Sandwich Boards
Out at Open, In at Close
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Sized to City Rules
Fits Vancouver's 60 x 90 cm limit
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Swappable Inserts
Change the message, keep the frame
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Fillable Base
Sand or water for windy corners
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Double Sided
Read from both directions
Sandwich Board Printing in Vancouver
A sandwich board is the only sign you own that talks to someone who was walking past on their way somewhere else. It sits at eye level, in the path, at the exact second a person is deciding where to eat or whether to go in.
We print custom sandwich boards in Vancouver, also called A-frames, pavement signs or curb signs. Frame, printed inserts, or both.
Vancouver Sandwich Board Rules and Size Limits
Worth reading before you order, because most businesses find this out from a bylaw officer instead.
For a sandwich board on the sidewalk in the City of Vancouver, the City’s published guidance is:
- One board per ground floor storefront. Not one per business, one per storefront
- Maximum 60 by 90 cm, which works out to roughly 23.5 by 35.5 inches
- Directly in front of the store it advertises, not further along the block
- Against the building wall or at the property line. Not in the middle of the sidewalk and not at the curb
Boards placed on boulevards, medians or at the curb can be impounded. Third party advertising is not permitted, and signs directing people to a property for sale are not allowed on City property at all.
One thing worth measuring: the industry standard A-frame is 24 by 36 inches, which is marginally larger than the City’s stated maximum. Check your frame’s outer dimensions before you buy, not after.
These rules apply to City property. Placement on your own private property is governed by the Sign By-law instead, and every other municipality in Metro Vancouver sets its own limits. Rules also change, so confirm the current requirements with your municipality before a large order. The City of Vancouver publishes its guidance at vancouver.ca.
Tell us your location and we will size the board to fit the rules where you are.
Steel, Plastic or Aluminium A-Frames
Choosing the right material ensures durability and stability, especially outdoors.
Powder Coated Steel Frames
Angle iron construction that grips the insert firmly along its full edge. Heaviest and least likely to move, and it looks like a permanent fixture rather than a temporary one. The choice for busy blocks and long term daily use.
Moulded Plastic With a Fillable Base
Lighter, weatherproof and hollow, with a base you fill with sand or water for stability. Easiest to carry in and out, and the frame itself cannot rust. Good for staff who move it several times a day.
Aluminium Snap Frames for Daily Changes
Hinged edges that flip open so you can change the poster in about fifteen seconds without lifting anything out. Usually supplied with a clear protective lens over the print. Best where the message changes every day.
Swinger Signs for Windy Locations
A weighted T-shaped base with the printed panel hanging from ring hooks. When a gust hits, the panel swings instead of the whole sign going over. If your block funnels wind, this solves the problem that no amount of base weight fixes.
Sandwich Board Sizes and Weights
- 24 x 18 and 24 x 24 for compact frontages and tight sidewalks
- 22 x 28, a common snap frame poster size
- 24 x 32 and 24 x 36, the standard sidewalk formats
- 32 x 48 for parking lots, forecourts and private property
An empty frame runs roughly 6 to 8 kg. A filled base adds another 4 to 5 kg, which is what actually keeps it upright.
Printed, Chalkboard and Dry Erase Inserts
The frame is the hardware. The insert is the message, and it is what you replace.
- Printed panels. Full colour on corrugated plastic or PVC, up to about 5mm thick. Order several at once and swap them by season or promotion. Material details are on our outdoor sign boards page
- Chalkboard. Write it yourself, wipe it off, write it again. Standard for cafés and restaurants with a daily special
- Dry erase. Same idea with a cleaner look and no dust
- Both. Printed branding on one face, writable surface on the other. The most common setup we produce
Buy the frame once and keep it for years. Only the insert is a running cost.
Headers, Side Panels and Wheels
Three upgrades worth knowing about before you order.
A printed header is a separate strip across the top carrying your logo or business name. It stays put while the panel below changes, so your branding is constant even when the message is not.
Side panels add printable surface along the frame edges, which is what people see first when they are approaching from along the sidewalk rather than head on.
Wheels matter more than they sound if the board goes out and comes in every single day. Tilt and roll instead of lifting 12 kg twice a day, which staff will thank you for by actually putting it out.
How to Stop a Sandwich Board Blowing Over
A tipped board is a liability, not just an inconvenience.
Fill the base. An unfilled plastic frame will go over in a gust and slide down the sidewalk. Set the board against the building wall rather than in open space, which the City requires anyway and which also shelters it.
On genuinely exposed corners, choose steel over plastic, or switch to a swinger sign. Bring it in when a storm is forecast.
Designing a Sidewalk Sign People Actually Read
Someone walking past gives your board about three seconds, at an angle, while thinking about something else.
- One message. Not three. The most common failure by a wide margin
- Largest element in the top half, above the eye line of the crowd
- Keep the bottom 15 cm quiet, it gets blocked by people and parked bikes
- Hard contrast. Grey type on a beige background is invisible in Vancouver drizzle
- Print both faces. Half the foot traffic is coming the other way
- Files as print ready PDF, CMYK, 150 DPI at full size, text outlined
Send a logo and what you want it to say and our design team will lay it out, at no charge.
Who Uses Sandwich Boards
Cafés and coffee shops, restaurants and bars, bakeries, retail and boutiques, salons and barbers, gyms and studios, clinics and dental offices, galleries, and any ground floor business on a walkable street.
Also common on private property where the sidewalk rules do not apply: parking lots, business parks, event sites, markets and school grounds.
Sandwich Board vs Fixed Outdoor Signage
The whole point of an A-frame is that it moves. It goes out when you open and comes in when you close, and nothing gets installed.
If the sign is going to stay in one place, you want a rigid panel from our outdoor sign boards range instead. Cheaper, and no folding hardware to pay for.
If you want to brand the storefront itself rather than the sidewalk, that is window graphics. For covering a large area cheaply, a vinyl banner. And for the same street level presence indoors, a roll up banner does the job in a lobby or foyer.
Sandwich Boards for Vancouver Storefronts
We print in Vancouver and deliver throughout Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Delta and Langley, with shipping across Canada. Rush production is available for openings and seasonal campaigns.
Tell us your storefront, your street and how often the message changes, and we will recommend the frame and the insert. Request a quote or browse the full banner and sign printing range.
Sandwich Board FAQ
What size sandwich board is allowed in Vancouver?
The City’s published maximum for a board on City property is 60 by 90 cm, roughly 23.5 by 35.5 inches, one per ground floor storefront, placed against the building. Other municipalities set their own limits, so check yours.
Do I need a permit for a sandwich board?
For a standard storefront board on the sidewalk in Vancouver, the issue is usually compliance with the size and placement rules rather than a permit. Boards outside those rules can be impounded. Confirm with your municipality before ordering in quantity.
Can I use one for an open house or property listing?
Not on City property in Vancouver. Signs directing people to a property for sale are not permitted there. On private property, with the owner’s permission, it is a different situation.
What is the difference between an A-frame and a sandwich board?
Nothing. A-frame, sandwich board, pavement sign, A-board and curb sign all describe the same product.
How do I stop a sandwich board blowing over?
Fill the base with sand or water, set it against the building rather than in the open, and pick a steel frame on exposed corners. For genuinely windy blocks, a swinger sign is the better answer because the panel moves instead of the base.
Can I change the graphics later?
Yes, that is the point. Order spare inserts and swap them by season or promotion. The frame stays.
Can I get chalkboard on one side and printed branding on the other?
Yes, and it is the setup we produce most often. Fixed branding facing one way, today’s special facing the other.
Do you sell A-frames without printing?
Yes. Frames and inserts can be ordered separately, so you can add printed panels later or print for frames you already own.
Do you offer volume rates on sandwich boards?
Yes. Franchise and multi location orders print in one run so colour matches across every site, and volume rates apply.
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Sandwich Boards That Turn Foot Traffic into Customers
Sandwich boards are not background signage. They are active sales tools.
At Firebird Prints, we help Vancouver businesses create sandwich boards that attract attention, communicate clearly, and drive walk in traffic.
Contact us today to get started with sandwich board printing in Vancouver.