How Much Does a Billboard Really Cost?
When most business owners in Edmonton or anywhere in Alberta think about billboard advertising, the first question is always the same: how much does it cost? It is a smart question, and the answer might surprise you.
Billboards: Big Brand Luxury or Everyday Business Tool?
When you picture a billboard, you probably imagine a giant national campaign. Fast food chains, cell phone providers, or even the latest Hollywood release. These big, bold ads can make billboard advertising feel out of reach for a local business.
The reality is different. Digital billboards have become one of the most cost-effective and flexible advertising tools available, and they are accessible to Edmonton businesses of every size. At $700 a week, a digital billboard campaign costs less than what many companies spend on coffee or office snacks in a single month. Instead of being reserved for global brands, billboard advertising in Alberta is now a practical option for small and medium businesses who want to be seen.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Clarity matters when it comes to cost. At Impact Billboards, the rate is $700 per week, per board. There are no hidden fees, no inflated production costs, and no surprises.
More importantly, that investment translates into visibility where it counts. The boards are positioned along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, connecting Edmonton to the Edmonton International Airport. This is not a quiet backroad. It is one of Alberta’s busiest commuter routes, with consistent, high-volume traffic every day.
Here is how that $700 performs in real numbers:
- Two of the boards average 75,000 views per day each
- One board averages 95,000 views per day
Which means weekly impressions look like this:
- 525,000 impressions per week on Board A
- 525,000 impressions per week on Board B
- 665,000 impressions per week on Board C
To put that into advertising language, we look at CPM, or cost per thousand impressions:
- Board A or B: $700 ÷ 525 = $1.33 per thousand impressions
- Board C: $700 ÷ 665 = $1.05 per thousand impressions
In simple terms, about a dollar puts your ad in front of 1,000 real people in your market. That kind of reach at that kind of cost is rare.
How Billboards Compare to Other Advertising
Once you see the numbers, it is worth asking how billboard advertising stacks up against other traditional channels in Alberta.
- Radio advertising typically runs between $5 and $10 CPM
- Television ranges from $15 to $30 CPM
- Billboards in Edmonton through Impact average between $1.05 and $1.33 CPM
The math speaks for itself. Billboards reach more people for less money.
There is also a quality factor to consider. Radio listeners often change the station when commercials play. Television viewers are scrolling their phones, skipping ads on streaming services, or simply not paying attention. A billboard is different. It is in the real world, highly visible, and cannot be skipped or muted. Every time someone drives that route, they see your brand.
Local Businesses, Real ROI
Numbers are powerful, but the proof is in how Edmonton and Alberta businesses are already using billboard advertising to grow. Restaurants, car dealerships, law firms, and retailers have all leveraged digital billboards to expand their visibility.
One local restaurant promoted a new weekend brunch menu with a short campaign. Within days, the extra visibility helped fill tables. A retailer used a seasonal promotion to attract new customers during the holidays. These examples show that billboards are not reserved for Fortune 500 brands. They are a tool that local businesses can use to generate measurable results.
Billboards also offer flexibility. If you need to update your message for a weekend sale, that change can be made within hours. If you want to run a seasonal campaign or test different creative, the turnaround is fast and simple. Compare that to trying to swap a radio ad or adjust a TV spot on short notice, and the advantage becomes clear.
Why Billboard Advertising in Edmonton Works
Digital billboards are effective because they combine three powerful advantages:
- Location: Positioned on one of Alberta’s busiest highways, they capture both commuters and airport traffic.
- Visibility: Unlike online ads, they cannot be blocked or skipped. The message dominates the view in real-world traffic.
- Frequency: Regular commuters see the same boards multiple times a week, building recognition and trust without additional cost.
This combination of location, visibility, and frequency makes billboards an advertising channel that blends the reach of mass media with the agility of digital marketing.
The Bottom Line
So, how much does a billboard really cost in Edmonton? In this case, $700 per week. That $700 buys between half a million and nearly 700,000 impressions. It delivers the lowest CPM around and puts your message in front of your community every single day.
You do not need a national budget or a global brand to use billboard advertising in Alberta. All you need is a clear message and the willingness to let thousands of local commuters see it.
For business owners weighing how to stretch their marketing dollars, billboard advertising is worth serious consideration. At about a dollar per thousand impressions, it is one of the most cost-effective ways to build visibility and credibility in Edmonton.
Curious about whether billboard advertising could work for your Alberta business? Explore our locations, compare impressions, and decide for yourself what $700 a week could do for your visibility.
