Booth cost estimates at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL: installation labor runs $180 an hour and drayage $115–$125 per 100 lb at published rates. Exhibiting with a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth typically costs $43.2k – $87.4k all-in. These are market estimates, not Purple Exhibits prices.
- CityRosemont, IL
- Labor$180/hr
- Drayage$115–$125 per 100 lb
Photo: "Donald E Stephens Convention Center" by FoodBev Photos, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
What exhibiting at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center 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 | $17.2k – $40.4k | $27.6k – $55.1k | Adjust |
| 10×20 inline | $29.4k – $64.4k | $43.2k – $87.4k | Adjust |
| 20×20 island | $47.1k – $103k | $70.7k – $145k | Adjust |
| 20×30 island | $69k – $149k | $102k – $210k | 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.
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 $115–$125 per 100 lb | $2.1k – $2.3k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle16–28 crew hours at $180/hr | $2.9k – $5k | Official |
| Electrical2–3 500-watt outlets at $215 each (venue price list) | $429 – $644 | Official |
| 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 $24–$65/sq ft | $4.8k – $13k | Industry guide |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $3.9k – $8k | Industry guide |
| Total | $43.2k – $87.4k | |
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 $115–$125 per 100 lb | $4.1k – $4.5k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle32–56 crew hours at $180/hr | $5.8k – $10.1k | 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 $24–$65/sq ft | $9.6k – $26k | Industry guide |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $6.4k – $13.2k | Industry guide |
| Total | $70.7k – $145k | |
Rates at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Published labor (2026) for Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, Feb 21-22 2026: $180/hr straight time, $270 overtime. Published drayage (2026) for Chicago Travel & Adventure Show 2026: $115–$125 per 100 lb.
- Installation & dismantle labor
- $180 per hour, straight time Official
- Drayage (material handling)
- $115–$125 per 100 lb, round trip, 200 lb minimum Official
- Electrical
- $215–$295 per 500-watt outlet (advance price, then the standard price) Official
- Wired internet
- $625 for a basic connection Official
- Setting up your own booth
- Chicagoland work rules: full-time employees of the exhibiting company may set up and dismantle their own booth displays (no booth-size limit stated), may use hand tools and power tools in their booths, attach clamp-on lights, plug lighting/video into ordered outlets, hang graphics on backwalls. Outside workers must be Chicagoland Carpenter Union members. POV/assisted cartload service available via decorator; anything through the dock is weighed and charged material handling. Official
How Donald E. Stephens Convention Center compares
Published rates at the 28 US venues that publish their own.
Shows at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Pick a show to see its estimate.
- Collect-A-Con ChicagoOct 10–11, 2026
- Jewelry Fashion & Accessories ShowOct 15–18, 2026
- Chicago Ultimate Women's ExpoOct 24–25, 2026
- Great Food Expo ChicagoOct 24–25, 2026
- The ASSEMBLY ShowOct 27–29, 2026
- PLMA's Private Label Trade ShowNov 15–17, 2026
- Chicago Boat ShowFeb 3–7, 2027
- Travel & Adventure Show ChicagoFeb 6–7, 2027
- Powder & Bulk Solids Conference & ExhibitionApr 27–29, 2027
- Anime Central (ACEN)May 14–16, 2027
- The Franchise Expo ChicagoMay 22–23, 2027
- Midwest Haunters ConventionJun 4–7, 2027
Exhibiting at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
How much does a booth at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center cost?
Plan on $17.2k – $40.4k for a 10×10 rental booth and $43.2k – $87.4k for a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth. A 20×20 island runs $70.7k – $145k. 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 Donald E. Stephens Convention Center?
Drayage at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center runs $115–$125 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 $2.1k – $2.3k. Your show's exhibitor kit has the exact rate.
What does installation labor cost at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center?
Published installation and dismantle rates run $180 per hour at straight time. Overtime is usually 1.5 times that. A 10×20 custom booth takes about 16–28 crew hours, so labor comes to $2.9k – $5k.
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 booth, ask for a quote.
Can I set up my own booth at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center?
Chicagoland work rules: full-time employees of the exhibiting company may set up and dismantle their own booth displays (no booth-size limit stated), may use hand tools and power tools in their booths, attach clamp-on lights, plug lighting/video into ordered outlets, hang graphics on backwalls. Outside workers must be Chicagoland Carpenter Union members. POV/assisted cartload service available via decorator; anything through the dock is weighed and charged material handling.
More booth cost pages
- Donald E. Stephens Convention Center exhibitor guide
- Booth costs at Javits Center
- Booth costs at McCormick Place
- Booth costs at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
- Booth costs at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
- Booth costs at San Diego Convention Center
- Booth costs at Walter E. Washington Convention Center
- Booth costs at Las Vegas Convention Center
- Booth costs at Anaheim Convention Center
- 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 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center?
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.
