A welcome sign on an easel and a real estate sign on a lawn have different jobs. Choosing the right material starts with where your sign will go and how you’ll display it.
Foam board, PVC and corrugated plastic may look similar in a product photo, but each is suited to different uses. Here’s how to choose.
The quick answer
Foam board: Great for indoor events, presentations and welcome signs.
PVC: A smooth, rigid option for business displays and directional signs, indoors or outdoors.
Corrugated plastic: A practical choice for lawn signs, real estate signs and temporary promotions.
Foam board: A simple choice for indoor displays
Foam board is lightweight and has a smooth printed surface. It works well for wedding welcome signs, conference schedules, school presentations and directions inside an event venue.
Our foam board is 3/16 inch thick, just under 5mm, and can be printed on one or both sides. Place it on a suitably sized easel or display support for a clean, easy-to-position sign.
The main thing to remember: foam board is for indoor use. If your sign will be outside, PVC or corrugated plastic is a better material to consider.
PVC: For business and retail displays
PVC signs are made from rigid plastic with a smooth surface. They’re a good option for retail displays, business signs, trade shows and directions around a building or property.
We offer 3mm and 6mm PVC, with printing on one or both sides. Both indoor and outdoor applications are possible. The 6mm option gives you a thicker panel, but the right choice also depends on the sign’s size and how you plan to support it.
Before ordering, think about where the sign will be mounted. A wall display, a sign in a frame and an outdoor installation may need different mounting methods. Make sure the support suits the material, size and location.
Corrugated plastic: For lawn signs and promotions
Corrugated plastic is a lightweight, weather-resistant material used for lawn signs, open-house signs, event directions and temporary promotions.
Look at its edge and you’ll see small channels running through the panel. These are called flutes. Lawn-sign stakes slide into those channels, so the flute direction matters when choosing your sign’s layout.
Corrugated plastic isn’t perfectly smooth. You may notice faint lines or slight ridges on the printed surface, especially up close. This is a normal feature of the material. If you prefer a smoother, more uniform finish, consider PVC.
Our corrugated plastic is available in 4mm and 10mm thicknesses, with single- or double-sided printing. The 4mm option is a practical choice for everyday lawn signs; 10mm gives you a thicker panel. Stakes are optional extras, and the hardware needs to match the thickness and layout you select.
For a school enrollment sign near an entrance, a real estate sign on a lawn or directions to an outdoor event, corrugated plastic is often a good starting point.
Does thicker always mean better?
Thickness is only one part of the decision. A foam board sign and a corrugated plastic sign can be similar in thickness while having very different constructions and uses.
Start with the setting and display method. Then choose the thickness that suits your project. Buying a thicker material won’t make an indoor-only material suitable for outdoor use.
Three things to check before ordering
Where will the sign go? Choose foam board for indoor displays. Consider PVC or corrugated plastic for outdoor use.
How will it be supported? Check that your easel, mounting method or stakes work with the size and material you’re ordering.
Will people see both sides? All three products can be printed on one or both sides, depending on how you want to display them.
Once you know where your sign will go and how you’ll display it, choosing the material becomes much easier. Explore the product pages above to select your size, thickness and printing options.
