Trade show drayage and labor rates by venue
Published material handling and installation labor rates for 28 US convention centers, ranked from lowest to highest, with a link to each source document.
Drayage rates by venue
Material handling per 100 lb, round trip, from published 2025–27 exhibitor kits. Ranked by the middle of each venue's range.
Installation labor rates by venue
Installation and dismantle labor billed per hour at straight time. Overtime is usually 1.5 times these rates.
Venues using borrowed rates
These venues keep their rates inside exhibitor kits. The calculator uses a comparable venue's published rate for them; check your show's kit.
- Tampa Convention Center uses Orange County Convention Center
- Henry B. González Convention Center uses George R. Brown Convention Center
- Charlotte Convention Center uses Georgia World Congress Center
- Kansas City Convention Center uses Other US venue
- America's Center Convention Complex uses Other US venue
- Indiana Convention Center uses Other US venue
- Music City Center uses Georgia World Congress Center
- Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center uses Georgia World Congress Center
- Broward County Convention Center uses Orange County Convention Center
- NRG Center uses George R. Brown Convention Center
- Fort Worth Convention Center uses Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
- Pennsylvania Convention Center uses Other US venue
- Hynes Convention Center uses Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
- Huntington Place uses Huntington Convention Center
- Vibe Credit Union Showplace uses Huntington Convention Center
- David L. Lawrence Convention Center uses Huntington Convention Center
- Baltimore Convention Center uses Walter E. Washington Convention Center
- Greater Columbus Convention Center uses Huntington Convention Center
- New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center uses Other US venue
- Baird Center uses Other US venue
- Minneapolis Convention Center uses Other US venue
- Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center uses Walter E. Washington Convention Center
- Meadowlands Exposition Center uses Other US venue
Common questions
Which convention center has the lowest drayage rates?
Ranked by the middle of each published range, Atlantic City Convention Center (Atlantic City, NJ) has the lowest typical drayage of the 28 US venues with published rates, at $101–$104 per 100 lb. Some venues publish wider ranges that start lower, so check your show's kit.
Which convention center has the highest drayage rates?
Ranked the same way, Seattle Convention Center (Seattle, WA) has the highest typical drayage, at $424 per 100 lb. Union venues in the Northeast and on the West Coast tend to cost the most.
Why do drayage rates differ so much between venues?
Each show's general contractor sets material handling rates, based on local labor agreements, union jurisdiction and how long freight has to travel inside the building. Union venues and older buildings with long dock-to-floor distances usually cost more.
What does Borrowed mean in this table?
Some venues don't publish material handling or labor rates outside their exhibitor kits. For those, the calculator uses a comparable venue's published rates and marks them as borrowed, so you know to check your kit.
Numbers updated from published exhibitor kits and price lists. Rates are set per show, so your exhibitor kit has the final prices.