"Yard sign" or "banner" sounds like one product. It is six. Each material has a specific job. Here is the decision tree.
Coroplast (corrugated plastic) — temporary outdoor
The default real-estate yard sign. Lightweight, weatherproof, cheap. Lasts 3-12 months outside before fading. Mounts to H-stakes or step-stakes. Best for: open houses, garage sales, candidate signs, restaurant grand-opening signs.
- Pricing: about $7-15 per 18"x24" sign at 100+ qty
- Lifespan: 6 months outdoor, 2+ years indoor
Aluminum signs — long-term outdoor
0.040" or 0.080" aluminum. Industrial-grade durability. Wind-rated. Used by municipalities for traffic and wayfinding signs because they last 5-7 years outside. Best for: parking signs, no-trespassing signs, business hours signs, monument-style yard signs.
- Pricing: about $25-60 per 12"x18" sign
- Lifespan: 5-7 years outdoor
PVC signs — long-term indoor, short-term outdoor
Rigid foam-core plastic. Smooth printable surface. Heavier than coroplast but lighter than aluminum. Used for indoor lobby signs, restaurant menu boards, retail window backers.
- Pricing: about $15-30 per 18"x24" sign
- Lifespan: 2-3 years outdoor, 10+ years indoor
Foam board — short-term indoor only
Paper-faced foam. Cheapest rigid sign. Not waterproof. Used for: trade-show backdrops, one-day event displays, real-estate open-house directional signs (under 24 hours of outdoor exposure).
- Pricing: about $8-18 per 18"x24" sign
- Lifespan: a few weeks indoor; not for outdoor
Vinyl banner — flexible large-format
Roll-up, hangable, grommetable. 13oz vinyl is the standard; 18oz is heavy-duty for windy locations. Use for: outdoor event banners, building-side signage, retail storefronts, fundraisers.
- Pricing: about $4-7 per square foot
- Lifespan: 2-4 years outdoor
Magnetic signs — car doors and removable wall signs
Flexible vinyl with a magnet backing. Sticks to any ferrous metal. Use for: contractor vehicles, refrigerator promos, removable doors signs.
- Pricing: about $20-50 per 12"x18" sign
- Lifespan: 3-5 years on a vehicle
How to pick fast
- Need it outdoor for 5+ years? Aluminum.
- Need it outdoor for 6 months? Coroplast.
- Need it indoor permanently? PVC.
- Need it for one event indoors? Foam board.
- Need it 4x10 or bigger? Vinyl banner.
- Need it on a vehicle? Magnetic or [car door magnets](/products/car-door-magnets).
Browse all signs and banners.