A yard sign has about two seconds to work. Drivers pass at 25–35 mph, walkers glance once, and either the message lands or it does not. These design rules come from printing thousands of 18 × 24 coroplast yard signs for realtors, contractors, campaigns and events, and they apply whether you design it yourself or use our free studio.
1. One message, then a phone number
The signs that generate calls say one thing: “Open House Sunday 1–4”, “Roof Repair – Free Estimate”, “Now Hiring”. Add a phone number or short web address and stop. Every extra line shrinks the letters that matter.
2. Letter height sets the reading distance
Use the 1 inch = 10 feet rule. On an 18 × 24 sign the headline can be 4–5 inches tall, which is readable from 40–50 feet, about the width of a residential street. Phone numbers should be at least 2 inches tall.
3. Contrast beats color
Dark text on a light background (or white on dark blue, red or black) reads best. Avoid yellow on white, red on green, and thin scripts. Two colors plus white is plenty.
4. Leave a margin
Keep text 1 inch away from every edge. Stakes push through the flutes on the sides, and a busy edge looks cropped from a distance. Our preflight shows the safe area on your proof.
5. Go double-sided when traffic comes both ways
A sign on a corner lot or a median is seen from two directions. Double-sided costs $3 more per sign at RaahSign and doubles the impressions. Single-sided is fine against a wall or fence.
6. Use the whole sign, but not every inch
A logo in a corner at 15–20% of the height, the headline across the middle, contact info along the bottom. Photos rarely work at this size; a bold icon does.
7. Order enough signs
One sign gets one street. Realtors typically place 3–5 directional signs per open house; contractors leave one at every finished job. Yard signs are inexpensive, so order the set.
Common mistakes we see in uploaded files
- Low-resolution logos pulled from a website (we flag these in preflight).
- Text in 12–18 pt sizes copied from a flyer.
- Landscape artwork uploaded for a portrait sign, or the reverse. Our 18 × 24 sign prints landscape.
- No phone number.
Frequently asked questions
What size are standard yard signs?
18 × 24 inches on 4 mm corrugated plastic (coroplast), with a wire H-stake. That is what RaahSign ships.
How long do coroplast yard signs last outside?
Months of sun and rain for a single season, longer in mild weather. Full-color UV inks do not run.
Can you design my yard sign for me?
Yes. Choose “I need design help” when ordering and we will contact you, or build it yourself in the free online design studio.
Every RaahSign order includes a free digital proof checked by a real person before anything prints, and we ship anywhere in the US from our Chicago shop.