide.
• Electrical is priced by your deadline — advance ordering typically runs 30–50% under floor pricing for the identical drop. Get your LED power draw in writing and order early.
• Docks and routing at Las Vegas Convention Center — The campus spans the West, Central, North and South halls with extensive docks; the West Hall offers dedicated ground-level drive-on access for vehicles and heavy equipment.
• Plan ahead — Order drayage, electrical and rigging early through the exhibitor kit — on-site and last-minute rates spike sharply.

Ways to cut your SEMA Show bill

• Consolidate freight into one shipment. Minimums are charged per shipment, so this costs nothing and is decided before anything leaves your building.
• Design for hand assembly. If your own staff is setting up, the working limit is no power tools and no ladders — a booth built to that rule is one you can install yourself. Posters, SEG lightboxes, backwalls and AV placement are generally yours to do; electrical beyond plug-in and anything hanging or ceiling-mounted is not. See the union labor guide.
• Rent the structure, own the LED. If SEMA Show is one of three or more shows you do a year, the LED pays for itself faster than the booth does.
• Lock graphics early. Artwork is the real clock on every rush job.

Want an exact number for your booth size at SEMA Show? We'll send a free, itemized quote — usually same day. For the full line-by-line breakdown see our Las Vegas booth cost guide.

Frequently asked

How much is a booth at SEMA Show?

A 10x10 rental at SEMA Show typically runs $3,000–$9,000, a 10x20 $7,000–$20,000, and a 20x20 island $18,000–$45,000 — before show services like drayage and labor at Las Vegas Convention Center. We'll send an exact quote for your size.

Does the price include design?

Yes — design and renderings are included in your quote before you commit.

Is renting cheaper than buying?

For one or two shows, renting is almost always cheaper and simpler. If you exhibit often, owning a modular system can pay off — we'll show you both numbers.