Stamp shows provide great opportunities for buying and selling philatelic material, learning more about the hobby by viewing and attending seminars, and meeting fellow collectors. Shows range from one day local club events with as few as four or five dealers and a couple of members' exhibits to international exhibitions which may run 11 days and take the equivalent space of more than 10 football fields.

The August APS show which rotates around the country is the largest annual national show and typically includes 150 dealer, 10,000 pages of exhibits, meetings of more than 25 national societies, and over 100 educational seminars. A step below the annual APS convention are national World Series of Philately (WSP) shows which must meet criteria established by the APS and whose grand award winners are thus eligible to compete at the APS show for the title of "Champion of Champions."