Start with the viewing distance
| Viewing distance | Headline letter height | Good fit |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft (table front, booth) | 1–2 in. | 2×6 ft — room for a headline plus details |
| 25 ft (storefront, fence near sidewalk) | 3 in. | 2×6 or 3×6 ft |
| 50 ft (parking lot, gym wall) | 5–6 in. | 3×6 or 3×8 ft |
| 100 ft (roadside, across a field) | 10–12 in. | 3×8 ft with very few words |
| 200 ft+ (highway frontage) | 20 in.+ | Custom size — ask for a custom quote |
Keep the layout simple
Banners get read in a glance, so build them in three layers. Layer one is the headline — the single thing people must remember, like “Grand Opening Saturday” or “Now Enrolling.” It should take up roughly a third to half of the banner's height. Layer two is one supporting line: an offer, a date or the business name. Layer three is contact info — a short web address or phone number — small but still readable from your target distance. Lay it out left to right on a wide banner, the way people read, and give the logo a corner rather than the center unless the name is the message. Cut anything that doesn't fit one of those three layers. A banner with ten pieces of information communicates none of them.
Hem and grommet safe zone
Every one of our vinyl banners is hemmed and grommeted — the edges are folded and reinforced, and metal grommets are set along the border so you can tie or hook the banner up. That hardware lives in the outer inch or so of the banner, so keep all text, logos and phone numbers at least 2 inches in from every edge. Background color and photos should still run all the way to the edge so there's no white line. Also think about how it will hang: zip ties and bungees pull the corners in slightly, and wind adds sag in the middle, so a design jammed to the edges looks worse once it's up. If a layout is close, the free pro file check will flag it on the proof before anything prints.
Colors and fonts that survive outdoors
Sunlight is brutal on contrast. Colors that look rich on a screen can wash out in direct sun, and dark-on-dark designs go flat in shade. Pick high-contrast pairs — white on a deep color, or black on a bright one — and avoid placing light text over a busy photo. Use bold sans-serif fonts with open letter shapes; thin weights, scripts and tightly condensed fonts disappear at distance. Keep the palette to two or three colors so the headline pops. Design in CMYK if you can, since screens show brighter colors than ink can reproduce; if your file is RGB, we convert it and show you the result on the free digital proof. Finally, check the banner from across the room on a laptop at full screen — if it's hard to read there, it will be harder outside.
Banner prices and turnaround
Our 13oz scrim vinyl banners come hemmed with grommets, printed full color: 2×6 ft for $59, 3×6 ft for $75 and 3×8 ft for $89, all-in with shipping included anywhere in the US. Other sizes and banner stands are a custom quote. Every order includes a free pro file check and a free digital proof, nothing is charged until you approve that proof, and if we get it wrong, we reprint it. Standard production is 2–4 business days. If the event is close, rush is a flat fee: $9 for 2-day press, $19 for next-day press or $59 for 2-day air shipping. No design yet? A custom one-piece design is $79, with the first proof within 2 business days.
All-in pricing. Free proof. No checkout surprises.
Hemmed + grommeted 13oz vinyl banners from $59 — shipping, proof and file check included.
Hemmed + grommeted 13oz vinyl banners from $59 — shipping, proof and file check included. ⚡ Or build a full kitFrequently asked questions
How big should the letters be on a banner?
Plan on about 1 inch of letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance. A banner read from 50 feet across a parking lot needs a headline around 5–6 inches tall, while a table-front banner read from 10 feet can use 1–2 inch text.
How far from the edge should text be on a banner?
Keep all text and logos at least 2 inches from every edge, because the hem and grommets sit in the outer border. Background colors and images should still extend all the way to the edge.
What colors work best on outdoor banners?
High-contrast combinations like white on a deep color or black on a bright color hold up best in sunlight. Avoid light text over busy photos and keep the design to two or three colors.
How many words should a banner have?
Use a headline of a few words, one supporting line, and one contact item like a short web address. Banners are read in a glance, so extra information makes everything smaller and less effective.
How much does a custom vinyl banner cost?
At i Can Print That, 13oz vinyl banners are $59 for 2×6 ft, $75 for 3×6 ft and $89 for 3×8 ft, hemmed with grommets and shipping included. Each order includes a free file check and digital proof, and nothing is charged until the proof is approved.