RSNA 2026 booth cost estimate
RSNA 2026 runs Nov 29 – Dec 3, 2026 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. Exhibiting there with a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth typically costs $46.7k – $86.6k all-in, and with a 20×20 island $78.2k – $143k, based on McCormick Place's published rates. These are market estimates, not Purple Exhibits prices.
- DatesNov 29 – Dec 3, 2026
- 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 RSNA 2026 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 | $18.8k – $39.5k | $29.4k – $54.6k | Adjust |
| 10×20 inline | $32.9k – $62.5k | $46.7k – $86.6k | Adjust |
| 20×20 island | $54.5k – $99.4k | $78.2k – $143k | Adjust |
| 20×30 island | $80.1k – $143k | $114k – $208k | 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 RSNA 2026
RSNA 2026 (radiology / medical imaging) runs 5 days, Nov 29 – Dec 3, 2026, at McCormick Place.
- Last edition
- Nearly 38,000 registrants and 720 exhibitors (2025)
Source: auntminnie.com
From the RSNA exhibitor kit
- General contractor
- Freeman Official
- Booth space
- $41.25 per sq ft standard, $45.25 premium inline; corners $700 each (2026) Official
- Move-in
- Targeted move-in from Nov 19, 2026; general move-in Nov 27; show-ready 9 AM Nov 29 Official
- Advance warehouse
- Freeman warehouse Oct 20 – Nov 12, 2026; discount deadline Oct 22, 2026 Official
- Exhibit hours
- Nov 29 – Dec 2, 2026, 10 AM–5 PM Official
RSNA's annual meeting is the world's largest radiology and medical imaging event, with imaging equipment makers, AI software companies and IT vendors. Attendees are radiologists, physicists, technologists and hospital administrators.
What drives the cost at RSNA 2026
- Imaging equipment is very heavy and can need special handling, rigging and floor-load checks, which add to drayage and labor.
- Reading-room style demos need darkened areas, extra power and network connections. Order these early.
- The meeting runs right after Thanksgiving, so freight schedules are tight. Ship to the advance warehouse early.
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. 5 exhibit days plus a day each for move-in and move-out is about 7 nights per person. The estimate budgets $1,500–$3,000 per traveler.
- Also in Chicago around the same dates: SC - International Conference for High Performance Computing (Nov 15–20, 2026), One of a Kind Show Chicago (Dec 3–6, 2026). Book hotels early when large events overlap.
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 $41.25–$45.25/sq ft | $8.3k – $9.1k | Official |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $4.2k – $7.9k | Industry guide |
| Total | $46.7k – $86.6k | |
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 $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 $41.25–$45.25/sq ft | $16.5k – $18.1k | Official |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $7.1k – $13k | Industry guide |
| Total | $78.2k – $143k | |
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 2026 booth space price: $41.25–$45.25 per sq ft. Official
How McCormick Place compares
Published rates at the 28 US venues that publish their own.
RSNA 2026 booth cost questions
How much does a booth at RSNA 2026 cost?
Plan on $18.8k – $39.5k for a 10×10 rental booth and $46.7k – $86.6k for a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth. A 20×20 island runs $78.2k – $143k. 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 RSNA 2026?
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 RSNA 2026?
RSNA 2026 opens Nov 29 – Dec 3. Most exhibitor kits close the lower prices for labor, electrical and advance-warehouse freight three to four weeks before move-in, which for RSNA 2026 is around November 1, 2026 to November 8, 2026. 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 RSNA 2026 booth, ask for a quote.
More booth cost pages
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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 RSNA 2026?
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.
