Banner Prices: The Basics

With so many options available to you when it comes to printed banners, you might be wondering: Which option is best for you? And how do you know if you’re getting good value for your vinyl banner? Let’s talk banner prices to help you make an informed choice.

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Banner printing on vinyl or PVC has been commonplace now since the late 20th century. A vast majority of producers at the time were screen printing on vinyl to create affordable and versatile advertising signage. With the advent of digital printing in the 1990s, however, the opportunity for on-demand, truly customizable vinyl banners came to the forefront—customers could now change out their design at will, whether they were ordering one banner or 100. As a result, banners have continued to thrive as a medium for printed signs.

In fact, with so many alternatives when it comes to buying banners online or through local print shops today, the choice can be both confusing and overwhelming. Here, we’ll help you understand the factors behind how vinyl banners are priced.

Banner Prices: the Breakdown 

First, let’s discuss brick-and-mortar operations: your local sign shops. While costs will vary from sign shop to sign shop and region to region, it can be helpful to know a ballpark cost range when you’re preparing to purchase a banner. A standard pricing rule of thumb for local sign shops is to charge $8 per square foot for printed banners. So, a 6’ x 3’ banner would cost approximately $144—but keep in mind that this price only includes the banner material, labor, and printing. Design work is most often an extra charge; so unless you’re bringing in a print-ready, formatted file, you’re likely to see additional design fees. Sign shops can charge as much as $30-$70 per hour for design work beyond the “basic” sign price.

If you’ve shopped around for banners online, you’ve likely landed on pricing that is quite a bit less expensive than your local sign shop. There are a number of reasons for the cheaper prices online. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons is that while local shops receive some requests for banners, they don’t see nearly the volume that some online sign providers do. Many online sign printers focus their business around banners and other printed signs; this allows them to lower their costs because they’re producing banners in bulk. That said, you still might notice some differences in online prices for banner signs.

Just to put things into perspective, a standard 6’ x 3’ banner bought online might cost you anywhere from $20 to $60. Why such a price gap? Let’s take a closer look at the various factors that come into play when determining the price of banners.

Banner Material Costs

Vinyl banner material is produced in multiple weights and qualities. The most flimsy or lightweight banner materials are often cheaply produced and deteriorate more quickly than the heavier materials, but they are also less expensive. One of the reasons a banner bought online might be on the cheap end of the spectrum is that the material itself is of a lesser quality.

Material costs for banners can vary quite a bit depending on the quality and weight. The weight of vinyl banner material can range from 9 oz. to 22 oz. per square yard of material. The denier of the banner (its fiber density) will also affect material cost. A more dense or heavier denier will hold up better over time, but is also more expensive. Vinyl banner denier ranges from 100 to 1,000. Check out our blog post on banner material comparison to get a better understanding of the differences in material.

Printing Costs

Another factor in the cost of a banner is printing. While there are a few different ways to print banners, the majority of banners are now digitally printed with UV or solvent inks using large-format roll printers. Some banners are produced by screen printing. Banners that are screen printed in bulk are very cost-effective, but you lose the ability to customize each banner.

As we noted at the beginning of this blog, digitally printed banners are great for customization. When it comes to the inks themselves, UV inks have become the industry norm because the printing process results in a long-lasting print and avoids the harsh chemicals and odors that are present with solvent inks. Banners printed with UV inks can be customized to a wide color range for any design.

Other Costs 

Other costs that can contribute to banner prices are the extras such as grommets and hem (aka edge). The banner producer sometimes includes grommets and hems in their pricing, but others will charge for these options. Here at Signs.com, we include grommets and a welded hem at no additional cost with all of our 13-oz banners and mesh banners.

If you’re considering the full cost of printing and setting up your banner for display, you might also take into account the cost of display options such as rope, bungees, screws, or other display methods. Many sign providers will give you the option to purchase display hardware as accessories with your banner. 

Signs.com Banners

At Signs.com, we offer a wide variety of banners including our most popular vinyl banners in both 13-oz. and heavy-duty 18-oz. vinyl. We also have mesh banners and fabric banners if you’re interested in something a little different to really make your project stand out in a crowd.

Standard Vinyl & Fabric Banners Pricing at Signs.com*: 

Size	13 oz Vinyl	18 oz Vinyl	10 oz Mesh	Fabric
4’ x 2’	$27.93	$48.69	$34.81	$49.23
6’ x 2	$36.75	$60.39	$45.01	$64.07
6’ x 3’	$49.97	$77.93	$60.31	$86.31
10’ x 3’	$76.42	$113.02	$90.90	$130.81
8’ x 4’	$80.83	$118.87	$96.00	$138.23

*The given sizes and prices are to provide a quick reference to the most commonly ordered banner sizes

We want you to be satisfied with everything about your banner purchase. That’s why we provide you the tools to truly customize your banner in a simple and intuitive way using our online design tool or by taking advantage of our free design services. Once your banner is designed just the way you want, simply click “save” and continue through to checkout. You can choose your shipping preference depending on how fast you need your banner to arrive. 

Once the order is submitted we don’t waste any time: Your banner will be produced the very same day if you submit the order before 3:00 p.m. MST. We’ll have it shipped and on its way to your front door (or office) the very next day. 

While we work fast to get your banner produced, that doesn’t mean we neglect quality. We start by using high-quality, locally sourced vinyl material. We then digitally print your design using top-of-the-line printing technology. Our printing technicians have more than 15 years of experience operating our printers—they ensure that the UV inks and the printers sync just right to produce your artwork or logo onto the vinyl precisely how it was designed. And if you want to add the free added hem and grommets for your banner, our fabrication technicians will complete these tasks with both finesse and attention to detail.

The bottom line: You get your banner fast, at a reasonable price, and at a quality that your grandmother would be proud to display.

Banner Prices: The Basics