WEFTEC 2027 · Budget & deadline sheet
September 25–29, 2027 · McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
September 25–29, 2027 · McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Booth price tiers (all-in, 2026 ranges)
| Footprint | Rental with your graphics | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| 10×20 inline | $7,500 – $15,000 | $15,000 – $45,000 |
| 10×30 inline | $12,000 – $22,000 | $25,000 – $65,000 |
| 20×20 island | $16,000 – $40,000 | $50,000 – $120,000 |
| 20×30+ island | $25,000 – $55,000 | $75,000 – $175,000 |
Includes design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle. A custom-built booth runs roughly $100 to $250 per square foot depending on finish level. A rental of the same footprint usually lands at 35 to 50 percent of the purchase price for one show.
Billed by the show
- Booth space, paid to Water Environment Federation
- Material handling / drayage, if the WEFTEC space rate leaves it out
- Electrical, internet and rigging orders for WEFTEC
- Booth cleaning, and union labor where McCormick Place requires it
Published rates:
- Material handling: $1.25 per lb before mid-September, $1.57 after, 2026 rate
- Machinery handling: $0.55 per lb up to 5,000 lb, 2026 rate
- Display labor: $133 per hour straight time, 2026 rate
- McCormick Place drayage: About $210 per cwt, Purple's 2026–2027 planning figure
Key dates
- Design sign-off with Purple: Mid-July 2027
- Spring 2027: Booth number and footprint confirmed with WEF; we draw to your space and the published height limits.
- Mid-July 2027: Design sign-off; floor-load and structure drawings for heavy skids start, ahead of WEF's approval deadlines.
- August 2027: Production in our Fishkill, NY shop over 30 to 45 days; skid bases engineered from your equipment weights.
- Early September 2027: Freight to the advance warehouse before the higher late material-handling rate applies; show-service orders placed.
- Days before September 25, 2027: Targeted move-in at McCormick Place; 2027 move-in dates not confirmed yet. Our project manager sets and levels every skid.
- September 25–29, 2027: Conference and exhibition days with our project manager on call, then dismantle and freight home or to storage.
Purple planning timeline; confirm official dates against your exhibitor kit.
Checklist
- Send us your WEFTEC 2027 booth number, footprint and booth type from your WEF contract
- List every skid and component with dimensions, weight and the face to show
- Decide whether you need an island of 600 square feet or more for a hanging sign
- Choose flooring: carpet, raised floor or reinforced plates under equipment
- Plan any vehicle display for island space only, fuel at 1/8 tank or less
- Consider the Innovation Showcase, Discovery Zone or International Pavilion if eligible
- Book rooms near McCormick Place once WEF opens the 2027 housing block
- Set the return plan for equipment after the September 29 close
No fee left off: every WEFTEC cost is listed upfront, on paper. Questions or a fixed proposal: (800) 994-8030 · info@purpleexhibits.com · purpleexhibits.com/shows/weftec/