Signage Design: Templates and the Rules That Make Signs Readable
Signage design templates with the rules that make a sign work: letter height for the reading distance, contrast, plain fonts and one message per sign. Design it here and download a print-ready file.
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How it works
Pick a sign
Shop front, opening hours, open, wayfinding, restrooms, door plate, building directory, clinic, no smoking, wet floor, fire exit, reserved parking, cafe A-board, for rent, lightbox, acrylic office sign, totem or welcome. Each opens at the size it is usually made.
Make it yours
Click any word to type, any shape or symbol to recolour. Your name, logo, phone and colours go in once under Brand. Sign symbols (restroom figures, arrows, exit, no smoking) are in Elements.
Download for the sign shop
A PDF at the sign's real size, a print PDF with 3 mm bleed and crop marks, or EPS and SVG for vinyl cutting and large-format printers.
Signage design principles that hold up
Good signage design is read in two seconds from where people stand. These templates follow the signage design principles sign makers use: large plain letters, strong contrast, one message, and symbols people already know.
Letter height and viewing distance
1 inch of letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance (about 25 mm per 3 m) is the rule of thumb sign makers use. A wayfinding sign read from 9 m needs letters about 75 mm tall.
Contrast and colour
Dark letters on a light panel, or light on dark, with a big difference in brightness. Red and green alone are a poor pair: about 1 in 12 men cannot tell them apart.
Fonts for signs
A plain sans-serif with open letters (Montserrat, Lato, Poppins) reads best at a distance. Keep script fonts for welcome signs and menus, where people stand close.
One sign, one message
A directional sign lists at most four or five destinations; more and people stop reading. Split long lists across two signs.
People also search for
- wayfinding sign design
- sign maker
Why it matters
Real sign sizes
Door plates, 6 x 9 in restroom signs, 18 x 24 in yard signs, 24 x 36 in A-boards, 900 x 300 mm wayfinding blades, 2400 x 600 mm shop fronts and 600 x 1800 mm totems.
Files a sign shop can use
Vector PDF, EPS and SVG keep edges sharp at any size; the print PDF has bleed and crop marks.
Bold symbols
Restroom figures, accessible, arrows, exit, no smoking, warning, first aid, parking and more, drawn in the solid style of public signs.
On the blog: Signage Design: Steps, Tips and Mistakes to Avoid
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Questions
What makes a sign easy to read?
Large letters for the distance, strong contrast, a plain font, few words and a familiar symbol. Test it by viewing the PDF at the size it will be, from where people will stand.
What file does a sign shop need?
A vector PDF, EPS or SVG at the sign's real size. For a printed panel ask whether they want bleed (the print PDF adds 3 mm); for cut vinyl letters, send the SVG or EPS.
How big should the letters be?
A common sign-trade rule is 1 inch of letter height for every 10 feet people read it from (about 25 mm per 3 m). A shop front read from across the street needs letters 150 mm or taller.
Can I put my logo and a QR code on a sign?
Yes. Your logo goes in under Brand or from Uploads. Make a QR code in the QR code generator, download the PNG or SVG and add it from Uploads.
Is the sign maker free?
Yes, converting is free: the conversion and checking the result cost nothing, and the work runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. The side-by-side preview on the converter pages comes with a free account. Saving the finished file is paid: $3.49 for one file ($3.99 for a technical file such as DXF, G-code, STL or embroidery) with no account needed, or included in a plan from $6.99 a month. Saving the print file is paid: one file without an account, or included in a plan.