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The 50 Largest Trade Shows in the United States

Written by UPrinting    ●    Published on September 12, 2023


What are trade shows? A trade show, also known as a trade exhibition, trade fair, and trade exposition, is an event held to bring together companies in a specific industry so they can showcase and discuss their latest products and services. Trade shows are generally not open to the public and can only be attended by company representatives, those affiliated with the industry, or members of the press. What are some examples of trade shows? Major trade shows include the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Utility Expo, and the Florida RV SuperShow. What are the biggest trade shows in the United States? The team at UPrinting.com has rounded up stats on the largest trade shows in America based on net square footage of the convention centers that host them. Check it out:

Based on Net Square Footage (NSF)

The 50 Largest Trade Shows in the United States based on Net Square Footage
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Based on Number of Exhibitors

The 50 Largest Trade Shows in the United States based on Number of Exhibitors
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Based on Number of Attendees

The 50 Largest Trade Shows in the United States based on Number of Attendees
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Here are the top 10 largest trade shows in the U.S. based on the net square footage of exhibit space:


  1. Consumer Electronics Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center – 2,930,421 sq. ft.
  2. The Utility Expo at the Kentucky Exposition Center – 1,340,749 sq. ft.
  3. Florida RV SuperShow at the Florida State Fairgrounds – 1,219,591 sq. ft.
  4. SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center – 1,181,000 sq. ft.
  5. America’s Largest RV Show at Giant Center – 1,056,068 sq. ft.
  6. NBAA-BACE at the Last Vegas Convention Center – 965,700 sq. ft.
  7. Equip Exposition at the Kentucky Exposition Center – 953,698 sq. ft.
  8. NAB Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center – 924,876 sq. ft.
  9. PACK EXPO at the Las Vegas Convention Center – 889,599 sq. ft.
  10. FABTECH at the Las Vegas Convention Center – 815,455 sq. ft.

What is the most attended trade show in America?


The most attended trade show in the United States is the SEMA Show, or the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show.

How many people attend the SEMA Show?

The SEMA Show attracts roughly 160,000 attendees annually, including 70,000 buyers from the industry. Attendees come from all across the United States and over 140 countries worldwide.

What is the SEMA Show for?

Here is how the official SEMA Show website describes its purpose: “The SEMA Show is the premier trade show geared to help small businesses thrive and succeed. The trade-only event enables automotive specialty equipment manufacturers to display alongside automotive manufacturers to debut new, innovative products, and connect with industry buyers from all over the world.”


How do trade shows help businesses?


What is the value of trade shows? Trade shows provide businesses with opportunities to raise brand awareness, showcase new products and services, develop mutually beneficial relationships, and gain the latest industry knowledge. Trade shows usually offer dedicated networking events which can lead to partnerships, new customers, and business opportunities.


Here Are the 50 Largest Trade Shows in the United States


Trade Show Venue Net Square Footage of Exhibit Space (NSF) Number of Attendees Number of Exhibitors
1 CES Consumer Electronics Show Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 2,930,421 107,148 4,550
2 The Utility Expo (Formerly the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE)) Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY 1,340,749 11,458 1,017
3 Florida RV SuperShow Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL 1,219,591 1,100 340
4 SEMA Show Specialty Equipment Market Association Show Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 1,181,000 161,829* 2,400
5 America's Largest RV Show Giant Center, Hershey, PA 1,056,068 1,498 210
6 NBAA-BACE NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 965,700 24,823* 970
7 Equip Exposition (Formerly the Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO)) Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY 953,698 18,231 865
8 NAB Show National Association of Broadcasters Show Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 924,876 40,111 1,632
9 PACK EXPO Las Vegas Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 889,599 31,007 2,015
10 FABTECH Various venues and U.S. cities 815,455 48,828* 1,696
11 Inspired Home Show (Formerly the International Home + Housewares Show) McCormick Place, Chicago, IL 812,135 34,500 2,203
12 RECon: The Global Retail Real Estate Convention Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 806,000 31,337 1,088
13 MAGIC Las Vegas Men’s Apparel Guild in California Las Vegas Convention Center/Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 777,555 76,819 4,697
14 World of Concrete Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 773,728 40,402 1,504
15 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show McCormick Place, Chicago, IL 725,869 42,544 2,364
16 SHOT Show Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show Venetian Convention and Expo Center, Las Vegas, NV 689,010 20,025 2,513
17 Mid-America Trucking Show Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY 635,688 72,584 1,020
18 NAMM Show National Association of Music Merchants Show Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA 616,065 115,303* 1,917
19 NAHB International Builders' Show Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 609,261 63,816 1,484
20 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition Various venues and U.S. cities 606,750 17,655 1,328
21 IPPE International Production & Processing Expo Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA 594,052 32,655* 1,426
22 IAAPA Expo International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL 589,600 27,900 1,144
23 Natural Products Expo West Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA 583,696 52,120 3,697
24 OTC Offshore Technology Conference NRG Park, Houston, TX 564,840 35,968 2,325
25 National Hardware Show Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 556,000 11,125 2,654
26 AAPEX Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo Venetian Convention and Expo Center, Las Vegas, NV 542,800 70,256 2,545
27 InfoComm Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL 524,339 43,230* 927
28 FDIC International Fire Department Instructors Conference International Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN 499,175 29,741 784
29 AHR Expo International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA 493,120 27,047 1,824
30 Coverings Various venues and U.S. cities 479,788 16,800 1,100
31 RSNA The Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America McCormick Place, Chicago, IL 450,400 32,015 735
32 North American International Toy Fair Javits Convention Center, New York, NY 447,458 12,820 1,039
33 E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA 445,500 35,000 211
34 NACS Show National Association of Convenience Stores Show Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA 431,800 7,643 1,251
35 IBIE International Baking Industry Exposition Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 430,850 12,439 939
36 ProMat Productivity Through Material Handling McCormick Place, Chicago, IL 425,076 41,612 938
37 SCI Annual Hunters' Convention Various venues and U.S. cities 415,000 N/A 936
38 JCK Las Vegas Jewelers Circular Keystone Venetian Convention and Expo Center, Las Vegas, NV 403,325 17,586 1,963
39 TISE The International Surface Event Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV 403,004 25,500* 745
40 ASCO Annual Meeting American Society of Clinical Oncology McCormick Place, Chicago, IL 399,172 34,000 402
41 NAFEM Show North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers Show Various venues and U.S. cities 376,660 11,423 643
42 NACV Show North American Commercial Vehicle Show Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA 375,000 8,466 473
43 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN 373,500 53,132 1,185
44 PGA Show Professional Golfers’ Association Show Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL 373,000 25,761 830
45 MD&M West Medical Design & Manufacturing Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA 367,730 21,318 1,916
46 WWETT Show Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment, & Transport Show Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN 362,000 8,533 610
47 Summer Fancy Food Show Javits Convention Center, New York, NY 361,180 N/A 2,538
48 Global Pet Expo Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL 360,400 7,029 1,174
49 Premiere Beauty Orlando Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL 347,500 60,123 875
50 PRINTING United Expo Various venues and U.S. cities 346,310 21,052 684

*Attendee figure includes exhibitors