Choosing the right types of posters for your business can be tricky—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. The truth is, different posters can be categorized in various ways, based on size, design, material or purpose. And often, the same poster can fall into multiple categories.
In this article, we’ll explore the most popular ways to classify styles of posters, helping you easily figure out which one best fits your needs.
- Based on poster size, it’s possible to differentiate between small, medium and large posters.
- Depending on the layout of your poster, you can choose between portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) styles to fit your space.
- The main types of poster designs are minimalist, bold and colorful, vintage and photographic.
- Material-wise, the different types of posters are paper and vinyl, with paper being cost-effective for short-term use and vinyl offering durability for outdoor displays.
- Depending on the purpose of the business poster, you can choose from promotional, event, informational or inspirational styles to best communicate your message.
Different types of posters based on size
Different types of posters based on their size
Size is a key factor in determining how a poster works for your business. Whether you need something compact or a show-stopping giant, the size of your poster plays a huge role in how it grabs attention and fits into a space. Let’s explore the different types of posters based on poster sizes and how each one serves a unique purpose for your marketing strategy.
Small posters
A small promotional poster
Compact signage can pack a serious punch when used right. Sizes like A5 (5.8” x 8.3”), A4 (8.3” x 11.7”) and A3 (11” x 17”) are perfect for spaces where you need a quick, targeted visual. Their smaller size makes them easy to place anywhere, and you can even group a few to amplify your message.
Best use cases for small posters:
- In-store promotions, smaller events or specific product advertisements
- Informational posters for community events placed on notice boards
- Point-of-purchase displays or window ads
- Promotional inserts inside retail packages or product bags
Since you’re working with limited space, focus on simplicity. Use bold design elements to grab attention and limit the copy to the essentials. A short, impactful message with a clear CTA like “50% Off Today!” or “Join Us at [Event Name]!” is all you need.
| Pros of small posters | Limitations of small posters |
| • Easy to place and move around • Cost-effective • More flexible for smaller spaces • Can be easily grouped with other signage | • Limited space for messaging • Less noticeable in high-traffic areas compared to larger posters |
Medium posters
Medium posters are your sweet spot when you need something bigger than small posters but not quite as overwhelming as large ones. With sizes like A2 (18” x 24”), they strike a great balance between space and visibility, making them perfect for catching attention without dominating the entire area.
Best use cases for medium posters:
- Event posters in shopping malls or community centers
- Retail window displays that need to stand out
- Trade show or convention advertisements
- Promotions for seasonal sales or limited-time offers in stores
- Focal point displays for special in-store collections or product launches
Sticky medium-sized poster
| Pros of medium posters | Limitations of medium posters |
| • Great visibility • More design flexibility • Versatile placement options • Balance of cost and impact | • Require careful placement • Not as attention-grabbing as larger posters • Limited space compared to large posters |
Large posters
Large posters, like A1 (24” x 36”) and bigger, are perfect for grabbing attention in high-traffic areas. These posters offer plenty of space for bold visuals and detailed messaging, making them ideal for outdoor advertising or large in-store displays.
Large posters in a poke shop
The size of this type of poster makes it ideal for filling walls, promoting events or showcasing products, especially in busy spots like malls or trade shows.
Best use cases for large posters:
- Outdoor billboards and street signage
- Event promotions or concert advertisements
- In-store branding and window displays
- Large format trade show banners
- Eye-catching signage for public spaces or malls
| Pros of large posters | Limitations of large posters |
| • High visibility • Ample space for design • Impactful in-store | • Higher production cost • Specialized placement, as this type of poster requires more space |
Different types of posters based on poster layout
Poster layout is crucial in shaping the styles of posters and how your message fits the space. Whether you opt for portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal), the orientation plays a major role in the overall impact.
Portrait type of poster (vertical layout)
Vertical layout poster
A portrait-oriented poster has a taller height than width, meaning it stands upright like a rectangle. This layout is perfect for presenting information in a vertical format, such as text, lists or images that are better suited for a taller design.
Best use cases for portrait posters:
- Indoor displays, event promotions and information boards
- Narrow spaces or areas where height is key
| Pros of portrait posters | Limitations of portrait posters |
| • Works for environments with limited horizontal space • Ideal for text-heavy poster designs • Great for images that have a vertical orientation | • Less impactful in wide-open spaces compared to landscape layouts |
Landscape type of poster (horizontal layout)
Horizontal layout poster
As the name suggests, a landscape-oriented poster is the polar opposite of its vertical counterpart—wider than it is tall. These standard types of posters are perfect for when you’ve got a big, bold message or eye-catching visuals that need room to breathe.
Best use cases for landscape posters:
- Advertising banners
- Retail displays
- Large outdoor signage
- Wide spaces like long walls or outdoor billboards
| Pros of landscape posters | Limitations of landscape posters |
| • Works well for visual-heavy designs • Ideal for wide-format imagery • Stands out in open spaces | • Can be harder to place in vertical spaces, limiting flexibility |
Different types of posters based on design style
The design style of a poster is key to its effectiveness, as it sets the tone and aligns with a business’s brand image. Whether you’re using traditional posters or types of digital posters, the right design style is crucial in ensuring your message resonates with your audience. This makes design an essential factor when categorizing types of posters.
In this section, we’re going to look at the most popular types of posters design. But the list won’t be exhaustive; with new graphic design trends emerging every year, the styles of posters continue to evolve.
Minimalist styles of posters
Minimalist posters focus on simplicity and elegance, with clean lines, ample white space and a small amount of text or imagery.
Minimalist poster design
This design style typically features one key element—whether it’s a product, logo or message—set against a neutral or muted color palette. This type of poster is perfect for high-end brands or exclusive events. Minimalist posters create a sleek and sophisticated look that speaks volumes without overwhelming the viewer.
| Pros of minimalistic posters | Limitations of minimalistic posters |
| • Clean and professional look • Stylish, often trendy appearance • Highly effective at drawing attention to key information | • Risk of being too simple, potentially lacking enough detail • May not convey enough information in some cases |
Bold and colorful posters
Bold and colorful posters take the opposite approach, using vibrant colors and strong contrasts to grab attention.
Bold and bright poster style
These posters often feature oversized text and dynamic elements, making them ideal for promotions, events or businesses that want to stand out and create a buzz. The use of bright hues and eye-catching graphics instantly conveys energy and excitement, making them perfect for businesses looking to make a statement.
| Pros of bold and colorful posters | Limitations of bold and colorful posters |
| • Grabs immediate attention • Conveys energy and excitement | • May feel chaotic or cluttered without careful design • Bright colors are more difficult to print |
Check out our guide to learn how to design a poster like a pro, so that your signs look polished, not cluttered.
Vintage or retro posters
Vintage poster style
Vintage or retro posters tap into the power of nostalgia, often featuring old-school typography, faded colors and imagery from past eras. These posters evoke a specific time period, making them ideal for businesses looking to create a connection with an audience that appreciates the charm of yesteryear. Whether it’s a retro restaurant or a vintage-inspired fashion brand, this style adds personality and emotional depth to the message.
| Pros of vintage-looking posters | Limitations of vintage-looking posters |
| • Unique, emotionally engaging for certain audiences • Strong brand storytelling potential, creating a sense of timelessness | • Could alienate those who don’t connect with vintage aesthetics • Only work well for brands with a certain brand identity |
Photographic styles of posters
Finally, we have photographic posters, which bring an entirely different approach by focusing on imagery to tell the story.
Photographic poster style
Photographic posters rely on high-quality images to captivate the audience, whether it’s a stunning product shot, a scenic landscape or a fashion campaign. This style uses full-bleed images that cover the entire poster, with minimal text to let the visuals do the talking.
By focusing on high-quality, dynamic imagery, photographic posters create an immersive experience, often appealing to emotionally driven consumers.
| Pros of photographic posters | Limitations of photographic posters |
| • Memorable, high-quality imagery makes the poster stand out • Appeals to emotionally-driven consumers, enhancing the visual impact | • Requires professional-quality images to avoid looking amateurish • Can be costly if you need high-end photography |
Different types of posters based on material
We’ve already established that the design style of a poster plays a crucial role in its effectiveness. But no matter how striking your design is, if the material it’s printed on doesn’t match the intended look and feel, you won’t achieve the impact you’re aiming for. The type of poster material you choose can make all the difference in durability, quality and overall impression. (In all fairness, the same applies to all types of signs, not just posters!)
Because of this, it’s possible to differentiate between poster types based on the material they use.
Paper posters
Paper posters on a wall
Paper posters are the go-to choice for many businesses because they’re affordable and versatile. Whether you’re promoting a short-term offer or running an event, paper posters offer a budget-friendly solution (especially when you need a high volume of posters) that can still deliver great results. They also come in a variety of finishes—like matte, gloss or satin—allowing you to tailor the look to your brand.
Matte paper poster
Glossy paper poster
| Pros of paper posters | Limitations of paper posters |
| • Cost-effective and easy to print in bulk. • Versatile with various finishes to suit your design needs | • Easily damaged by moisture, sunlight or rough handling • Not suitable for long-term outdoor use |
Vinyl posters
Vinyl poster
Vinyl posters are built to withstand the elements. Made from durable, flexible material, they’re ideal for outdoor advertising or any situation requiring long-lasting posters in harsh conditions. Weather-resistant vinyl can endure moisture, sunlight and wind without deteriorating, making it particularly perfect for billboards and trade show displays.
| Pros of vinyl posters | Limitations of vinyl posters |
| • Durable and weather-resistant • Excellent for long-term use outdoors or in high-traffic areas • Great color reproduction | • Higher production cost than paper posters |
Different types of posters based on their purpose
In the previous sections, we’ve looked at the physical characteristics of posters—like their design style, material, and layout. But there’s another important way to categorize types of posters: by their purpose.
Understanding the specific goal of your poster—whether it’s to inform, promote or entertain—will help guide your design and material choices. This approach helps determine not only the styles of posters but also how the different types of posters will function in your marketing strategy.
Let’s look at the most popular types of posters based on their purpose.
Promotional posters
Promotional poster
Promotional posters are designed to capture attention and inspire action. They focus on communicating an offer, sale or product in a bold, direct way, often using vibrant colors and large typography to make an immediate impact. The goal is to quickly convey a message that compels the viewer to act—whether it’s making a purchase, signing up or visiting a website.
One downside of promotional posters is their short lifespan. Since these print marketing materials typically highlight limited-time offers, they quickly become outdated and often need to be updated and reprinted.
Event posters
Event poster design by bikiviki via 99designs by Vista
A separate type of promotional posters, event posters are designed to provide essential details about an upcoming event, like the name, date, time and location.
The design reflects the event’s tone—whether formal, casual or festive—and often includes imagery that ties into the theme. To ensure clarity, this type of poster typically features bold fonts, clear headings and simple layouts.
Place event posters in high-traffic local spots like cafes or community centers to ensure they reach your target audience effectively.
Informational posters
Informational posters are designed to share important details clearly and concisely. While typically used for safety instructions, how-to guides or wayfinding, businesses can easily adapt this style to suit their needs.
For example, you can use informational posters to share details about your product lines, convey your brand mission or highlight key company values.
Informational poster
These posters are usually text-heavy, with straightforward designs that prioritize legibility, while graphics, if used, complement the message.
Inspirational posters
Inspirational posters are designed to motivate and uplift. They often feature powerful quotes, soothing imagery or messages that encourage positive thinking and action. The design is minimal, with the message taking center stage.
Inspirational poster
And since we’ve already touched on inspirational posters: While not a separate category (any type of poster can technically do this), there are decorative posters, too. Their main job is to simply look pretty and brighten up whatever space they’re in.
Decorative poster
How to choose the right type of poster for your business
Choosing the right type of poster for your business comes down to a few key factors.
First, think about the purpose of the poster—are you promoting a sale, informing customers or adding some flair to your space?
Next, consider your target audience—the styles of posters that work for a trendy, youthful crowd might differ from those for a corporate or luxury market.
Lastly, take into account the location where the poster will be displayed. Will it be out in the wild, or inside a store? This impacts the material and design choices.
Here’s a short list of questions to help you choose the right type of poster for your business:
- What’s the purpose of the poster? Is it to inform, promote or decorate?
- Who’s the target audience? What style will resonate with them (e.g., bold, minimalist, vintage)?
- Where will the poster be placed? Will it be inside, outside or in a high-traffic area?
- How long do I need the poster to last? Should I go for a durable material like vinyl or a cost-effective paper poster?
- What type of poster design suits the space and my brand image? Do I need a large digital poster or a small print piece?
By considering these, you can confidently choose from the different types of posters and designs that best fit your needs, ensuring your message stands out and resonates with your audience.
Mix and match different types of posters for maximum impact
As we’ve explored, there are plenty of ways to categorize different types of posters, whether based on size, design style, material or purpose. And keep in mind, the same poster can fit into multiple categories. For example, a large vinyl poster can also be a promotional one, all depending on how you tailor its design and use.
The key takeaway is that the best posters often combine various elements to make the biggest impact. Whether you need something bold, elegant or informative, the right mix of poster characteristics can elevate your marketing efforts.
Types of posters FAQs
What are the most common types of posters used by businesses?
The most common types of posters used by businesses are promotional posters, event posters, informational posters and inspirational posters. Each type serves a specific purpose, from advertising sales or events to educating or motivating customers.
What sizes are standard for business posters?
The standard sizes for business posters are A4 (8.3” x 11.7”), A3 (11” x 17”) and A2 (18” x 24”) for smaller displays, with A1 (24” x 36”) and larger formats used for high-visibility areas.
How do I choose the right type of poster for my business needs?
To choose the right type of poster, consider your purpose (promotion, event, information), target audience, location and material. Ask questions like: What message do I want to convey? Where will it be displayed? What impact do I want to achieve?
Which materials are best for durable business posters?
For durability, vinyl posters are the best choice. They are weather-resistant and ideal for outdoor use or high-traffic areas. For indoor use, high-quality paper with a gloss or satin finish works well, but for long-term use, laminated or canvas posters provide additional durability.
