AHR Expo 2027 booth cost estimate
AHR Expo 2027 runs Jan 25–27, 2027 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. Exhibiting there with a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth typically costs $48k – $87.1k all-in, and with a 20×20 island $80.8k – $144k, based on McCormick Place's published rates. These are market estimates, not Purple Exhibits prices.
- DatesJan 25–27, 2027
- VenueMcCormick Place, Chicago, IL
- Labor$138–$220/hr
- Drayage$150–$250 per 100 lb
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain
What exhibiting at AHR Expo 2027 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 | $19.5k – $39.7k | $30k – $54.9k | Adjust |
| 10×20 inline | $34.2k – $62.9k | $48k – $87.1k | Adjust |
| 20×20 island | $57.2k – $100k | $80.8k – $144k | Adjust |
| 20×30 island | $84.1k – $145k | $118k – $209k | 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 AHR Expo 2027
AHR Expo 2027 (HVACR) runs 3 days, Jan 25–27, 2027, at McCormick Place.
- Last edition
- 53,315 attendees and 1,956 exhibitors on 578,980 sq ft (2026, Las Vegas)
Source: refindustry.com
From the AHR Expo exhibitor kit
- General contractor
- Freeman Official
- Booth space
- $47.30 per sq ft (2027), including back and side drape and a booth ID sign Official
- Move-in
- Jan 21–24, 2027 Official
- Advance warehouse
- Freeman accepts freight from Dec 22, 2026; late charge after Jan 14, 2027; discount deadline Dec 28, 2026 Official
- Exhibit hours
- Jan 25–26, 10 AM–6 PM; Jan 27, 10 AM–4 PM Official
AHR Expo is the HVACR industry's largest event, covering heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment and controls. Attendees are contractors, engineers, facility managers and distributors.
What drives the cost at AHR Expo 2027
- HVAC units and equipment displays are heavy and bulky. Drayage and special handling can be large lines.
- Working equipment demos may need high-amp power and sometimes water. Order these early.
- The show rotates between cities, so labor rates and rules change. This page uses the current edition's venue.
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.
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 $150–$250 per 100 lb | $2.7k – $4.5k | Industry guide |
| Installation & dismantle16–28 crew hours at $138–$220/hr | $2.2k – $6.2k | 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 $47.3/sq ft | $9.5k | Official |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $4.4k – $7.9k | Industry guide |
| Total | $48k – $87.1k | |
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 $150–$250 per 100 lb | $5.4k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Installation & dismantle32–56 crew hours at $138–$220/hr | $4.4k – $12.3k | 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 $47.3/sq ft | $18.9k | Official |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $7.3k – $13.1k | Industry guide |
| Total | $80.8k – $144k | |
Show services at McCormick Place
The rates this estimate uses. Electrical, internet, sales tax and the venue's work rules are on the McCormick Place cost page.
- Installation & dismantle labor
- $138–$220 per hour, straight time Official
- Drayage (material handling)
- $150–$250 per 100 lb, round trip, 200 lb minimum Industry guide
- Floor space
- Published 2027 booth space price: $47.3 per sq ft. Official
How McCormick Place compares
Published rates at the 28 US venues that publish their own.
AHR Expo 2027 booth cost questions
How much does a booth at AHR Expo 2027 cost?
Plan on $19.5k – $39.7k for a 10×10 rental booth and $48k – $87.1k for a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth. A 20×20 island runs $80.8k – $144k. 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 AHR Expo 2027?
Drayage at McCormick Place runs $150–$250 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 $2.7k – $4.5k. Your show's exhibitor kit has the exact rate.
When should I order show services for AHR Expo 2027?
AHR Expo 2027 opens Jan 25–27. Most exhibitor kits close the lower prices for labor, electrical and advance-warehouse freight three to four weeks before move-in, which for AHR Expo 2027 is around December 28, 2026 to January 4, 2027. 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 AHR Expo 2027 booth, ask for a quote.
More booth cost pages
- All booth costs at McCormick Place
- McCormick Place exhibitor guide
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- ASCO Annual Meeting 2027 booth cost
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- AAPEX 2026 booth cost
- World of Concrete 2027 booth cost
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- Trade show booth costs in Chicago
- 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 AHR Expo 2027?
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.
