One of the questions we commonly get asked is how much custom signs cost. Being that we offer local custom sign design services in Niagara Falls, we figured this would be a perfect topic to write a helpful article on. In this guide, we’ll break down how much custom signs cost for your business.
This is no “one fits all” answer when it comes to custom signs. Pricing can vary based on the material you choose, the size of your sign, the amount of design required, if installation is needed, and the type of substrate or vinyl. Typically business signs on average cost around $15-$20 per square foot.
Table of Contents
Cost Factor: Materials
Some material costs more than others, and different choices are better depending on the type of sign you want. One of the biggest factors you have to take into consideration is how long the material is going to last.
At the low end, materials like banners and coroplast are considered temporary signage and cost as low as $5 per square foot printed. Although they are super inexpensive, coroplast and banners really are a short term signage material. We would typically recommend coroplast or banners for signs that would be used short term such as:
- Grand Opening
- Now Open
- Big Sales
- Moved Location
On the opposite side of the spectrum, high end materials like Omega-Bond are perfect for use long term, on flat surfaces. Omega-Bond has aluminum skin with a solid plastic core. Because of this, it is very weather resistant. Omega-Bond is primarily used for outdoor signage that will last a long time.
Cost Factor: Sign Size
The size of the sign is going to depend on where you want to display it. Bigger signs obviously will cost more. Despite this, the square footage cost lessens for very large signs to keep things reasonable.
Reference Guide
Here is a quick reference of standard sign sizes:
- 4’x8’ – Storefront Sign (Small)
- 5’x10’ – Storefront Sign (Medium, Average Size)
- 5’x20’ – Storefront Sign (Large)
- 12’x24’ – Building Advertisement
Going by the above reference guide, here is the average cost you would be looking at for different size signs.
A 4’x8’ sign will cost an estimated $400 – $450 if you plan on going with omegabond, or in other words a long term 8 to 10 year sign that will last. If you are going with a more temporary solution, a coroplast sign of that size will cost you around $150 – $200.
If you are like most business owners, a 5’ by 10’ sign would be the best fit for you. This sized sign will cost around $750 if you want to go with a niccer material, omegabond that will last a long time. Going with the more affordable, temporary route, but still having a sign that is weather resistant using sign board, you can go with a large scale coroplast sign. The maximum size coroplast comes in is 4’x’10’. This would run you around $400 – $500.
If you are on a tight budget a 5’ by 10’ banner sign would cost you $250 – $300. Banner is the least weather resistant material, but great for signage that is indoors or outside for a short period of time.
A 5’ by 20’ sign is getting to the larger sized signage options available. An example of a use case for a 5’ by 20’ would be an industrial company ordering a sign for the side of a warehouse or factory. These sized signs go for roughly $1,300 to $1,500 and come in strictly high end and long term materials such as omegabond.
12’ by 24’ signage is some of the largest most companies consider buying. Although sizing is not limited to 12’ by 24’, most common orders do not go above this size. A lot of buildings cannot fit signs this big or larger. These signs also only come in omegabond and cost $3,000 and up.
Cost Factor: Design
If you already have a design for your sign, then you will not need any sort of graphic design. Here at E-Man Ink, we often will custom design the graphics and marketing that will go on the signs before we print and build the signs themselves. If you need a design, that typically runs an extra $60 starting, depending on your design requirements and timeframe.
Simple signs with plain letters are obviously going to be cheaper than signage with images and fancy effects. The more complex you want your sign to be, the more hours of work the graphic designer is going to have to put in. It is important to note you do not want to cheap out on the design process. Most cheap graphic design services hold the final design vector files (meaning large files, you do not lose quality by blowing them up or making them bigger) hostage and require you to pay additional fees to gain access to those files. At E-Man Ink, we do not do this. We give all of our clients the right files they need for the future to be able to use their sign design to the fullest.
Cost Factor: Installation
If you are comfortable doing the installation yourself, that can cut down on some costs. If you want it done professionally, that may include additional expenses such as bringing a lift in along with labor rates. Oftentimes it can be easier to have the professionals install for you. Typically larger sign installs will require the proper equipment and handling that someone with no signage experience would most likely struggle with.
Besides your typical building signs, a-frame/free standing signs are a low cost and affordable route for curbside advertisement. Restaurants will put menus outside and tourist shops often use these to bring foot traffic into their storefronts. If your business is located along a busy street, these types of signs can work great for you to catch the eyes of passer byers.
Lawn or yard signs are pretty self explanatory. If you plan on running an estate sale, or you run a business that primarily deals with homeowners, yard signs are the best option. Standard yard signs come in 24’ by 18’ (stakes included) and cost around $12. If you buy in bulk, you will ultimately save money and get a better price. These types of signs typically come single sided or double sided. Keep in mind that double sided signs will cost more and can run you $15 instead of your typical $12 price per sign.
Lit Signs
Lit signs are great for night visibility. If you run a business that is open in the evening or 24/7, this type of sign is the way to go. Because these types of signs include lighting, these will generally be more expensive. Lit sign boards are made out of polycarbonate (acrylics) and range from small to large. These cost around $18 per square foot on average. A small sign may be 2’ by 8’ and would be about $1,400 with the lightbox included. Going with a larger example, a 30” by 24’ costs around $3,000.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that signage pricing depends on many factors. The size of your sign, the complexity of the design, what type of sign you would like to buy, and if you need a professional installation done are all things you need to take into consideration when looking to buy a custom sign. Have any questions or need to get a custom sign? Give us a call today at (716) 297-5073 or stop on by and see us in person.
John Edwards
John is the business owner here at E-Man Ink. He is an expert in decals, vinyl, printing marketing materials, and installation. He oversees all designs, installations, and finished products.
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