Price ranges by format
| Format | Typical price | Typical CPM | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static bulletin (14'×48') | $250–$25,000+ / 4 wks | $2–$10 | Billboards |
| Digital bulletin (shared loop) | $1,200–$30,000+ / mo | $5–$18 | DOOH |
| 30-sheet poster | $300–$6,000 / 4 wks | $2–$8 | Posters |
| 8-sheet poster | $150–$1,500 / 4 wks | $2–$6 | Junior posters |
| Spectacular / landmark | $50,000–$500,000+ / 4 wks | $15–$25+ | Spectaculars |
| Programmatic DOOH | From ~$1,000 total | $5–$30 | pDOOH |
| Bus king / queen / tail | $300–$3,500 per bus / 4 wks | $1–$5 | Transit |
| Full bus wrap | $1,500–$8,000+ / bus / 4 wks + production | $2–$6 | Bus wraps |
| Subway station domination | $25,000–$500,000+ / 4 wks | Varies | Stations |
| Bus shelter | $200–$1,200 / face / 4 wks | $4–$15 | Street furniture |
| Bus bench | $100–$600 / mo | Low | Benches |
| Airport diorama | $1,500–$40,000+ / 4 wks | $10–$30 | Airports |
| Place-based screen networks | Campaign-based | $5–$60 | Place-based |
| Mobile billboard truck | $400–$3,000+ / day | Varies | Mobile |
| Aerial banner | $250–$600 / flight hr + banner | Low | Aerial |
| Drone light show | $15,000–$300,000+ | n/a | Drones |
| Wallscape (major city) | $10,000–$150,000+ / 4 wks | Varies | Wallscapes |
| Wild postings | $1,500–$10,000+ / wall | Low | Wild postings |
| Vehicle wrap (own vehicle) | $2,500–$8,000 one-time | Very low | Wraps |
OOH budget calculator
Ask vendors for weekly impressions per unit (ideally Geopath-audited) and either a 4-week rate or a CPM. Enter either one — the calculator works out the other.
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Media cost
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Total incl. production
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Total impressions
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Est. unique reach
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Effective CPM (all-in)
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Per 4 weeks
Reach is a rough estimate (impressions ÷ frequency). Formula: media = impressions ÷ 1,000 × CPM.
What drives the price
- Market size — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago cost multiples of smaller DMAs.
- Impressions & audience — traffic volume, dwell time, and how well the audience matches yours.
- Location quality — read side, distance from road, visibility, clutter, illumination.
- Format — digital typically runs 20–50% above comparable static per month, but you share the face.
- Term — 12-, 26- and 52-week commitments earn better rates than single 4-week periods.
- Seasonality — Q4 and election years tighten inventory; Q1 often has the best deals.
- Production — vinyl printing and installation for static; fabrication for wraps, extensions and spectaculars.
Ways to stretch your budget
- Buy remnant or last-minute inventory — vendors discount unsold faces.
- Commit to longer terms or multiple units for volume discounts.
- Use programmatic DOOH to buy only the hours and places that matter.
- Choose posters and shelters for frequency instead of a single bulletin.
- Ask for added value: bonus weeks, extra digital spots, or an extra creative rotation at no charge.
- Negotiate production into the media cost on longer contracts.
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AdQuick ↗
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Price out your campaign
Plug in impressions, CPM and flight length to see a realistic budget.