Choosing the right yard sign materials is the single most important factor in their success. When selecting custom lawn signs, the materials you choose directly impact visibility, longevity, and your return on investment.
Our yard signs' weather-resistant materials ensure your message on the business or political yard signs remains crisp and effective for its entire intended lifespan. They are the foundation of your strategy, especially for large-scale campaigns like a presidential election year, where 1 to 5 million yard signs are printed across the U.S.
Whether you’re promoting a home listing or running for office, the right choice matters. With 70 years of expertise in yard sign printing services, YardSigns.com prints on quality materials and ships nationwide. Our outdoor display signs are designed to withstand various weather conditions.
To help you choose the right option, let’s take a look at the most widely used yard sign materials:
The Most Common Material for Custom Yard Signs
Corrugated Plastic Signs
Corrugated plastic, widely known by the brand name Coroplast®, is the undisputed king of materials used in yard signs. This type of plastic consists of two flat plastic sheets connected by vertical ribbing, making yard signs lightweight yet surprisingly rigid.
- It’s made with sturdy Corrugated Plastic
- Available in two versatile dimensions: 18x24 inches or 24x18 inches
- Allow double-sided or single-sided printing
This feature makes corrugated plastic our top choice. Its fluted structure makes this lightweight plastic easy to mount on simple H-stakes. Here’s a concise breakdown of why corrugated plastic is the go-to material for yard signs:
- Durability/Lifespan: This corrugated plastic typically lasts 6-12 months outdoors, making it perfect for political campaigns using yard signs, real estate listings, business, and seasonal events.
- Cost: Corrugated plastic signs are highly affordable, especially for bulk orders. These custom lawn signs made of this material offer the best balance of price and performance.
- Print Quality: The smooth surface of the corrugated plastic allows for vibrant, high-resolution 300 DPI graphics on the lawn signs.
- Ideal Use-Cases: Political signs, realtor yard signs, directional signs, contractor lawn signs, yard sales signs, and property signage are made of corrugated plastic.
We specialize in 4 mm corrugated plastic, offering free metal stakes. We also use abrasion-resistant UV ink for our yard signs to ensure your message remains vibrant, legible, and intact in all weather conditions.
Aluminum Signs
Solid aluminum signs are another common choice for outdoor yard signs. They are durable and project a highly professional image. These signs are built to withstand exposure to the elements without bending or warping.
Here’s what to consider when evaluating aluminum signs for your project:
- Durability/Lifespan: 5-7 years. Aluminum is a permanent signage solution.
- Cost: A higher initial investment compared to corrugated plastic.
- Flexibility: Aluminium signs are heavy, making them difficult to carry compared to corrugated plastic signs.
- Ideal Use-Cases: Parking signs, property management notices, and permanent real estate signage.
Lightweight PVC Plastic Signs
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a lightweight but durable plastic board with a smooth, matte finish. These versatile PVC signs are suitable for some outdoor use but perform best in short-term scenarios or in shielded areas.
These signs can become brittle in intense cold or warp in high heat over time. Here’s a quick overview of key specs and best uses for PVC signs:
- Durability/Lifespan: 1-2 years outdoors in moderate climates.
- Cost: Mid-range, more expensive than corrugated plastic
- Print Quality: The non-porous surface produces crisp, vivid prints.
- Ideal Use-Cases: Point-of-purchase displays, menu boards, short-term event signage, and trade show graphics.
Wood lawn signs
For specific needs, other common materials come into play. Medium-density overlay (MDO) plywood is a classic and durable choice for large-format construction site signs.
- Typically made from corrugated plastic, metal, or wood
- They are designed with durable materials to withstand all weather conditions
- Highly customizable
Foam board, on the other hand, is an indoor-only material, perfect for lightweight presentation graphics and easel displays. Here’s a quick guide to additional sign materials and when they make the most sense for your project:
- Durability/Lifespan: MDO can last 5+ years; Foam Board is for indoor use only.
- Cost: Varies, with MDO being a significant investment.
- Print Quality: Varies by material.
- Ideal Use-Cases: MDO for large-scale real estate development; Foam Board for conferences and school projects.
YardSigns.com Advantage: Our team can source and produce specialty materials for any custom project you have in mind.
Key Insight: For most projects, 4mm corrugated plastic is the ideal material. The versatility of corrugated plastic cannot be overstated. It offers the best balance of affordability, durability for temporary campaigns, and excellent print quality, making it the industry standard for yard signs.
How Weather-Resistant Are Different Yard Sign Materials
A sign’s material is only half the battle, as production quality is the other aspect. At YardSigns.com, all our outdoor signs are produced with UV-resistant inks, preventing fading and keeping colors vibrant.
With high-quality corrugated plastic materials, we offer protective laminates to enhance visibility and durability, and ensure your yard signs are weather-resistant. While most materials are temperature, wind, and moisture resistant, our corrugated plastic yard signs are virtually immune to most weather conditions.
Display Hardware & Installation Tips
Choosing the right stakes and display hardware is just as important as selecting quality materials.
| Display Hardware | Stability Level | Ideal Placement |
|---|---|---|
| H‑stakes (standard) | Moderate | Yard signs, Short-term signs |
| Metal (Heavy-duty) stakes | High | Real estate, sidewalks |
| A‑Frames | High | Storefronts, walkways |
The right hardware ensures your political or business lawn signs are seen and stay put. That’s why we include free metal stakes for quick installation and craft all our corrugated plastic yard signs with a soft surface ideal for single-sided or double-sided printing.
Before placing your sign, measure soil depth to ensure your stake is secure. Align the sign face with the primary flow of traffic for maximum visibility, and always check and adhere to local sign codes and ordinances.
Warning: Before installing any sign, always check local city or HOA ordinances. Ignoring placement rules, size restrictions, or permit requirements can lead to fines and the immediate removal of your signs, wasting your investment.
How to Order Signs with Fast Turnaround
Getting your message out quickly is crucial, which is why YardSigns.com operates on a standard 3-5 business-day turnaround. For urgent needs, we offer rush production that gets your signs processed in 1-3 business days. We cater to every need, from a single sign to hundreds of signs.
We have no minimum order quantities and offer aggressive wholesale pricing on bulk corrugated plastic yard signs. Every order comes with free digital proofs so you can be confident in the final product.
Plus, if you need yard signs for business but need help with graphics, our “Design It For Me” service connects you with professional designers.
Key Takeaways
Based on our comprehensive breakdown of corrugated plastic, aluminum, PVC, and specialty materials, the right choice depends on your campaign duration and budget. Corrugated plastic dominates the market for good reason: It balances affordability, durability, and print quality.
However, if you need permanent signage, aluminum offers 5-7 years of protection, while PVC works best for short-term indoor or shielded applications. Remember that material selection is only part of the equation; fade-resistant inks, quality hardware, and proper installation ensure your message stays visible and secure throughout your campaign.
- Corrugated plastic signs offer the best price-to-durability for 6-12 month campaigns.
- Polybag signs are the best way to stretch your budget on large-volume political runs.
- All of our corrugated plastic yard signs use UV-resistant, 300 DPI technology & ship in 3-5 days.
- Free H metal stakes and free proofs mean fewer surprises and faster, easier installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best material for 500+ signs?
For large quantities, corrugated plastic is the best material as it's easy to transport, durable, offers the best value, and our wholesale pricing at YardSigns.com makes it extremely competitive.
Can my colors on corrugated plastic yard signs fade in direct sunlight?
Not with our yard signs. We use high-quality, UV-resistant inks in all our printing processes to ensure the colors of your corrugated plastic yard signs stay bright and fade-resistant throughout the sign's intended lifespan.
Can I recycle my signs after the campaign?
Yes, our yard signs are made of corrugated plastic material from #5 Polypropylene (PP), and polypropylene plastics are recyclable.
How do I keep yard signs from blowing away?
Ensure you use the correct stakes for your sign size and push them deep into firm ground. For larger signs in windy areas, consider using heavy-duty stakes. This is especially important for lightweight corrugated plastic.
How fast can YardSigns.com print & ship to my state?
Our standard turnaround is 5 -7 business days. With our rush service, we offer expedited shipping, usually within 2-3 business days. We ship nationwide, so you can get quality signs quickly, no matter where you are.
