Booth cost estimates at Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC: installation labor runs $120–$216 an hour and drayage $130–$278 per 100 lb at published rates. Exhibiting with a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth typically costs $42.3k – $91.3k all-in. These are market estimates, not Purple Exhibits prices.
- CityWashington, DC
- Labor$120–$216/hr
- Drayage$130–$278 per 100 lb
Photo: "Walter E. Washington Convention Center" by ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
What exhibiting at Walter E. Washington 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 | $16.7k – $41.7k | $27.1k – $56.9k | Adjust |
| 10×20 inline | $28.7k – $67k | $42.3k – $91.3k | Adjust |
| 20×20 island | $45.9k – $109k | $69.2k – $153k | Adjust |
| 20×30 island | $67.2k – $157k | $100k – $222k | 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 $130–$278 per 100 lb | $2.3k – $5k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle16–28 crew hours at $120–$216/hr | $1.9k – $6k | Official |
| Electrical2–3 500-watt outlets at $125 each (venue price list) | $250 – $375 | 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 | $3.8k – $8.3k | Industry guide |
| Total | $42.3k – $91.3k | |
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 $130–$278 per 100 lb | $4.7k – $10k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle32–56 crew hours at $120–$216/hr | $3.8k – $12.1k | 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 $24–$65/sq ft | $9.6k – $26k | Industry guide |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $6.3k – $13.9k | Industry guide |
| Total | $69.2k – $153k | |
Rates at Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Published labor (2026) for AUA Annual Meeting 2026 in Washington DC: $172.25/hr straight time, $246 overtime. Published drayage (2026) for AUA Annual Meeting 2026: $278 per 100 lb.
- Installation & dismantle labor
- $120–$216 per hour, straight time Official
- Drayage (material handling)
- $130–$278 per 100 lb, round trip, 200 lb minimum Official
- Electrical
- $125–$154 per 500-watt outlet (advance price, then the standard price) Official
- Setting up your own booth
- Per SATELLITE x GovMilSpace 2026 ESM (Freeman GSC): exhibitors may work in booths 10'x10' or smaller without union labor. For booths larger than 10'x10', two full-time exhibitor employees may work without carpenter labor for 1 hour on install and 1 hour on dismantle. Power tools (drills, saws, etc.) are NOT permitted for exhibitors on booths of any size; manual hand tools allowed within size/time limits. Exhibitors may not borrow tools/ladders from the facility or Freeman. Teamsters Local 639 handles freight/dock work. Official
How Walter E. Washington Convention Center compares
Published rates at the 28 US venues that publish their own.
Shows at Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Pick a show to see its estimate.
- AUSA Annual Meeting & ExpositionOct 12–14, 2026
- North East Optical Show (NEOS)Oct 18, 2026
- IDWeekOct 21–24, 2026
- National Alliance for Care at Home Annual Meeting & ExpositionOct 27–30, 2026
- Washington Bridal & Wedding Expo (Fall)Nov 1, 2026
- Neuroscience (SfN Annual Meeting)Nov 14–18, 2026
- Neuroscience (Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting)Nov 14–18, 2026
- NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C.Nov 30 – Dec 3, 2026
- ASSA Annual Meeting (AEA)Jan 3–5, 2027
- TRB Annual MeetingJan 10–14, 2027
- Washington Auto ShowJan 22–31, 2027
- SATELLITE Conference & ExhibitionMar 8–11, 2027
Exhibiting at Walter E. Washington Convention Center
How much does a booth at Walter E. Washington Convention Center cost?
Plan on $16.7k – $41.7k for a 10×10 rental booth and $42.3k – $91.3k for a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth. A 20×20 island runs $69.2k – $153k. 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 Walter E. Washington Convention Center?
Drayage at Walter E. Washington Convention Center runs $130–$278 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 $2.3k – $5k. Your show's exhibitor kit has the exact rate.
What does installation labor cost at Walter E. Washington Convention Center?
Published installation and dismantle rates run $120–$216 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 $1.9k – $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 Walter E. Washington Convention Center?
Per SATELLITE x GovMilSpace 2026 ESM (Freeman GSC): exhibitors may work in booths 10'x10' or smaller without union labor. For booths larger than 10'x10', two full-time exhibitor employees may work without carpenter labor for 1 hour on install and 1 hour on dismantle. Power tools (drills, saws, etc.) are NOT permitted for exhibitors on booths of any size; manual hand tools allowed within size/time limits. Exhibitors may not borrow tools/ladders from the facility or Freeman. Teamsters Local 639 handles freight/dock work.
More booth cost pages
- Walter E. Washington 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 Las Vegas Convention Center
- Booth costs at Anaheim Convention Center
- Booth costs at Kentucky Exposition 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 Walter E. Washington 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.
