How to Price Ad Slots on Condo and Office Building Screens
A simple method for setting advertising rates on building screens, based on audience, slot scarcity and what local advertisers already pay elsewhere.
There's no industry price list for advertising on a condo's elevator screens. Each building sets its own rates. The good news is that a sensible rate card doesn't need to be complicated.
Start with what you're selling
A slot on a building screen offers:
- A defined, local audience: everyone who lives or works in the building
- Repeated exposure: residents see the screens several times a day
- Trust: an ad in your own building, approved by management, carries more credibility than a flyer
That's valuable to a local café, a resident personal trainer or a neighbourhood realtor. It's not comparable to a city billboard, so don't price it like one.
Factors that move the price
- Building size. More residents or tenants, more views.
- Screen locations. Elevator landings and lobbies are worth more than a parcel room panel.
- Number of screens the ad runs on. All screens versus one location.
- Slot scarcity. Fewer slots in the rotation means each one is seen more and is worth more.
- Length of commitment. Monthly versus quarterly or annual.
A simple structure
| Option | What it is |
|---|---|
| Resident rate | Discounted monthly rate for resident businesses |
| Standard rate | Monthly rate for local businesses |
| Premium | Lobby placement or more frequent rotation |
| Term discount | Lower monthly rate for a 3- or 12-month commitment |
Test, then adjust
- Pick a starting rate that local advertisers would consider reasonable compared with what they spend elsewhere (community newsletters, local social media ads, flyers).
- Offer a limited number of slots.
- If they sell out quickly and there's a waiting list, raise the rate.
- If they don't sell, check whether the issue is the price, awareness, or the policy.
Don't oversell
The fastest way to lose advertisers is to cram too many ads into the rotation. Each advertiser's ad appears less often, and residents start ignoring the screens. Keep the number of slots modest and the notices front and centre.
Collect payment in advance
Monthly in advance, or the full term up front, keeps administration simple and avoids chasing small invoices.
Taxes and accounting
Whether the corporation needs to charge HST on advertising and how the revenue is recorded are questions for your auditor, not your contractor.
See realistic ad revenue expectations for how to model the income honestly.
Planning screens for your building?
We'll walk the common areas with you, recommend placements and send an itemized written quote you can take to the board. The survey is free.
Book a free site surveyKeep reading
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