Walk any fun run, country fair or festival site and count the signs: parking arrows, course markers, toilet directions, “no dogs past this point.” A well-signed event feels organised before anyone says a word, and a badly signed one spends the whole day answering the same five questions. The good news is that event signs are among the cheapest and fastest things to print, which matters most when your event is next weekend.
Here is how to choose the right material for outdoor event signs, which sizes work, how to fix them in place, and what they cost, including the same-day option that makes late changes to the plan survivable.
Three Materials That Cover Almost Every Event Sign
Foamex boards: the rigid sign
Foamex is a lightweight rigid PVC board that takes a sharp full-colour print. It stands up on an easel, screws or cable-ties to a fence once you drill two holes, and stays flat all day. Use 3mm for indoor and sheltered signs, 5mm for most outdoor signs, and 10mm for large boards that need to stay rigid in the wind. It is the material for welcome boards, maps, stage notices and anything people will photograph.
PVC banners: the big, tie-on sign
PVC banners are waterproof, fold into a bag and come with metal rings (eyelets) so you can tie them to fences, gantries and gazebo legs with cable ties or bungees. They are the answer for entrance banners, sponsor boards, finish lines and anything that needs to be read from across a field. For windy sites, mesh PVC lets the wind through so the banner does not act like a sail.
PVC posters: the cheap, waterproof sign
Our posters are printed on 440gsm PVC as standard, which means they shrug off rain and morning dew. For one-day direction arrows, stall labels and zone markers, an A3 PVC poster taped or cable-tied to a stake, cone or barrier is the lowest-cost sign there is.
Sizes: Go Up a Size When People Are Moving
The rule from wayfinding: if a sign will be read by someone walking, jogging or driving, make it bigger than you think.
- A3 (297 x 420mm): stall names, price boards, toilet and first aid arrows read at walking pace
- A2 (420 x 594mm): zone markers, queue signs and car park instructions
- A1 and A0: welcome boards, site maps and anything read from a distance
- PVC banners from 120 x 60cm up to 20 metres wide: entrances, roadside directions and sponsor walls
Signs read from a car need big, bold lettering and as few words as possible: an arrow and two words beats a sentence every time.
Fixing Signs in Place
Cable ties and bungees
The event standard. Order PVC banners with rings in the corners (or every 30cm for long banners) and tie them to fence rails, barriers and gazebo legs in seconds. Foamex can be cable-tied through two small holes drilled near the top edge.
Stakes and cones
For car parks and courses, fix A3 foamex or PVC posters to timber stakes with screws, tape or cable ties. Use two stakes for anything larger than A3, and angle them slightly into the wind.
Easels and A-frames
A foamex board on an easel is the classic entrance and welcome sign. If you run the same event every year, buy the A-frames and easels once and simply reprint the boards.
What Event Signs Cost
At UK Wiz Media, an A3 PVC poster starts at £9.50, an A3 foamex board at £17.40 and an A1 foamex board at £37.20, with lower prices per sign as the quantity rises. PVC banners start at £28.29. That pricing is the point: an event that needs thirty direction signs can afford thirty, which is exactly how many a well-signposted site needs. Under-signed events lose more in confused visitors and stressed volunteers than the signs would have cost.
Same-Day Signs: The Event Safety Net
Foamex boards, PVC posters and PVC banners (without reinforced edges) all have a same-day option. Pay and approve your artwork by the daily cut-off and collect from our Levenshulme shop the same day, or have them couriered anywhere in Greater Manchester. When the venue changes the car park on Thursday for a Saturday event, the signs can change with it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Event Signs
What is the best material for outdoor event signs?
For one-day events, PVC posters are the cheapest waterproof option, foamex is best for rigid signs that stand on easels or fix to fences, and PVC banners are best for large signs tied to railings. Most events use a mix of all three.
Are foamex signs waterproof?
Yes. Foamex is a PVC board, so rain will not damage it, and it is ideal for outdoor events. It is best for short-term and seasonal use rather than years of direct sun.
How do you fix event signs to fences?
Use PVC banners with metal rings and cable ties or bungees, or drill two small holes in a foamex board and cable-tie it to the rail. A3 PVC posters can be cable-tied through punched holes or taped to barriers.
How quickly can event signs be printed?
Foamex boards, PVC posters and most PVC banners can be printed the same day in Manchester when you pay and approve your artwork before the daily cut-off.
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Need signs for your event?
Choose your sizes online and see the price straight away, or send us your sign list and site map and we will suggest the right materials. Same-day printing is available for late changes.