What Size Should Your Digital Billboard Be? The Typical Billboard sizes.

If you’ve decided to invest in an oversized digital billboard, the first decision is the size. Unless you’re in the market for a small scrolling sign, all digital signs are built from scratch. The larger your sign the more expensive it will be. Let’s first take a look at typical billboard sizes, then the other factors you must consider.

Typical Billboard Sizes

You can have your new sign built in any square or rectangular shape you desire. This includes the growing trend in signs that are vertical, opposed to the standard horizontal. The size may be determined by where it is being mounted. For example, it may need to be the width of the building. Or your city or landlord may limit sign sizes by location. A sign permit may also be required.

That being said, there are 3 standard sizes for oversized signs:

• Standard billboard bulletins are typically 14 feet high and 48 feet wide, providing 672 square feet of advertising space.
• Posters are smaller than bulletins, and typically built to be 10 feet high by 22 feet wide, providing 220 square feet of advertising space.
• Junior posters are smaller than both bulletins and posters, with the standard size measuring 6 feet high by 12 feet wide, providing 72 square feet of advertising space.

These numbers provide a starting point. Feel free to go smaller or larger depending on the height of your mount and your desired viewing range. Mega allows you to customize your billboard sizes, allowing you to go as small as a large LED tv Screen, to as large as an E-sports video wall!

Customizations

Typical billboard sizes start at $2,000 and go upwards of $15,000. Size is a primary factor in pricing, but it’s not the only one. There are a variety of customizations to choose from, each of which impacts the price.

Framing—your sign can have a simple black frame or a stylized or colored frame. Pole-mounted signs may also need to have a small access bridge built in.

Mounting—how and where your sign is mounted is factored into the cost. Smaller signs can have brick, wood, or pedestal mounts but full billboards require a pole mount or mounting to the side of a building. Some buildings may need to be reinforced to support the weight of your new sign.

Number Of Signs—most full-sized billboards are one-sided but consider if you want your pole-mounted sign to be visible from both directions. Or if you want to layer more than one sign.

Viewing Quality— typically with other brands the larger your sign the less flexibility you will have in the pixel choice, this is however, not true with MEGA digital billboards, which can have the highest rated viewing detail of LED sign boards at 6mm of pixel pitch!

HD Is Essential

There are a variety of ways to customize your new sign, but high definition is essential. With smaller signs, you can choose between text-only or signs that can post images and graphics at different pixel pitches. The smaller the pixel resolution the better the viewing quality of the image, motion graphic, or video.

While small to mid-size signs can easily have larger pixels and a shorter viewing range, the resolution of oversized signs must be HD. Otherwise, the ads you post will look distorted. Oversized signs typically don’t display text-only messages. Yes, the ad can have text too, but visual engagement is the priority.

While not standard with full-size billboards, you can layer a smaller text-only sign underneath. The width of the sign will be the same, but the height can be shorter.

Typical billboard sizes – Test Before You Invest

Digital billboards are an investment, so consider renting billboard ad space before you buy. Testing your ROI first may give you the confidence required to invest.

Whether renting or buying, ensure that the location is prime. This means a high-traffic area that is frequented by your primary demographic. If renting delivers high returns, purchasing your own sign may be more cost-effective in the long run.

If your business isn’t located in a high-traffic area, think outside of the box. For example, if the back of your building is along a high-traffic area, mount to the back of your building instead. Or consider renting land to mount a pole-mounted sign or paying a monthly rental fee to mount your sign to the side of someone else’s building.

If you are in a prime location, consider adding more than one sign. Either to share more ads or to monetize your sign by renting out ad space.

Consider More Than One Oversized Sign

You may only have the space or budget for one sign but consider ordering more than one. This could be to create a Time’s Square-inspired video wall or a series of pole or building-mounted displays.

Not only do multiple signs stand out, but they can be used to create a larger message. For example, poster-sized signs could display 1 oversized ad, 2 or 3 large ads, or 4 individual ads. The 4 individual ads could be for the same brand. For example, the same skirt accessorized in 4 different ways. Or 4 different angles of the same vehicle.

Or, reserve one or two signs for yourself and rent out the remaining signs.

Unlike printed billboards, you can alternate messages. For example, many car dealerships order their sign in typical billboard sizes and alternate images of different vehicles on their lot. This includes 360-degree videos, sales ads, lease promotions, repair promotions, and more. Or monetize your sign by mixing in rented ad space between your ads.

Sign Design Makes All The Difference

If you’ve had LED signs in the past, you may have designed your own digital ads. However, large signs require a billboard sign designer who specializes in digital sign design. Before you hire someone, be sure to look at their design portfolio. The portfolio can include smaller signs but must include typical billboard sizes.

Some designers don’t excel designing oversized ads, so inquire about the ROI of their designs. Also, ask how many repeat customers they have. Finally, ensure you like their design style.

Ready To Learn More?

Mega LED Signs custom-builds LED signs from small to medium and in all typical billboard sizes. Your sign will be built with the internal components required to operate at full function in all climates. Reach out today for your free quote!