Drive through any Oakville neighbourhood and you will spot the same handful of messages on lawns and at intersections: a home for sale, a garage sale, a school fundraiser, a local candidate, a contractor at work. Yard signs are inexpensive to put out and easy to move, which is why they stay popular. Making one that actually gets read takes a little planning.
What a yard sign is made of
Most yard signs are printed on coroplast, a lightweight corrugated plastic with hollow flutes running through it, the same sort of structure you see in cardboard. It is waterproof, light and fairly rigid. We print on 4mm coroplast, which is a common thickness for signs that need to stand up outdoors. If you are weighing it against other boards, our comparison of foam board versus coroplast signs will help.
One thing to know: because of the flutes, coroplast bends more easily along them than across them. When you order, the orientation of the flutes matters if you plan to use stakes, and we can talk you through it.
One side or two
A single-sided sign is enough if it will be mounted flat against a fence, a window or a wall. A double-sided sign suits any sign that stands on its own in a yard or at a corner, because passers-by approach from two directions. Printing both sides costs more than one, so ask for both options in your quote and decide from there.
Common sizes
| Size (inches) | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 12 x 18 | Close-up signs, small notices, garden bed or lawn markers |
| 18 x 24 | The classic lawn sign for homes, contractors and campaigns |
| 24 x 36 | Roadside and larger-site signs read from further away |
Those are the common ones. We can quote other sizes. Pick based on how far away your audience will be, then check the space you have.
Stakes and H-stands
An H-stand is a wire frame, shaped like the letter H, that slides up into the flutes of the sign and pushes into the ground. It is the standard way to hold a coroplast sign upright, and it works well in soft ground. You can ask for H-stands with your order, or you can attach the sign to a post, a fence or a frame of your own. In hard or frozen ground, a pilot hole made first can help prevent bending the wire.
Design for readability
Treat the sign like a road sign, not a brochure.
- Use very few words. A name, a short message and a phone number or website is usually the limit.
- Make the text big. If someone cannot read it in two seconds at passing speed, it is too small.
- Pick high contrast. Dark on light or light on dark works. Mid-tones vanish in sun and shade.
- Choose plain fonts. Thick, simple letters read better than script.
- Keep your phone number easy to see. Write it with a clear gap in the middle.
- Avoid busy photos behind text.
- Put one message on a sign. If you have two things to say, print two signs.
Where and how to place signs
Think about visibility before you commit to a spot. Put signs where traffic slows, such as corners and driveways, and keep sightlines clear so no one is distracted at a dangerous moment. Check municipal sign rules before placing signs. Rules about where and when signs can be displayed, and who must give permission, differ by location and by sign type, so confirm with the town or the property owner first.
Planning your quantity
For a one-off, such as a garage sale, a few signs will do. For a campaign or a real estate listing, you will want enough to cover your main routes plus a few spares. Signs get knocked over, blown away and taken home, so ordering extras is cheaper than re-printing. Our guide to print marketing for small business offers ideas on pairing signs with flyers and other materials.
Ordering yard signs from PrintEh
We print coroplast yard signs in Oakville for customers across Mississauga, Burlington and the wider GTA, single or double sided, with optional H-stands. Send us your size, quantity and artwork through our quote page and we will confirm the details before printing.