Houston Billboard Rates (2026): Costs, the Billboard Ban and Companies

Updated 2026-10-18

Short answer: a static billboard (bulletin) in Houston runs about $5,000 to $20,000 per 4 weeks, a digital bulletin about $5,000 to $20,000, and a poster about $1,250 to $2,900, according to Blue Line Media's published Houston rates, with a $5,000 minimum spend through that seller. Premium locations can run higher.

Houston is unusual: the city hasn't allowed new billboards since 1980, so inventory inside city limits is limited and the best boards are prized. The metro has about 7.5 million people (US Census Bureau 2023).

Houston billboard costs

Format	Price per 4 weeks	Estimated 4-week impressions	Estimated CPM
Bulletin (static)	$5,000 to $20,000	About 1.23 million	$4 to $16
Digital bulletin	$5,000 to $20,000	About 1.08 million	$5 to $19
Poster (static)	$1,250 to $2,900	About 331,000	$4 to $9
Digital poster	$1,250 to $2,900	About 162,000	$8 to $18
Wallscape	$15,000 to $50,000	About 296,000	$51 to $169

Source: Blue Line Media Houston rate table, adults 18+. Real prices depend on the board. Use the billboard cost calculator to model a campaign.

Houston's billboard ban, and what it means for you

Houston once had somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 billboards. Then, in May 1980, the city amended its sign code to prohibit new billboards (Billboard Insider). Today the city's permitting office states that "no new permits can be issued for off-premise signs," with limited relocation exceptions, and the rules apply in the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (Houston Permitting Center).

The result: the count fell to about 1,500 by 2019, according to a Texas Highways article cited by Billboard Insider. Billboard Insider also reported in 2020 that Houston did not permit digital displays on off-premise signs.

What that means for advertisers:

Supply is tight inside the city, so good boards book up and hold their prices.
Ask exactly where each board is. Boards marketed as "Houston" may sit in surrounding cities and counties with their own sign rules, especially digital ones.
Suburban corridors often have more availability.
Other formats fill the gap: transit, airports, place-based screens and mobile billboards.

Houston suburbs

OOHGuide has guides for these Houston-area cities, each listing the operators that serve it:

Baytown · Conroe · Humble · Tomball · Richmond · La Marque · League City · La Porte · Alvin · Fulshear

Expect roughly $1,500 to $5,000 per 4 weeks for a static bulletin in most of these, depending on the road.

What drives Houston billboard prices

The freeway. I-10 (the Katy Freeway), I-45, I-69/US-59, US-290, the 610 Loop, Beltway 8 and the Grand Parkway carry the heaviest traffic. Houston's car-dependent commutes mean lots of repeat exposure.
Scarcity inside the city keeps prices firm on the best boards.
Events like the rodeo, major sports and conventions tighten inventory.

Billboard companies in Houston

From the OOHGuide directory:

Company	Based in	Formats
Clear Channel Outdoor	San Antonio, TX	Static, digital, wallscapes, shelters
Outfront Media	New York, NY	Static, digital, wallscapes, transit
SignAd Outdoor	Houston, TX	Static, digital
MH Outdoor Media	Houston, TX	Static, digital
JGI Outdoor	Katy, TX	Static, digital
Gilbreath Outdoor	Friendswood, TX	Static
Orange Barrel Media	Columbus, OH	Digital, wallscapes, place-based
Burkett Media	Austin, TX	Static, digital

See all on the Houston billboard guide, and every Texas billboard company.

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 Houston?

About $5,000 to $20,000 per 4 weeks for a static or digital bulletin, per Blue Line Media's published Houston rates, with a $5,000 minimum spend. Suburban boards often cost less.

Can you build a new billboard in Houston?

No. Houston banned new billboards in 1980, and the city says no new permits can be issued for off-premise signs, with limited relocation exceptions.

Are there digital billboards in Houston?

Billboard Insider reported in 2020 that the City of Houston didn't permit digital displays on off-premise signs. Digital boards serving the Houston market may be in surrounding cities and counties, so ask each operator where its boards are.

Who sells billboards in Houston?

Clear Channel Outdoor and Outfront Media, plus Houston-area companies like SignAd Outdoor, MH Outdoor Media, JGI Outdoor and Gilbreath Outdoor.