Booth cost estimates at San Jose McEnery Convention Center
San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA: installation labor runs $229–$287 an hour and drayage $276 per 100 lb at published rates. Exhibiting with a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth typically costs $47.2k – $93.6k all-in. These are market estimates, not Purple Exhibits prices.
- CitySan Jose, CA
- Labor$229–$287/hr
- Drayage$276 per 100 lb
What exhibiting at San Jose McEnery 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 | $18.7k – $42.7k | $29.6k – $58.1k | Adjust |
| 10×20 inline | $32.1k – $68.7k | $47.2k – $93.6k | Adjust |
| 20×20 island | $53.2k – $112k | $79.3k – $158k | Adjust |
| 20×30 island | $78.2k – $162k | $115k – $229k | 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 $276 per 100 lb | $5k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle16–28 crew hours at $229–$287/hr | $3.7k – $8k | Official |
| Electrical2–3 500-watt outlets at $177 each (venue price list) | $353 – $530 | 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 | $4.3k – $8.5k | Industry guide |
| Total | $47.2k – $93.6k | |
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 $276 per 100 lb | $9.9k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle32–56 crew hours at $229–$287/hr | $7.3k – $16.1k | Official |
| Electrical2–4 20-amp drops at $420 each (venue price list) | $840 – $1.7k | 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 | $7.2k – $14.3k | Industry guide |
| Total | $79.3k – $158k | |
Rates at San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Published labor (2026) for The Programmable Biology Conference: $229.25/hr straight time, $401 overtime. Published drayage (2026) for The Programmable Biology Conference 2026: $276 per 100 lb.
- Installation & dismantle labor
- $229–$287 per hour, straight time Official
- Drayage (material handling)
- $276 per 100 lb, round trip, 200 lb minimum Official
- Electrical
- $177–$265 per 500-watt outlet (advance price, then the standard price) Official
- Setting up your own booth
- GES Northern California work rules (Programmable Biology Conference 2026, San Jose): union installs any exhibit requiring hand tools, more than one person, longer than 30 minutes (incl. crating/uncrating), or exceeding 10 ft in any direction; one full-time company employee may supervise. Official
How San Jose McEnery Convention Center compares
Published rates at the 28 US venues that publish their own.
Shows at San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Pick a show to see its estimate.
- OCP Global SummitOct 12–15, 2026
- SPIE Advanced Lithography + PatterningFeb 21–25, 2027
- NVIDIA GTCMar 14–18, 2027
- SynBioBetaMay 3–6, 2027
- AI & Big Data Expo North AmericaMay 24–25, 2027
- Cyber Security Expo North AmericaMay 24–25, 2027
- Edge Computing Expo North AmericaMay 24–25, 2027
- IoT Tech Expo North AmericaMay 24–25, 2027
- Data Center Expo North AmericaJun 16–17, 2027
- Digital Transformation Expo North AmericaJun 16–17, 2027
- Intelligent Automation North AmericaJun 16–17, 2027
- TechEx North AmericaJun 16–17, 2027
Exhibiting at San Jose McEnery Convention Center
How much does a booth at San Jose McEnery Convention Center cost?
Plan on $18.7k – $42.7k for a 10×10 rental booth and $47.2k – $93.6k for a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth. A 20×20 island runs $79.3k – $158k. 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 San Jose McEnery Convention Center?
Drayage at San Jose McEnery Convention Center runs $276 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 $5k – $5k. Your show's exhibitor kit has the exact rate.
What does installation labor cost at San Jose McEnery Convention Center?
Published installation and dismantle rates run $229–$287 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 $3.7k – $8k.
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 San Jose McEnery Convention Center?
GES Northern California work rules (Programmable Biology Conference 2026, San Jose): union installs any exhibit requiring hand tools, more than one person, longer than 30 minutes (incl. crating/uncrating), or exceeding 10 ft in any direction; one full-time company employee may supervise.
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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 at San Jose McEnery 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.
