Types of Yard Signs

What kind of yard sign should you use? There are several choices on the market, each with their own advantages. I want to take a minute to go over these advantages and disadvantages with you.

Here, we’ll focus on the three most common types of yard signs; bag signs, paperboard signs and corrugated plastic signs.

Bag Signs

Bag Signs or poly bag signs are generally made from polyethylene plastic. This material is commonly found in plastic grocery bags and garbage bags. They typically have an opaque lining of black or gray to help keep the sun from casting shadows through to the other side of the sign.

Poly bag signs are slipped over a metal “U” frame stuck in the ground. They are not self supporting and must have a frame. This is why most sign companies price bag signs with frames already included.

Things to remember about poly bag signs:

• Small quantities are not cost effective. Only consider bag signs in quantities of 1000 or more
• Be sure pricing includes the wire U frames
• Bag signs are almost always printed double sided by default
• They are probably the easiest type of yard sign to place
• Good for short to medium term use

Paperboard Signs

Paperboard signs or “Polycoat” are usually poly coated for weather resistance. This means that a thin plastic lamination is put over the paperboard to keep it from breaking down when it gets wet.

Paperboard signs are usually folded and stapled over either a wire “U” similar to bag signs, or stapled to a wooden stake to be driven into the ground with a hammer.

Although they are made from paper, the polycoat tends to make these signs very hard to recycle.

Things to remember about paperboard polycoat signs:

• They are generally cost effective in quantities over 250
• Polycoat signs are the most temporary kind of yard sign
• Pricing may or may not include the wire frame
• Paperboard signs can be the most labor intensive yard sign usually needing staples and hammering if wooden stakes are used

Corrugated Plastic Signs

Corrugated plastic yard signs are the gem of the yard sign industry. They are cost effective in almost any quantity and are self rigid. This means that they can be displayed in a variety of ways and not need additional support.

Corrugated plastic yard signs are generally made from polypropylene and are recyclable.

Most sign suppliers offer 1,2 and a full color process for corrugated signs in a variety of sizes. Corrugated signs can also be die cut to just about any size or shape offering the most flexibility out of any yard sign.

Thing to remember about corrugate plastic signs:

• They are usually most cost effective in quantities over 25
• Corrugated signs are self supporting and can be used with nearly any kind of stake
• Some brands of corrugated plastic are Coroplast, Correx, Corriflute or Twinplast
• Most sign suppliers don’t quote signs with stands because of the many options
• They are the most permanent type of yard sign and will last years outdoors in most cases.