Metal Yard Signs vs Coroplast: Which Lasts and Which Is Cheaper

Coroplast is cheaper. Metal lasts longer. That is the short answer. A coroplast yard sign is the corrugated plastic sign you see at every election and open house. Custom metal yard signs are printed on aluminum composite, a rigid panel with a plastic core and thin aluminum skins, and they shrug off years of rain and sun.

So which one should you buy? It comes down to how long the sign needs to live outside. A sign that comes down in a month should be coroplast. A sign that stays in the same spot for a year or more should be metal. Most businesses end up needing both at some point.

Below we compare cost, life span, looks and mounting, with notes on how each holds up in Clark County weather. We print both right here in Vancouver, WA, and you can request a quote for either one.

What is the difference between coroplast and metal yard signs?

Coroplast is a brand name that stuck, like Kleenex. It is corrugated plastic, two flat sheets with ribs between them, like cardboard made of plastic. It is light, cheap and easy to cut. The standard thickness is 4 millimeters. We print on it directly, full color, one or two sides.

The metal option is usually Dibond or a similar aluminum composite panel. It is about 3 millimeters thick, flat, stiff and smooth. It does not flex, dent easily or fade fast. Custom outdoor metal signs made from this material are what you see on real estate posts, farm gates, trailheads and in front of offices.

Both take the same kind of print. The difference is the board under the ink, and that board decides how the sign ages.

Custom metal yard signs vs coroplast at a glance

How much do custom metal yard signs cost compared to coroplast?

Here are typical industry ranges. Your quote depends on size, quantity and material, so treat these as ballparks only.

• Coroplast, 18 by 24 inches, single sided: often somewhere in the range of eight to twenty dollars each, less in bulk.
• Coroplast, double sided: a bit more, since both faces get printed.
• Metal, 18 by 24 inches: often somewhere in the range of forty to ninety dollars each, depending on finish and quantity.
• Wire H-stakes for coroplast: a couple of dollars each.
• Posts or frames for metal: varies a lot, from a simple steel stake to a wood post with hardware.

Quantity matters more with coroplast. Fifty signs cost far less per sign than five. Metal has less of a price break because the material itself is the main cost. If you are stretching a small budget, our guide to small business signs on a budget covers what to buy first.

Think about cost per month, not cost per sign. A twelve dollar coroplast sign that lasts six months costs two dollars a month. A sixty dollar metal sign that lasts five years costs one dollar a month. Over a long stay, metal is the cheaper sign.

Which one lasts longer in Vancouver WA weather?

Our rain is the first test. Coroplast handles water fine at first, but the open ribs at the edges let moisture in. Over a wet winter the board can hold water, get heavy and sag on the stake. UV from summer sun fades the ink on both materials, but a laminated metal sign fades much slower.

Wind is the second test. The Columbia River Gorge pushes east wind through Clark County in the cold months. A coroplast sign on thin wire stakes bends over, flips around or tears loose at the stake holes. A metal sign on a post stays put. If your sign sits in an open field or along a highway, that matters.

For a sign that needs to be up through one Northwest winter, coroplast usually makes it, though it may look tired by spring. For anything longer, go metal.

When coroplast is the right call

Cheap and light is a feature when the sign is temporary or when you need a lot of them. Coroplast wins for:

• Open houses and listings. Agents move signs from yard to yard. See our page on printing for real estate.
• Job site signs. A roofing or landscaping crew leaves a sign in the yard for a few weeks after the work is done.
• Events and fundraisers. Directional arrows, parking, registration.
• Seasonal sales. Pumpkin patch, tree lot, tax season.
• Anything you need 25 or more of.

Contractors in particular get a lot of mileage out of a stack of coroplast signs. Our printing for contractors page covers the signs and print most crews keep on the truck.

When metal is worth the money

Metal is the right pick when the sign is part of the property, not a visitor. It looks better up close and it does not need replacing every season. Metal wins for:

• Business entrance signs on a post or fence.
• Farm, ranch and property name signs.
• Parking and rules signs that stay up for years. Our post on parking signs for business goes deeper.
• Real estate post signs that an agent reuses for a decade.
• Trail, park and HOA signs.
• Any sign where the brand needs to look sharp.

Metal also takes a logo well. The smooth face shows fine detail and clean color. For sizes, finishes and mounting ideas, read custom metal signs with your logo.

How do you mount each type?

Coroplast slides onto a wire H-stake. The two prongs push up into the ribs of the board. That is why we print coroplast with the ribs running up and down, so the stake goes in. Some people zip tie coroplast to a fence or a wood frame instead.

Metal needs holes and hardware. We can drill holes in the corners for screws, bolts or zip ties. Common setups are a steel sign post, a wood 4 by 4 with a cross arm, a chain link fence with ties, or screws straight into a wall or gate. Tell us how you plan to mount it and we will set the hole pattern to match.

Art tips for either material

Yard signs get read from a moving car. Keep the message to five or six words. Use one big line, high contrast colors and a phone number or web address that fits on one line. Leave a border of blank space around the edges so nothing important sits where the stake or a screw goes. Send us a vector logo if you have one, or the biggest PNG you have, and we will send a proof before anything prints.

Ready to order? See our yard signs for business page for options, what to send us, and how to get a quote.

Questions people ask

Can I get just one metal yard sign?

Yes. We print metal signs one at a time or in bulk. One sign costs more per piece than ten, but there is no big minimum. Send the size you want and we will quote it.

Will a coroplast sign rust or rot?

No, it is plastic, so it does not rust or rot. It does fade in the sun, get brittle in the cold and take on water through the open edges. The wire stake can rust over time.

Can metal yard signs be printed on both sides?

Yes. Double sided metal is common for post signs where traffic comes from both directions. It costs a bit more than single sided. Coroplast can be double sided too.

How long does it take to get yard signs?

Coroplast and metal are both printed in our shop, and turnaround is usually a few business days. It depends on quantity and what else is on the schedule, so ask us for current turnaround and we will confirm when you quote.

Not sure which one you need? Send us the idea and a rough quantity and we will send a proof and a price for both.