How much does a Times Square billboard message cost? One consumer service charges $150 for a photo shown for 15 seconds once an hour for 24 hours, while one provider’s blog quotes $500 per day for a billboard.
Imagine you are planning a proposal or birthday surprise and every site shows a different number. The numbers differ because the products differ: the screen, the play pattern and the extras bundled in. Full advertiser screens in Times Square are priced differently again, by quote from each screen owner.
This guide covers price only. The main times square billboard message guide covers the full range of options, and how do times square billboard messages work explains what happens between booking and display.
Personal message prices at a glance
Personal-message prices are not like for like, because each one buys a different amount of screen time. The table sets the two quoted routes side by side so you can see what each price actually delivers.
| Option | Price | What plays | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single photo slot | $150 per slot | Photo shown for 15 seconds once an hour for 24 hours, on a screen 31 feet tall by 55 feet wide at 1560 Broadway | Suits a one-day surprise where a short appearance each hour is enough. |
| Provider day rate | $500 per day for one billboard | Play options: 60 seconds 22 times a day, 30 seconds 44 times a day, or 15 seconds 88 times a day | Suits a longer or more frequent presence. Confirm which play pattern the rate covers before paying. |
Figures come from Fox 10 Phoenix’s report on the $150 photo slot and the provider’s own pricing blog.
- Choose the single slot when you want one clear moment, such as a surprise on a set date, and a quick appearance each hour is enough.
- Ask about the play pattern when a day rate is quoted. A 60-second play and a 15-second play are very different amounts of screen time, so the headline price alone does not tell you what you are buying.
- Treat both as personal-scale prices. Advertiser campaigns on the big screens are a separate market, covered below.
What changes the price
Screen, time slot and duration separate one quote from another. Compare all three before you compare totals.
Screen size and location
The $150 slot plays on a screen at 1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th streets in Manhattan, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. The Times Square Alliance’s advertising page shows how much screens vary. Everest Digital at 46th and Broadway is 6,200 sq ft, and the ABC SuperSign is 3,685 sq ft. BIG Outdoor offers 13,000 sq ft+ of digital signage at 42nd and 8th. When two quotes look similar, ask which screen and which corner your message will use.
Time slot and duration
Duration and frequency are what the day-rate options change. A 15-second appearance once an hour is a light touch. A 60-second play 22 times a day is a much heavier presence. The personal slots above are sold as a day with a set play pattern rather than by the minute, so a cost-per-minute figure is not something these providers quote. Compare the length of each play and the number of plays, not just the headline price.
Foot traffic and audience
Audience scale is the backdrop to every Times Square screen. The Alliance’s advertising page describes the district as a must-see for 1.5 million tourists and residents each day. Other published counts use different measures, so treat these figures as an indication of scale rather than a promise about who will see your slot.
Personal packages versus advertiser screens
Personal packages and advertiser buys are different products, so their prices should not be compared directly. A personal package puts one photo on a screen for a short, scheduled play. Advertiser formats are built around share of the screen and campaign length.
The Alliance’s listing describes Clear Channel’s roadblocks, which own the full share for an extended period, and sync, which runs one advertiser across all 6 of its screens. Listings give a named sales contact for each screen owner, so a big-screen rate is arranged by enquiry rather than picked from a menu. Expect a quote, and expect it to reflect exclusivity and duration, which a $150 photo slot does not include.
That also answers the booking question. You can contact a screen owner’s sales team, but their formats are aimed at advertising campaigns. For a single personal message, a slot service is the realistic route. A direct approach only makes sense if you want a campaign-scale presence and are prepared to negotiate.
Add-ons and possible extra costs
The documented extra is optional and appears at checkout. One provider’s contact page tells buyers to choose the Photoshoot Add-On during checkout, and it does not state a price for it. Look at the checkout total before you confirm, and decline the add-on if you only want the screen slot.
On the day-rate route, the practical check is scope. Ask which of the play options your price covers and whether the quoted rate includes everything you plan to upload. If a total changes between the page and the payment step, stop and ask why before paying.
Cheaper routes and self-filmed options
The $150 single slot is the lower headline price of the two quoted routes, and skipping optional extras keeps the total down. It suits a modest budget when one hourly appearance on a single date is enough. Choose the day rate only if the longer or more frequent plays matter to you.
Filming a screen yourself is a different thing from buying a slot. A phone clip captures whatever is already playing and does not put your own message up. It works as a keepsake of the place, not as a substitute for the message. When you are ready to choose a date and upload your photo, how to book a times square billboard message walks through the steps.
Checking a provider before you pay
A legitimate provider makes it easy to see who they are, what plays and what you pay. Run through these checks before you enter card details.
- Contactable details. Look for a street address and phone number on the contact page, and check that they match the business name on the checkout.
- A defined play pattern. The provider should state how long your message plays and how often, as the $150 slot and the day-rate options do.
- Prices visible before payment. Optional extras should be chosen at checkout and shown in the total, not added afterwards.
- Independent reviews. Read reviews on platforms the provider does not control and see whether customers say their message appeared as described.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How quickly does a provider reply to questions? | One provider’s pricing blog states a response time of 72 hours, so ask early if your date is close. |
| What does the photoshoot add-on include? | The provider’s contact page lists 10 professionally shot and edited photos, delivered digitally within 5 business days. |
| Which contact details does that provider list? | Its contact page gives 1501 Broadway, 12th fl., New York, NY 10036, and the phone number 1-212-603-9121. |
| How many people pass through Times Square? | Fox 10 Phoenix cites around 340,000 pedestrians per day (as cited) and 50 million visitors each year (as cited). The Alliance’s figure of 1.5 million tourists and residents passing daily is a different measure. |
