Banners are part of just about any pop-up or brick-and-mortar business. They do the same things signs do, except they’re more flexible, lightweight and very easy to put up and take down. As a small business owner, knowing how to hang a banner is important because you’re probably going to find yourself hanging a banner pretty frequently. In this blog post, we’re going to walk you through a few different ways to hang a banner.
- Choosing the right location for your banner is essential, as it determines how it will be hung and how visible it will be.
- Match your hanging method to the location—options include zip ties for fences, ropes for ceilings and adhesives for windows or walls.
- Gather proper supplies based on where and how you plan to hang the banner, and always measure before installing.
- Prioritize safety by working with a partner and using ladders or tools properly during installation.
- Test for durability by securing all corners and checking the banner’s ability to withstand wind or other conditions.
How to hang a banner in 4 steps
1. Determine where to hang a banner
The first step in hanging a banner is determining where you’ll hang the banner. This is because where you hang the banner determines how you’ll hang the banner. It can also determine how you design your banner and the size of the banner. For example, grommets make it possible to hang a banner from a flagpole. For this kind of banner, you’ll need cords or zip ties to hang it. If the banner doesn’t have grommets, a flagpole isn’t even an option. Instead, you may hang it on a wall, over a fence or suspended between posts. These locations require other supplies, like hooks and adhesive.
Source: Design a custom banner for your pop-up booth with VistaPrint
Choose a location that’s not visually cluttered. The goal is for people to see the banner, so hang it where it can be a focal point. Indoors, this means familiarizing yourself with how to hang a banner on a wall. Outdoors, it may also mean hanging the banner on a wall, but hanging a banner outdoors often requires different methods—an outdoor banner needs more secure binding than an indoor banner, for example.
When hanging a banner, it’s best to use the lighting that’s already in place to illuminate it—this could be natural light from a skylight or window, or overhead or track lighting directed toward the banner. If your space doesn’t have this type of lighting, you may have to add lighting around the banner to ensure people can see it.
Banners are a lot like posters. When you’re making one, follow the same guidelines as you would when designing a poster.
Beyond sufficient lighting, hang the banner in a spot that complements its message. If the banner is advertising a promotion on jeans, hang it over the denim displays. If it’s advertising that your store is under new ownership, hang the banner close to the store’s entrance.
Source: Hang your custom banner up at a tradeshow booth
Once you’ve determined where you’ll hang your banner, determine how you’ll hang the banner. As we mentioned earlier, you might not have any options here—if you choose to hang your banner from the ceiling, grommets and rope (or chains) are likely your only choice. If you’re wondering how to hang banners with grommets, the answer nearly always involves threading a zip tie, rope or carabiner through the grommets. Ways to hang banners without grommets often involve adhesives, magnets, Velcro and, when possible, banner poles.
2. Acquire the right supplies
You may need one or more of the following supplies in order to hang a banner:
- Adhesive: Any type of sticky substance used to hang a banner, like mounting putty, is known as an adhesive. This is one of the best ways to hang a banner on the wall, but generally, it’s best used indoors.
- Rope: If you’re wondering how to hang banners outside, rope is an excellent choice because it’s durable and can be pulled tightly around fencing and signposts.
- Zip ties: When it comes to hanging banners with grommets, zip ties are an excellent choice. This is especially true when hanging banners on chain link fences, as zip ties can be pulled tight around the fence’s metal.
- Banner poles: Among the ways to hang banners, banner poles are some of the most secure. These are great indoors and outdoors, and if a banner has a pole pocket, they’re the way to go.
- Magnets: If you’re hanging a banner on a metal awning, refrigerator or other object, magnets can keep it secure.
- Velcro: If you’re hanging a banner that needs to be easily swapped out, Velcro is a good bet. Velcro can be used indoors or outdoors, and its greatest benefit is that banners can be easily removed with no mess.
- Bungee cords: Bungee cords are a great way to hang banners outdoors, as their flexibility means they’re less likely to break or come undone in high winds. Use these to hang banners on fences and between poles.
- Suction cups: One of the most common ways to hang banners on walls is with suction cups. If the banner has grommets, suction cups can be pushed through the grommets to hold the banner in place. Similarly, hooks can be attached to the suction cups.
- Hooks: Hooks can also be used on their own, either nailed to the wall or stuck with Command strips. These are a great choice for banners with grommets that need a sturdier attachment than suction cups can provide.
- Carabiners: Carabiners are similar to zip ties in that they’re a good choice for hanging banners with grommets on chain link fences. Other uses include hanging banners on flag poles and suspending them from ceilings.
Before you buy the supplies you’ll need, measure the area where you plan to hang the banner and, if applicable, how far the banner will be suspended from its anchors. In other words, you may want 2’ of space between a suspended banner and the ceiling. This means each rope suspending the banner needs to be slightly longer than 2’, as you’ll need to make knots at each end.
Source: VistaPrint can help you print a custom welcome banner for your business
In some cases, you don’t need to do much measuring. These cases include banners stuck onto windows with adhesives or suction cups, and banners hung over tables. With these, you just need to make sure the space is large enough for the banner.
3. Work safely
When you hang a banner, work safely. That means working with a teammate, having a spotter when you or someone else stands on a ladder, and never standing on an uneven surface when hanging a banner.
A custom blue banner hung up at a construction site
Opening a new shop? Learn more about how to use storefront signage to attract new business.
4. Secure the banner
Once your banner is in place, stress test it to ensure it’s secured properly. This means gently tugging on it and exposing it to wind if it’s hung outdoors. Think about all the kinds of stress the banner will likely face and determine how much it can take before it comes loose. If the banner can’t stand up to the amount of wind or other stress it will likely see on the average day, find a more secure way to fasten it. If this isn’t feasible, move the banner to a calmer location.
Roll-up banners are very easy to hang up, take down and move between places. They’re perfect for pop-ups!
Best places to hang a banner
On a fence
Fences are a great place to hang banners because they’re broad, flat surfaces. Here’s how to hang up banners on fences:
- For a chain link fence, zip ties through grommets make it very easy to pull a banner tight for display.
- For a wooden fence, you’re generally best off suspending the banner with rope.
Between two poles
Similar to hanging a banner from a fence, you can hang it between poles with rope or zip ties. Depending on the poles’ setup, you may also be able to feel a horizontal pole through the banner’s pole pocket (if it has one) so the banner hangs evenly.
Hanging from the ceiling
Indoor banners are often suspended from a ceiling or awning. Good options for this include suspending them with ropes or chains. To avoid damaging the ceiling, suspend the banner from hooks on suction cups or Command hooks.
On a flagpole
Banners play a similar role to flags, and they can be hung from flagpoles, too. If your banner has grommets, you can tie it to a flagpole for attention-grabbing outdoor signage.
Directly on a wall
Sometimes, the best place for a banner is directly on the wall. Pull the banner taut and attach it to the wall with hooks, Velcro or adhesive.
How to hang a banner FAQs
How do I hang a banner without damaging walls or surfaces?
To hang a banner without damaging the wall or another surface, Command hooks are a great choice. Other options include using magnets to hang banners on metal surfaces and draping banners over tables and counters.
What’s the best way to hang a banner outdoors securely?
To securely hang a banner outdoors, pull it taut and fasten its four corner grommets into place with zip ties or rope.
Can I hang a banner without grommets?
Yes, you can hang a banner without grommets. Depending on where you hang the banner, it can be done with magnets, suction cup hooks, Velcro or adhesive.
How high should I hang a banner for maximum visibility?
Hang your banner at about eye level for maximum visibility. Remember, this is an average, so shoot for between 5’-6’ from the ground.
What are the best materials to use when I want to hang a banner long-term?
A few of the best materials to use when hanging banners long-term are zip ties, rope and banner stands. Using a dedicated banner stand can keep the banner in the same position for a prolonged period.
