How much do bus ads cost in 2026? Real rate cards for bus posters, wraps and benches
Bus advertising prices from published 2026 rate cards in the US and Canada: king posters, tails, full wraps and benches, plus the production costs and minimums on top.
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On published 2026 rate cards, a king-size poster on the side of one bus costs about $425 per 4 weeks in a mid-size US market and $600 CAD net in Toronto, a full bus wrap runs $4,250 to $7,000 CAD per 4 weeks, and a bus bench starts around $150 a month. Production and installation are usually extra, and some formats carry minimums of 8 weeks to 6 months. Lunar publishes this page and is one of the options compared. Prices were checked on November 3, 2026, from the published rate cards and price pages named below.
Bus exterior ads, by rate card
| Format | Yolobus (Davis/Sacramento, CA) | TTC (Toronto), CAD net | Grande Prairie, AB, CAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tail (back of the bus) | $275 per 4 weeks | Not listed separately | From $295 a month |
| Queen (curb side) | $375 per 4 weeks | Not listed separately | From $295 a month |
| King (street side) | $425 per 4 weeks | $600 per 4 weeks, plus production | Not listed |
| King with headliner | Not listed | $825 per 4 weeks, plus $605 production | Not listed |
| Super king or superside | $500 per 4 weeks | Not listed | From $495 a month |
| Full wrap | $4,250 per 4 weeks | $7,000 per 4 weeks (Superbus), 8-week minimum | $1,500 a month |
| Production and install | One-time fee that varies by bus | Listed beside each format | Excluded from the rates |
Sources: Yolobus 2026 media kit (March 2026); Pattison Out-of-Home's TTC product kit (January 2026); City of Grande Prairie transit advertising rates (January 2025). In Richmond, Virginia, GRTC's card (updated October 2024) prices a full wrap at $3,000 a month for one month and $2,350 a month on a 12-month buy, plus $8,000 production, with a $1,000 minimum buy.
Why the production cost matters
Transit space is priced per 4 weeks, but the print is a separate, one-time charge, and for wraps it's large: GRTC lists $8,000 to produce a full wrap and $4,000 for a half wrap. On a short run the production can cost more than the space. Toronto's king poster production is listed per format beside the space price. Ask for both numbers before comparing.
Bus shelters
We couldn't find a city that publishes shelter prices: Outfront, Intersection and Vector, which sell shelters in most large US cities, quote on request. Expect to ask for a proposal, with the poster print on top.
Bus benches
- Laredo, Texas (El Metro): $150 a month for one bench, less per bench for 2 to 5, with a 6-month minimum and a printed sign per bench.
- BusBenchAds.com lists starting prices from $150 a month (Nashville, Spokane) to $300 (Los Angeles), with Phoenix at $225 and Dallas, Philadelphia and San Diego at $250; design and print are separate.
- Grande Prairie, Alberta: $87 CAD a month per bench, with discounts after 4, production excluded.
Bus ads vs Lunar
A bus covers its route, which the transit agency chooses; a bench or shelter stays on one corner. Lunar puts your sticker on local drivers' cars in the areas you set on a map, so it shows up on the streets those drivers use every day. Lunar puts your business's circle sticker on the doors of local drivers' cars, in the areas you set on a map. Half Moon is $500 a month for 2 cars, and Full Moon is $1,500 a month for 7. The sticker design is made for you and included, with nothing extra for printing or setup. Terms are 3 or 6 months, billed monthly, and a 6-month term is 10% off every month. Apart from the $50 deposit, nothing is charged until your first sticker is on a driver's car; the deposit counts toward your plan, or is refunded if no driver is matched in 7 days. Each sticker carries a QR code that sends people wherever you choose, and Lunar counts the scans.
Comparing more formats? See local advertising prices compared.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to put an ad on a bus?
On 2026 rate cards, a king-size side poster is about $425 per 4 weeks on Yolobus near Sacramento and $600 CAD net on Toronto's TTC, plus production. A full wrap is $4,250 per 4 weeks on Yolobus and $7,000 CAD on the TTC, with an 8-week minimum there.
How much is a bus bench ad?
From about $150 a month for one bench in cities like Laredo, Nashville and Spokane, up to around $300 in Los Angeles, usually with a printed sign on top and sometimes a 6-month minimum.
Is production included in bus ad prices?
Usually not. Transit rate cards price the space; printing and installation are separate, and for a full wrap production can run several thousand dollars (GRTC in Richmond lists $8,000).
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