AAPEX 2026 booth cost estimate
AAPEX 2026 runs Nov 3–5, 2026 at The Venetian Expo, Las Vegas, NV. Exhibiting there with a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth typically costs $46.7k – $88.6k all-in, and with a 20×20 island $78.2k – $147k, based on Venetian Expo (Venetian Convention & Expo Center)'s published rates. These are market estimates, not Purple Exhibits prices.
- DatesNov 3–5, 2026
- VenueThe Venetian Expo, Las Vegas, NV
- Labor$172–$216/hr
- Drayage$202 per 100 lb
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain
What exhibiting at AAPEX 2026 costs
Totals include the exhibit, drayage, installation and dismantle labor, electrical, round-trip freight, floor space, travel for three people, lead retrieval and a 10% contingency.
| Booth size | Rental exhibit | Custom or hybrid | Open in calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 inline | $18.7k – $40.6k | $29.4k – $55.6k | Adjust |
| 10×20 inline | $32.4k – $64.8k | $46.7k – $88.6k | Adjust |
| 20×20 island | $53.6k – $104k | $78.2k – $147k | Adjust |
| 20×30 island | $78.8k – $150k | $114k – $214k | Adjust |
These are typical market costs, worked out from published venue and show rates and industry price benchmarks. They are not Purple Exhibits prices. They cover everything it takes to exhibit, and much of the total is paid to the show organizer, its contractors, airlines and hotels: floor space, drayage, union labor, electrical and travel. In a 10×20 custom or hybrid budget, the exhibit itself is about $21.6k – $43.2k. For Purple Exhibits' own price on your booth, ask for a quote.
Planning for AAPEX 2026
AAPEX 2026 (automotive aftermarket) runs 3 days, Nov 3–5, 2026, at The Venetian Expo.
From the AAPEX exhibitor kit
- General contractor
- Freeman Official
- Booth space
- $34 per sq ft for association members, $59 non-members; islands +$5,800, peninsulas +$2,800, inline corners +$750 (2026) Official
- Move-in
- Targeted move-in Oct 29 – Nov 2, 2026 (dates vary by hall) Official
- Advance warehouse
- Freeman warehouse opens Sep 23; late charge after Oct 15, 2026; discount orders by Oct 1, 2026 Official
- Exhibit hours
- Nov 3–5, 2026, 9 AM–5 PM Official
AAPEX is the automotive aftermarket's parts and service event, held the same week as SEMA. Exhibitors are parts manufacturers, distributors and service-technology companies, and attendees are buyers, repair shop owners and fleet managers.
What drives the cost at AAPEX 2026
- Parts samples and display walls add weight quickly. Keep crates consolidated so drayage minimums don't stack up.
- AAPEX runs during SEMA week, so Las Vegas hotels and labor are in high demand. Book early and order services before the discount deadline.
- The Venetian Expo has its own labor and work rules. Check them before planning self-setup.
Dates and travel
- Discount deadlines. The exhibitor-kit dates are listed above. Ordering labor, electrical and freight after the discount deadline usually costs 20–50% more.
- Hotel nights. 3 exhibit days plus a day each for move-in and move-out is about 5 nights per person. The estimate budgets $1,500–$3,000 per traveler.
- Also in Las Vegas around the same dates: AOA Osteopathic Medical Education Conference (Oct 22–25, 2026), Oracle AI World (Oct 25–29, 2026), SuiteWorld (Oct 26–29, 2026), HLTH (Nov 15–18, 2026). Book hotels early when large events overlap.
Where the money goes
Each line links to the document the number comes from. Official means published by the venue or show.
10×20 custom or hybrid
| Exhibit10×20 custom / hybrid: structure, graphics, flooring, lighting, AV, design | $21.6k – $43.2k | Industry guide |
|---|---|---|
| Drayage (material handling)1,800 lb at $202 per 100 lb | $3.6k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle16–28 crew hours at $172–$216/hr | $2.8k – $6k | Official |
| Electrical2–3 500-watt outlets at $99–$160 each | $198 – $480 | Industry guide |
| Freight shippingRound trip, cross-country | $2.7k – $5.7k | Estimate |
| Lead retrievalBadge-scanning app license or device | $299 – $705 | Official |
| Floor space200 sq ft at $34–$59/sq ft | $6.8k – $11.8k | Official |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $4.2k – $8.1k | Industry guide |
| Total | $46.7k – $88.6k | |
20×20 custom or hybrid island
| Exhibit20×20 custom / hybrid: structure, graphics, flooring, lighting, AV, design | $36k – $72k | Industry guide |
|---|---|---|
| Drayage (material handling)3,600 lb at $202 per 100 lb | $7.3k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle32–56 crew hours at $172–$216/hr | $5.5k – $12.1k | Official |
| Electrical2–4 20-amp drops at $173–$350 each | $346 – $1.4k | Industry guide |
| Freight shippingRound trip, cross-country | $3.6k – $7.8k | Estimate |
| Lead retrievalBadge-scanning app license or device | $299 – $705 | Official |
| Floor space400 sq ft at $34–$59/sq ft | $13.6k – $23.6k | Official |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $7.1k – $13.4k | Industry guide |
| Total | $78.2k – $147k | |
Show services at Venetian Expo (Venetian Convention & Expo Center)
The rates this estimate uses. Electrical, internet, sales tax and the venue's work rules are on the Venetian Expo (Venetian Convention & Expo Center) cost page.
- Installation & dismantle labor
- $172–$216 per hour, straight time Official
- Drayage (material handling)
- $202 per 100 lb, round trip, 200 lb minimum Official
- Floor space
- Published 2026 booth space price: $34–$59 per sq ft. Official
How Venetian Expo (Venetian Convention & Expo Center) compares
Published rates at the 28 US venues that publish their own.
AAPEX 2026 booth cost questions
How much does a booth at AAPEX 2026 cost?
Plan on $18.7k – $40.6k for a 10×10 rental booth and $46.7k – $88.6k for a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth. A 20×20 island runs $78.2k – $147k. Totals include the exhibit, drayage, installation and dismantle labor, electrical, round-trip freight, floor space, travel for three people, lead retrieval and a 10% contingency.
How much is drayage at AAPEX 2026?
Drayage at Venetian Expo (Venetian Convention & Expo Center) runs $202 per 100 lb, round trip, with a 200 lb minimum. A 10×20 custom booth ships about 1,800 lb, so drayage comes to about $3.6k – $3.6k. Your show's exhibitor kit has the exact rate.
When should I order show services for AAPEX 2026?
AAPEX 2026 opens Nov 3–5. Most exhibitor kits close the lower prices for labor, electrical and advance-warehouse freight three to four weeks before move-in, which for AAPEX 2026 is around October 6, 2026 to October 13, 2026. Ordering after the deadline usually costs 20–50% more. The show's exhibitor kit has the exact dates.
Are these Purple Exhibits prices?
No. These are typical market costs, worked out from published venue and show rates and industry price benchmarks. They are not Purple Exhibits prices. They include floor space, drayage, union labor, electrical and travel, which are paid to the show and its contractors, not to the booth builder. For Purple Exhibits' own price on your AAPEX 2026 booth, ask for a quote.
More booth cost pages
- All booth costs at Venetian Expo (Venetian Convention & Expo Center)
- Venetian Expo (Venetian Convention & Expo Center) exhibitor guide
- ISC West 2027 booth cost
- SHOT Show 2027 booth cost
- JCK Las Vegas 2027 booth cost
- CES 2027 booth cost
- Natural Products Expo West 2027 booth cost
- ProMat 2027 booth cost
- World of Concrete 2027 booth cost
- Trade show booth costs in Las Vegas
- Drayage and labor rates by venue
- Booth cost calculator: all 2,300 US shows
Numbers updated October 2026 from published exhibitor kits and price lists. Rates are set per show, so your exhibitor kit has the final prices.
Want Purple's price for AAPEX 2026?
The numbers on this page are market estimates. Send us your booth size and we'll quote our own price, line by line, within 24 hours.
