Austin Billboard Rates (2026): Costs, the Sign Ban, Round Rock and More
Updated 2026-10-19
Short answer: a static billboard (bulletin) in Austin runs about $5,000 to $8,000 per 4 weeks, and a digital bulletin about $5,000 to $8,500, according to Blue Line Media's published Austin rates, with a $5,000 minimum spend through that seller. Posters run about $1,000 to $1,500.
The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro has about 2.5 million people (US Census Bureau 2023).
Austin billboard costs
| Format | Price per 4 weeks | Estimated 4-week impressions | Estimated CPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulletin (static) | $5,000 to $8,000 | About 769,000 | $7 to $10 |
| Digital bulletin | $5,000 to $8,500 | About 795,000 | $6 to $11 |
| Poster (static) | $1,000 to $1,500 | About 344,000 | $3 to $4 |
Source: Blue Line Media Austin rate table, adults 18+. Real prices depend on the board. Use the billboard cost calculator to model a campaign.
Worth noticing: posters have the lowest cost per thousand impressions in the table, at less than half of a bulletin's CPM. For a local business, a few well-placed posters can reach more people per dollar than one bulletin.
Austin's billboard rules
Austin is one of the stricter big cities for billboards. Its sign code generally bars new off-premise signs (billboards advertising a business somewhere else) and prohibits converting existing billboards to digital, while on-premise business signs can go digital. Lamar and Reagan National Advertising challenged the digital rule, and in 2022 the US Supreme Court upheld it in City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising (Cornell LII).
What that means when you buy:
- Inventory is fixed. Supply doesn't grow, so the best boards on I-35 and MoPac stay in demand.
- Ask where digital faces are. Digital billboard options in the metro depend on where the board sits and which rules apply there. Ask each operator for exact locations.
- The suburbs matter. Round Rock, Georgetown, San Marcos and the highway corridors around Austin often give you more options.
For other places with strict rules, see states that ban billboards.
What drives Austin billboard prices
- The highway. I-35, MoPac (Loop 1), US-183, US-290, SH-71 and Loop 360 carry the heaviest traffic. SH-130 and SH-45 reach the eastern and northern suburbs.
- Growth corridors. North Austin, the Domain area, Round Rock, Cedar Park and Leander have grown fast, and so has demand for boards that reach them.
- Events. SXSW, Austin City Limits, Formula 1 at Circuit of the Americas and University of Texas football tighten inventory and draw national advertisers.
Round Rock, Georgetown, San Marcos and nearby towns
The suburbs and I-35 corridor towns are often better value for local businesses. OOHGuide lists the operators serving each:
- North: Round Rock · Georgetown · Leander
- South and east: San Marcos · Kyle · Bastrop · New Braunfels
Expect lower rates than Austin itself, often in the $1,500 to $5,000 range for a static bulletin, depending on the road.
Beyond billboards in Austin
- Place-based screens: elevator screens in office buildings (Captivate), gyms, bars and gas stations. See billboards vs street furniture vs place-based.
- Transit: CapMetro buses and rail. See transit advertising and bus advertising costs.
- Airport: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. See airport advertising costs.
- Mobile billboards: popular during SXSW and other events. See mobile billboard costs.
- Wild posting: common around downtown, East Austin and event venues. See wild posting.
Billboard companies in Austin
From the OOHGuide directory:
| Company | Based in | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Lamar Advertising | Baton Rouge, LA | Static, digital, posters, transit and more |
| Clear Channel Outdoor | San Antonio, TX | Static, digital, wallscapes, shelters |
| Reagan Outdoor | Salt Lake City, UT | Static, digital, posters |
| Media Choice | West Lake Hills, TX | Static, digital |
| Burkett Media | Austin, TX | Static, digital |
| Johnson Outdoor | Round Rock, TX | Static |
| Gunnarson Outdoor | San Marcos, TX | Static |
| Lockridge Outdoor Advertising | Austin, TX | Static |
| Holmes Outdoor Advertising | Austin, TX | Static |
| Metro Outdoor | Austin, TX | Static |
| MH Outdoor Media | Houston, TX | Static, digital |
| JGI Outdoor | Katy, TX | Static, digital |
See all 14 on the Austin billboard guide and every Texas billboard company. Elsewhere in Texas, see Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston rates.
Compare other markets: see how much billboards cost in 12 major cities and digital billboard rates by city.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a billboard cost in Austin?
About $5,000 to $8,000 per 4 weeks for a static bulletin and $5,000 to $8,500 for a digital bulletin, per Blue Line Media's published Austin rates, with a $5,000 minimum spend. Posters run about $1,000 to $1,500.
Does Austin allow billboards?
Existing billboards remain, but Austin's sign code generally bars new off-premise billboards and prohibits converting existing ones to digital. The US Supreme Court upheld the digital conversion rule in 2022.
How much does a billboard cost in Round Rock or Georgetown?
Usually less than in Austin, often roughly $1,500 to $5,000 per 4 weeks for a static bulletin, depending on the road and the board.
Who sells billboards in Austin?
Lamar, Clear Channel Outdoor and Reagan Outdoor, plus Texas companies like Media Choice, Burkett Media, Johnson Outdoor, Gunnarson Outdoor and Lockridge Outdoor Advertising.
Get Austin billboard quotes
Request quotes from up to 3 operators, or browse the Austin billboard guide.
Sources
- Blue Line Media, Austin billboard advertising
- Cornell Legal Information Institute, City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, LLC, 2022
- OOHGuide operator directory and US Census Bureau 2023 population estimates