What are the cheapest billboard options in Times Square?

Short answer

The most affordable Times Square advertising options are indoor place-based digital screens ($1,000-$10,000), shared rotation slots on outdoor digital boards ($5,000-$20,000), and mobile LED billboard trucks ($200-$1,000 per hour). Each trades some visibility or exclusivity for a significantly lower price than flagship digital spectaculars.

Times Square inventory on AdQuick

AdQuick currently lists 146 bookable Times Square units across 26 media operators. The mix spans classic large-format inventory and premium digital spectaculars:

Times Square pricing is negotiated placement by placement; transacted volume is too concentrated to publish reliable market-level rates, so treat any flat Times Square price you see quoted elsewhere with caution.

Source: AdQuick marketplace inventory as of July 23, 2026. Counts are bookable units listed on the marketplace.

Budget-friendly Times Square billboard types

Five main formats let advertisers enter Times Square without committing to a full spectacular placement.

Shared digital rotation slots are the most accessible outdoor option. Multiple advertisers share a single screen, each appearing for a few seconds every few minutes. Smaller boards in secondary locations run roughly $5,000 to $20,000 for a one-to-two-week campaign. More prominent boards near Broadway and 7th Avenue start around $25,000 to $75,000 even for limited rotation. The tradeoff is infrequent exposure, but the format suits startups and small brands prioritizing presence over dominance.

Indoor place-based digital screens inside restaurants, bars, hotels, and retail spaces in the Times Square area offer the lowest entry point. Campaigns across a network of these screens typically cost $1,000 to $10,000 over several weeks, often priced on a cost-per-thousand-impressions basis. The audience is venue-specific rather than street-wide, and the placement lacks the iconic outdoor setting, but the cost efficiency is unmatched.

Short-run outdoor packages give brands a brief window on an outdoor board. A single day on a secondary board runs approximately $5,000 to $20,000; a weekend or multi-day campaign can reach $10,000 to $40,000. Per-day costs are higher than longer commitments, but these packages work well for product launches or PR moments where the goal is social media amplification rather than sustained reach.

Mobile digital billboard trucks are LED-equipped vehicles that circulate through Times Square and surrounding Midtown streets. Rates run roughly $200 to $1,000 per hour. Campaigns can launch within two to three days, and routes can be tailored to specific events or pedestrian-heavy blocks. Visibility is lower than a fixed spectacular, but the flexibility and speed make this format practical for time-sensitive activations.

Experiential and social activations place a brand on a Times Square screen as part of a larger sponsored event, often at a lower net cost because the billboard time is bundled into an event partnership. Control over timing and content is limited, and availability depends on a third-party event schedule, but the format can generate viral social media reach beyond the physical audience.

What drives Times Square billboard prices

Several variables determine where a specific campaign lands within these ranges.

Location matters most. Boards at high-traffic intersections command the highest rates; secondary positions and side streets cost considerably less.

Screen size and technology affect pricing significantly. Large spectaculars with 3D or augmented reality extensions cost more than smaller standard digital panels.

Duration and frequency interact in opposite ways: longer campaigns reduce the daily rate but raise total spend, while short bursts cost more per day.

Seasonality creates price spikes. The holiday season and New Year's Eve are peak periods across all formats.

Purchase method also plays a role. Direct buys from property owners, brokered packages, and programmatic digital-out of home platforms each carry different rates and levels of flexibility.

Budget benchmarks at a glance

Advertisers with tighter budgets should concentrate on indoor networks or shared slots, and consider mobile units when speed and flexibility matter more than a fixed address.

How AdQuick handles Times Square billboard advertising

Planning a Times Square campaign across multiple formats and vendors is time-consuming when done through separate negotiations. AdQuick consolidates outdoor inventory, including digital rotation packages and mobile units, into a single planning interface, allowing advertisers to compare locations, screen sizes, durations, and estimated impressions side by side. Budget controls and transparent pricing help smaller advertisers avoid overspending on flagship inventory when a shared slot or a short-run package delivers the same strategic goal. Learn more about digital billboard advertising to explore available Times Square options and request quotes in one place.