Banner and Sign Materials, Compared
Most sign questions come down to two things: where it is going and how long it has to last. Here is every material we print signs and banners on, what each one is good at, what it costs, and when the cheaper one is the right one.
The quick picker
Start with where it's going. Prices are for full-color printing on one side.
| Where it's going | Choose | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A banner for an event, a wall or a fence, indoors or out | 13 oz vinyl | $4.50 a sq ft |
| A banner with light behind it washing out the colors | 15 oz vinyl | $5.50 a sq ft |
| A banner for the long term, in high wind, or printed on both sides | 18 oz vinyl | $6.25 a sq ft |
| A banner on a fence in an open, windy spot | Mesh | $7.00 a sq ft |
| A sign on a stake in a lawn, for a season | 4mm coroplast | $13.99 for one 24" x 18" |
| A job site, property or real estate sign that stays up longer | 6, 8 or 10mm coroplast | $25.99 for one 24" x 18" |
| An easel, a lobby, a trade show table or a presentation | Foam board | $20.99 for one 18" x 24" |
| A store window, a shelf, a counter or a wall, indoors | Styrene | $20.99 for one 18" x 24" |
| A storefront, building or property sign meant to last | ACM | $64.80 for one 24" x 18" |
| A parking or regulatory sign on a post | Aluminum | $38.88 for one 12" x 18" |
| A car or truck door | Magnet | $36.72 for one 18" x 12" |
Banner vinyl: 13, 15 and 18 oz
Banner vinyl is graded by weight: the ounces are what a square yard of it weighs. Heavier vinyl is thicker and tougher, lets less light through and holds its grommets better. Here is how ours compare, with the price of a 3' x 6' banner, the size most people order for a fence or a storefront.
| Material | Best for | A sq ft | Both sides | A 3' x 6' banner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 oz vinyl | The standard, indoors or out | $4.50 | No | $81.00 |
| 15 oz vinyl | Heavier, with better opacity | $5.50 | No | $99.00 |
| 18 oz vinyl | Long-term outdoor use and high wind | $6.25 | $9.00 | $112.50 |
| Mesh | Fences, and wind passing through | $7.00 | No | $126.00 |
18 oz is the only vinyl we print on both sides, because the lighter ones let the other side show through: a 3' x 6' printed on both sides is $162.00. Every banner is hemmed and grommeted free. Pole pockets take the place of the hem and grommets at $1.50 a foot, plus $15.00 setup for each size. A banner is priced by the square foot, each side rounded up to the next whole foot, and one piece can be up to 120 inches on its short side and 95 feet long. Banners are ready 2 to 4 business days after you approve the proof. Design a banner, or see vinyl banner sizes and prices.
Mesh
Mesh is vinyl with small open holes all through it, so wind passes through instead of pulling at the grommets. It is the one to choose for a fence at a ball field or a job site, or anywhere open to the weather. Up close you can see the holes, and it costs more than solid vinyl, so for a wall, an event or anything read at arm's length, 13 oz looks better. Mesh is printed on one side. See mesh fence banner sizes and prices.
Coroplast: 4mm yard signs and heavy-duty 6, 8 and 10mm
Coroplast is corrugated plastic: two flat plastic faces joined by thin ribs, the flutes, that run through the board. It is light, rain doesn't soak into it, and the flutes are what an H-stake slides into. We print it in full color, on one side or both, with grommets in the top 2 or all 4 corners if you want to hang it.
| Thickness | What it's for | One 24" x 18" | H-stakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4mm Standard | The everyday yard sign. Light, and made for a season outdoors. | $13.99 | Yes |
| 6mm Heavy | Half again as thick: stiffer in the wind, for signs that stay up longer. | $25.99 | No |
| 8mm Heavier | Twice the standard: holds its shape on big signs and on posts. | $28.99 | No |
| 10mm Heaviest | Board-stiff, for job sites, property and real estate signs that stay up. | $29.99 | No |
4mm comes in all 18 yard sign sizes, from 24" x 6" to 48" x 48". The heavier boards come in the 6 most asked-for sizes, and 10mm up to 20 signs an order. H-stakes are for 4mm only: a heavier sign hangs by its grommets or goes on a post. Design a yard sign, see yard sign prices by size, or see heavy-duty coroplast signs.
Foam board, for indoors
Foam board is a light foam core between two smooth faces, about 4mm thick. It is stiff and light and looks sharp on an easel, in a lobby, on a trade show table or at a presentation. It is an indoor material: rain and damp make it warp, so for anything outside choose coroplast. We print it in full color on one side or both, from 12" x 12" to 36" x 48", from one sign: a 24" x 36" is $30.99. Foam board signs.
Styrene, for indoors
Styrene is a thin, smooth white plastic that stays flat and wipes clean. It is made for store windows, shelves and counters, menus, wall signs and point of sale, and it fits a frame or a sign holder. We print it in full color on one side or both, from 6" x 24" to 24" x 48", from one sign: an 18" x 24" is $20.99. Styrene signs.
Aluminum and ACM, for signs that stay up
For a sign that has to last outdoors, choose metal. ACM, aluminum composite, is two thin aluminum faces with a solid core between them: flat, rigid and light. Solid aluminum is the sign for a post. Both are printed in full color, on one side or both, at any size up to 48 inches on a side, and can be cut to shape or given rounded corners.
| Material | What it's for | One 12" x 18" | One 24" x 18" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3mm ACM | Aluminum composite: flat, rigid and light. Storefronts, building and property signs. | $32.40 | $64.80 |
| 6mm ACM | Twice as thick, for big or freestanding signs that must stay flat. | $51.84 | $103.68 |
| .040 Aluminum | Solid aluminum. Parking, traffic and regulatory signs on a post. | $38.88 | $77.76 |
| .080 Aluminum | Heavy gauge aluminum for large signs, windy spots and long life. | $64.80 | $129.60 |
They're priced by the square inch, so you pay for the size you need. Design an aluminum or ACM sign.
Magnets
Our magnets are printed in full color on 30 mil magnetic sheet, for car and truck doors and anywhere there's metal. Choose a rectangle or have it cut to the shape of your design, in a stock size or your own, up to 24 inches on a side. They're sold one at a time with no minimum: an 18" x 12" rectangle is $36.72 and a 24" x 12" is $48.96.
What lasts outdoors
| Where | Materials |
|---|---|
| Indoors only | Foam board and styrene |
| Indoors or out | 13 oz and 15 oz vinyl banners |
| Outdoors, for a season | 4mm coroplast yard signs |
| Outdoors, staying up longer | 6, 8 and 10mm coroplast, and mesh on fences |
| Outdoors, for the long term | 18 oz vinyl, ACM and aluminum |
How many years a sign lasts depends on its spot: full sun, wind and how it's mounted matter as much as the material. Tell us where it's going and we'll tell you which one we'd choose, including when the cheaper one will do.
Material questions
What is the best material for an outdoor sign?
It depends how long it has to last. For a season, 4mm coroplast is the everyday yard sign. For a sign that stays up longer, choose 6, 8 or 10mm coroplast, and for the long term, aluminum or ACM. For a banner, 18 oz vinyl is made for long-term outdoor use and high wind.
What is the difference between 13 oz and 18 oz vinyl?
18 oz is heavier and tougher, made for long-term outdoor use and high wind, and it's the only vinyl we print on both sides. 13 oz is the standard for most banners, indoors or out, at $4.50 a square foot against $6.25 for 18 oz.
Is coroplast waterproof?
Yes. Coroplast is plastic, so rain doesn't soak into it the way it ruins paper or foam board. Sun and wind are what wear a sign out over time, which is why the heavier 6, 8 and 10mm boards are made for signs that stay up longer.
Should I choose foam board or coroplast?
Foam board for indoors: it's smoother and looks sharper on an easel or in a lobby. Coroplast for outdoors: it's plastic, takes H-stakes in 4mm and stands up to rain.
Can a banner be printed on both sides?
Yes, on 18 oz vinyl, at $9.00 a square foot. The lighter vinyls let the other side show through, so we don't print them on both sides.
Ready to price it?
Everything in this guide is built into the builders. They will do the math for you and show a real number.
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