The right business street signs depend on the job the sign has to do. Yard signs give you cheap, short-term reach for promotions and openings. Reflective aluminum signs suit driveways, parking lots, and roadside entrances. Sidewalk signs pull in foot traffic, blade signs catch people walking along the street, and monument signs mark a permanent address. Pick by purpose first, then by material, then by local rules.
Most buyers get stuck because "outdoor sign" covers products with very different lifespans, prices, and permit requirements. A corrugated plastic sign that works for a six-week campaign fails as a permanent marker. A masonry monument is overkill for a seasonal sale. This article walks through five types, with what each is made of, who it suits, and what to check before you order from any vendor.
Safety Decals traces back to Tye's Neon Signs, which opened in Manistee, Michigan, in 1947, so signs that live outdoors are familiar territory for us. Two of the five types below are products we make. For all five, the buying checklist is the same: weather rating, mounting, and permits.
1. Yard signs with stakes
Yard signs are the cheapest way to put your message at the curb. They work best for promotions, openings, and campaigns measured in weeks or months, not years.
What it is and what it is made of
A yard sign is a printed panel on a wire stake pushed into soft ground. Most are corrugated plastic, also sold as coroplast or corflute. It is light, stiff enough to stand, and unaffected by rain. Our 24" x 18" yard signs are customizable and stakes are included. You upload your artwork or text and we print it.
Check three things on any vendor's listing: whether the print is UV-resistant so colors do not wash out, whether the stakes are included, and whether printing is single or double sided. If you buy panels without stakes, a wire holder such as our StepStake (10" x 30", $2.99) holds signs up to 24" x 18".
Who it suits and what it costs
Yard signs suit retailers announcing a sale, contractors marking job sites, realtors, and anyone running a local campaign. They are not a permanent address marker, so plan to replace them each season. Many towns also limit where temporary signs can go, so check before you plant 50 of them.
Our 24" x 18" listing with stakes runs $275.99 to $647.99 depending on the quantity you choose. The 100-sign option with 50 free signs is $831.99. That is 150 signs at about $5.55 each.
Yard signs are a campaign tool, so order for the run you plan instead of one sign at a time.
2. Reflective aluminum roadside signs
Reflective aluminum signs are the pick for entrances, parking lots, and private roads. A driver has to read them in headlights, and they have to last for years.
What it is and what it is made of
These are flat aluminum panels faced with reflective sheeting and mounted on posts. Our No Parking sign is 12" W x 18" H, made from .080 aluminum, and meets MUTCD standards. Aluminum does not rust, and a clear laminate protects the face from sun and fading.
The sheeting grade decides how bright the sign looks at night. These are the four ORALITE® grades we offer on our traffic signs:
| Sheeting | Type | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| ORALITE® 6700 | Type I, Engineer Grade | Baseline reflectivity |
| ORALITE® 5900 | Type IV, High Intensity Prismatic | Brighter, readable from farther away |
| ORALITE® 7900 | Type IX, Wide Observation Angle | Better visibility for drivers seated high, such as truck drivers |
| ORALITE® 9900 | Type XI, Brilliant Grade Premium | Highest brightness of the four |
Who it suits and what it costs
Industrial parks, distribution centers, truck routes, and commercial lots get the most from these signs. We also make custom wording, arrows, and layouts. Email sales@safetydecals.com to start. MUTCD rules govern signs on public roads. On private property, confirm what your site or municipality requires before you pick a grade.
Our No Parking sign costs $35.99 to $47.99 depending on the option you choose. Four signs for a lot entrance at the low end come to $143.96.
If a driver has to obey or find your sign at night, pay for reflective sheeting.
3. Sidewalk A-frame signs
Sidewalk signs, mostly A-frames, are the best tool for pulling in foot traffic. They sit at eye level where people walk, and you can change the message every day.
What it is and what it is made of
An A-frame is two hinged panels that fold flat for storage. The faces come as chalkboard, dry-erase, or slide-in poster frames. Frames are made of aluminum, steel, wood, or plastic, and the frame material decides how long the sign survives outside.
Aluminum and plastic frames do not rust. That matters in coastal air and on sidewalks treated with road salt. Steel and untreated wood do not hold up as well. Wind is the real enemy, so choose a model with a base weight or sandbag. Print posters on weather-resistant plastic instead of paper.
Who it suits and what it costs
Restaurants, cafés, salons, and shops on a walkable street get the most from sidewalk signs. A driver passing at speed will not read one, so skip it if your customers arrive by car.
Prices vary widely by frame and face type. Compare on material, weight, and face type instead of the headline price. Many cities regulate sidewalk signs, including walkway clearance, placement, and hours, so check with your city before you put one on public pavement.
A sidewalk sign only works if the city lets it stay on the sidewalk.
4. Blade signs
Blade signs project from your building at a right angle. People walking or driving along the street can see them from a distance, not only head-on.
What it is and what it is made of
A blade sign hangs from a bracket mounted to the wall, usually above the entrance. The panel is typically double-sided aluminum, though some are wood or high-density urethane. Shapes include rectangle, round, and vertical.
Ask for UV-protected graphics and stainless steel hardware so the bracket does not streak the wall with rust. Letter height matters more than panel size. A short business name in large letters beats a full tagline you cannot read from the curb.
Who it suits and what it costs
Storefronts in a downtown row or strip center benefit most. Neighbors' signs often hide your flat wall sign until someone is level with your door. If you lease, get landlord approval before drilling into the facade.
Blade signs are among the less expensive permanent signs, since you pay for a panel and a bracket. The bigger cost is compliance. A sign that projects over a public sidewalk usually needs a permit, with limits on projection and clearance height above the walkway.
Blade signs earn their place on strips where your facade is invisible until someone is level with it.
5. Monument signs
Monument signs are permanent, ground-mounted markers at the entrance of a property. They are the right pick when you own or lease a lot with road frontage and want large outdoor signs that last for decades.
What it is and what it is made of
A monument sign is a low freestanding structure with the sign face set into a base. Bases are masonry, concrete, or aluminum cabinet. Faces are aluminum panels, dimensional letters, or internally lit cabinets. Footings are set below the frost line in cold climates.
For weatherproof results, specify corrosion-resistant metals and stainless fasteners. Choose lighting deliberately, either internal LED or external spotlights, because the sign has to read at night as well as by day.
Who it suits and what it costs
Medical offices, industrial parks, dealerships, schools, and multi-tenant properties suit monument signs. Your building sits back from the road, and the sign carries the first impression.
Expect thousands of dollars, driven by size, base construction, lighting, and installation. A permit is almost always required, with limits on height, square footage, and setback from the road. Call 811 before anyone digs. Get the permit rules first, then finalize the design.
Zoning limits decide the size of a monument sign, so check them before you design it.
Choosing the right sign for your frontage
Match the sign to the job. Use yard signs for short campaigns, reflective aluminum for entrances and lots, sidewalk signs for foot traffic, blade signs for strips, and monument signs for a permanent address. Whatever you choose, check the weather rating, the mounting, and your local permit rules before you pay.
If you need yard signs or reflective aluminum signs, you can see our options and ask about custom wording at Safety Decals. We answer by email and phone Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm EST.
