Lamar vs Clear Channel vs Outfront: Billboard Costs Compared
Updated 2026-10-11
Short answer: Lamar, Clear Channel Outdoor and Outfront Media don't publish billboard prices. You get a quote from the local sales office for specific boards. What you pay depends mostly on the market and the location, not the company. A Lamar board in a small city costs about what any small-city billboard costs, roughly $1,000 to $3,000 per 4 weeks for a static bulletin. A Clear Channel or Outfront board in a big metro is priced like any major-metro board, about $4,000 to $15,000 or more.
The real difference between the three is where they have boards and what formats they sell. That decides which one (if any) you should call.
The big three at a glance
| Lamar Advertising | Clear Channel Outdoor | Outfront Media | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Baton Rouge, LA | San Antonio, TX (US business) | New York, NY |
| Billboard and poster faces | About 160,200 | About 48,700 | About 42,100 |
| Digital billboards | 5,500+ | About 1,900 | About 2,000 |
| Markets in our directory | 295 in 43 states and provinces | 66 | 68 |
| Strongest in | Small and midsize markets, especially the South and Midwest | Large metros and airports | Large metros and transit systems |
| 2025 revenue | $2.27 billion | $1.60 billion | $1.83 billion |
| Typical static bulletin, 4 weeks | About $1,000 to $5,000 in its typical markets | About $4,000 to $15,000+ | About $4,000 to $15,000+ |
Face counts and markets are from the OOHGuide directory. Revenue figures are from each company's 2025 results (Lamar, Clear Channel Outdoor, Outfront). Price ranges are OOHGuide estimates by market size based on Business.com and published city rate tables.
How much does a Lamar billboard cost?
Lamar is the largest billboard company in North America, and most of its boards are in small and midsize markets. That is why Lamar pricing tends to look like small-market pricing:
- Small city or suburb: about $1,000 to $3,000 per 4 weeks for a static bulletin
- Mid-size metro: about $1,500 to $5,000
- Digital: Lamar runs the largest digital billboard network in the US, with more than 5,500 displays (Lamar 2025 results). A shared digital spot in a small or midsize market typically runs about $1,200 to $8,000 a month.
A rough signal from Lamar's numbers: $2.27 billion in 2025 revenue across about 160,000 faces works out to roughly $1,100 per face per 4 weeks. That average includes every board, sold or not, plus logo and transit revenue, so treat it as a sense of scale rather than a price. Still, it shows that the typical Lamar board is not a $10,000 board.
See Lamar's markets and contact details.
How much does a Clear Channel billboard cost?
Clear Channel Outdoor's US business is concentrated in large metros like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami and the San Francisco Bay Area, plus major airports. Expect big-market pricing:
- Major metro static bulletin: about $4,000 to $15,000 per 4 weeks
- Prime locations in top markets: $15,000 to $30,000 or more
- Airports: Clear Channel runs advertising at major airports, where digital networks and spectaculars often cost $5,000 to $100,000+ per 4 weeks. Its airports business grew to about $407 million in 2025. See airport advertising costs.
See Clear Channel's markets and contact details.
How much does an Outfront billboard cost?
Outfront Media is strongest in the largest US cities and in transit, including subway and commuter rail systems. In 2025 its billboard business brought in $1.39 billion and its transit business $431 million, with transit up 12.4% (Outfront 2025 results).
- Major metro static bulletin: about $4,000 to $15,000 per 4 weeks
- Transit: bus, subway and rail packages, often sold with minimum spends. See transit advertising costs.
- Using our directory's face count, Outfront's billboard revenue works out to roughly $2,500 per face per 4 weeks, more than twice Lamar's figure. That fits a company focused on big, expensive cities.
See Outfront's markets and contact details.
Lamar vs Clear Channel vs Outfront: which should you call?
- You're in a small or midsize market: start with Lamar, since it often has the most inventory there. Also call the local independents.
- You're in a top-10 metro: get quotes from Clear Channel and Outfront (and Lamar if it operates there), plus independents.
- You want airports: Clear Channel runs many major airport programs. Check who holds the concession at your airport.
- You want subway, rail or bus: Outfront runs several big-city transit systems, and Lamar sells transit in some markets too.
- You want digital: Lamar has the most digital billboards by far. Clear Channel and Outfront also highlight programmatic buying for their digital screens.
Don't skip the independent operators
The big three own a lot of boards, but hundreds of regional and family-owned companies own the rest, and in many towns they have the best locations. Independents often offer lower rates, shorter minimums and more flexibility. Of the 423 operators with face counts in our directory, 360 run fewer than 500 faces.
Find every operator in your market through our city and state guides, or request quotes and we will match you with up to 3 of them.
Tips for getting a better rate from the big three
- Get competing quotes. National and local operators both price against the market.
- Ask for available inventory. Boards that are open soon are easier to negotiate.
- Commit longer. 12, 26 or 52 week contracts usually lower the monthly rate.
- Ask about digital. Sharing a digital screen is often cheaper than a full static board.
- Compare cost per thousand impressions. Get weekly impressions for each board, not just the price.
- Ask about production. Get printing and installation included or quoted up front.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Lamar billboard cost?
Lamar doesn't publish prices. Because most of its boards are in small and midsize markets, a static bulletin often runs about $1,000 to $5,000 per 4 weeks, with more in larger cities. Ask the local Lamar office for a quote on specific boards.
How much does a Clear Channel billboard cost?
Clear Channel Outdoor focuses on large metros and airports, so expect about $4,000 to $15,000 or more per 4 weeks for a static bulletin, and more for prime locations.
How much does an Outfront billboard cost?
Outfront Media is concentrated in big cities, so a static bulletin typically runs about $4,000 to $15,000 or more per 4 weeks. Transit packages are priced separately and often carry minimum spends.
Which billboard company is cheapest?
None is consistently cheapest. Price depends on the market and the specific board. In many smaller markets, independent local operators offer the lowest rates and the most flexible terms.
Do Lamar, Clear Channel and Outfront publish rate cards?
No. All three quote prices for specific boards through their local sales teams.
Sources
- Lamar Advertising, fourth quarter and full year 2025 results
- Clear Channel Outdoor, full year 2025 results
- Outfront Media, fourth quarter and full year 2025 results
- Business.com, Cost of a Billboard
- OOHGuide operator directory, October 2026