FAQ
Aluminum Signs questions, answered
Should I choose .040 or .080 aluminum?
.040 in aluminum is the common choice for wall-mounted and fence-mounted signs up to medium sizes. .080 in is twice as thick and much stiffer, so it is the better choice for larger signs or signs mounted on a post where the panel has to resist wind and bending on its own.
How long do aluminum signs last outdoors?
Aluminum signs are rated for long-term indoor and outdoor use. The metal itself does not rust, so the life of the sign is usually set by how long the printed face holds its color in direct sun. They are the longer-life choice over corrugated plastic yard signs.
What is the difference between an aluminum sign and an ACM sign?
An aluminum sign is a single solid sheet of metal. ACM (aluminum composite) is two thin aluminum skins bonded to a plastic core, which makes it thicker, flatter and lighter for its stiffness. Solid aluminum suits standard post and wall signs; ACM suits larger flat panels and storefront signs.
Can I get a custom shape or rounded corners?
Yes. Aluminum signs can be contour cut to a custom outline, and rounded corners are available as an option. Square-cut rectangles are standard.
How big should the lettering be?
A widely used rule of thumb is about 1 inch of letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance. Text meant to be read from 50 feet needs letters around 5 inches tall, and from 100 feet around 10 inches. Keep the message short and use high-contrast colors so it reads at a glance.
How much does an aluminum sign cost per square foot?
.040 in aluminum is $18.00 per sq ft single-sided ($0.125 per sq in) or $20.88 double-sided. .080 in aluminum is $30.24 single-sided or $33.12 double-sided. A 12 × 18 in .040 single-sided sign is $35.00. Each sign is at least $18.00 to $33.00 depending on thickness and sides, each order line is at least $35.00, and quantity savings are 5% off 10 or more of the same sign, rising to up to 35% off 1,000 or more; larger orders save more. Shipping is added at checkout.
Do rounded corners or contour cutting cost extra?
Square corners are included. Rounded corners, 1/2 in or 1 in radius, +$12.50 per order; or contour cut to shape, +10% of the print price. Choose one edge finish per sign, and the price card adds it before you order.
What is the largest aluminum sign you can order?
Aluminum signs go up to 48 × 96 in (4 × 8 ft), a full sheet, entered either way round, in .040 or .080 in and single or double-sided. Any smaller size is priced by the square inch. An order line over 46,080 sq in in total ships by freight for $199.00. For a large flat panel that has to stay flat, compare 3mm and 6mm ACM in the table above.
Can I order the aluminum panel for a post and panel sign?
Yes. Order the printed panel here at the size your posts take. .080 in aluminum is stiffer for larger and post-mounted signs; .040 in is the standard weight for parking, reserved and tow-away signs bolted to a post or wall. For a complete post and panel sign with the posts set on site, see
Post and Panel Signs.
Where can I order a custom 12 × 18 in aluminum sign online?
Your design is printed directly onto the aluminum panel, with no vinyl sticker layer, and square corners are included. From Brand 9 Signs, 1 sign at 12 × 18 in, .040 in aluminum, printed single-sided: $35.00, the order-line minimum, before shipping. Rounded corners, 1/2 in radius: +$12.50 per order. Any smaller size costs the same as 12 × 18 in. Shipping is $10.00 (ships overnight), so that order totals $45.00. Also before shipping: 1 sign at 12 × 18 in, .040 in aluminum, printed double-sided: $35.00, the order-line minimum; 10 signs at 12 × 18 in, .040 in aluminum, printed single-sided: $256.50 ($25.65 each). Most orders print in 1–3 business days, then ship to any US address. Business days are Monday to Friday; orders placed by 2 pm Eastern start that business day, and holidays do not count. Order at brand9signs.com/shop/aluminum-signs/: the price card shows the same price, shipping and total before you order.
Can I order a custom metal parking sign online?
Yes. A parking sign is printed directly onto solid aluminum, with no vinyl sticker layer: a 12 × 18 in sign in .040 in aluminum is $35.00, the order-line minimum, in .080 in heavy-gauge aluminum $45.36, and an 18 × 24 in sign in .040 in aluminum is $54.00, before shipping. Design it online or upload your artwork; it ships to any US address.
How much does a 24 × 36 in aluminum sign cost?
From Brand 9 Signs, 1 sign at 24 × 36 in, .040 in aluminum, printed single-sided, costs $108.00 before shipping. The same size in .040 in aluminum, printed double-sided, $125.28; in .080 in aluminum, printed single-sided, $181.44. Shipping is $10.00, so the price card shows $118.00 in total. Other sizes, quantities and options are priced the same way in the price card.
How much does a 12 × 18 in aluminum sign cost?
From Brand 9 Signs, 1 sign at 12 × 18 in, .040 in aluminum, printed single-sided, costs $35.00 before shipping, the order-line minimum. Shipping is $10.00, so the price card shows $45.00 in total. Other sizes, quantities and options are priced the same way in the price card.
How much do 50 custom 12 × 18 in aluminum signs cost?
50 signs at 12 × 18 in, .040 in aluminum, printed single-sided are $1,190.70 before shipping, $23.81 each. At $25.65 each, the price of 10 signs, 50 would be $1,282.50, so ordering 50 together saves $91.80. Price each at other quantities: 1 sign $35.00 (the order-line minimum); 10 signs $256.50 ($25.65 each); 25 signs $615.60 ($24.62 each); 50 signs $1,190.70 ($23.81 each); 100 signs $2,272.05 ($22.72 each). The price card shows shipping and the total before you order.
What does the $35 minimum buy?
In .040 in aluminum, single-sided, any aluminum sign up to 280 square inches, such as 12 × 18 in, is $35.00, the order-line minimum. A smaller aluminum sign costs the same, so the minimum buys you the larger size. Above that the price follows the size: 12 × 24 in is $36.00 and 18 × 24 in is $54.00. Prices are before shipping; one aluminum sign at 12 × 18 in ships for $10.00 (ships overnight). Some low "from" prices online are for a much smaller sign, such as 5 × 8 or 8 × 10 in; our minimum is for a full 12 × 18 in aluminum sign.
Can I order aluminum signs in a custom size?
Yes. Enter any width and height in the price card, up to 48 × 96 in (4 × 8 ft), entered either way round. The price follows the area, by the square inch, so a custom size costs no more than a listed one of the same area.
Where can I order custom aluminum signs online?
From Brand 9 Signs at brand9signs.com/shop/aluminum-signs/. Choose the material, size and quantity in the price card, design it online in Vector Studio or upload your own artwork, and see the price, shipping included, before you order. Most orders print in 1–3 business days and ship to any US address. Brand 9 Signs has made signs since 1986 and ships them to customers across the United States and Canada.
Is the print a vinyl sticker on the aluminum sheet?
No. Brand 9 Signs prints your design directly onto the aluminum panel. Many online sign sellers print on adhesive vinyl, laminate it and stick it onto the sheet; a direct print has no vinyl layer that can peel, lift at the edges or bubble.
Can an AI design my aluminum sign for me?
Yes. In Vector Studio, start from 7 designer templates for aluminum signs, or ask Vector, Brand 9’s AI design agent, to lay it out from your business name and details. Vector checks letter height against viewing distance, contrast and print sharpness before you order. You can change any word, color or size before you approve it, and there is no charge to design; you pay for the order. Vector Studio runs in your browser, so you can design from anywhere, and Brand 9 Signs has been making signs since 1986.
How long does it take to get custom aluminum signs?
Most orders print in 1–3 business days, then ship to any US address. Shipping is overnight and goes by the sign size and the number of boxes: $10.00 a box for signs up to 24 × 36 in or 30 × 30 in, $15.00 for larger signs up to 34 × 48 in, $35.00 from 36 × 36 in to 40 × 48 in, $50.00 for 42 × 48 in and 48 × 48 in, and $75.00 for signs 49 to 96 in long and up to 30 in wide. Larger signs and very large orders ship by freight for $199.00. Business days are Monday to Friday; orders placed by 2 pm Eastern start that business day, and holidays do not count. The price card shows your shipping and total before you order.
Do you ship custom aluminum signs to Canada?
Yes. Orders ship to Canada by FedEx International Priority, from $60.00 shipping per item, in sizes up to 48 × 48 in or 24 × 96 in; Canadian duties, GST/HST and customs clearance are billed to the receiver on delivery. Enter your Canadian postal code in the design studio, or choose Canada for the ship-to address in your cart; the cart shows the shipping before you pay. Prices are in US dollars.
Is there a bulk discount on custom aluminum signs?
Yes. The price of each drops as the quantity grows. At 24 × 36 in, .040 in aluminum, printed single-sided: 1 sign $108.00; 10 signs $1,026.00 ($102.60 each); 25 signs $2,462.40 ($98.50 each); 50 signs $4,762.80 ($95.26 each), before shipping. The price card takes 5% off 10 or more of the same design, rising to up to 35% off 1,000 or more; larger orders save more. Other sizes and quantities are priced the same way in the price card.
How much more do double-sided custom aluminum signs cost?
At 24 × 36 in, .040 in aluminum, 1 sign: single-sided $108.00, double-sided $125.28, before shipping. The price card prices both for any size and quantity.
What files can I upload for custom aluminum signs?
Upload PDF, SVG, PNG, JPG or WebP; EPS, AI, TIFF, PSD and iPhone HEIC files are converted for you. Vector PDF, SVG, EPS and AI files are best. Files up to 60 MB. Each file is checked as soon as you upload it, and the check tells you the largest size it stays sharp at. Or design it in Vector Studio: start from a style or a theme, add your own text and logo, or ask Vector, Brand 9’s AI design agent, for a layout.
Can I see my custom aluminum signs before I order?
Yes. Vector Studio shows a full-size preview. Design it at true size in Vector Studio, check every detail in the preview, then approve it into your cart. Your approval is final, and every order is made exactly as you approve it.
Do I pay sales tax on custom aluminum signs shipped outside Florida?
No Florida sales tax is charged on orders shipped outside Florida. Orders delivered in Florida include Florida sales tax: 6% state tax plus the surtax of the county it is delivered to (0% to 2%), shown in the cart before you pay.
Can I return custom aluminum signs?
Each order is custom-made to the design you approve, so all sales are final. If an order arrives damaged, Brand 9 files the claim with the carrier and works toward a refund or an expedited reorder. The full policy is on the Shipping and Returns page.