Booth cost estimates at George R. Brown Convention Center
George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX: installation labor runs $85–$181 an hour and drayage $95–$175 per 100 lb at published rates. Exhibiting with a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth typically costs $40.9k – $88.2k all-in. These are market estimates, not Purple Exhibits prices.
- CityHouston, TX
- Labor$85–$181/hr
- Drayage$95–$175 per 100 lb
Photo: "George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston TX" by roy.luck, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
What exhibiting at George R. Brown 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 | $16.1k – $40.5k | $26.5k – $55.4k | Adjust |
| 10×20 inline | $27.7k – $64.8k | $40.9k – $88.2k | Adjust |
| 20×20 island | $44.2k – $104k | $66.6k – $146k | Adjust |
| 20×30 island | $64.6k – $150k | $96.3k – $212k | 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 $95–$175 per 100 lb | $1.7k – $3.1k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle16–28 crew hours at $85–$181/hr | $1.4k – $5.1k | Official |
| Electrical2–3 500-watt outlets at $127 each (venue price list) | $254 – $381 | 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 | $3.7k – $8k | Industry guide |
| Total | $40.9k – $88.2k | |
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 $95–$175 per 100 lb | $3.4k – $6.3k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle32–56 crew hours at $85–$181/hr | $2.7k – $10.1k | Official |
| Electrical2–4 20-amp drops at $214 each (venue price list) | $428 – $856 | Official |
| 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 | $6.1k – $13.3k | Industry guide |
| Total | $66.6k – $146k | |
Rates at George R. Brown Convention Center
Published labor (2026) for CLEANPOWER 2026 in Houston: $144.75/hr straight time, $216 overtime. Published drayage (2025) for ASLA Texas Chapter Annual Conference 2025: $109.75–$126.25 per 100 lb.
- Installation & dismantle labor
- $85–$181 per hour, straight time Official
- Drayage (material handling)
- $95–$175 per 100 lb, round trip, 200 lb minimum Official
- Electrical
- $127–$166 per 500-watt outlet (advance price, then the standard price) Official
- Wired internet
- $895–$1,140 for a basic connection Official
How George R. Brown Convention Center compares
Published rates at the 28 US venues that publish their own.
Shows at George R. Brown Convention Center
Pick a show to see its estimate.
- IRPC AmericasOct 8–9, 2026
- Disaster Expo USAOct 14–15, 2026
- First Responders ExpoOct 14–15, 2026
- Natural Disasters Expo USAOct 14–15, 2026
- OCS CONOct 14–16, 2026
- Affordable Art Fair HoustonOct 15–18, 2026
- Plastic Surgery The MeetingOct 15–18, 2026
- SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE)Oct 21–23, 2026
- American EPC Projects ForumOct 26–27, 2026
- American Data Centers Construction ForumOct 28–29, 2026
- Energy Council HoustonOct 28–29, 2026
- SNAME Maritime Convention (SMC)Oct 28–30, 2026
Exhibiting at George R. Brown Convention Center
How much does a booth at George R. Brown Convention Center cost?
Plan on $16.1k – $40.5k for a 10×10 rental booth and $40.9k – $88.2k for a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth. A 20×20 island runs $66.6k – $146k. 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 George R. Brown Convention Center?
Drayage at George R. Brown Convention Center runs $95–$175 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 $1.7k – $3.1k. Your show's exhibitor kit has the exact rate.
What does installation labor cost at George R. Brown Convention Center?
Published installation and dismantle rates run $85–$181 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 $1.4k – $5.1k.
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 George R. Brown Convention Center?
Check the work rules in your exhibitor kit. Many venues let full-time employees set up a small booth with hand tools, while larger and custom booths need show labor.
More booth cost pages
- George R. Brown 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
- 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 George R. Brown 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.
