One of the most common questions we get at Displayit is "can I get my display in time for my show?" The answer is almost always yes. We print every trade show display in-house at our facility in Buford, GA, which means we control production scheduling, print quality, and ship dates without depending on third-party vendors. Standard production is 4 to 7 business days after artwork approval. Rush production is 2 to 3 business days. From there, ground shipping to any major convention city in the U.S. takes 1 to 5 business days depending on distance. That means a trade show display ordered today can be on your show floor in as little as 3 business days or as few as 12 on a standard timeline.
How fast can I get a trade show display?
Total turnaround has two parts: production time and shipping time. Production starts when your artwork is approved, not when you place the order. If your artwork is print-ready on the day you order, production begins immediately. If you need artwork help, our design team can turn around print-ready files quickly, but factor that into your timeline.
| Timeline | Production | Shipping (Ground) | Total Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Rush + Ground (nearest cities) | As little as 24 hours | 1-5 business days | 2-6 business days |
| Rush (Southeast) | 2-3 business days | 1-2 business days | 3-5 business days |
| Rush (West Coast) | 2-3 business days | 4-5 business days | 6-8 business days |
| Standard (Southeast) | 4-7 business days | 1-2 business days | 5-9 business days |
| Standard (West Coast) | 4-7 business days | 4-5 business days | 8-12 business days |
Emergency rush production is handled on a case-by-case basis. If you are in a time-critical situation, speak with our team and we will find an accommodating solution based on your deadline and product needs.
Important: how to read these timelines. Production begins after your artwork is approved, not when you place the order. Artwork approval is entirely dependent on you. If your files are print-ready on the day you order, production starts immediately. If revisions are needed, that adds time before the clock starts. Production lead times vary by product and are listed on each product page. Shipping times listed below are transit time only, separate from production. Total turnaround = artwork approval + production + shipping.
What we tell exhibitors with tight deadlines: Call us before you assume it is too late. We have turned around trade show displays in under a week for exhibitors who needed them urgently. Rush production is available on most products, and we can coordinate expedited shipping when standard ground will not make it.
How long does shipping take to Southeast convention cities?
The Southeast is our backyard. Shipping from Buford, GA to major convention cities in this region takes 1 to 2 business days by ground, which means your display can be produced and delivered within a single business week on a rush timeline.
| City | Major Convention Center | Ground Shipping | Total Turnaround (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | Georgia World Congress Center | 1 day | 5-8 business days |
| Orlando, FL | Orange County Convention Center | 1-2 days | 5-9 business days |
| Nashville, TN | Music City Center | 1-2 days | 5-9 business days |
| Charlotte, NC | Charlotte Convention Center | 1-2 days | 5-9 business days |
| Miami, FL | Miami Beach Convention Center | 2 days | 6-9 business days |
| New Orleans, LA | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center | 2 days | 6-9 business days |
We ship trade show displays to shows at the Georgia World Congress Center almost weekly. Atlanta is our home market, and exhibitors attending shows like HIMSS, IWF, and The Inspired Home Show regularly order from us knowing the delivery window is the tightest in the country. For exhibitors in the Atlanta metro area, local pickup is available at our Buford, GA facility, located less than an hour north of downtown Atlanta. Local pickup is a selectable option at checkout and eliminates shipping time entirely.
How long does shipping take to Northeast and Mid-Atlantic convention cities?
Ground shipping from Buford to the Northeast corridor takes 2 to 3 business days. This region has some of the highest-traffic convention centers in the country, and we ship to all of them regularly.
| City | Major Convention Center | Ground Shipping | Total Turnaround (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | Jacob K. Javits Convention Center | 2-3 days | 6-10 business days |
| Boston, MA | Boston Convention and Exhibition Center | 2-3 days | 6-10 business days |
| Philadelphia, PA | Pennsylvania Convention Center | 2-3 days | 6-10 business days |
| Baltimore / Washington, DC | Walter E. Washington Convention Center | 2 days | 6-9 business days |
The Javits Center in New York is one of the busiest convention venues in the country, hosting NRF, ICFF, and dozens of industry-specific shows every year. We ship trade show displays to Javits regularly and can coordinate delivery directly to the venue's loading dock or to your hotel if you prefer to carry the display in yourself.
How long does shipping take to Midwest convention cities?
| City | Major Convention Center | Ground Shipping | Total Turnaround (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | McCormick Place | 2-3 days | 6-10 business days |
| Indianapolis, IN | Indiana Convention Center | 2 days | 6-9 business days |
| Detroit, MI | Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Center) | 2-3 days | 6-10 business days |
| Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis Convention Center | 3 days | 7-10 business days |
| Columbus, OH | Greater Columbus Convention Center | 2 days | 6-9 business days |
McCormick Place in Chicago is the largest convention center in the U.S. and hosts some of the biggest trade shows in the world, including Pack Expo, RSNA, and the National Restaurant Association Show. We ship trade show displays to McCormick Place year-round. For exhibitors attending shows there, we recommend ordering at least two weeks before your move-in date to account for venue-specific freight receiving deadlines.
How long does shipping take to South Central convention cities?
| City | Major Convention Center | Ground Shipping | Total Turnaround (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | George R. Brown Convention Center | 2-3 days | 6-10 business days |
| Dallas, TX | Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center | 2-3 days | 6-10 business days |
| San Antonio, TX | Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center | 2-3 days | 6-10 business days |
Texas is one of our highest-volume shipping destinations. The George R. Brown in Houston and the Kay Bailey Hutchison in Dallas host major energy, healthcare, and technology trade shows throughout the year. OTC, AAPG, and FETC are just a few of the shows where Displayit trade show displays are on the floor regularly.
How long does shipping take to Mountain and West Coast convention cities?
The West Coast is the farthest shipping distance from our Buford facility, but it is also home to some of the most important trade shows in the country. Ground shipping takes 3 to 5 business days depending on the city. For exhibitors with tight timelines, expedited shipping is available to cut 1 to 2 days off the transit time.
| City | Major Convention Center | Ground Shipping | Total Turnaround (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | Las Vegas Convention Center / Mandalay Bay / The Venetian Expo | 4 days | 8-11 business days |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles Convention Center | 4-5 days | 8-12 business days |
| San Francisco, CA | Moscone Center | 4-5 days | 8-12 business days |
| San Diego, CA | San Diego Convention Center | 4-5 days | 8-12 business days |
| Denver, CO | Colorado Convention Center | 3-4 days | 7-11 business days |
| Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix Convention Center | 3-4 days | 7-11 business days |
| Seattle, WA | Seattle Convention Center | 4-5 days | 8-12 business days |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Salt Palace Convention Center | 3-4 days | 7-11 business days |
Las Vegas is the trade show capital of the U.S. CES, CONEXPO, SEMA, and hundreds of other shows run out of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Mandalay Bay, and The Venetian Expo every year. We ship more trade show displays to Las Vegas than any other West Coast city. For Las Vegas shows, we recommend ordering at least 10 business days before your move-in date on a standard timeline, or 7 business days with rush production.
Can I ship my trade show display directly to the convention center?
Yes. We can ship your display directly to the convention center's freight receiving dock, to your hotel, or to your office. Each option has different tradeoffs:
| Ship To | Advantage | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|
| Convention Center (Freight Dock) | Display is waiting at your booth when you arrive | Drayage fees apply (charged by weight). Must ship within venue's receiving window. |
| Hotel | Pick it up at front desk, carry it to the venue yourself. No drayage. | Only works for portable displays you can carry. Hotel may charge a package receiving fee. |
| Your Office | Inspect the display before traveling. Bring it with you as checked luggage or in your vehicle. | Adds time. Only practical if you are driving or flying with a banner stand or compact display. |
A tip from our shipping team: If you are shipping to a convention center, get the venue's freight receiving address and receiving window dates from the show's exhibitor kit before you order. Most venues stop accepting freight 24 to 48 hours before the show opens. Miss that window and your display sits in a warehouse until drayage clears it, which can cost extra and cause delays.
What if I need a trade show display faster than ground shipping allows?
We offer expedited shipping options for exhibitors who need faster delivery. Expedited shipping cuts 1 to 2 days off standard ground transit times to most cities. For true emergencies, overnight and 2-day air shipping are available but the cost is significantly higher, especially for larger displays.
The most cost-effective approach for tight timelines is rush production plus standard ground shipping. Rush production (2-3 business days) combined with ground shipping to most U.S. cities gets your display there in 4 to 8 business days total. That is faster than many competitors can deliver on a standard timeline because they outsource printing and add extra days to their process. For true emergencies, we offer production in as little as 24 hours on select products. This is not our standard rush. It is an edge case for exhibitors who are days away from a show and need a display immediately. Call us directly if you are in that situation and we will tell you what is possible.
Why in-house production matters for speed: Every Displayit trade show display is printed on G7 Certified equipment in our Buford, GA facility. We do not send your job to a third-party printer and wait for their schedule. When you need a rush, we walk to the production floor and prioritize it. That is the advantage of a manufacturer that controls the entire process.
Every Displayit trade show display and booth includes custom-printed graphics, hardware, and a carry bag or shipping case in the listed price. For help planning your timeline or coordinating shipping to a specific venue, talk to our team. For a personalized display recommendation based on your booth size and budget, try our interactive Trade Show Display Buying Guide.
About the Author
Marty Gareau is the General Manager at Displayit, a U.S. based trade show display manufacturer that has been helping companies exhibit with confidence since 1996. Marty oversees production, printing, sales, support, and product development, ensuring every trade show graphic and display that leaves the Buford, GA facility meets Displayit's quality standards. For personalized guidance, schedule a free consultation with the Displayit team.