Detailed explanation of elevator advertising fee standards: framework, video, and package prices are all known

When you start considering placing elevator advertisements for your own store, product, or brand, the practical question of "how do elevator advertisements cost?" often becomes the first threshold for decision-making. You may have seen vague statements about "500 yuan per month" online, or you may have received complex plans of "10 communities packaged for 50000 yuan" - these fragmented information actually make people more confused.
The fee for elevator advertising is not clearly priced like supermarket products, but a flexible system influenced by multiple variables. Understanding this system not only helps you understand the quotation, but also enables you to make the most cost-effective choices within a limited budget. This article will serve as your "decoder" to thoroughly explain the charging logic of elevator advertising.
一、 Core charging model: first understand "how to calculate money"
There are two main charging models for elevator advertising, and the quote you receive is usually based on one or a combination of both.
Mode 1: Charge by location/cycle (mainstream mode)
Definition: This is the most common pattern. Calculated on a "weekly" or "monthly" basis based on the unit of "individual advertising space".
For example, "One frame advertising space in one elevator in XX community, with a monthly fee of 600 yuan. If you want to invest in 10 elevators, the total price is 600 yuan x 10=6000 yuan/month.
Features: Simple and intuitive, suitable for most static advertising frameworks.
Mode 2: Charged by broadcast frequency/duration (mainly used for video advertising)
Definition: For LCD displays inside elevators. The cost depends on the number of times (frequency) and total duration of your advertisement being broadcasted on the screen each day.
For example, "Your 15 second advertisement will be played 120 times a day on each screen, with a monthly cost of 1500 yuan per screen.
Characteristics: It is closer to the logic of television advertising, adjusting costs and coverage intensity by controlling frequency.
Important concept: CPM (Cost Per Thousand impressions)
This is a key indicator for evaluating the value of advertising. Smart advertisers will ask media companies to provide estimated daily foot traffic for their advertising locations. CPM can be calculated by dividing the monthly fee by (average daily flow x 30 days/1000). By comparing CPM at different locations, it is possible to more scientifically determine which location is more "cost-effective".

二、 Five core factors affecting charging prices
Why do advertising frames of the same size cost 300 yuan per month in A community but 1200 yuan in B community? The price difference mainly comes from the following five dimensions:
Factor 1: City level and regional location
The prices in first tier cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen) are much higher than those in second - and third tier cities.
Within the same city, the prices of core commercial districts, high-end business districts, and high-tech industrial parks are significantly higher than those of ordinary residential areas.
Factor 2: Hard indicators of the community (building)
This is the key to determining price differences.
Real estate quality and housing prices: The advertising value of high-end commercial housing communities far exceeds that of old residential areas or resettlement housing.
Occupancy rate and crowd density: A 30 story high-rise building with a 90% occupancy rate has much higher advertising value than a low rise building with a 50% occupancy rate.
Crowd portrait: Communities dominated by young white-collar workers and high-income families have a higher premium than communities with elderly residents or mixed tenants.
Factor Three: Advertising Form and Specifications
Frame advertising: Standard sizes (such as 550mm × 400mm) are the most common. Special sizes or irregular advertising spaces may incur additional charges.
Elevator door advertisement: located on the inside and outside of the elevator door, it has extremely high attention and is usually more expensive than frame advertisements inside the car.
LCD screen advertising: Size (15 inches, 32 inches), whether it is a touch interactive screen, and audio and visual quality all affect the price. The price of dynamic video advertising is usually 2-3 times that of static frames.
Factor 4: Advertising Scale and Package
Scale discount: The more points placed, the more discounts can usually be obtained on the monthly average price of a single point.
Package purchase: Media companies often launch "50 boutique community packages in XX area", "full network coverage packages", etc., with package prices that are more favorable than single point purchases.
Factor 5: Media company brand and additional services
National leaders like Focus Media usually have higher pricing than regional small media companies due to their high network value and comprehensive data capabilities.
Whether the quotation includes graphic design, on-site installation, regular inspections, and performance data reports will also affect the final contract amount.
三、 Current market cost range reference 
To give you a specific concept, the following is a rough market range based on mainstream cities (monthly fee for a single elevator/location, for reference only):
Elevator frame advertisement (static poster)
Basic range: 200 yuan to 1500 yuan/month
Common range: In most mid to high end communities in second tier and provincial capital cities, prices range from 400 yuan to 800 yuan per month.
Elevator LCD screen advertisement (video carousel)
Basic range: 800 yuan -3000 yuan+/month
Common range: Single screens in high-quality communities in mainstream cities, with prices ranging from 1200 yuan to 2000 yuan per month.
Important notice: The above is the "single point" price. The actual advertising is usually a combination of multiple locations, with a total budget ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan per month. Be sure to request a detailed list of locations and package instructions.

四、 Four step method for planning budget and negotiating expenses
Clarify your own needs: Which specific areas do you want to cover? What is the target customer profile? How long do you plan to launch? (Recommended to start investing at least 3 months)
Request detailed quotation: Contact the media company, provide your target area, and request a formal quotation list. The list should include: property name, advertising format, single point unit price, total package price, estimated foot traffic, and contract period.
Calculate and compare CPM: Using the crowd flow data in the quotation, calculate CPM for different locations, and prioritize selecting the location combination with better CPM (i.e. lower cost per thousand people).
Confirm contract details: Confirm item by item whether the cost includes tax, whether it includes image production and installation fees, how to charge for image replacement, and whether it is possible to switch locations midway to avoid hidden consumption in the future.
五、 Three common pitfalls regarding elevator advertising fees
Price trap: only quote a very low "starting price" or vague "package price" without providing details. After signing the order, it was discovered that high-quality spots require additional charges, or a large number of inefficient spots were mixed into the package.
Data trap: Falsifying the occupancy rate or foot traffic of real estate projects. It is best to request the other party to provide third-party data as evidence, or conduct on-site investigations of the flow of people at different times.
Contract trap: Unclear provisions in the contract regarding the handling of issues such as publication time, replacement of damaged images, and failure to meet promised results, leading to a reduction in subsequent services.
六、Conclusion: From "asking price" to "buying value"
The best answer to the question 'How do elevator advertisements charge?' is not in any online article, but in your clear needs and professional media plan comparison.
The essence of elevator advertising is to purchase opportunities to meet the target consumers multiple times a day, unavoidably. Therefore, the core measure of its cost should not only be "yuan/month", but also "yuan/effective exposure".