Reference

Mall advertising formats

Six inventory types make up almost every mall media buy in the United States. What each one is, what it runs, and what to watch for in the spec.

Digital screen networks

LED and LCD displays running a looped rotation, usually 10 or 15 seconds in a 60- to 120-second loop. The default digital buy in an enclosed mall and the inventory most likely to be available programmatically.

Typical cost$1,500 – $6,000 per screen network, per market, four weeks

Spec notesPortrait or landscape 1080p/4K; motion allowed, audio only on select spectaculars.

Backlit dioramas

Illuminated portrait poster panels in concourses and near entrances. Still the workhorse of mall media: high dwell, low production cost, and available in properties that have no digital at all.

Typical cost$800 – $2,500 per panel, four weeks

Spec notesTypically 4' x 6' or 5' x 8' backlit film; production and install usually billed separately.

Escalator & elevator wraps

Vinyl applied to escalator side panels, glass balustrades or elevator interiors. Captive attention for the length of the ride, and hard to ignore.

Typical cost$2,000 – $5,000 per installation, four weeks

Spec notesCustom-cut vinyl; requires a site survey and property approval before production.

Kiosks & directory displays

Interactive or static wayfinding units at decision points. Lower impression volume than a screen loop but the shopper is stopped, oriented and actively looking.

Typical cost$1,000 – $3,000 per unit, four weeks

Spec notesTouch or non-touch; some networks support store-locator integrations.

Sky banners & spectaculars

Large-format banners suspended in atriums and center court, plus oversized feature installations. The category's brand-statement buy — visible from multiple levels and the most photographed.

Typical cost$8,000 – $10,000 per placement, four weeks

Spec notesCustom fabrication; lead times run four to eight weeks and rigging is property-specific.

Floor, window & tabletop graphics

Decals on floors and vacant storefront windows, and table wraps in food courts. Cheap, fast, and effective for directional messaging or a tenant-adjacent takeover.

Typical cost$75 – $800 per unit, four weeks

Spec notesAnti-slip laminate required on floors; food-court units usually sold in blocks.

Format availability varies by property

An enclosed mall with a full digital network and an open-air outlet center sell almost nothing in common. Check the property page before you plan against a format.

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