CHICAGO, IL • OCT 28–29 (ANNUAL FALL / MIDWEST CYCLE)CONTRACTOR: FREEMAN

Chicago Build Expo (Midwest Construction, Architecture, Cabinetry & Remodeling Show)

McCormick Place • Target Move-In: Tue, Oct 27, 2026 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Targeted) • Attendance: 30,000+

STEP 1 OF 4 • SET YOUR TARGET TRADE SHOW

Planning to exhibit at Chicago Build Expo in Chicago? Lock it into your plan so all booth & drayage rates sync automatically.

VITAL SHOW LOGISTICS & VENUE SPECSHIGH (STRICT UNION) LABOR

Official Show DatesOct 28–29 (Annual Fall / Midwest Cycle)

Target Exhibitor Move-InTue, Oct 27, 2026 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Targeted)

Advance Warehouse WindowSep 28 – Oct 20

General Contractor & DrayageFreeman (~$165/CWT)

Avg. Floor Space & 10A Power~$42/sq ft • ~$255

Attendance & Buyer Authority30,000+ (86% Decision-Makers)

VITAL EXHIBITOR LOGISTICS & SHOW SPECS

Chicago Build Expo Move-In Schedule, Freeman Dock Rules & Audience Profile

LOGISTICS & MOVE-IN SCHEDULE

McCormick Place Dock & Setup Details

McCormick Place Marshalling Yard (Chicago, IL) • Freeman Targeted Dock Schedule

Official Show Dates: Oct 28–29 (Annual Fall / Midwest Cycle)
Target Exhibitor Move-In: Tue, Oct 27, 2026 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Targeted)
Advance Warehouse Window: Sep 28 – Oct 20
Early-Bird Contractor Note: Turnkey freight & McCormick Place union-compliant booth setup available.

BUYER & AUDIENCE PROFILE

Why Exhibitors Choose Chicago Build Expo

The largest construction, architecture, and homebuilding trade show in the Midwest at McCormick Place. Connects cabinet makers, millwork fabricators, and building product manufacturers directly with Chicago & Illinois general contractors, custom home builders, kitchen/bath dealers, architects, and developers.

Ideal Product Launch Fit: Custom cabinets, kitchen & bath cabinetry, architectural millwork, countertops, closets, doors, windows, flooring, HVAC, roofing, and construction hardware.
Estimated Attendance: 30,000+ attendees • 400+ exhibitors
Key Industries: Construction, Architecture & Remodeling • Custom Cabinetry, Millwork & Kitchen/Bath • Residential & Commercial Builders • Interior Design, Doors, Windows & Flooring
Recommended Booths: The NXT Plus 10x10 ($1,300) or The NXT Pro 10x20 ($2,950)

ALL-IN EXHIBITOR COST COMPARISON

Estimated Chicago Build Expo Booth Cost & All-In Venue Budgets (10x10, 10x20 & 20x20)

10x10 FOOTPRINTSAVE $2,650

10' × 10' Inline Booth

The NXT Plus 10x10

• NXT Stage Booth Package: $1,300 (Agency: ~~$3,950~~)
• Est. Floor Space (100 sq ft): ~$4,200
• Est. Freeman Drayage & Power: ~$1,245
• Est. Badges, Scanner & Cleaning: ~$1,215

EST. ALL-IN EVENT BUDGET~$7,960

Reserve 10x10 →

10x20 FOOTPRINTSAVE $5,550

10' × 20' Wide Inline Booth

The NXT Pro 10x20

• NXT Stage Booth Package: $2,950 (Agency: ~~$8,500~~)
• Est. Floor Space (200 sq ft): ~$8,400
• Est. Freeman Drayage & Power: ~$1,830
• Est. Badges, Scanner & Cleaning: ~$1,760

EST. ALL-IN EVENT BUDGET~$14,940

Reserve 10x20 →

20x20 FOOTPRINTSAVE $14,300

20' × 20' Island Booth

The NXT Island 20x20

• NXT Stage Booth Package: $5,200 (Agency: ~~$19,500~~)
• Est. Floor Space (400 sq ft): ~$16,800
• Est. Freeman Drayage & Power: ~$2,580
• Est. Badges, Scanner & Cleaning: ~$2,000

EST. ALL-IN EVENT BUDGET~$26,580

Reserve 20x20 →

Recommended Chicago Build Expo Booth & Display Bundles (15% Off 2+ Supplies)3 CURATED BUNDLES ▼

SUGGESTION 1 • EXPRESS PRINT & PORTABLESAVE $3,210

10x20 Express Print & Table Kit

Pairs The NXT PopUp Plus 10x20 with a 33"×81" Deluxe Retractable Stand, 6ft Box-Fitted Dye-Sub Table Cover, and dual C-Clamp LED Display Lights.

The NXT PopUp Plus 10x20 (Turnkey Rental)$1,200

INCLUDED DISPLAYS & SWAG (YOURS TO KEEP):

+ 33"×81" Deluxe Retractable — Single-Sided$125

+ Box-Fitted Table Cover — 6ft 4-Sided$125

+ 2× C-Clamp LED Lights$185

15% Multi-Item Discount-$65

BUNDLE TOTAL (RENTAL + OWN)$1,570

SUGGESTION 2 • ★ AI MATCH (TECH & LIVE DEMO SEG)SAVE $6,868

10x20 Tech & Live Demo SEG Bundle

Auto-bundled for live demos at Chicago Build Expo: pairs a 3ft slim SEG stand, 36"×90" double-sided totem, hard-case podium counter, and dual C-clamp LED lights.

The NXT Pro 10x20 (Turnkey Rental)$2,950

INCLUDED DISPLAYS & SWAG (YOURS TO KEEP):

+ 3ft SEG Fabric Stand — Single-Sided$165

+ Hard-Case Podium & Wrap — Case + Wrap$425

+ 36"×90" Fabric Totem Stand — 36"×90" 2-Sided$210

+ 2× C-Clamp LED Lights$185

15% Multi-Item Discount-$148

BUNDLE TOTAL (RENTAL + OWN)$3,787

SUGGESTION 3 • BACKLIT SEG LIGHTBOX SUITESAVE $8,721

10x20 Backlit SEG & Podium Suite

Pairs The NXT Ultra 10x20 with our LED Backlit SEG Lightbox Display, Hard-Case Podium Counter Wrap, and 3ft SEG Stand for dominant visibility.

The NXT Ultra 10x20 (Turnkey Rental)$3,150

INCLUDED DISPLAYS & SWAG (YOURS TO KEEP):

+ 8ft Backlit SEG Lightbox — Single-Sided$1190

+ Hard-Case Podium & Wrap — Case + Wrap$425

+ 3ft SEG Fabric Stand — Single-Sided$165

+ Stretch Spandex Table Cover — 6ft Stretch$195

15% Multi-Item Discount-$296

BUNDLE TOTAL (RENTAL + OWN)$4,829

Chicago Build Expo Chicago 2026 Cost Table, Floor Pavilions, Booth Builder Specs & FAQHALLS, COSTS & FAQ ▼

CHICAGO BUILD EXPO 2026 COST BREAKDOWN TABLE

How Much Does a Chicago Build Expo Booth Cost in 2026?

Exhibiting at Chicago Build Expo 2026 (McCormick Place in Chicago, IL) typically costs ~$7,960 all-in for a 10x10 inline space, ~$14,940 for a 10x20 booth, and ~$26,580 for a 20x20 island exhibit. This includes raw floor space (~$42/sq ft), Freeman drayage (~$165/CWT) and 10A power (~$255), and an NXT Stage turnkey booth rental ($1,300–$5,200).

Footprint	NXT Stage Turnkey Rental	Traditional Agency Rate	Est. Floor Space (McCormick Place)	Est. Freeman Drayage & 10A Power	Est. All-In Show Budget
10' × 10' Inline Booth (10x10)	$1,300	~~$3,950~~	~$4,200 (100 sq ft)	~$1,245	~$7,960
10' × 20' Wide Inline Booth (10x20)	$2,950	~~$8,500~~	~$8,400 (200 sq ft)	~$1,830	~$14,940
20' × 20' Island Booth (20x20)	$5,200	~~$19,500~~	~$16,800 (400 sq ft)	~$2,580	~$26,580

CHICAGO BUILD EXPO HALLS & PAVILIONS

McCormick Place Floor Zones & Host Fees

McCormick Place — Architecture, Interior Finishes, Cabinetry & Remodeling Hall (10x10, 10x20, 20x20, 30x30+ • Prime Main Aisle): High-traffic Midwest contractor, architect, and kitchen/bath specifier aisles
Host Association & Service Fees: Lead retrieval app (~$425), daily vacuuming (~$0.60/sq ft/day), registration & badge pack (~$295), EAC/COI filing (~$250).

CHICAGO BUILD EXPO BOOTH BUILDER & EAC FABRICATION

Turnkey Booth Rentals & Custom Island Exhibits in Chicago

Looking for Chicago Build Expo Chicago booth rentals or custom exhibit fabrication for Chicago Build Expo (Midwest Construction, Architecture, Cabinetry & Remodeling Show) 2026? NXT Stage engineers lightweight 8'×4' modular structural insulated panel (SIP) walls (~32 lbs per panel) and tension-fabric frames that slash Freeman material handling costs (~$165/CWT) at McCormick Place.

10x10 & 10x20 Turnkey Booth Rentals: Flat-rate packages from $1,300 to $2,950 with NFPA-701 dye-sublimation graphics and I&D setup. Compare all 14 booth models →
20x20 to 50x50+ Custom Island Exhibit Fabrication: Double-sided backlit SEG towers, heavy monitor mounts, lockable demo counters, and 16'–20' overhead hanging signs. Explore custom island builds →
Local Chicago Venue & Hub Guides: McCormick Place Chicago Dock & Union Guide • Chicago Trade Show Booth Rentals • Request Free 3D Booth Design Quote →

How much does a Chicago Build Expo booth cost in 2026?

When is exhibitor move-in for Chicago Build Expo 2026 at McCormick Place?

Official show dates for Chicago Build Expo (Midwest Construction, Architecture, Cabinetry & Remodeling Show) are Oct 28–29 (Annual Fall / Midwest Cycle). Targeted exhibitor move-in begins Tue, Oct 27, 2026 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Targeted), and the Freeman advance warehouse receiving window is Sep 28 – Oct 20. McCormick Place Marshalling Yard (Chicago, IL) • Freeman Targeted Dock Schedule

What halls and pavilions are at Chicago Build Expo in Chicago?

Key exhibit zones at Chicago Build Expo (McCormick Place) include: McCormick Place — Architecture, Interior Finishes, Cabinetry & Remodeling Hall (10x10, 10x20, 20x20, 30x30+, Prime Main Aisle). Turnkey freight & McCormick Place union-compliant booth setup available.

Can I rent a turnkey booth or build a custom island exhibit for Chicago Build Expo?

Yes. NXT Stage serves as a full-service Chicago Build Expo Chicago booth builder and turnkey rental provider, offering flat-rate 10x10 ($1,300), 10x20 ($2,950), and 20x20 ($5,200) packages alongside custom 20x20–50x50+ architectural 8'×4' SIP wall fabrication, NFPA-701 graphics, and EAC I&D labor at McCormick Place.

Who should exhibit at Chicago Build Expo (Midwest Construction, Architecture, Cabinetry & Remodeling Show)?

Chicago Build Expo (Midwest Construction, Architecture, Cabinetry & Remodeling Show) draws 30,000+ attendees (86% decision-makers) and 400+ exhibitors across Construction, Architecture & Remodeling, Custom Cabinetry, Millwork & Kitchen/Bath, Residential & Commercial Builders, Interior Design, Doors, Windows & Flooring. The largest construction, architecture, and homebuilding trade show in the Midwest at McCormick Place. Connects cabinet makers, millwork fabricators, and building product manufacturers directly with Chicago & Illinois general contractors, custom home builders, kitchen/bath dealers, architects, and developers. Ideal product fit: Custom cabinets, kitchen & bath cabinetry, architectural millwork, countertops, closets, doors, windows, flooring, HVAC, roofing, and construction hardware.