Cut vinyl lettering is one of the oldest and cleanest signage techniques around. There is no print and no background, just solid-colour letters and shapes applied directly to a surface.
It looks sharp, lasts for years outdoors and suits jobs where a printed sticker would look wrong. Here is how it works, where it shines, and when a printed graphic is the better choice.
What is cut vinyl lettering?
Cut vinyl lettering is computer-cut from rolls of solid-coloured vinyl film. Each letter, number or shape is cut and weeded (the background removed), then supplied on transfer tape so it goes onto the surface in one piece. The result looks painted on: no visible edges, no background rectangle and no sticker look.
Where cut vinyl lettering works best
Shopfront glass: business name, trading hours, contact details and regulatory information. Our window lettering can be applied to the front of the glass or reverse-cut to go on the inside, and frosted vinyl adds privacy while keeping a clean look.
Vehicle doors and panels: a business name and phone number in one colour on car doors, caravans or trailer sides. For simple text, cut vinyl looks cleaner on a vehicle than a printed graphic.
Walls and surfaces: office branding, a line of words in reception, room labels and wayfinding text. On a smooth painted wall, the letters look like a signwriter painted them.
Boats: vessel names and registration numbers. Tell us it is for a boat and we will point you to the right vinyl.
Good to know: cut vinyl arrives on transfer tape, ready to put up. Small runs of lettering on glass or a vehicle door are easy to apply yourself on a clean, dry surface. For a large shopfront, many businesses use their builder or a signwriter they choose.
When printed graphics are better
Cut vinyl is one colour per layer. If your logo has gradients, photographs, detailed illustration or more than two or three colours, a printed graphic is the better option. Printed wall decals, die-cut stickers and printed window graphics handle full colour and complex artwork that cut vinyl cannot reproduce.
Plenty of shopfronts use both: a printed logo panel or promotion, with the name, hours and phone number in cut vinyl alongside it.
Colours and vinyl types
There are more than 80 solid colours to choose from, including metallics, fluorescents and reflective finishes. Standard sign vinyl suits flat surfaces like glass and painted walls and lasts for years outdoors. Cast vinyl conforms to curves and complex surfaces and lasts longer again, which makes it the pick for vehicles and anything with rivets or ridges.
If you are matching your brand, send your colour references and we will suggest the closest vinyl. Our guide to brand colours that work in print explains why solid colours usually look better than bright screen shades.
What drives the cost of cut vinyl lettering?
It is priced by size and complexity: the overall width and height, the number of characters and shapes, how fine the detail is, the number of colours (each one is a separate layer) and the type of vinyl. It is one of the most cost-effective kinds of long-lasting signage, and live pricing on each product page lets you try sizes and colours before you commit.
Before you order: measure the space the lettering needs to fit, whether that is the glass panel, the door or the wall area, and send us those sizes with your exact wording and colours. Check spelling and phone numbers twice, because every letter is cut exactly as supplied.
What to put on shop glass
Keep it to what a passer-by needs: your name, what you do, your hours and one way to reach you. Big, simple lettering reads from across the street; a paragraph does not. Our guide to window signage ideas that bring people in has more, and opening hours decals are a quick way to get the basics on the door.
Common questions
How long does cut vinyl lettering last?
Years outdoors, depending on the vinyl and how much sun it gets. Cast vinyl lasts longer than standard sign vinyl, which is why it is used on vehicles.
Can I remove it later?
Yes. It peels off glass with a little heat and patience, and any adhesive left behind cleans off. Painted walls need more care, so test a corner first.
Can cut vinyl do my logo?
If your logo is one or two solid colours with clean shapes, yes. If it has gradients, photos or fine detail, a printed decal will reproduce it better.
Do you put it on for me?
No. We design, proof and supply the lettering on transfer tape. You apply it, or use your builder or a signwriter you choose. Compare it with other options in our guide to magnetic signs vs vinyl decals.
Ready when you are: vinyl decal lettering is priced live on the product page. Enter your size and colours, then upload your artwork or have us set out the lettering for you. You can see the rest of the range under signs and banners.
