Find and Compare Booth Builders for NAB Show 2027

What Will Your NAB Show Booth Cost?

Your total exhibit cost will depend heavily on booth size, design complexity, union labor, AV, rigging, power, flooring, freight and material handling. Ask builders to separate each of these costs in their quotes.

2027 NAB Booth Space Rates

NAB has published its 2027 rates (exhibit space selection):

• NAB members: $50 per sq ft
• Non-members: $56 per sq ft

Here's what that means for common sizes. This is our math from NAB's rates.

NAB doesn't list corner premiums on that page. Ask the NAB sales team for the exact price of the space you want.

For 2027 bookings, NAB asked for 50% by July 1, 2026 and the rest by December 1, 2026. If you book now, ask sales how payment works.

NAB Turnkey Booth Packages (2027)

NAB also sells ready-made booths:

The page doesn't list what each package includes. Ask before you compare a turnkey booth with a builder's quote.

Material Handling Is a Flat Rate at NAB

NAB's standard 2027 material handling rate is based on booth square footage rather than the weight of your freight. Every exhibitor is on this fixed-rate plan. It covers unlimited freight to and from the loading dock (exhibit space selection):

• 0–399 sq ft: $4.10 per sq ft
• 400–900 sq ft: $4.17 per sq ft
• 901+ sq ft: $4.21 per sq ft

Advance warehouse storage and off-target deliveries cost extra. Deliveries from outside vendors can also be charged per pound.

The Big Three NAB Costs: Union Labor, AV and Rigging

For many NAB exhibitors, three costs deserve particular attention: union labor, AV and rigging.

• Union labor. Union crews do most booth work at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Your own staff can only do a few small tasks (see the union rules below). Make sure setup and teardown labor is in every quote.
• AV. Screens, LED walls, audio and live demo gear. At a media tech show, this line can get big. Get it priced on its own.
• Rigging. Freeman is the official rigging provider. Hanging signs and truss need its labor and equipment. Ask for rigging as a separate line.

Other NAB Booth Costs to Budget For

• The booth itself, rented or owned
• Carpet or flooring, which is required
• Electrical, through Freeman
• Internet, through Cox Business
• Food and drink, through the official caterer
• Lead retrieval (Maritz is the show's provider)
• Hotel rooms, through Expovision

NAB lists Freeman as the exclusive vendor for electrical, rigging, AV and computer rentals, carpet, booth rentals, install and dismantle labor, and material handling. Cox Business is the exclusive internet provider (exclusive and preferred vendors). Your builder can bring your booth, but these services come through the show's vendors.

Ask each NAB booth builder to price these lines separately. It's the only fair way to compare quotes.

NAB Show 2027 Dates and Hours

NAB Show 2027 runs Saturday, April 3 to Wednesday, April 7. Conferences and workshops run all five days. The exhibit halls are open Sunday, April 4 to Wednesday, April 7 (NAB Show Las Vegas).

Daily floor hours for 2027 aren't out yet. Here's how 2026 ran (2026 Broadcasters Guide):

The final exhibit day was shorter in 2026, so check the 2027 schedule before planning meetings and demos.

Key 2026 NAB Show Deadlines, for Reference

The 2027 show opens about two weeks earlier in the calendar than 2026. So don't plan around last year's dates. Confirm each one in the 2027 Freeman kit.

NAB Show Floor Plan and Exhibitor List

The 2027 NAB Show floor plan is live. It's also where the 2027 exhibitor list fills in as companies book.

Exhibits fill the West, Central and North Halls. In 2026, the floor had 9 pavilions, 8 show floor theaters and 5 networking lounges (show floor). For 2027, the show is highlighting AI, cloud, the creator economy, sports and streaming (why NAB Show).

2027 also has six themed areas: AI Innovation Pavilion, CineCentral, Creator Lab, Premiere Park, Sports Business Hub and Startup Pavilion. Premiere Park is a showcase for first-time NAB Show exhibitors (exhibiting at NAB Show).

Hall Height Limits (2026)

These caps applied to every booth type. The same limit covered structures and hanging signs (2026 rules).

Shipping and Move-In for NAB Show

This is how freight worked in 2026. Check the 2027 Freeman kit for the new dates.

• NAB uses targeted move-in. Each exhibitor gets a set date and time for freight to arrive (first-time exhibitors).
• You can ship to Freeman's advance warehouse or straight to the show. In 2026, the warehouse opened March 19. Direct-to-show deliveries started April 13, when move-in began.
• Freight to the warehouse must be crated, boxed or skidded.
• Freeman runs the docks and schedules every vehicle. Only small items can be hand-carried from a private car.
• All booths had to be set by 2 PM the day before the halls opened.

Give your builder your move-in slot as soon as Freeman sends it. A missed slot can mean off-target fees.

Las Vegas Union Rules for NAB Booths

Union crews do most booth work at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Your own full-time staff can do a few things themselves. They may be asked for company ID, like a medical card or pay stub (LVCC labor union guidelines). They can:

• Set up a pop-up display in a booth under 250 sq ft, if it's tool-free, ladder-free and self-contained.
• Lay carpet in a booth under 250 sq ft.
• Unpack and repack cartons (not crates).
• Test and tune their own equipment.
• Plug in their own gear on ordered 110-volt service of 500 watts or less, and connect up to eight computer or telecom devices.
• In booths under 250 sq ft, put up their own lights without ladders or tools, up to 500 watts. Up to four small clip-on lights per 10x10.
• Put a monitor on a table and plug it in, if no tools are needed. Mounting screens on a wall or stand is union work.
• Hand-carry small items from their own vehicle. A personal luggage or office dolly is fine. Hand carts aren't allowed.

The unions handle the rest. Teamsters move freight and do rigging. Carpenters build the booth, lay flooring and hang non-electric signs. Electricians run power and handle lit signs and booth lighting.

For an AV-heavy booth, this matters a lot. Your team can plug in gear and test it. They can't run power, mount screens on walls or stands, or hang anything from the ceiling. Make sure union labor is in every quote you get.

NAB Booth Rules: Heights, Sound, Carpet and More

These are the 2026 rules (rules and regulations). Check the 2027 version before you finalize a design.

Linear, Corner and Perimeter Booths

• Up to 8 ft tall in the back half of the booth.
• Up to 4 ft tall in the front half.
• Perimeter booths can go to 12 ft at the back.
• No hanging signs or trusses.

Islands and Bigger Booths

• An island is at least 20x20 (400 sq ft), with aisles on all four sides.
• Height is set by the hall limits above.
• Hanging signs sit back 10 ft from neighbors if double-sided, 5 ft if single-sided. The 2026 rules named Freeman the exclusive rigging provider.
• Long solid walls need a 6 ft break (or clear panels) every 30 ft, so neighbors can still be seen.
• Booths of 800 sq ft or more must send design and technical drawings for approval.
• Truss structures need plans sent to LVCVA Fire and Safety 90 days ahead.
• Any upper deck people will use needs a plan with an engineering stamp registered in Nevada. Decks over 300 sq ft, or for more than nine people, need two exits. Spiral stairs aren't allowed.

Sound, Lights and Demos

• Sound can't go over 80 decibels. Speakers must sit inside your booth and face in.
• Lights, logos and lasers can't shine outside your space.
• Large machinery sits at least 12 inches back from the aisle.
• Crowd control is your job. Use your own staff or hire security.
• Drones must weigh under 55 lb and fly only in a fully enclosed area, such as behind netting.

Flooring, Storage and Food

• Carpet or other flooring is required and not included. Area rugs don't count.
• You can keep one day of product in the booth. Nothing can be stored behind it.
• All food and drink must come from the official caterer.

Staff, Photos and Sharing Space

• Booth staff must wear an exhibitor badge and stay inside your booth.
• You can only photograph or film your own booth, unless you get written permission.
• You can't share or sublet your space without NAB's written approval.
• Giveaways and raffles are allowed, but state laws may apply.

Using Your Own NAB Trade Show Contractor

Freeman is the official contractor (exhibitor resources). But you can bring your own builder. This is called an Exhibitor Appointed Contractor, or EAC.

Under the labor guidelines, EACs must register with show management and the building. They can't do electrical work or vacuum. They can use ladders if they follow union safety rules. Your builder's crew must also be registered for the show, like your booth staff (first-time exhibitors).

The 2026 rules say EAC insurance must be sent in before the show, but the public pages don't list the limits or deadlines. Ask Freeman or show management for the 2027 EAC requirements before you sign with a builder.

NAB Show 2027 Booth Planning Timeline (Estimated from 2026)

NAB hasn't published most 2027 deadlines yet. Every date marked "estimated" is our estimate. We moved each 2026 date about two weeks earlier, since the 2027 show starts 15 days earlier. Check each one in the 2027 Freeman kit.

NAB Show Booth Design Tips

These NAB Show booth design tips come from the 2026 rules and from how people use the floor.

• Keep the front half low. Linear booths were capped at 4 ft in the front half. Put demo tables up front and tall screens at the back.
• Plan for sound. The limit is 80 dB. Point speakers into your booth, and use headphones for loud demos.
• Give engineers something to touch. Many visitors want to see gear running. A hands-on station keeps them in your booth.
• Draw the power plan early. Union electricians do this work. A clear plan saves time and money on site.
• Order internet early. Cox Business is the only provider. Don't count on hall Wi-Fi for live demos.
• Leave room for a crowd. Crowd control is your job, so keep demo crowds out of the aisle.
• Hide cases and stock. Nothing can sit behind the booth, so build in closed storage.

NAB Booth Rental vs. Custom Build

• Small booth, first NAB? In a booth under 250 sq ft, your own staff can set up a tool-free pop-up, which saves on labor. A rental or one of NAB's turnkey packages can also lower your upfront cost while you learn what works.
• Doing several tech shows a year? An owned modular booth can pay off across shows like CES and ISC West.
• Island with rigging, trusses or a second story? You'll likely need custom exhibit fabrication, plus drawings approved well ahead of the show.

What to Ask a NAB Exhibit Builder

You'll find three kinds of NAB booth builders: Las Vegas shops, national exhibit houses, and internationally managed exhibit companies. Ask each one:

1. Have you built at the Las Vegas Convention Center for NAB? Which halls?
2. Is union labor included in your quote?
3. Can you handle the drawings for booths of 800 sq ft or more, and truss plans 90 days ahead?
4. Who handles power, rigging and AV on site?
5. How will you keep our demos under 80 dB?
6. Where is the booth built and stored, and what does freight to Las Vegas cost?
7. Will you price each line separately?

Question 7 matters most. A cheap quote often just leaves things out. Exhibitorly lets you send one brief to several NAB exhibit builders and compare their quotes side by side.

Avoid NAB Show Scams

NAB warns exhibitors about three common scams (beware of NAB Show scams):

• Attendee lists. NAB doesn't sell attendee lists. Any offer to sell NAB Show attendee data is a scam.
• Hotels. Only Expovision offers official NAB Show hotel rates. NAB never asks for deposits on hotel bookings.
• Directory listings. Some companies charge for fake exhibitor directories. Use NAB's official directory.

If something looks off, check with NAB before you pay.

After NAB Show: Turn Booth Leads Into Deals

• Send personal follow-up emails within a week. NAB recommends it (first-time exhibitors).
• Track every lead in your CRM or a spreadsheet.
• Note which demos drew crowds. Plan next year's booth around them.
• Take photos of your booth from the aisle. They'll help next year's builder.

How Exhibitorly Helps You Find a NAB Booth Builder

1. Tell us your booth size, budget and goals.
2. We match you with vetted builders.
3. You get up to three design concepts and quotes.
4. You compare them side by side.
5. You pick one and work with them directly.

Exhibit Builders with NAB Show Experience

Builders with Las Vegas Convention Center projects appear first in the list above. Ask each one for photos of broadcast or AV booths they've built.

Get Matched With NAB Exhibit Builders for 2027

NAB Show 2027 is about two weeks earlier than 2026, so deadlines come fast. Tell us about your booth, and we'll match you with NAB booth builders who know Las Vegas. Request free quotes now.