Paper vs. Vinyl Banner

Banners and signs are quite likely the oldest forms of advertising. From the days of agoras where Greeks sold their wares in markets to today’s modern neon-lit signs, banners are one of the most cost-effective methods of advertising. If you’re a business owner, banners are a great way to attract attention to your business. With paper and vinyl banners being the most common types, we’ll take you through the pros and cons of each of them. We also wrote an article talking about the differences between vinyl and fabric banners. Choosing the wrong type of banner can result in losing customers and wasting money. Here at Foam Core Print, we want to make sure our customers make educated decisions to really boost their business and save costs so read on to learn more.

Paper Banners

Pros

Before we get started, it should be noted that there’s no one-banner-suits-all methodology for choosing a banner. Both paper and vinyl banners have their respective benefits. When choosing a type of banner, you should first identify where and how your banner will be used. Paper banners are light, cheap, and easily disposable. This makes them especially ideal for short-term use where cost is a factor. For example, if you’re throwing a wedding or a surprise party, a paper banner may be the right choice. They’re often made with papel picado or another lightweight paper material. This is because single-use paper banners are substantially more affordable than vinyl banners. Also, they can be easily disposed of after being used. After all, chances are you won’t be reusing a banner that says “Happy 16th Birthday” every year. Paper banners can also be used in stores for festive events or promotions. One reason is that paper banners have a crisp, cleaner look compared to vinyl banners, making them suitable for such an occasion. Alongside this, paper banners are light and easily transported. This saves you the hassle of lugging an oversized banner up the stairs or up your ladder. If you need something lightweight and affordable, paper banners may be your choice.

Cons

However, if your banner will be exposed to the elements, you may want to reconsider your choice of banner. Paper banners are fragile and can be easily torn. Exposure to the elements is generally not a good idea for paper banners. A mighty wind or rain shower will quickly render your paper banner useless. The moisture of any kind should be avoided as your paper banner will soon be torn in half and have all of its colors running. Remember, nothing could be worse than a half-torn banner with running colors. So if you’re planning to use your banner on the outside, you should ideally check the weather forecast beforehand. Paper banners are easily creased and crumpled. When transporting your banner, do take extra care to ensure that the banner is not crumpled or creased. Imagine arriving at an event with a crumpled banner that, without a doubt, would make you look ramshackle and shoddy. Finally, given the thinness of paper, your hanging options will be severely limited. Often, paper banners should be kept indoors and isolated from the elements. Also, their translucent nature can mean that you’d be limited to only a few color choices at best.

Vinyl Banners

Pros

Vinyl banners are usually chosen for their durability and flexibility. Constructed from polyester fabrics, these vinyl banners are heavier and can be used repeatedly for a variety of events. Essentially, vinyl banners represent a more permanent option for business owners and event organizers. When you first get your hands on a vinyl banner, you’d notice immediately that vinyl banners are substantially more hardy compared to their paper counterparts. Being weather-resistant and heavier, vinyl banners offer greater flexibility and can be used in a variety of situations. Being water and heatproof, vinyl banners can be hung outside for extended periods of time without sustaining damage. This makes them a great choice for outdoor use as their colors will not run and they can remain durable when exposed to the elements. Vinyl banners are commonly used as temporary storefronts or as all-weather promotional boards. While vinyl banners are more costly as compared to paper banners, they should be treated as an investment due to their long-lasting nature and can be reused multiple times and in a variety of different environments.

Cons

One of the most obvious drawbacks of using vinyl banners is the fact that they are more costly when compared to paper banners. This is because vinyl banners are specially treated to be weatherproof which raises their price. Because of this, vinyl banners are not a suitable short-term option due to their repeated-use nature and cost. Next, vinyl banners are also much heavier as compared to paper banners. This can make transportation difficult as you may end up breaking your back carrying stacks of vinyl banners. Also, just like paper banners, vinyl banners do not hold up very well to rough handling. Improper storage or drops can result in your banner becoming creased and crumpled. However, these creases can easily be fixed with some TLC. Given that vinyl banners are designed for continual re-use, they need to be carefully stored to prevent damage or warping. Ideally, vinyl banners need to be kept in a dark, cool, and dry location to protect them from damage. Thus, this can make storage a pain for some people. Finally, vinyl banners are not a permanent solution and need to be replaced after several months. While these banners are weather-treated, continual exposure to heat and moisture will cause their colors to run. This makes them look absolutely terrible which is why replacements are crucial. You can read more about them here.

Conclusion

Both paper and vinyl banners have their own benefits. Before making a choice of your own, you need to identify how these banners will be used. For short-term, one-off uses, paper banners will do fine. If you’re looking for something a bit more durable, the vinyl banner will serve you well. You can talk to us here if you have any questions.