What Size Sign or Banner Do We Actually Need?

Too small and nobody sees it. Too big and it overwhelms the space or the budget. Here's how to choose the right sign or banner size for the most common situations.

The Viewing Distance Rule

Every 3 metres of viewing distance needs roughly 25mm of letter height for comfortable reading. So if someone is 30 metres away (across a car park, for example), your main text needs to be at least 250mm tall. At 60 metres (across a busy road), you need 500mm text height.

This is the most useful rule in signage. It tells you whether your sign is big enough before you print it. Measure the distance from where people will actually see the sign, not from where you're standing when you hang it.

Common Sign Sizes and Where They Work

A3 to A2 (300mm to 600mm): Counter signs, window notices, indoor wayfinding. Readable from 1 to 3 metres. Good for menu boards, desk signs, and small retail displays.

600mm x 900mm to 900mm x 1200mm: The standard corflute sign range. Readable from the footpath across a residential street. Works for real estate boards, site signs, event directional signs, and garden-edge displays.

1200mm x 900mm to 2400mm x 1200mm: Large format boards for construction sites, business entrances, and high-traffic locations. Readable from across a car park or a busy road.

Banner Sizes

2000mm x 1000mm: The smallest standard vinyl banner that has real impact. Works on fences, above doorways, and on small shopfronts. Good for events, sales, and temporary promotions.

3000mm x 1000mm: The most common banner size. Covers a decent section of fence, hangs above a shopfront comfortably, and is readable from across a street. This is the default for most businesses.

4000mm to 6000mm wide: Large banners for construction hoardings, sports fields, event perimeters, and major shopfronts. These are designed to be seen from distance - keep the message short and the text enormous.

Pull-Up Banners

Pull-up banners come in standard sizes - typically 850mm x 2000mm. This is a format size, not a choice. Where you have a choice is in how many you use. One banner for a simple message at a reception desk. Two or three for an event display or trade show booth.

The Most Common Mistake

Going too small. People consistently underestimate the size needed for their viewing distance. A sign that looks big leaning against your office wall can look tiny mounted above a doorway. Always mock it up in situ if possible - tape together some newspaper to the right dimensions and hold it where the sign will go. Step back to the actual viewing distance. If you can't read it clearly, go bigger.

Not sure about sizing? Send us the location and we'll recommend the right size.