How to Choose Banner Sizes
For shop, event, and forecourt banners, size follows where people first see the message, not how big the wall is. Bigger is not always better.
Where Will People See It?
A business banner has seconds to communicate: from a car, across a footpath, or at a market stall. Start with the first moment someone notices it, then work back to a practical width and height.
If you are choosing a stage backdrop for a band, use the band backdrop size guide instead.
- Shopfront and sidewalk: passing foot traffic, often 5–15 m viewing distance
- Fence or wall along a road: drivers may only glance once
- Event forecourt or market: people walk closer after they notice the sign
- Indoor hall or club foyer: shorter viewing distance, but keep the message short anyway
Start with the Mounting Point
Width is usually fixed by the wall, fence, or frame you are covering. Height follows the proportion of your artwork and how much headline you need.
When in doubt, send photos with a tape measure in frame. I size business banners to real sites every week.
- Measure the usable width between posts, windows, or obstructions
- Note how the banner will hang: eyelets, rope, bungee, or a frame
- Say if wind exposure matters (open forecourt vs sheltered shopfront)
Viewing Distance and Text Size
Your audience usually moves closer after they notice the sign, so the headline can be larger than any body copy, but the whole layout still has to read at the first distance.
My old distance chart is still a useful reference for headline scale. Use it as a guide, not a rigid formula.
Text size vs viewing distance (reference chart)
- Estimate the distance when someone first needs to read your headline
- Headline often uses about one third of the banner area
- Body text can step down a size for the closer viewing distance
- Small banners work when viewing distance is short (for example 20–25 m at a school fair)
Fewer Words Usually Work Better
Business banners are marketing, not brochures. One clear offer beats three phone numbers, a website, email, and a paragraph of fine print.
- One headline and one action (call, visit, date, or offer)
- Avoid cramming multiple services into a single banner
- If you need more detail, use a second banner or handouts instead of smaller type on the same sign
When to Ask Me
If you are between two sizes, email a site photo with a rough measurement marked on it. I'll suggest what reads from the street without overspending on fabric you cannot hang.
- Send mounting width in millimetres if you have it
- Describe indoor vs outdoor exposure
- Mention your opening or event date if timing matters
- Vehicle under tow signs use a different sizing system. See vehicle under tow
Want a Sanity Check on Your Size?
Send a site photo with a rough measurement marked on it.