Elevra

A great lawn sign doesn’t just show your name - it stops someone in their tracks. On a busy street, you have only a split second to make an impression. For campaign managers, that means your design needs to do more than look nice - it needs to perform.

Here’s how to make your signs stand out and drive more traffic to your campaign online:

Choose the Right Size

Political lawn signs aren’t one-size-fits-all. The best size depends on where you’re putting them and how fast people will be passing by.

Residential yards: 18"x24" is the most common and cost-effective. It’s big enough to read from a sidewalk or slow-moving car without overwhelming a front yard.
High-traffic intersections: 2'x3' signs offer more visibility while staying manageable.
Roadside or highway placement: Go big - 4'x8' banners can be seen from far away at high speeds.

Tip: Oversized signs may require special permits in some areas, so always check local regulations before ordering.

Use Contrasting Colors

High-contrast pairings - like dark blue on white or yellow on black - make your message easy to read from a distance. And stay away from light colors - these are very difficult to read.

Keep a Small Color Palette

Two main colors (plus white) are plenty. More than that, and you risk making your sign hard to read at high speeds.

Limiting your palette also makes your brand more recognizable. When voters see those same colors on your flyers, social media, or T-shirts, they’ll make the connection instantly.

Use a White Background - except if you are a Northerner in the Winter

White space makes text and logos pop, especially against the visual clutter of a busy street. And it's cheaper when you are printing too.

Make sure to avoid white signs, though, if you are in an area that snows a lot. They will disappear in the heap of snow. As a general rule of thumb, use a color that contrasts with the surrounding landscape - so avoid muddy browns, washed out grays, and, at times, lush green.

The Simpler, The Better

Lots of clutter ruins your campaign aesthetic. You want a sign that grabs attention - not because it’s overwhelming or hard to look at, but because it’s bold, clear, and easy to take in at a glance. In design, less really is more.

Don’t Forget the Placement Strategy

You can have the best sign in the world, but there’s no point if no one sees it. When placing signs, prioritize high-traffic intersections and commuter routes, ask supporters in visible locations to host a sign in their yard, and keep signs away from visual competition such as large billboards. It may even help to drive the route yourself - if you can’t spot your sign easily, move it.

Test Before You Print Hundreds

Before placing a bulk order, print one full-size prototype and view it from the street or sidewalk. This lets you: spot hard-to-read text or colors, check spacing and proportions, and see if your name pops instantly.

Making small adjustments before printing can save you hundreds of dollars and a lot of wasted effort.

Bottom Line

With all this said, it’s most important to customize the color, the size, and the print to the emotion your campaign is attempting to convey. Each color is associated with a different feeling - for example red is typically associated with passion, energy and action, while blue is associated with stability, trust, and reliability.

Keeping all of this in mind, you can create a powerful sign that will help you reach voters and launch your campaign to the next level.