Yard signs look simple. They're not. A great yard sign converts a drive-by into a phone call; a bad one becomes invisible after 10 feet. Here's what separates the two.
Rule 1: three words or fewer for the hero line
Your primary message must read in 1 second from a moving car. "For Sale" works. "Beautiful Home With Three Bedrooms And Two Baths For Sale" does not. Save the details for the QR code.
Rule 2: contrast > colour
White text on a dark background (navy, black, deep red) reads from 50+ feet. Light colours fight each other and disappear in afternoon sun. Go high-contrast or go home.
Rule 3: font size math
Every 10 feet of viewing distance requires 1 inch of letter height. Driving past at 40 km/h? You're 20–50 feet away — that's 2–5 inch letters minimum for your hero line.
Rule 4: one call-to-action
Phone number OR QR code OR website. Not all three. The person who sees your sign has 3 seconds to decide; give them one thing to do.
Rule 5: include a photo only if it's relevant and clean
A sharp photo of the product/property can triple effectiveness. A blurry photo or stock-looking headshot hurts more than no photo. Err on the side of no photo if you're not sure.
Material matters
- 4mm coroplast (standard) — holds up 6–12 months outdoor, $18–$49 per sign
- 6mm coroplast — longer lifespan, heavier wind tolerance
- Aluminum — multi-year outdoor, higher cost
Size guide by use case
| Use case | Size | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn event / garage sale | 12x18" | Walking distance |
| Real estate For Sale | 18x24" | Drive-by standard |
| Open House / direction | 18x24" | Drive-by |
| Political / campaign | 18x24" or 24x36" | Lawn + drive-by |
| Commercial / banner-sign | 24x36" or 36x48" | Highway / strip mall |
Budget for quantity
For neighbourhood saturation (political, open houses), plan 10–50 signs. Per-unit price drops significantly at 10+: a $29 single-unit 18x24" coroplast drops to ~$14 each at 50+.
Where to order yard signs in Canada
CanadaPrint (us) offers 18x24" coroplast from $29 single or $10.50/each at 50+. Includes H-stakes. AI-designed or upload your own. Shop yard signs.