Choosing the best banner sizes isn’t as simple as it seems—placement, viewing distance, and purpose all matter. Before spending your money, it’s worth understanding the most common banner styles and how they’re used.
Take a moment to explore our quick guide to ensure your banner stands out and meets your needs effectively!
Rafter Banners:
Rafter banners are a timeless and impactful way to honor the achievements of your team or athletic program. Whether celebrating championships, team records, historical milestones, or individual athlete accomplishments, custom rafter banners showcase your program’s legacy. They foster pride, inspire fans, and highlight your program’s success to students, athletes, and recruits.
These banners are most commonly found hanging high in gymnasiums or arenas, suspended from the steel rafters of the ceiling—hence the name. While the standard size is typically 3’x6’ wide, they can be as large as 4’x12’ or even bigger, depending on the space and visibility needs.
Because rafter banners are often viewed from a distance—such as high above seating areas—opting for a larger size is ideal if your budget allows. In some cases, you may also see rafter banners displayed along hallways, where their impressive size can make a big impact. Just be mindful of scale; banners that are too large for tight spaces can overwhelm the area.
Standard Outdoor Banners:
Outdoor banners, typically made from durable vinyl or mesh, are versatile tools for a variety of uses, such as congratulating a graduate or drawing attention at an outdoor trade show. A common setup involves securing a banner to poles at the back of a booth, creating a professional and attention-grabbing display. Standard sizes range from 3’x6’ for smaller banners to 4’x8’ as the most popular option, while larger banners can go up to 5’x10’ or more. Ultimately, the size you choose should align with your goals and the visibility you’re aiming to achieve.
Fence Banners:
Custom printed fence banners, also called fence wraps, are crafted from durable materials like 8-9 ounce vinyl mesh or 13-ounce solid vinyl. Vinyl mesh stands out for its wind resistance, featuring thousands or tiny perforations that allow 34-40% of wind to pass through, reducing strain on the banner. On the other hand, solid vinyl lacks these perforations, making it less wind-friendly but delivering more vibrant and striking visuals.
Both materials are highly tear-resistant and designed to endure tough outdoor conditions for extended periods. Fence banners are popular at construction sites, sports fields, and outdoor events due to their durability and flexibility. While the standard height for fence banners is 4 feet, taller fences—like common 6-foot ones at construction zones—can accommodate larger banners. At Good Guys Signs, we can customize fence banners up to 150 feet in length, ensuring your message gets notices no matter the location or conditions.
Church Banners:
Among church banners, there are myriad messages to be had. Among them:
- Prayer banners
- Student ministry banners
- Baptism banners
- Holiday service banners
- Communion banners
You get the idea—church banners are often sized at 4’x8’, but it’s not unusual to see them larger. The reason? These banners are typically positioned 100 feet or more from the road, making it harder to read smaller text compared to banners placed closer to the street. To compensate, larger letters (and sometimes larger banners) are needed to ensure visibility.
There’s a simple formula to help determine banner letter size: the 1-inch-to-10-foot rule. For every 10 feet of distance from the banner, increase the text height by 1 inch. For example, if your banner is 100 feet from the road, your letters should be at least 10 inches tall for optimal readability.
The chart below provides a clear breakdown of the 1-inch-to-10-foot ratio, so you can ensure your banner text stands out and reaches its audience effectively.
Business Banners:
When choosing a banner for your business, the goal is clear: you want to capture attention and convey your message effectively. This becomes especially important when considering banner size, placement, and the use of images and graphics. The location of your banner will often dictate its size. If you’re using a powerful image or graphic, remember: a picture is worth a thousand words. Once you’ve decided on the visuals, you’ll know how much text to include, which in turn will help you determine the best banner size.
Think about your audience—where are they coming from? If they’re in a car, how far away will they be when they see your banner, and how quickly will they be moving? The chart below shows how long people can read your banner based on its text size and their speed. For example, if someone is driving 25 MPH, they’ll have 5.5 seconds to read your message if the text is 4 inches tall. If the text is 6 inches tall, they’ll have 8.2 seconds to read it, and so on. This information helps you optimize your banner’s impact, making sure your message is seen and understood.
Other factors to contemplate when deciding to size your custom banner:
Banner font sizes should be as big as you need them to be. And weirdly enough, you might want to decide on your banner size after you’ve figured out the banner letter height.
So, don’t just throw a banner together willy-nilly. Many, many customers could be lost if you don’t plan accordingly. Head to our website or call us at Good Guys Signs for any questions you may have. Our numbers are (800) 614-8040 or (813) 447-4770. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is ready to help.
