Net Present Value

vs industry avg

Payback Period

— mo

ROI

—%

Annual Savings

— months

⚡ Calculating...

Investment

Annual Return

— return ratio

Setup

Network

Benefits

Results

Digital Signage ROI Calculator

Customize your setup or start with a template

Industry Vertical

Number of Locations

Time Horizon 3 years

1 year 5 years

Projection Scenario

Industry-average assumptions

or quick start

Industry Templates

Advanced Settings

Discount Rate

Ownership Model

Configure your network

Define screens, devices, and operating hours

Screens per Location

Display Type

Custom Hardware Price (per screen)

Operating Hours per Day 12 hours

4h 24h

💡

Total Network

30 screens across 10 locations

Advanced Settings

Installation Cost per Screen

Monthly CMS per Screen

Expected Network Uptime 98%

95% (Basic) 99.9% (Enterprise SLA)

PM & Contingency 15%

0% (No buffer) 25% (High risk)

Monthly Content Budget

Optional: production, ops

Select benefit modules

Toggle the benefits that apply to your use case

Expected Uplift 3%

Monthly Transactions/Location

Average Order Value

Monthly Print Spend per Location

Hours Saved per Month per Location

Hourly Labor Rate

Monthly Footfall per Location

CPM (Cost per 1000 impressions)

Your ROI Analysis

⚖️ Moderate Scenario

Complete business case with investment metrics

Net Present Value

$127,450

Total value over project lifetime

Payback Period

14 months

Time to recoup investment

ROI

247%

Return on investment

IRR

52%

Internal rate of return

Cumulative Cash Flow

Cost vs Benefit Breakdown

Sensitivity Analysis

Impact on NPV if parameter changes ±20%

Investment Summary

Total CAPEX	$46,500
Annual OPEX	$7,200
Annual Benefits	$54,000
Net Annual Value	$46,800

View Assumptions & Data Sources

Parameter	Value	Source

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is this digital signage ROI calculator?

This calculator uses industry benchmarks validated across retail, QSR, healthcare, and corporate deployments. Default assumptions—such as 3-5% sales lift for retail and 50% ad viewability—are based on published DOOH research and real-world case studies. You can adjust any parameter to match your specific situation.

What costs are included in the digital signage ROI calculation?

The calculator covers full Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): CAPEX includes hardware, installation, mounts, cabling, media players, and project contingency. OPEX includes CMS licensing, energy consumption, maintenance, connectivity, and content production. This gives you a complete picture—not just upfront costs.

Is digital signage worth the investment?

For most deployments—yes. Industry benchmarks suggest digital signage can deliver 12-18 month payback periods with 100%+ ROI over 3-5 years in favorable conditions. Typical benefits include 3-8% sales lift in retail/QSR, 30-50% print cost savings, and reduced perceived wait times. Use this calculator to model your specific scenario.

How is payback period calculated?

Payback period represents the time to recover your initial investment (CAPEX) through net annual benefits. Our calculator also computes NPV (Net Present Value) and IRR (Internal Rate of Return) using your specified discount rate—so you get time-value-adjusted metrics, not just simple payback.

How do I justify digital signage to my CFO?

Export a PDF summary with NPV, ROI, payback period, and cash flow projections—the metrics CFOs care about. Use our 3 scenario modes (Conservative / Moderate / Optimistic) to show range, not a single guess. Presenting multiple scenarios demonstrates financial rigor and builds credibility.

How does digital signage compare to print for cost?

Digital signage typically saves 30-50% on recurring print costs compared to traditional signage. No reprinting for price changes, promotions, or seasonal updates—just push new content instantly. The calculator includes a Print Replacement module to estimate your specific annual savings.

What industries does this calculator support?

Pre-built templates cover Retail, QSR/Restaurants, Healthcare, Corporate, Hospitality, and Education. Each template loads industry-specific benchmarks for sales lift, transaction volume, and margin. You can also customize any parameter for your unique use case.

📊 Calculation Methodology

Investment Costs (CAPEX)

One-time costs include hardware, installation, media players, mounts, cabling, and a contingency buffer for project management risks. Contingency varies by scenario (10-20%).

Operating Costs (OPEX)

Monthly recurring costs include CMS licensing, power consumption (based on display wattage and operating hours), connectivity, and maintenance (estimated at 2% of hardware annually).

Benefit Modules

Sales Lift: Incremental revenue based on transaction volume, average order value, uplift percentage, and gross margin by industry.
Print Replacement: Eliminated costs of traditional print materials and distribution.
Labor Productivity: Time savings from automated content updates vs. manual signage changes.
Advertising Revenue: DOOH monetization based on footfall, viewability, CPM, fill rate, and revenue share.

Scenario Assumptions

Three projection scenarios adjust key assumptions:

Conservative: Lower-bound estimates with higher risk buffers
Moderate: Industry-average assumptions
Optimistic: Upper-bound estimates based on research

Financial Metrics

NPV (Net Present Value): Total project value adjusted for time value of money using your discount rate.
Payback Period: Time to recover initial investment through net cash flows.
ROI: Total return relative to investment over the project horizon.
IRR: Annualized return rate that makes NPV equal to zero.

Data Sources

Assumptions based on: DPAA industry reports, Intel Digital Signage benchmarks, Forrester Total Economic Impact studies, and SeenLabs deployment data.