Architectural signage

Lobby signs and letters that ship ready to mount

Dimensional logos and letters for reception walls, lobbies, conference rooms and photo walls. Made in acrylic, metal, PVC or steel, laid out to scale for your wall, and shipped with the studs, pattern, tape or hardware it needs to go up.

5.0 on GoogleLocal studio since 2015
About the product

Your logo, off the page and on the wall

The lobby sign is the first thing visitors read at your front desk, so it should look like your brand, not a stock sign. Each sign is made to order by our manufacturing partners and ships ready to mount, so for most lobby pieces your maintenance staff or contractor can put it up without a sign installer.

  • Laid out to scale

    We size the logo against your actual wall before anything is cut.

  • The right material

    Acrylic, metal, PVC, printed panels or powder-coated steel.

  • Ready to mount

    Studs and a full-size pattern, tape for interior walls, or pads and hardware.

Options

Spec your lobby sign

Flat-cut acrylicFlat-cut metalCast metalFlat-cut PVCPrinted acrylic panelLaser-cut steelFlush mountStandoff mount

Typical turnaround: made to order; production time depends on the material, and we confirm a ship date with your proof.

Size it first with our letter height calculator, or send a photo of the wall and we'll lay it out for you.

Get a free quote
Specs

Materials, sizes & where they can go

Lobby sign materials: look, thickness, size range, and indoor or outdoor use
MaterialLook and finishThickness or depthSize rangeIndoor or outdoor
Flat-cut acrylicClear, pigmented, painted or printed face1/8 to 1.5 in3/4 to 95 inBoth (tape mount indoors only)
Flat-cut metalAluminum, stainless, bronze, brass or copper; brushed, painted, polished, or anodized aluminum1/8 to 1 in (aluminum)1/2 to 46 in (aluminum)Both
Cast metalPoured aluminum or bronze; flat, round or prismatic faceUp to 3 in deep4 to 64 inBoth
Flat-cut PVCPainted: standard, custom or metallic colors1/4 to 1.5 in2 to 95 inInterior only
Formed plasticVacuum-formed, lightweight, UV-resistant; pigmented, painted or polished chrome3/4 to 2.75 in (flat face)6 to 36 in standard, 4 to 48 in customBoth
LaminatedThin metal, foil or acrylic face on an acrylic or foam core1/8 to 1.5 in (metal on acrylic), 1/2 to 3 in (on foam)3 to 45 in (metal on acrylic), 4 to 46 in (on foam)Interior only
Printed acrylic panelFull-color UV print, optional raised layers and texture1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 or 3/4 in2 × 2 in to 46 × 95 inBoth
Laser-cut steelFiber-laser cut, powder coated black, white, bronze or gold16 gaugeVarious sizesBoth (weather resistant)

Sizes are letter heights (panel size for printed panels and laser-cut steel); larger flat-cut acrylic and metal pieces can be made in sections. About 45 standard paint colors are offered, plus custom color matching.

Mounting

Flush, standoff, tape or pads

Mounting styles for dimensional letters and panels
MountLook on the wallWorks withHow it goes up
Flush studTight to the wall, no hardware showingFlat-cut metal, flat-cut acrylic 1/4 in and thicker, PVC, laminated and cast lettersThreaded studs on the back go into holes drilled from the pattern
Stud with spacersLetters float off the wall and cast a shadow lineFlat-cut metal and acrylicSpacer sleeves slide over the studs to hold the gap
Double-face tapeTight to the wall, no holesFlat-cut acrylic, PVC, laminated letters and printed panelsInterior walls only, placed with a stencil guide
Pad mountA standoff on plastic padsFormed plastic letters up to 24 in tallPads are set with silicone or construction adhesive

The pattern does the hard part. A full-size pattern is available for stud-mounted letters. For flat-cut metal 1/4 in and thicker and flat-cut acrylic 3/8 in and thicker, it traces every letter and marks the exact hole locations on a weather-resistant sheet. Other stud-mounted letters use a paper drill pattern, and tape letters use a stencil. Flat-cut PVC includes its mounting hardware and pattern.

Match the adhesive to the weight. Small, light pieces can go up with silicone; heavier letters generally need construction-grade adhesive or epoxy. The weak point of most installs is the mounting method and adhesive, not the hardware. For a large or heavy piece, have an architect or structural engineer (or a contractor working from their plan) check the wall and the mounting method before it goes up.

How to choose

Picking size, thickness & finish

Start with the wall and the doorway

Measure the wall width for the layout, and the distance from the front door to where the sign will hang. Put that distance into our letter height calculator for a starting size, or check a size you like with the viewing distance calculator.

Fonts, thin strokes and small type

Flat-cut letters come in 40 standard fonts, and custom fonts are supported. Some materials set a minimum stroke width, especially for stud and tape mounting. For PVC it is 0.188 in with a plain back and 0.25 in with tape or studs, and we check every stroke against the material and mount on your proof. PVC letters also start at 2 in tall, or 3 in once the stock is 3/4 in or thicker. Hairline strokes or a small tagline? We can enlarge the mark or move it onto a printed acrylic panel.

Painted, printed or natural metal

Paint can be matched to a PMS number or a paint brand's color. Full-color printing runs in CMYK, so for an exact PMS match, paint is the safer choice. Metal can also stay metal: brushed or polished, or anodized aluminum in clear, champagne, gold, light, medium or dark bronze, or black. Polished and anodized letters require studs.

One we made

A front-desk logo, 39 in, cut from 1/4 in aluminum with painted edges. At that thickness, aluminum letters are drilled and tapped for studs and qualify for the full-size tracing pattern.

How ordering works

From logo file to your wall

  • 1. Send the logo and the wall

    A vector logo if you have one and a photo of the wall with a tape measure in it. No vector file? We can redraw it.

  • 2. Mockup and quote

    We lay the sign out to scale on your wall, recommend a material and mount, and quote the sizes you want to compare.

  • 3. Proof, then production

    You approve a proof with final dimensions, colors and mounting, and we confirm the ship date with it.

  • 4. Ready to mount

    It ships to you, or we hand-deliver it, with the studs and pattern, tape or hardware its mount needs. Your team or contractor puts it up.

We make lobby signs for offices, clinics, gyms and suites across Buffalo, Monticello, St. Michael, Rogers, Maple Grove and the rest of Wright County and the West Metro. In a leased suite, check your lease or ask your landlord before anything goes on the wall.

Why Shift

Why businesses choose Shift

  • Design first

    Every order starts with professional design, not a template.

  • Proof before production

    You approve dimensions, colors and mounting before anything is cut.

  • One point of contact

    Design through delivery, handled by one local studio.

  • Local & personal

    A real person in Buffalo, MN who knows your brand.

FAQ

Lobby sign FAQ

How much does a lobby sign cost?

Letter height, thickness and font drive the price, on top of the material you pick. We don't publish prices because every logo and wall is different. Send your logo and the wall width and we'll quote two or three sizes side by side, free.

Should we pick acrylic or metal?

Both work indoors and out. Acrylic can be clear, pigmented, painted or printed in full color. Metal gives you a brushed, polished or painted face, and aluminum can also be anodized. If your logo has gradients or a photo, consider a printed acrylic panel instead of cut letters.

Should the letters sit flush or stand off the wall?

Flush letters sit tight to the wall on hidden studs or tape. Standoff letters ride on studs with spacer sleeves, so they float off the wall and cast a shadow line. Flush studs on acrylic need letters at least 1/4 in thick.

Do you install lobby signs, or can we mount one ourselves?

No, we don't install permanent building signs. These are made to go up without a sign installer. Depending on the material, your sign ships with threaded studs and a mounting pattern, with double-face tape and a stencil for interior walls, or with pads or mounting hardware, so you, your maintenance staff or your contractor can mount it. Send us a photo of the wall and we'll talk through the right mount before you order.

Can the same letters go outside?

Some can. Flat-cut PVC and laminated letters are interior only, and tape is an interior mount; the other materials on this page work indoors and out. For letters on the outside of a building, check with your city about a sign permit first. We do not file sign permits.

Can the letters light up?

No. The letters and panels on this page are non-illuminated, so there is no wiring to run and no electrician needed. For depth without lighting, standoff letters cast a shadow line on the wall.

How long does a lobby sign take?

Lobby signs are made to order; production time depends on the material, and we confirm a ship date with your proof. If you're working toward an opening or a move-in date, tell us when you ask for a quote.

Real customers

What customers say

They took the time to truly understand our vision and mission in the Veteran/Military community and transformed it into an amazing visual identity that perfectly reflects who LockLeed International is. Every detail from the logo, website, and wall murals in the office felt intentional and professional. … In a nutshell.... Shift Design gets it!

John Henka LockLeed International

I have had the opportunity to work with Luke for a number of years and can confidently say he is second to none. He takes the time to actually get to know his customers so he can deliver custom branding solutions. His prompt service, reasonable solutions, and thoughtful creativity have elevated our brand.

M H

Ready to order?

Tell us what you need and we'll put together a custom quote. No cost, no commitment.