Where can I get the best rates and terms for a billboard in Times Square?

Short answer

Times Square billboard costs range from roughly $150 per day on shared rotation screens to $100,000 or more for a four-week premium digital campaign. The best rates come from combining direct seller proposals with broker comparisons, committing to longer terms, and booking during shoulder seasons.

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.

What Times Square billboard inventory actually costs

Prices vary widely by format, location, and duration. Premium digital spectaculars aimed at major brand campaigns run approximately $25,000 to over $100,000 for a four-week flight. Static billboards typically fall in the $30,000 to $60,000 range for four weeks, though production and installation costs can push some past $100,000. Smaller or less prominent digital screens start around $10,000 for a comparable period.

For individuals or small businesses, personal-message services on partner and shared-rotation screens offer micro-buy options reported as low as around $150 per day. These are marketed through niche platforms rather than mainstream outdoor sellers and appear on partner screens rather than marquee spectaculars.

For context, the national average for a four-week billboard campaign is roughly $3,953, which illustrates how significant the Times Square premium is.

What drives the price up or down

Location and visibility are the biggest factors. Boards in the "bow tie" area and those positioned at camera-friendly angles command the highest premiums. Boards near major intersections or the New Year's Eve ball drop carry additional premiums beyond that.

Screen size and format also matter. Large LED spectaculars and 3D anamorphic displays cost more than standard digital screens or static boards, and custom creative formats such as 3D or augmented reality add costs on top of the base rate.

Duration shapes the monthly rate significantly. Longer-term contracts of six to twelve months are commonly cited as producing discounts of roughly 20 to 40 percent compared to short-term bookings. Share of voice follows a similar logic: exclusive or high-frequency rotations cost more than shared-loop arrangements.

Seasonality creates meaningful swings. Peak pricing runs during November through January for the holiday period and June through August for summer tourism, plus special events. Shoulder seasons, broadly February through May and September through October, tend to offer more flexible pricing.

Where to buy: direct sellers, brokers, and programmatic platforms

Three main channels exist for purchasing Times Square inventory, and the best approach often combines them.

Direct sellers are the owners and operators of specific boards. They are the authoritative source for availability, technical specifications, and operational details, and they often offer package deals across multiple screens or for long-term commitments. Going direct is most useful when you have a specific marquee board in mind.

Brokers and outdoor advertising agencies aggregate inventory across multiple owners. They offer broader market comparison, handle planning and negotiation, and can use their relationships and volume to secure better terms than an individual advertiser might achieve alone.

Programmatic DOOH platforms allow automated or semi-automated purchases of digital impressions or time slots across partner screens. They offer flexibility and real-time adjustments that traditional direct buys do not.

A hybrid approach tends to produce the best outcome: benchmark pricing and options through brokers or programmatic platforms, then solicit direct proposals from media owners for the specific screens you want most. This creates competitive pressure and gives you both reach and precision.

Negotiation tactics that reduce cost

Commit to a longer term. A six to twelve month agreement can reduce monthly rates by roughly 20 to 40 percent compared to a short campaign.

Book during shoulder seasons. The periods from January through March and late summer generally offer more pricing flexibility than peak holiday or summer months.

Adjust your share of voice and time slots. Partial rotations or non-peak hours lower costs while preserving meaningful exposure.

Consider alternative screens. Smaller, less famous boards with good viewing angles and high frequency can outperform marquee placements in cost efficiency.

Bundle across multiple boards. Negotiating packages that span several billboards, or that add social or PR amplification, can improve overall return on investment.

Use an agency or broker as your advocate. Experienced intermediaries can benchmark pricing across sellers and push for contract terms that a direct buyer might not know to request.

Finally, evaluate fit beyond price. A lower-cost board is only a better deal if it is visible from major pedestrian routes or common photo angles, supports your creative format effectively, and aligns with your target audience and campaign goals.

How AdQuick handles Times Square billboard buying

Planning a Times Square campaign involves comparing inventory across multiple owners, understanding rate structures, and negotiating terms that match your budget and goals. AdQuick's platform brings together digital billboard advertising inventory and planning tools in one place, letting you request proposals, compare pricing, and manage creative specs without sourcing each owner separately. For advertisers weighing premium spectaculars against smaller screens or programmatic options, that consolidated view makes it easier to apply the hybrid approach and identify where budget is best spent.