Banner Size Guide: Choosing the Right Vinyl Banner Size
How big your banner should be depends on where it hangs and how far away people are when they read it. Here’s how to choose.
Gammage vinyl banner sizes compared
Gammage prints vinyl banners in four standard sizes you can price online. Need something bigger or a different shape? Request a quote.
| Size | Good for |
|---|---|
| 2 x 3 ft | Table fronts, indoor walls, small storefront windows, check-in tables |
| 2 x 4 ft | Storefronts, booths, church and school hallways, birthday and graduation parties |
| 2 x 5 ft | Fences and railings, grand openings, ball fields, porch railings |
| 2 x 6 ft | Building fronts, roadside fences, event entrances, tournaments and festivals |
A quick test: tape a sheet of paper on the wall or fence where the banner will go and step back to where people will actually be (the sidewalk, the parking lot, the road). That distance decides the size more than anything else.
Letter height by viewing distance
A common sign-industry rule of thumb is about 1 inch of letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance for comfortable reading. Bold, simple fonts and strong contrast stretch that further; thin or script fonts need more.
| Reader distance | Main text height (about) |
|---|---|
| 10 ft | 1 inch |
| 25 ft | 2.5 to 3 inches |
| 50 ft | 5 inches |
| 100 ft | 10 inches |
On a 2 ft tall banner, your main line can be roughly 8 to 10 inches tall, which reads well from a parking lot. For drivers passing at speed, use fewer words, not smaller ones.
How much text fits
- Aim for one main message of about 3 to 7 words (“Grand Opening Saturday”, “Now Enrolling”).
- Add one supporting line at most: a phone number, website or date.
- Skip long addresses and paragraphs; a QR code works for people standing close, not for drivers.
- Dark text on a light background (or white on navy, red or black) is easiest to read outdoors.
More visibility tips are in our yard sign and banner tips.
Setting up a banner file
- Build the file at the real size (for example 24 x 72 inches for a 2 x 6 ft banner), or a scaled version with the same proportions.
- Large prints are viewed from a distance, so photos generally look good at about 100 to 150 ppi at full size. Logos and text are best as vector art (PDF, AI, EPS or SVG).
- Keep text and logos a few inches in from the edges so nothing sits where the banner is finished or hung.
- Send it with your quote request. Gammage accepts PDF, PNG, JPG, AI, EPS, PSD and SVG and reviews every file before printing. See what makes a print-ready file.
Hanging and outdoor use
Tell us where the banner will hang (indoors, a fence, a building, between poles) and how long it will be up, and ask about finishing options for hanging when you request your quote. Outdoors, tie banners tight so they don’t flap and tear in the wind, and take them down before severe weather. Sign and banner orders are prepaid.
Yard signs, car magnets and big prints
- Coroplast yard signs: one- or two-sided, with optional wire stakes. Ten or more signs get custom pricing.
- Magnetic car signs, priced per pair.
- Large format prints: posters, plans and prints from 11 x 17 up to 2 x 5 ft.
- Political campaign printing and other signs and banners by quote.
Ready to order?
Call Gammage Print Shop at (229) 924-4029 (Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM) or request a quote online. Customers outside Americus can call to ask about shipping to their area. Email your designs to gammagesalesinc@gmail.com. Already a customer? Reorder with your invoice number.