Trade Show Booth Lead Times for Las Vegas Conventions
The single biggest determinant of booth quality isn't budget — it's lead time. A 12-week runway buys you premium fabrication. A 4-week runway buys you whatever's left on the shop floor. Here's how to plan it.
Custom architectural builds: 12–16 weeks
Curved walls, integrated LED, double-decks, vehicle platforms, hanging signs with rigging coordination — these need 12–16 weeks from design kickoff to dock. Fire marshal review, engineered drawings, and finish curing all live in this window.
Mid-range custom with millwork: 8–12 weeks
Branded reception desks, product display vitrines, custom backdrops — these can be hit in 8–12 weeks if design is locked early.
Custom-branded rentals: 4–8 weeks
Rental with custom graphics and millwork inserts can be turned in 4–8 weeks. Below 4 weeks, you're choosing from stock graphic packages.
Show-by-show milestone calendar
CES (January): start by August prior. NAB (April): start by November prior. SEMA (November): start by April. MJBizCon (December): start by July. ConExpo (March, triennial): start 9–12 months ahead. IBS (February): start by August prior.
Ready to build?
Nova builds custom exhibits in Las Vegas for every major Strip convention.