A Guide to Signage Types, Materials and Their Uses

Every signage type addresses a different need. A footpath sign stops people walking past today’s special. A reception sign stays put, displaying your brand steadily year after year. So before you order anything, ask yourself three questions. Where's the sign going? How long does it need to last? And what impression should it make when someone sees it? 

This guide is about printed physical signage for your business, whether that's a shopfront, a worksite, a vehicle or an event stand. It doesn't cover digital display screens. We stock ten signage types, and each one is built for a different mix of setting and lifespan. You'll find the whole range on our custom signage hub, and below we'll help you narrow it down to the right one.

• A-frame: Footpath trade and shopfront pull-in, easy to move each day.
• Corflute and metal: Outdoor and on-site work, from short campaigns through to long-term identification.
• Real estate and construction: Weatherproof boards for property listings and worksites. 
• Acrylic and foam board: Reception areas and indoor display with a polished finish.
• Magnetic car signs: Branding that travels on your vehicle.
• Standees: Display that travels between events.
• Cardboard: Low-cost promotion when the sign only needs to last the campaign.

Not all signs provide the same solution. This table gives you a quick comparison before looking at how each one fits different business environments.

Now you understand the different sign types, you need to think about where they can go. 

Let’s start at the shopfront. If your business relies on passing trade, an A-frame is ideal for the footpath, pointing people through your door and displaying today's special or offer. Pair it with a fixed sign at the entrance, in acrylic or metal, and you've covered both jobs: the A-frame pulls people in while the fixed sign holds your brand in place day after day.

Outside, the setup changes. Corflute works well for short-to-mid-term outdoor campaigns because it's light enough to install anywhere and tough enough to last the length of the campaign. 

Your industry will influence which signs work best. Property signage has its own format, with real estate signs built for property listings and sold boards. Construction signs handle site safety and hoarding branding where weatherproofing isn't optional.

Indoors, the look of the sign is what really matters. Acrylic gives a reception or brand wall a high-end look, and foam board keeps presentations and displays crisp without the weight.

Then there's signage that moves. Magnetic car signs turn your vehicle into advertising that you can remove whenever you need. Standees pack flat and travel between events, ready to stand wherever the next stall or expo is.

And when the budget's tight and the campaign is short, cardboard delivers a clean finish at low cost and can be recycled when the campaign's over.

More businesses now factor in environmental impact alongside cost and durability, and it's worth asking about sustainable signage materials before you order. As a general guide, cardboard is the recyclable choice for short-term signage, and corflute suits reuse across repeat campaigns before recycling. Choosing a sign you'll use more than once can be the single biggest improvement you'll make.

We take sustainability seriously across our whole range, and you'll find our approach on our sustainable print solutions page. Your local centre will walk you through the current eco-friendly options for the sign you have in mind.

What is the most durable signage material for outdoor use?

Metal is the hard-wearing choice for long-term outdoor and in-store identification. For shorter outdoor campaigns and site boards, corflute is a robust and lightweight option at a lower cost, which is why it's the default for temporary outdoor work.

Which signage type is best for a shopfront?

A-frames suit footpath trade and are easy to move in and out each day, while a fixed acrylic or metal sign holds your brand at the entrance. The right mix depends on whether you need portable visibility or permanent visibility. Plenty of shopfronts run both.

Are there sustainable signage options?

Cardboard and corflute are the more recyclable substrate options for short-term and reusable signage. Confirm the current eco specifications with your local Snap Print Solutions centre before ordering.

Our in-house design specialists work from over 125 centres nationwide, so expert help is always close by. Request a quote and we'll match the right signage type and material to your business.