OOHGuide

New York City Billboard Advertising (2026): Costs, Subway, LinkNYC and Bus Shelters

Updated 2026-10-16

Short answer: a billboard in New York City typically runs about $4,000 to $25,000 per 4 weeks for a static bulletin, $4,750 to $30,000 for a digital bulletin, and $1,275 to $2,500 for a poster, with a $5,000 minimum spend through one major seller (Blue Line Media). Wallscapes run $15,000 to $100,000, and Times Square screens far more. For small businesses, there's even a free option on LinkNYC kiosks.

New York is the largest out-of-home market in the US, and it works differently from most cities: fewer highway billboards, and much more advertising on buildings, transit and street furniture. Here's what each option costs and who sells it.

New York City billboard costs

Format Price per 4 weeks Estimated 4-week impressions
Bulletin (14' x 48') $4,000 to $25,000 About 1.09 million
Digital bulletin $4,750 to $30,000 About 3.44 million
Poster (about 10.5' x 22.75') $1,275 to $2,000 About 200,000
Digital poster $1,800 to $2,500 About 307,000
Wallscape $15,000 to $100,000 About 1.85 million

Source: Blue Line Media New York rate table, which notes a $5,000 minimum spend that can be spread across displays and periods. Real prices depend on the exact location. Use the billboard cost calculator to model a campaign.

Times Square

Times Square is its own market. A 15-second spot on a standard digital screen runs about $50,000 per 4 weeks, and premium screens around $300,000, while personal photo slots start around $150 a day. Full breakdown in Times Square billboard costs.

Subway, commuter rail and bus advertising

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's advertising, across subways, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road commuter trains, buses and MTA billboards, is sold by Outfront Media. Under a long-term contract awarded in 2017, Outfront committed to deploy more than 50,000 digital displays across the MTA system (Mass Transit).

Transit is how New York's commuters see advertising every day: car cards, platform posters, digital screens in stations and cars, station domination packages and bus exteriors. See transit advertising and bus advertising costs.

Bus shelters and newsstands

New York's bus shelters and newsstands are part of the city's coordinated street furniture franchise, awarded by NYC DOT to Cemusa in 2005 and operated by JCDecaux since it acquired Cemusa in 2015. There are more than 3,300 bus shelters in the city, and the franchise lets the operator sell advertising on them within defined limits (NYC DOT).

LinkNYC kiosks, including a free option for small businesses

The tall digital kiosks on New York sidewalks are LinkNYC, run by CityBridge, a joint venture that includes Intersection. Thousands of kiosks across all five boroughs carry advertising.

For small businesses, LinkNYC offers a notable deal. Its LinkLocal program gives free advertising to eligible New York City-based small businesses and community organizations, on up to six screens at a time, and LinkDirect sells paid campaigns with location selection at a lower cost of entry. LinkNYC says it provided more than $4 million in free advertising space in 2024 (Intersection).

Wallscapes and murals

With few roadside billboards in Manhattan, wallscapes and painted murals on building sides are a signature New York format. Specialists include Overall Murals, Seen Outdoor Media, Invision Outdoor, Milestone Outdoor and Inwindow Outdoor, alongside national companies. See wallscape advertising.

Place-based and wild posting

Billboard companies in New York City

The OOHGuide directory lists 41 operators serving New York City, including:

Company Based in Known for
Outfront Media New York, NY MTA transit, billboards, digital
Clear Channel Outdoor San Antonio, TX Billboards, digital, airports
Lamar Advertising Baton Rouge, LA Billboards, digital
JCDecaux New York, NY Bus shelters, newsstands, street furniture
Intersection New York, NY LinkNYC kiosks
Branded Cities Phoenix, AZ Digital spectaculars, wallscapes
Orange Barrel Media Columbus, OH Urban digital displays
New Tradition Media New York, NY Wallscapes, digital
Vector Media New York, NY Transit, street furniture
718 Outdoor Brooklyn, NY Billboards, wallscapes

See all 41 on the New York City billboard guide.

Tips for advertising in New York

  1. Match the format to the neighborhood. Transit and street furniture reach Manhattan; highway billboards matter more in the outer boroughs and on approaches like the expressways and bridges.
  2. Small budget? Start with LinkNYC. The free LinkLocal program and low-cost LinkDirect campaigns are the cheapest way into New York out-of-home.
  3. Plan around minimums. Many sellers have minimum spends, so concentrate rather than spread thin.
  4. Book early around Fashion Week, the holidays and New Year's Eve.
  5. Compare 3 quotes across national operators and local specialists.

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 New York City?

About $4,000 to $25,000 per 4 weeks for a static bulletin and $4,750 to $30,000 for a digital bulletin, per Blue Line Media's rate table, with a $5,000 minimum spend. Times Square costs much more.

Who sells subway ads in New York?

Outfront Media sells MTA advertising across subways, commuter rail, buses and MTA billboards under a long-term contract awarded in 2017.

Who runs New York's bus shelter advertising?

JCDecaux operates the city's coordinated street furniture franchise, which includes more than 3,300 bus shelters.

Is there free outdoor advertising in New York City?

Yes. LinkNYC's LinkLocal program offers free advertising on its sidewalk kiosks to eligible New York City-based small businesses and community organizations.

Get New York billboard quotes

Request quotes from up to 3 operators, or browse the New York City billboard guide.

Sources

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