Custom Trade Show Exhibit Rentals
Rent a booth that looks custom, because it’s designed for you. Lakeshore builds trade show booth rentals of any size from our Chicago-area shop, 20 minutes from McCormick Place, and every rental includes graphics, logistics, and installation and dismantle.
When renting makes sense
Just about any exhibit that can be purchased can also be rented for a single show at a fraction of the price. Renting makes sense when:
- Your booth size or exhibit requirements change significantly from show to show.
- You have a tight budget but still want a custom look.
- You’re new to exhibiting and want to test the waters at your first event.
- You own a booth but need more for one show: a new product launch, a bigger space, or an extra display area.
Booth sizes we rent, from 10 × 10 to large islands
Any size or shape can be rented. These are the sizes most shows sell, each with a booth we’ve built at that size.
10 × 10
inline and corner booths
One back wall facing the aisle, with room for graphics, a counter, and a monitor.
10 × 20
inline and corner booths
Twice the wall, with space for a product demo or a small seating area.
20 × 20 and 20 × 30 islands and split islands
Room for a meeting area, product displays, and a hanging sign.
30 × 30 and larger islands and split islands
Room for demos, meetings, and storage in one footprint.
Rental exhibits that don’t look rented
We design each rental for your booth space and products, then build it from our in-house rental inventory with your graphics on it.
Rental project
Peco InspX
39 × 50 corner, Pack Expo 2026
Peco’s working X-ray inspection machines sat at the center of this corner rental. Backlit panels showed the defects they catch, and a hanging sign marked the booth from across the hall.
Rental project
Pure Processing
30 × 40 island, HSPA 2026
An island rental open on all four sides, with lit columns framing each equipment station and a hanging sign carrying the brand overhead.
Rent or buy your exhibit, or both
You don’t have to choose one. Some of our clients own their main exhibit and rent around it.
Rent and own
Arc Cardinal
50 × 60 island, NRA Show
Arc Cardinal already owned a Lakeshore exhibit. A few weeks before the show, they asked for an extra display area for their glassware that they could rent rather than own. We designed and built six lit kiosks that fit the booth they already had.
Rent and own
Middleby Processing
50 × 100 island, IPPE 2024
The new exhibit combined custom purchased elements and graphics with rental items, to reduce cost and keep it flexible.
Renting fits better when…
- You exhibit at one or two shows a year
- Your booth size changes from show to show
- You want a custom look without a long-term investment
- You’re testing a new show or market
Buying fits better when…
- You exhibit often, at similar booth sizes
- You want an exhibit built only for your brand
- You’ll use the same or a similar booth for at least three or four shows
- You’d like it stored and maintained between shows (we do that too)
Not sure which? Tell us your shows and booth sizes, and we’ll recommend renting, buying, or a mix.
What you can rent
- Complete exhibits: any size or shape exhibit can be rented
- Furniture: tables, chairs, stools, lounge chairs, sofas, occasional tables
- Audio-visual: monitors and LED video walls of any size
- Flooring: carpet, rollable vinyl, and padding
- Kiosks and counters: workstations, bar counters, reception counters
- Accessories: planter boxes, coat racks, storage racks, literature stands
What’s included
Every rental comes with the work around it:
- Graphics designed and produced for your brand. Graphic design & production
- Shipping and logistics to the show. Shipping & logistics
- Installation and dismantle by our Lakeshore crews. Installation & dismantling
- Show services, if you’d like: we’ll order them all for you. Turn-key show services
How an exhibit rental works
1. Tell us about your show
The show, dates, booth size, and what you want to achieve.
2. We design it
You see a complete set of 3D renderings and a full proposal with all costs before anything is built.
3. We build it
From our rental inventory, with your graphics produced for it.
4. We ship and install it
At the show, with our Lakeshore crews.
5. We take it down
After the show, we bring it back to our shop. We’ll even store your graphics for next year’s show if you decide to use the booth again.
Our service is prompt, friendly, and relentless, and almost all of our team has years, often decades, of trade show experience, so a tight deadline doesn’t throw us.
Trade show booth rental questions
How much does it cost to rent a trade show exhibit?
It depends on the booth size, the structure, the graphics, and the show services you need. Floor space is separate: you book and pay for it with the show, not with us. A rental costs a fraction of buying the same exhibit. Send us your booth size and show for a quote.
Can a rental exhibit look custom?
It can. Cabot’s 10 × 20 rental had a lounge area, custom features, and LED lighting, and you’d never know it was a rental.
How far ahead should we book a rental?
Plan on at least 3 to 6 months before your show, depending on the booth’s size and complexity. Short notice is possible too: Arc Cardinal called a few weeks before the show.
Who sets up a rental booth?
The Lakeshore crew. They install the booth before the show opens and take it down after it closes, so your team walks into a finished booth.
Where can we rent an exhibit for a Chicago trade show?
Right here at Lakeshore. We build our rental booths in our Chicago-area shop, 20 minutes from McCormick Place. For shows outside Chicago, we ship across the country and internationally, and our installation crews work in every major trade show city.
Can we add rental pieces to an exhibit we already own?
You can. Arc Cardinal added a rented display area to the exhibit they own, and Middleby Processing’s island mixed purchased and rental elements.
What are the standard trade show booth sizes?
Most shows sell space in 10-foot units. Inline booths, such as 10 × 10 and 10 × 20, face one aisle. Islands, from 20 × 20 up, are open on all four sides. We rent any size or shape, from 10 × 10 inline booths to islands as large as 100 × 150, our largest rental so far.
Have a show coming up?
Tell us your booth size and show date, and we’ll show you what a rental from Lakeshore can look like.
Or email info@lakeshoreexhibits.com