Our Best Design Tips for Eye-Catching Custom Lawn Signs

Custom lawn signs are a tried-and-true way to grab attention—whether advertising a service, promoting an event, supporting a candidate, or guiding guests to a wedding or open house. But not all signs are created equal. A great design can stop traffic (in a good way), while a cluttered or confusing one might get ignored altogether.

At Hatteras, we’ve printed thousands of custom lawn signs. Here are our top design tips to help you create signs that get noticed and get results.

How to Stand Out on the Sidewalk

1. Keep It Really Simple

Lawn signs are read from a distance, usually by people in motion. You only have a couple of seconds to get your message across, so less is more.

• Use no more than 7–10 words

• Stick to one key message (e.g., “Now Hiring” or “Vote Yes on Prop A”)

• Avoid clutter—too much text or too many images will overwhelm the viewer

Pro tip: Ask yourself, “If someone drives by at 30 mph, will they get the message?”

2. Go Big on Text (And Use Bold Fonts)

The most important part of your sign is the text. It should be big, bold, and easy to read from 10–30 feet away.  Big, bold fonts are crucial for custom lawn signs because people usually only have a few seconds to read them, often while driving or walking by. 

Bold, oversized text ensures your message is clear, legible, and attention-grabbing from a distance. Subtle or script fonts may look stylish up close, but can disappear at 30 feet away. Pairing bold fonts with clean, high-contrast design makes your sign visible and memorable.

• Use large sans-serif fonts like Impact, Arial Black, or Helvetica

• Make your headline at least 3–6 inches tall

• Avoid cursive or thin fonts—they can blur from a distance

Remember: If they can’t read it, they won’t remember it.

3. Use High-Contrast Colors

Color can make the biggest difference for your custom lawn sign. When grabbing attention, high-contrast color combinations are your best friend. Bright colors like red, yellow, and orange tend to catch the eye first, especially when paired with a bold, dark font like black or navy.

Yellow with black text is one of the most readable and effective combos, often used for caution signs and political campaigns. Blue and white also make a clean, professional pairing that is easy to read. Use colors that stand out from the environment around your sign—avoid pastels or low-contrast pairings that blend into the background. The key is contrast: light text on a dark background or vice versa.

Popular combos:

• Black on yellow

• White on blue

• Red on white

Avoid colors that blend together (like red on dark blue or yellow on white). Limit your palette to 2–3 colors max for maximum impact.

Bonus: Stick to your brand colors if it’s a business sign, but prioritize readability.

4. Add a Call to Action (CTA)

What do you want people to do after seeing your sign? Visit a website? Call a number? Show up at an event?

• Use action words: “Call Now,” “Visit Today,” “Order Online,” “Vote Here”

• Keep the CTA short and visible

• If including a phone number or URL, make sure it’s memorable (or easy to read quickly)

Tip: QR codes can work well on event or real estate signs - make sure they’re large enough to scan.

5. Make Room for Branding—but Don’t Let It Dominate

Including your logo is great, but it shouldn’t overpower the message. Your lawn sign's main purpose is to deliver clear information quickly.

• Place logos in corners or use them as subtle accents

• Don’t let your brand colors override good contrast and readability

• Include only essential branding (company name, logo, short URL)

A clean, effective sign builds brand recognition more than a busy one ever could.

6. Choose the Right Material and Placement

Design isn’t just about what’s printed - it’s also how and where it’s displayed.

• Use durable, weather-resistant materials like corrugated plastic for outdoor longevity

• Think about placement: near intersections, driveways, lawns, or event entrances.

• Use H-stakes or metal frames for stability; no one sees a sign face-down in the grass

Pro tip: Place your signs where people naturally pause:  stop signs, sidewalks, and building entrances.

Need Help Designing Your Custom Lawn Signs?

At Hatteras, we know how to make signs that pop. Whether you need help laying out the design or want a second set of eyes on your artwork, we’re happy to help. Using a reputable printing company is important if you want custom lawn signs that look great and last.

When you buy online, you can’t always be sure of the materials or print quality, but at Hatteras, you can stop by our location to see samples and materials in person. We offer excellent pricing with no surprises, and our team is here to make the process easy from start to finish. Contact us today at www.4hatteras.com.