Advertising on Billboards In Austin, TX
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About Austin Over the past two decades, Austin has become one of America’s hippest cities. It was a bit unexpected—with its hippie vibes and left-leaning politics, Austin’s always been a bit out of an outlier in red-meat, red-state Texas. But that’s also part of the city’s charm. It’s different, and it’s proud of that vibe. Of course, it’s also risen to fame on the back of South by Southwest, the movie-tech-music festival that draws 300,000 people each year.
Whether you want to reach SXSW attendees or court University of Texas students, Austin is a fantastic spot for billboard advertising. We put together this guide to help you connect with the right audience for the right price.
Over the past two decades, Austin has become one of America’s hippest cities. It was a bit unexpected—with its hippie vibes and left-leaning politics, Austin’s always been a bit out of an outlier in red-meat, red-state Texas. But that’s also part of the city’s charm. It’s different, and it’s proud of that vibe. Of course, it’s also risen to fame on the back of South by Southwest, the movie-tech-music festival that draws 300,000 people each year.
Whether you want to reach SXSW attendees or court University of Texas students, Austin is a fantastic spot for billboard advertising. We put together this guide to help you connect with the right audience for the right price.
Data for Billboard Advertisers in Austin Austin has a population of 964,177, according to the most recent Census data. Growth has exploded since 2010, up nearly 25% in that span. That puts it among the fastest-growing big cities in the country, though it still ranks fourth in Texas in population behind Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. Austin has an educated, affluent population, with more than half (55%) holding a bachelor’s degree or higher and a high median household income.
Austin has 300 billboards, which is about 50 more than Dallas and double the number in San Antonio. Houston has the most Texas billboards with 450.
Here’s a complete demographic rundown on the Austin DMA.
Austin has a population of 964,177, according to the most recent Census data. Growth has exploded since 2010, up nearly 25% in that span. That puts it among the fastest-growing big cities in the country, though it still ranks fourth in Texas in population behind Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. Austin has an educated, affluent population, with more than half (55%) holding a bachelor’s degree or higher and a high median household income.
Austin has 300 billboards, which is about 50 more than Dallas and double the number in San Antonio. Houston has the most Texas billboards with 450.
Here’s a complete demographic rundown on the Austin DMA.
Austin, TXPopulation: 964,177
49%
51%
Veterans
32,754Foreign-born residents:
18.5%Persons per household:
2.28Percent who speak a non-English language at home:
30.5%High school graduates
90.6%Hold at least a bachelor’s degree:
55.1%Median household income:
$78,965Billboards:
300The city of Austin has a variety of sizes and types of billboard advertising. Bulletins
Think of bulletins as standard billboards. They appear on highways and often advertise nearby fast food and lodging options. Advertisers may use calls to action to get people to pull off the road immediately, like a sale, or to spread awareness of an upcoming event, like a show at Moody Amphitheater.
Dimensions: The majority of bulletins are 48 feet wide x 14 feet tall.
Posters
Posters are bulletins’ smaller cousins, often located in more urban areas. They’re about half as wide but still provide an excellent canvas for creative. They also tend to be cheaper than bulletins. Austin is more of a bulletin town, with fewer posters than other similar-sized cities.
Dimensions + The majority of posters measure 24 feet, 6 inches wide x 12 feet, 3 inches tall.
Digital Billboards
Want to raise hackles in Austin? Ask someone their opinion on digital billboards. The courts weighed in on this one repeatedly.
In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Austin in a free speech case that challenged a city ordinance banning digital billboards from appearing anywhere outside the property of the company advertising on the board. The sides battled through several appeals court appearances, including one citing strict scrutiny in overturning Austin’s ordinance, before the ban was affirmed. Two vendors sparked the suit in 2017 when they applied for dozens of city permits to digitize existing traditional boards, and the city refused them. The regulations were appealed all the way to the high court. Even now, digital billboards remain a contentious topic in the town.
Dimensions + Digital bulletins, like traditional ones, measure 48 feet wide x 14 feet tall, but you won’t find many here.
Mobile Billboards
Mobile billboard advertising is particularly popular during SXSW, when billboard space goes for a premium and advertisers want to find ways to stand out. Plus, you can circumnavigate the strict digital billboard restrictions with a roving LED display. There’s no standard dimension for a mobile billboard, since it depends on the truck size.
Dimensions + Sizing can vary depending on how long the bed of the truck is.
Bulletins
Think of bulletins as standard billboards. They appear on highways and often advertise nearby fast food and lodging options. Advertisers may use calls to action to get people to pull off the road immediately, like a sale, or to spread awareness of an upcoming event, like a show at Moody Amphitheater.
The majority of bulletins are 48 feet wide x 14 feet tall.
Posters
Posters are bulletins’ smaller cousins, often located in more urban areas. They’re about half as wide but still provide an excellent canvas for creative. They also tend to be cheaper than bulletins. Austin is more of a bulletin town, with fewer posters than other similar-sized cities.
The majority of posters measure 24 feet, 6 inches wide x 12 feet, 3 inches tall.
Digital Billboards
Want to raise hackles in Austin? Ask someone their opinion on digital billboards. The courts weighed in on this one repeatedly.
In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Austin in a free speech case that challenged a city ordinance banning digital billboards from appearing anywhere outside the property of the company advertising on the board. The sides battled through several appeals court appearances, including one citing strict scrutiny in overturning Austin’s ordinance, before the ban was affirmed. Two vendors sparked the suit in 2017 when they applied for dozens of city permits to digitize existing traditional boards, and the city refused them. The regulations were appealed all the way to the high court. Even now, digital billboards remain a contentious topic in the town.
Digital bulletins, like traditional ones, measure 48 feet wide x 14 feet tall, but you won’t find many here.
Mobile Billboards
Mobile billboard advertising is particularly popular during SXSW, when billboard space goes for a premium and advertisers want to find ways to stand out. Plus, you can circumnavigate the strict digital billboard restrictions with a roving LED display. There’s no standard dimension for a mobile billboard, since it depends on the truck size.
Sizing can vary depending on how long the bed of the truck is.
Best Places in Austin to Advertise on a Billboard Based on our experience, here are some of the best places to find out-of-home (OOH) advertising inventory in Austin.
Downtown Austin:
The areas around 5th and 6th streets are always in demand, with lots of tourists staying in the hotels and visiting restaurants in the state capital. There’s also plenty to do along the Colorado River, drawing more people. Top categories include alcohol (Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which is made in Austin, is a big presence) and entertainment.
East Side:
The area also has plenty of bars and restaurants, great for entertaining and attracting big crowds. Like downtown, top categories are alcohol and entertainment, notably music.
I-35:
Going north out of Austin, you find loads of billboards lining the highway, looking to connect with commuters heading up to Pflugerville, Round Rock and Georgetown. The most dominant categories include alcohol, legal services, entertainment and mobile.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport:
One of the nation’s fastest-growing airports, A-B actually has a few digital displays, which are few and far between in the rest of the city.
State Highway 71:
Running perpendicular to I-35 below Austin, the highway has a lot of fast food and cheap motels, which makes it a popular advertising spot. Top categories include those restaurants and lodgings, as well as legal, mobile and entertainment.
Based on our experience, here are some of the best places to find out-of-home (OOH) advertising inventory in Austin.
Downtown Austin:
The areas around 5th and 6th streets are always in demand, with lots of tourists staying in the hotels and visiting restaurants in the state capital. There’s also plenty to do along the Colorado River, drawing more people. Top categories include alcohol (Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which is made in Austin, is a big presence) and entertainment.
East Side:
The area also has plenty of bars and restaurants, great for entertaining and attracting big crowds. Like downtown, top categories are alcohol and entertainment, notably music.
I-35:
Going north out of Austin, you find loads of billboards lining the highway, looking to connect with commuters heading up to Pflugerville, Round Rock and Georgetown. The most dominant categories include alcohol, legal services, entertainment and mobile.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport:
One of the nation’s fastest-growing airports, A-B actually has a few digital displays, which are few and far between in the rest of the city.
State Highway 71:
Running perpendicular to I-35 below Austin, the highway has a lot of fast food and cheap motels, which makes it a popular advertising spot. Top categories include those restaurants and lodgings, as well as legal, mobile and entertainment.
Cost of a Billboard in Austin Billboard prices in Austin are generally reasonable except during SXSW and when the city hosts a Formula 1 race each year. Then rates soar, and inventory is hard to come by.
All average costs are for four-week periods and reflect what our buyers see in the market.
The Cheapest Billboards in Austin
Posters: $2,000
The Most Expensive Billboards in Austin
Bulletins: $5,000 to $8,000
Billboard prices in Austin are generally reasonable except during SXSW and when the city hosts a Formula 1 race each year. Then rates soar, and inventory is hard to come by.
All average costs are for four-week periods and reflect what our buyers see in the market.
The Cheapest Billboards in Austin
Posters: $2,000
The Most Expensive Billboards in Austin
Bulletins: $5,000 to $8,000
Austin Creative Examples 
Thinking About Advertising in Austin? Austin is one of the best places in Central Texas to invest in OOH ads, with billboard availability robust throughout the year with the exception of during SXSW, when musicians overrun the town and music venues get crowded. Still, no matter when you want to advertise, we can help. Contact us today to discuss your options.
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Austin is one of the best places in Central Texas to invest in OOH ads, with billboard availability robust throughout the year with the exception of during SXSW, when musicians overrun the town and music venues get crowded. Still, no matter when you want to advertise, we can help. Contact us today to discuss your options.