The 2025 Guide to Outdoor Banner Material:
Plastic Material for Yard Signs and Vinyl Banners
Yard signs and vinyl banners do a lot of heavy lifting for local businesses, campaigns, lawn care companies, and community events. They have to grab attention, handle wind and weather, and stay readable from the street. The material you pick for a lawn sign, yard sign, or outdoor banner has a big impact on how long it lasts and how good it looks.
This guide walks through what yard signs are made of, standard yard sign sizes, lawn sign stakes, and the best plastic materials for both yard signs and vinyl banners so you can match the right product to your next promotion.
What Are Yard Signs Made Of?
Most modern yard signs are made from plastic sheet materials that are light, strong, and weather resistant. The two most common yard sign materials are:
- Corrugated Plastic (Coroplast® style) – fluted polypropylene sheet used for lawn signs, election yard signs, and “for sale” or “garage sale” signs.
- Rigid PVC or Foam PVC – flat sheet used when you need a stiffer, more premium sign panel.
These plastics handle rain, sun, and temperature changes better than paper-based signs. They also accept direct print, cut vinyl letters, or full-color graphics, making them ideal for personalised yard signs, lawn care yard signs, and decorative yard signs for events.
Laird Plastics supplies the plastic substrates that local printers and sign shops turn into finished imprint yard signs, political yard signs, and personalized garden signs.
What Are Lawn Signs Made Of vs. Vinyl Banners?
Lawn signs and vinyl banners solve similar problems in different ways:
- Lawn signs / yard signs – usually printed corrugated plastic with metal yard sign stakes or a yard sign post pushed into the ground.
- Vinyl banners – flexible PVC banner material with grommets, hems, or pole pockets, hung on fences, buildings, or frames.
If you need a sign at eye level in a front yard, go with corrugated plastic lawn signs. If you want a large message stretched across a storefront, building, or fence, choose a vinyl banner.
What Size Are Yard Signs?
Yard sign dimensions can vary, but most businesses and campaigns rely on a few proven sizes that balance visibility, cost, and stake compatibility.
Standard Yard Sign Sizes
| Yard Sign Size | Common Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 18 x 24 yard signs | Political yard signs, lawn care yard signs, real-estate and yard sale signs. | The most common lawn sign size; works with standard H-stakes. |
| 12 x 18 yard signs | Smaller personalized garden signs or directional arrows. | Easy to place along sidewalks or walkways. |
| 24 x 36 yard signs | Larger commercial messages or highly trafficked roadways. | Often paired with heavier metal stakes or a yard sign post system. |
When people search “what size is a yard sign” or “what is the standard yard sign size,” they are usually talking about the 18 x 24 lawn sign. It offers enough room for bold yard sign letters while staying affordable to print in bulk.
What Plastic Materials Work Best for Yard Signs?
Several plastic sheet options can be used as yard sign materials, but a few stand out for outdoor use and cost-effectiveness.
Corrugated Plastic (Fluted Polypropylene)
- Lightweight and rigid enough for lawn sign stakes.
- Resistant to moisture and many chemicals.
- Ideal for imprint yard signs, election yard signs, and yard sale signs.
Foamed PVC Sheet
- Smoother face for premium printing and decorative yard signs.
- More rigid than fluted board at the same thickness.
- Better suited for yard letters with stakes or signs used in frames.
Wood Yard Signs vs. Plastic Yard Signs
- Wood yard signs can look rustic but are heavier and can swell or rot over time.
- Plastic yard signs are lighter, easier to transport, and hold up better in wet soil.
- For high-volume campaigns or personalised yard signs, plastic almost always wins on cost and durability.
Working with Laird Plastics gives printers access to a full range of corrugated plastic and PVC sheet thicknesses so they can match the right material to your lawn sign project.
How Do Lawn Sign Stakes and Posts Work?
Lawn sign stakes and posts keep your message upright where people can see it. Picking the right hardware is just as important as choosing the right yard sign material.
Common Types of Stakes for Yard Signs
- Lawn sign stakes / H-stakes – thin metal wire frames that slide into the vertical flutes of corrugated plastic signs.
- Metal yard sign stakes – heavier wire or angle-iron stakes for larger yard sign dimensions or windy sites.
- Yard sign posts – PVC or metal posts that hold the sign panel at a set height, often used for real estate and long-term installations.
For most 18 x 24 yard signs, standard H-stakes or metal stakes for yard signs are enough. Larger sizes or wood yard signs may need a post system or frame for stability.
Where Can I Put Yard Signs for My Business?
Businesses use lawn signs for grand openings, curbside pickup, lawn care services, and seasonal promotions. Popular placements include:
- Along the sidewalk or property line to catch passing traffic.
- Near entrances or parking lot exits with directional arrows.
- In customers’ yards for lawn care yard signs or contractor job-site signs.
Always check local rules before placing yard signs. Many cities limit how long a sign can stay up or where campaign and garage sale signs can be located. A local printer or sign shop that buys plastic sheet from Laird Plastics can often advise on common “do and don’t” guidelines in your area.
Best Material for Vinyl Banners
While yard signs are usually rigid plastic, vinyl banners are flexible PVC. They are perfect when you need large, bold graphics on fences, buildings, or trade show displays.
PVC Vinyl Banner Material
For outdoor banners, PVC vinyl banner material is the industry standard.
- Weather resistance – waterproof and designed to handle sun, rain, and wind.
- High-impact print quality – holds full-color artwork, photos, and big yard sign letters.
- Flexibility – easy to roll, ship, and install on pop-up displays and frames.
Specialty options like mesh banners help reduce wind load, while blockout banners prevent graphic “show through” on two-sided prints.
Yard Signs vs. Vinyl Banners: Which Should I Choose?
| Need | Lawn Sign / Yard Sign | Vinyl Banner |
|---|---|---|
| Front-yard visibility | Best choice for political yard signs, lawn care yard signs, and garage sale signs. | Can be used on fences or porches but usually sits higher and larger than a typical yard sign. |
| Very large message area | Limited by sheet size and stakes. | Ideal – banners can be printed in very large sizes. |
| Directional signs (tag sale / yard sale) | Lightweight yard signs with metal stakes are easy to move and reuse. | Banners can work for central locations like community entrances. |
| Short-term events | Cost-effective when you need many signs at once. | Great for stage backdrops, store fronts, or event fences. |
Many campaigns and businesses use both: lawn signs to spread messages around town and vinyl banners to anchor key locations.
How to Get Political Yard Signs, Yard Sale Signs, and Custom Lawn Signs
If you are asking “how to get political yard signs” or “where to buy yard sale signs” the typical path is:
- Work with a local printer or online sign company that specializes in do it yourself yard signs, personalised yard signs, or decorative yard signs.
- Choose the plastic yard sign material (usually corrugated plastic) and yard sign dimensions (18 x 24 yard signs are standard).
- Select the hardware: lawn sign stakes, metal yard sign stakes, or a yard sign post system.
Behind the scenes, many of these printers source their plastic sheet and banner rolls from distributors like Laird Plastics, which helps keep quality and supply steady for election yard signs, garage sale signs, and “for sale” signs.
Why Source Yard Sign Materials and Vinyl Banners from Laird Plastics?
Laird Plastics supplies plastic sheet and banner material to sign shops, printers, and in-house graphics departments across North America. Whether you are ordering lawn sign materials, metal stakes for yard signs, or vinyl for outdoor banners, our team can help you line up the right thickness, roll width, and grade for your project.
Need support on material selection for lawn sign campaigns, personalised yard signs, or long-term outdoor banners? Find a Laird Plastics location near you to discuss options with our team.
FAQ: Yard Sign Materials and Vinyl Banners
- What are yard signs made of?
Most yard signs are made of corrugated plastic (fluted polypropylene) or rigid PVC sheet. These materials are light, resist moisture, and work well with printed graphics, vinyl letters, and yard letters with stakes.
- What is the standard yard sign size?
The standard lawn sign size is 18 x 24 inches. This gives enough room for bold text while fitting common lawn sign stakes and metal yard sign stakes used by printers and campaign teams.
- What size are yard signs for political campaigns?
Political yard signs are often 18 x 24 inches, but larger campaigns may use 24 x 36 inch signs along busy roads. Both sizes are usually made from corrugated plastic with H-stakes or heavier posts.
- What are lawn sign stakes made of?
Lawn sign stakes are usually made from galvanized steel wire or angle iron. Metal yard sign stakes slide into the corrugated flutes or attach to holes in the sign, holding it upright in soil or grass.
- What is the best material for outdoor vinyl banners?
PVC vinyl banner material is the best choice for most outdoor banners. It handles rain and sun, supports bright printing, and can be finished with hems and grommets for long-term use on fences, buildings, and frames.
- Where can I put yard signs for my business?
You can place yard signs on your property near sidewalks, driveways, and entrances, and in customer yards with permission. Always review local sign ordinances so your lawn sign placements follow city or county rules.