CES Show Service Guide for Exhibitors

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In our previous CES guides, we covered booth registration, hotels, and transportation tips to help exhibitors plan their journey to Las Vegas. But there’s another critical factor that often surprises first-time participants: CES show services.

From electricity and internet to union labor, rigging, and drayage fees, every detail of a booth setup at CES comes with a cost. In this article, we’ll break down what’s included in CES show services, why they matter, and how exhibitors can save money while still making an impact on the show floor.

What is included in CES show services?

Every booth at CES requires a set of essential services — electricity, internet, drainage, furniture, and cleaning. The providers vary depending on the venue: Freeman at the LVCC, Venetian Order Service at the Venetian Expo, and direct orders through hotels like Aria or Mandalay Bay.

❗️A crucial tip: apply early.
CES show services offer early-bird pricing that can save around 20%. For a large booth, that discount alone can add up to thousands of dollars in savings.

What are CES show service costs and union labor rules?

Major U.S. trade shows—including CES—require union crews for specific work. Union electricians wire your booth; rigging teams hang ceiling structures; dedicated technicians install internet. Because everyone bills by the hour, on-site changes snowball into real money.

The most expensive parts of CES show service typically fall into three categories:

1. Booth carpentry – complex wooden builds require many workers and long installation times.
2. Labor hours – the more you adjust on-site, the more you pay.
3. Rigging – ceiling structures are among the most costly services.

Rigging in particular escalates quickly. Trusses are billed per meter, and you’re also charged for every screw, hook, rope, and chain. On top of that, a rigging crew often requires two workers to assemble, two to operate, and two for safety management. In other words, every single element has a cost — and those costs add up fast.

Cost-saving tip: If you are using a modular or prefabricated booth, finish details such as signage or graphics at the warehouse before shipping to Las Vegas. Every extra hour spent handling those details during installation means additional union labor fees.

👉 For a full list of official labor rules, see the CES Show Rules & Regulations manual.

What is the CES material handling fee?

Another hidden cost is material handling, commonly called drayage. Exhibitors cannot unload materials directly at the show floor. All shipments must go through official contractors.

There are two main delivery methods:

• Advance Warehouse: Ship your materials to a designated warehouse before CES, then they are delivered to your booth.
• Direct to Show Site: Deliver to the marshaling yard, where trucks are weighed upon entry and exit. Charges are based on the weight delivered.

At CES, material handling fees are weight-based, which means heavy wooden structures dramatically increase costs. This is why even large exhibitors often prefer fabric walls and lightweight materials — they reduce both drayage and labor fees.

What This Means for Your CES Planning

Plan early, design light, and minimize on-site adjustments. By doing so, you lower CES show service costs, protect your timeline, and keep the focus on your product story. Finally, lock deadlines on a calendar and assign owners for each order—missed cutoffs erase early-bird savings in a heartbeat.

See our CES Portfolio → Roborock CES 2025

CES 2026: The World’s Largest Stage for Innovation

Every January, Las Vegas becomes the epicenter of global innovation. As the world’s most influential tech event, CES 2026 (Consumer Electronics Show) will once again bring together leaders from consumer electronics, mobility, AI, and digital health to set the tone for the year ahead.

Why Your Brand Should Exhibit at CES

CES is the world’s most influential technology event, where industry leaders, startups, investors, and media gather each January in Las Vegas to set the year’s agenda.

For attendees, the No. 1 reason to visit CES is to see new products. That means people come ready to explore, engage, and invest in the technologies shaping how we live. For brands, it’s the ultimate platform to launch innovations, build credibility, and form connections that matter.

CES 2025 by the Numbers

• ✔️142,000+ attendees
• ✔️4,500+ exhibitors
• ✔️1,400 startups within Eureka Park
• ✔️305 Fortune 500 companies
• ✔️Participants from 158 countries, territories, and regions
• ✔️53% senior-level executives

These numbers prove why CES remains tech’s biggest stage. From Fortune 500 giants to disruptive startups, the entire ecosystem gathers in one place — making CES the most powerful launchpad for ideas, partnerships, and brand storytelling.

What Should Exhibitors Know About CES?

Exhibiting at CES is more than booking a booth. To succeed, companies need to prepare for the unique challenges and opportunities of the world’s biggest tech event. Here are some of the most important factors to keep in mind:

1. CES Show Services and Costs

One of the biggest challenges of exhibiting in the U.S. is the cost of show services. Unlike in Asia or Europe, CES exhibitors must work with union labor for almost every task — from installing a single TV screen to electrical wiring or carpentry. Labor is expensive, and because of union rules, you often cannot expect the same speed or flexibility you might find in other regions. This makes booth construction one of the costliest parts of the show.

On top of that, U.S. trade shows apply a drayage fee (also called material handling). Exhibitors are charged based on the weight of every item that enters the venue. This means that every box, crate, or pallet adds to the bill — regardless of distance traveled. Many first-time exhibitors are surprised by these fees, which can significantly inflate overall costs.

Because of these realities, CES booths are often designed to be lighter and simpler. Fabric walls, modular systems, and efficient layouts help reduce expenses compared to heavy wooden structures. It’s also critical to book services like electricity, internet, and water early — early-bird discounts can save thousands of dollars and prevent last-minute cost overruns.

In short, great design is important, but understanding regulations and budgeting for services is what keeps CES projects on track. Smart preparation allows you to maximize impact without being overwhelmed by hidden costs.

2. Promotion and Visibility

CES is not only about what happens inside your booth — it’s also about how you promote it.

Signage and Digital Displays for CES

Right outside the Venetian Expo stands one of the most famous digital landmarks in the world: the Sphere. Alongside it, banners and digital signage cover the convention center inside and out. Leveraging these high-visibility placements is key to attracting attention to your booth.

👉 Read more about global Sphere cases

The Most Famous LED Sphere Locations Around the World

Launch Videos and Online Content

On-site displays matter, but so does online visibility. If your product launch aligns with CES, a launch video can amplify your presence far beyond the show floor. Creative agencies compete to produce 3D-style content and cutting-edge visuals, so choosing the right partner can make all the difference.

3. Hotels, Transportation, and Logistics

During CES, time is your most valuable resource. Hotels near the Las Vegas Convention Center and Venetian Expo are expensive, but staying within walking distance saves countless hours compared to driving and parking.

If your schedule requires moving between the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Venetian Convention Center, plan your routes in advance. Shuttle waits can be long, so knowing pick-up and drop-off zones for taxis or ride-shares will save time and stress. In upcoming posts, we’ll share more detailed tips on transportation and meeting spots.😉

Why Choose Eidetic as Your CES Marketing Agency

Preparing for CES is complex, but choosing the right partner makes all the difference. Eidetic brings proven expertise and global reach to help brands succeed on tech’s biggest stage.

• ✔️Proven Trade Show Experience
  With years of experience in major consumer electronics exhibitions, we know how to deliver impact at scale. At IFA 2025, Eidetic served as the lead marketing agency for Midea’s flagship booth — the largest at the show. From design to on-site execution, our team handled every detail with precision.

• ✔️Global Network, Local Expertise
  Our headquarters in the U.S. and offices across Asia give us a unique advantage. We combine strengths from each region: U.S. teams for local control, Korea for world-class design, and China for cost-efficient production. This synergy ensures the highest quality while keeping efficiency in mind.

• ✔️End-to-End Management
  At Eidetic, we go beyond booth design. From HR staffing and on-site operations to logistics and vendor management, we handle the details so our clients can focus on what matters most: showcasing their innovations.

With Eidetic, you don’t just get a booth — you get a partner who understands CES inside and out. Our goal is simple: to help your brand maximize visibility, minimize risk, and deliver an unforgettable presence at the world’s most influential tech event.

👉 Explore 2025 Roborock at CES