Custom acrylic signs

What thickness should an acrylic sign be?

Thickness is mostly about how the sign looks from across the room. A thicker panel catches more light on its edges and reads as more substantial; a thinner one is lighter, cheaper, and fine for anything viewed up close.

For a sign wider than about 48 in., go up a thickness or add more standoffs so the panel stays flat. Our guide to choosing acrylic thickness goes into more detail.

Colors and finishes

Clear cast acrylic is the classic sign material: about 92% light transmission, so the wall shows through and the edges glow. Beyond clear, you can choose white or black for a solid background, frosted for a soft glass look that hides the wall behind it, gray or bronze tint for something darker and more architectural, and mirror silver, gold, or rose gold for event and retail signs. Fluorescent sheet makes edges light up in bright color, which is great for small accent signs.

Edges are part of the finish. Laser-cut edges come out glossy straight off the cut, so most signs need nothing more. Thick signs routed on a CNC get flame-polished or diamond-polished edges; see edge polishing.

Engraving, vinyl, or paint?

Engraving

We laser-engrave the text or logo into the acrylic, which leaves a frosted white mark that never peels. Engraving on the back of clear sheet (reverse engraving) reads through the front and is protected from scratches and cleaning. You can leave it frosted or have it color-filled. See acrylic engraving.

Vinyl

Cut vinyl lettering applied to the front or back gives you solid, saturated color and brand-exact shades. It's the easiest to replace if the text changes, though it can be picked at if it's on the front in a public spot.

Paint

Painting the back of an engraved or masked sign gives deep, even color seen through the glossy front. It's a nice look for logos with one or two colors. Use paints made for acrylic; some solvents in ordinary spray paint can craze the sheet.

How to mount an acrylic sign

• Standoffs: metal barrels that hold the sign 1/2 to 1 in. off the wall through drilled holes. The most common way to hang a sign, and the cleanest look.
• Stands: bent acrylic L or T stands for counters and tables.
• Hanging: drilled holes for cable, chain, or hooks, for signs hung from a ceiling or a window.
• Adhesive tape: fine for small, light signs on smooth walls, though it's hard to remove later.

Holes should sit at least twice the material thickness from any edge, and usually 1 to 1.5 in. in from the corners. See how to mount acrylic to a wall for anchors and spacing.

Design tips

• Keep text at least 1/4 in. tall for engraving to read cleanly, larger if it's read from a distance.
• Round the corners slightly (1/4 to 1/2 in. radius). It looks finished and resists chipping.
• Leave clear space around the standoffs so the caps don't land on the lettering.
• Outdoors, acrylic holds up well in sun; plan for expansion in large panels with slightly oversized holes.

Have artwork ready? Upload your drawing for an instant price. Just need a rectangle or rounded panel? Use the cut-to-size calculator.

Questions