What is the difference between foam board and PVC foam board?

Foam board is a light foam core faced with paper, the lowest-cost rigid board and best for single-use indoor signs. PVC foam board is a solid expanded PVC sheet that is heavier and tougher, survives handling and reuse better, and cuts cleanly to custom shapes.

What size foam board sign should I get?

For an easel, A1 at 594 by 841mm or A0 at 841 by 1189mm are the usual sizes. A1 suits a welcome sign at a door; A0 suits a long seating chart or a large room. We print custom sizes up to 1.2m by 2.4m.

Can foam board signs go outside?

No. Foam board is an indoor material. For outdoor signs use corflute, which is light and waterproof, or ACM for signs that need to last for months or years.

How much does foam board printing cost?

An A1 welcome sign generally runs from $50 to $200 inc GST, with foam board at the lower end and acrylic higher. Custom shapes cost more than rectangles. Send the size and quantity for an exact quote.

Can you print foam board the same day?

Often, yes. Foam board is a stock material with flat print and simple cuts, which makes it a good candidate. Same day printing is available on print-ready artwork approved before 1pm, with a surcharge. Call 0415 743 691 to check capacity.

Foam Board Printing

A smooth, matte, rigid board that stands on an easel and looks sharp from a metre away. For indoor signs it is usually the best value there is.

Event Signs prints on foam board and PVC foam board in-house at our Ravenhall workshop in Melbourne, at A1, A0 or any custom size up to 1.2m by 2.4m, cut to any shape. Used for welcome signs, seating charts, presentation boards and indoor event signs. Standard turnaround is 2 to 3 business days to dispatch from artwork approval.

Two kinds of foam board

People say foam board and mean one of two different materials. We hold and print both.

Foam board — a lightweight foam core faced with paper on both sides. Very light, very flat and the lowest-cost rigid board. Best for signs used once, indoors, on an easel.
PVC foam board — a solid expanded PVC sheet. Heavier, tougher and better at surviving transport, handling and being used again. It cuts cleanly to shape, so it is the one we use for custom outlines.

Neither is meant for outdoors. For anything outside, corflute or ACM is the right board.

What it is used for

Welcome signs and seating charts — the lower-cost alternative to acrylic, with a matte finish that does not reflect venue lighting.
Presentation and display boards — conference posters, award displays, project boards.
Indoor event signs — directional signs, menu boards, schedules and sponsor boards.
Photo props and cutouts — shapes cut to outline for parties and photo areas.

Sizes

The two sizes most people order for an easel are A1 (594 × 841mm) and A0 (841 × 1189mm). A1 reads well at a door or at the end of an aisle; A0 is for a long guest list or a large room. We print custom sizes up to 1.2m × 2.4m as a single panel, and cut to any outline — arches, circles, scalloped edges, logos.

What it costs

An A1 welcome sign generally runs from $50 to $200 inc GST, and foam board sits at the lower end of that range, with acrylic and mirror acrylic higher. Custom shapes cost more than rectangles. Send the size, the quantity and the shape and we will quote it exactly.

Turnaround

Standard turnaround is 2 to 3 business days to dispatch from artwork approval. Because it is a stock material with flat print and simple cuts, foam board is a good candidate for same day printing on print-ready artwork approved before 1pm. Transit sits on top of the 2 to 3 business day dispatch window: next business day across Melbourne on express, 1 to 3 business days to Sydney and Adelaide, 3 to 5 to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Canberra, and 4 to 6 to Perth.