Signs & Banners

Yard Sign Guide — Sizes, Materials, Uses & Artwork Tips

Yard signs are one of the simplest and most effective forms of local advertising. They're affordable to produce in quantity, easy to install, and visible enough to catch attention from the street. This guide covers common sizes, the material they're made from, how to install them, and how to design artwork that reads clearly from a distance.

Common Yard Sign Sizes

Material: Corrugated Plastic (Coroplast)

Nearly all yard signs are printed on 4mm corrugated plastic, commonly known by the brand name Coroplast. It's the plastic equivalent of corrugated cardboard — a fluted plastic core between two flat plastic faces.

Coroplast is popular for yard signs because it's:

• Waterproof — rain, sprinklers, and morning dew won't damage it
• Lightweight — easy to transport in bulk and simple to install
• Rigid enough — holds its shape on a stake without sagging
• Affordable — low material and printing cost, especially at volume
• Recyclable — polypropylene plastic (#5) is widely recyclable

The main limitation is UV durability. Coroplast signs will gradually fade in direct sunlight over several months. For most yard sign use cases — campaigns, events, seasonal promotions, real estate listings — this lifespan is more than sufficient. For permanent outdoor signage, consider PVC board or aluminum instead.

Common Use Cases

Installation and Mounting

Yard signs are almost always mounted on wire H-stakes — a simple metal frame shaped like the letter H that slides into the corrugated channels of the sign. The pointed legs push into the ground, and the sign sits in the middle.

• Standard H-stake: Fits 18×24" and 24×18" signs. Available in 10" and 15" leg lengths — use longer legs for soft or sandy soil.
• Large H-stake: For 24×36" signs. Wider frame with longer legs for extra stability.
• Hard ground: Use a rubber mallet to push the stake in. Water the ground first to soften it if needed.
• Wind: Push the stake in as deep as possible. For particularly windy areas, you can reinforce with a small sandbag behind the sign or angle the sign slightly into the prevailing wind.

Artwork and Design Tips

A yard sign has about 3 seconds to communicate its message to someone driving or walking by. Every design decision should support fast, clear readability at a distance.

Keep it simple

The most effective yard signs have 3–5 words in the headline and no more than 7–8 total elements (headline, subtext, phone number, logo). Trying to fit a paragraph on a yard sign guarantees that no one will read it.

Use large, bold type

The headline should be readable from at least 25–30 feet away. On an 18×24" sign, that means the main text should be at least 3–4 inches tall. Use a bold, sans-serif font. Avoid script fonts, thin weights, and all-caps body text (all-caps headlines are fine).

High contrast colors

Dark text on a light background (or the reverse) reads best at a distance. The strongest combinations: black on white, black on yellow, dark blue on white, white on dark blue, white on red. Avoid low-contrast pairings like light gray on white or yellow on orange.

Don't forget contact info

Every yard sign should include a way to take action — a phone number, website URL, or QR code. Keep it simple: one phone number or one URL, not both. A QR code works well for real estate and events where viewers are likely to be on foot and can scan it with their phone.

Single-Sided vs. Double-Sided

Choose based on where the sign will be placed:

• Double-sided: Use when the sign will be visible from two directions — front lawns, medians, intersections, and open areas where foot or vehicle traffic comes from both sides. This is the most common choice.
• Single-sided: Fine when the sign will be placed against a wall, fence, or building where only one face is visible. Also appropriate when you want to save a small amount per sign on large orders.

Frequently Asked Questions