How Much Does a Times Square Billboard Cost? (2026 Prices)
Updated 2026-10-07
Short answer: it depends entirely on what you buy.
- A personal message or photo on a Times Square screen starts around $150 for a day.
- A 15-second spot on a standard digital screen runs about $50,000 per 4 weeks.
- A spot on a premium screen such as the Marriott Marquis can cost around $300,000 per 4 weeks.
- Owning a traditional static spectacular can mean $30,000 to $100,000+ a month in media, plus large production and installation costs.
Figures for brand campaigns are from PJX Media. Here is how it all works.
Why Times Square is so expensive
Times Square is the most famous advertising location in the world. The Times Square Alliance counted an average of 221,457 pedestrians a day in 2025, with a single-day high of 295,227 in December (Times Square Alliance 2026 annual report). Add the drivers, the people watching broadcasts filmed there, and the photos and videos visitors share, and the reach goes far beyond the people physically present. Brands pay for the prestige as much as for the impressions.
Times Square billboard prices by option
| Option | What you get | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personal photo or message | Your image shown for 15 seconds once an hour for a day | From $150 |
| Standard digital screen | A 15-second spot in the loop for 4 weeks | About $50,000 |
| Premium digital screen (e.g., Marriott Marquis) | A standard spot for 4 weeks | About $300,000 |
| Scalable digital campaigns | Bought by the minute across screens | $10,000 to $500,000 per 4 weeks |
| Static spectacular (media) | Exclusive use of a printed display | $30,000 to $60,000+, some over $100,000 per 4 weeks |
| Static production and install | Printing and installing a spectacular | $20,000 to $30,000 production, $80,000 to $100,000 install |
Personal messages and photos
Several screen operators sell short slots to the public for birthdays, proposals and announcements. One operator, Welcome to Times Square, advertises photo slots starting at $150: your image appears for 15 seconds every hour for 24 hours on a 55 by 31 foot screen at 1560 Broadway (Times Square Billboard). These are great for a personal moment and social media content, but they are not a brand campaign.
Brand campaigns on digital screens
Most Times Square screens rotate several advertisers in a loop. Advertisers buy a share of that loop, often a 15-second spot, for a 4-week period. Prices swing widely by screen, size, position and season. December, around New Year's Eve, is the most expensive time.
Static spectaculars
The largest static displays are often held by one brand for months or years. Beyond the monthly media cost, production and installation can add over $100,000, which is why these are mostly bought by global brands.
Cheaper ways to get on a Times Square screen
- Personal photo slots starting around $150 a day.
- Pay-per-play digital platforms, which let you buy individual plays on some New York screens.
- Short or off-peak flights, such as weekday-only or January to March, when demand is lower.
- Smaller screens on side streets and nearby blocks, which still deliver Times Square visibility for less.
Is a Times Square billboard worth it?
For most businesses, the value is in the content and press, not the impressions. A Times Square ad gives you a photo or video you can share with customers, investors and the media. If your goal is to drive local sales, the same budget would buy a large number of billboards in your own market, where your customers actually are.
If you serve New York customers, look at the wider city: our New York billboard guide lists the operators that serve the city, and many sell digital and transit inventory well beyond Times Square.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to put a picture on a Times Square billboard?
Personal photo slots start around $150 for a day, with your image shown for 15 seconds once an hour on one operator's screen.
How much is a Times Square billboard for one month?
About $50,000 per 4 weeks for a 15-second spot on a standard digital screen, and around $300,000 on a premium screen. Static spectaculars can cost $30,000 to $100,000 or more a month in media alone.
How many people see a Times Square billboard?
The Times Square Alliance counted an average of 221,457 pedestrians a day in 2025, not counting drivers or people who see the screens in photos, videos and broadcasts.
When is the most expensive time to advertise in Times Square?
December, especially around New Year's Eve, when demand and audiences peak.
Compare with billboards in your market
See what billboards cost in other markets, estimate your budget with the billboard cost calculator, or request quotes from operators near you.
Sources
- PJX Media, Cost of Billboard Advertising in Times Square
- Times Square Alliance, 2026 Annual Report
- Welcome to Times Square, Times Square Billboard, checked October 2026