Banner printing: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What banner printing is

A banner printer produces banners on durable vinyl or fabric with your artwork, adding hems and grommets so they can be hung indoors or outdoors. People order banners for events, storefronts, trade shows, sales and banners that need to be seen from a distance.

Signs you need it

  • You have an event, a sale or an opening and need a banner that people can read from across the street or the room
  • Your current banner is faded, torn or has lost its grommets, and you need a replacement that lasts outdoors
  • You need a banner for a trade show or booth with a set size and a stand that must fit
  • You need a large banner that must be hung on a fence, railing or building
  • You want a banner in a format that folds or rolls for transport and storage

What the pro does

  • Confirm the banner size, the placement, the wall or fence material and whether the banner will be indoors or outdoors
  • Check your artwork file for resolution, size and bleed, and flag any issues before printing
  • Choose the material, such as vinyl or fabric, based on the use, the weather and how long it must last
  • Print the banner with the colors and the finish you approved, and check the print for quality
  • Add hems and grommets or pole pockets where needed, spaced for the hanging method
  • Deliver the banner rolled or folded in a protective tube or box, with hanging instructions

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The size of the banner, since larger banners use more material and take longer to print and finish
  • The material chosen, such as indoor vinyl, outdoor vinyl or fabric
  • The number of hems, grommets or pole pockets needed
  • Whether the artwork needs to be created or fixed, which adds design time
  • How many banners are ordered, and whether they share a design
  • How quickly the banners are needed, and whether rush production is required

What a written quote should spell out

  • The size, material, hem and grommet setup for each banner
  • The artwork check, including what the printer will fix and what you must correct
  • The proof stage before printing and who approves it
  • The delivery method, packing and the delivery date
  • Whether hanging hardware or a stand is included

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Is this banner made for indoor or outdoor use, and how long does it last outside?
  • What file resolution and bleed do you need, and will you check my artwork?
  • Will I see a proof before the banner is printed?
  • Do you add grommets or pole pockets, and how far apart are they?
  • Can you print a banner that fits my stand or frame size?
  • What happens if the banner arrives damaged or the colors look wrong?

Red flags

  • Prints the banner without checking the artwork resolution or the size
  • Uses a material that is not rated for the weather or the use you described
  • Will not show a sample of the material or the finish
  • Promises that the banner will not fade or tear under any conditions

What you can do yourself

You can print a small indoor banner on a home printer in sections and join them, or make a simple one on a sheet of vinyl with a cut file. Hire a banner printer for large sizes, for outdoor banners that need to last, for banners with grommets or pole pockets, or for a set that must match.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required for banner printing. Ask instead for samples of finished banners and a clear statement of the materials used; check with your state or local business licensing office if the printer operates as a registered business, and check local rules for where banners can be hung.

Banner printing questions

Can I hang a banner on a public fence or pole?

Usually only with permission from the owner, and sometimes a permit from the local government. Check the rules for that location before you hang the banner.

What file format should I send?

Ask your printer. Many accept a high resolution PDF with the bleed included, but the requirements vary, so confirm the format and size before you send the file.

How do I hang a banner without damaging the wall?

Use the hanging points the printer recommends, such as grommets with tape or zip ties, and check with the building owner about any adhesive or mounting method.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer banner printing remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

Edit history

How guide reviews work

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More design and marketing guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request banner printing