Booth cost estimates at Moscone Center
Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA: installation labor runs $159–$199 an hour and drayage $159 per 100 lb at published rates. Exhibiting with a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth typically costs $43.6k – $88.6k all-in. These are market estimates, not Purple Exhibits prices.
- CitySan Francisco, CA
- Labor$159–$199/hr
- Drayage$159 per 100 lb
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain
What exhibiting at Moscone 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 | $17.3k – $40.8k | $27.8k – $55.6k | Adjust |
| 10×20 inline | $29.7k – $65.2k | $43.6k – $88.6k | Adjust |
| 20×20 island | $48.4k – $105k | $72.4k – $148k | Adjust |
| 20×30 island | $71k – $152k | $105k – $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.
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 $159 per 100 lb | $2.9k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle16–28 crew hours at $159–$199/hr | $2.5k – $5.6k | Official |
| Electrical2–3 500-watt outlets at $171 each (venue price list) | $341 – $512 | 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 | $4k – $8.1k | Industry guide |
| Total | $43.6k – $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 $159 per 100 lb | $5.7k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle32–56 crew hours at $159–$199/hr | $5.1k – $11.2k | Official |
| Electrical2–4 20-amp drops at $483 each (venue price list) | $965 – $1.9k | 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 | $6.6k – $13.4k | Industry guide |
| Total | $72.4k – $148k | |
Rates at Moscone Center
Published labor (2026) for SEMICON West, Moscone Center, Oct 13-15 2026: $159.25/hr straight time, $253 overtime. Published drayage (2026) for SEMICON West 2026: $159 per 100 lb.
- Installation & dismantle labor
- $159–$199 per hour, straight time Official
- Drayage (material handling)
- $159 per 100 lb, round trip, 200 lb minimum Official
- Electrical
- $171–$240 per 500-watt outlet (advance price, then the standard price) Official
- Wired internet
- $800–$900 for a basic connection Official
- Setting up your own booth
- GES work rules for SEMICON West 2026 at Moscone: union (decorators) installs any exhibit requiring hand tools, more than one person, longer than 30 minutes (incl. crating/uncrating), or exceeding 10 ft in any direction. Unpacking/placing merchandise is exempt. One full-time company employee may supervise. Hand-carry only what one person can carry in one trip without dollies/hand trucks. Truss/lighting electrical via TSE. Official
How Moscone Center compares
Published rates at the 28 US venues that publish their own.
Shows at Moscone Center
Pick a show to see its estimate.
- SEMICON WestOct 13–15, 2026
- TechCrunch DisruptOct 13–15, 2026
- Cloudflare ConnectOct 19–22, 2026
- INFORMS Annual MeetingNov 1–4, 2026
- Renegade Craft San FranciscoNov 14–15, 2026
- Rhône By The BayNov 14, 2026
- Microsoft IgniteNov 17–20, 2026
- AGU Annual Meeting (Fall Meeting)Dec 7–11, 2026
- Winter FancyFaire (Winter Fancy Food Show)Jan 17–19, 2027
- ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers SymposiumJan 21–23, 2027
- FOG Design+ArtJan 21–24, 2027
- SPIE Photonics WestJan 30 – Feb 4, 2027
Exhibiting at Moscone Center
How much does a booth at Moscone Center cost?
Plan on $17.3k – $40.8k for a 10×10 rental booth and $43.6k – $88.6k for a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth. A 20×20 island runs $72.4k – $148k. 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 Moscone Center?
Drayage at Moscone Center runs $159 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 $2.9k – $2.9k. Your show's exhibitor kit has the exact rate.
What does installation labor cost at Moscone Center?
Published installation and dismantle rates run $159–$199 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 $2.5k – $5.6k.
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 Moscone Center?
GES work rules for SEMICON West 2026 at Moscone: union (decorators) installs any exhibit requiring hand tools, more than one person, longer than 30 minutes (incl. crating/uncrating), or exceeding 10 ft in any direction. Unpacking/placing merchandise is exempt. One full-time company employee may supervise. Hand-carry only what one person can carry in one trip without dollies/hand trucks. Truss/lighting electrical via TSE.
More booth cost pages
- Moscone 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 Moscone 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.
