How Much Does It Cost to Print a Billboard?

Have you ever been driving down the highway, or a side street, looked up and seen a billboard, and wondered how much would that cost? Or maybe you’ve been to New York City, and you’ve walked around time square spinning in circles while looking up at billboard after billboard, thinking, “these must cost a fortune.” Well, you’re not wrong. Those Time Square ones are some of the most expensive billboards globally, but how much is a billboard, and do they improve sales?

What goes into determining how much a billboard costs?

The reality is that numerous factors go into determining how much a billboard costs. Typically, billboard installation companies and billboard sign installers look at six important factors to consider. Some of them are relatively standardized, and some are highly dependent on where you want your billboard located. Some billboards in rural areas can rent for $200, and the very same billboard could rent north of $10,000 in more urban areas. The six significant factors Billboard installation companies and billboard sign installers look at are:

• Size. Standard sizes range from 6’ x 12’ to 16’ x 60’
• Format. Some standard formats are printed, digital, and mobile billboards
•  Length of contract. Typically, a 4-week lease but could be longer or shorter
•  Circulation. How many people are in the area? Think “population”
•  Demographics. Some demographics include age, gender, or income
• Impressions. Also known as visibility, the easier it is to see, the more expensive it is.

Hidden Costs: There is much more to consider when purchasing a billboard than just how much it costs to place it in your desired location. You also have to consider things like upfront costs, materials if it’s printed, and even hidden digital fees

Upfront costs: You’ll need a professional billboard designer to design and craft the billboard. Based on material and size, these can be anywhere between 100-500 dollars an hour.

Materials: Considering printed billboards are the most common, you’ll need the materials to create that billboard. Traditionally billboards are built from PVC. However, in recent years polyethylene has become popular. Polyethylene is lighter than PVC, making it cheaper to ship as well as being recyclable.

Digital Billboards: Digital billboards are made up of bright LED light displays and colors to attract attention. Digital billboards tend to bring in 20-40% more attention than the standard billboard.

Standard Sizes for Billboards

Billboards come in multiple sizes that change the price point. The standard size is also known as the “bulletin,” it tends to measure around 14’ x 48’ x 40’ or 10’6” x 36’. Billboards’ size is about their distance from traffic, making bulletins the usual go-to for most areas. The average impression for a bulletin is 20,000 to 50,000 a day, with increases in high urban areas. 

The next size, smaller than the bulletin, is called the “poster.” A poster, also known as a 30 sheet, is usually 12’3” x 24”6’, though there are other sizes, and another common one is 10’.5” x 22’.8”. The poster averages 10,000 to 20,000 impressions a day with the ability to go up if in a high population area.

The final and smallest size is a “junior poster.” A junior poster, also known as an 8 sheet, is 6’ x 12’. This is the most affordable billboard size, but it also averages the smallest number of impressions, with 8,000-12,000 depending on the area.

Spectacular Billboards

Spectacular Billboards are exactly what they sound like, whether it’s a giant billboard that is 60’ in width, 20’ tall, or a billboard in a particular location. These billboards are fast more expensive than regular billboards. These are the type of billboards you can find on display in New York City’s Time Square. These billboards have the highest impression rate, with averages far over 100,000 impressions a day, making them the most expensive and the most noticeable billboards.

How to get started?

It can feel overwhelming when trying to figure out what kind of billboard you want and how much you want to spend. The reality is there are a few steps to follow in the beginning to make the whole planning process move seamlessly and to get your advertisement on a billboard.

• Step 1 – Identify and define your goal.  
• Step 2 – Think about billboard placement options.
• Step 3 – Determine the best location for your billboard.
• Step 4 – Find your market audience.
• Step 5 – Discover what you want your billboard to look like and say.
• Step 6 – Decide what type of billboard will align with your goals.
• Step 7 – List out the skills/information you need.

Following these easy steps should help ease your confusion and give you an excellent idea of what you want, where you want it, and how you plan to get it. Contact our professional billboard installation company if you’re looking to get your advertisement on a billboard.