As an agency that specializes in Wild Posting® and Wild Posters®, we know just about everything there is to know about standard poster sizes and poster dimensions. And we want to share that with you so you can make the best choices for your campaigns. For a deeper dive into strategy, see our guide to effective outdoor advertising.

Finding the right poster size is critical to the success of a campaign. It contributes to the creative aspect as well as practical matters of how to carry out the Wild Posting®. Understanding that the standard sizes and dimensions can vary by country will also make a campaign go smoother — there’s nothing more frustrating than realizing you and an international counterpart are talking about two different sizes. For international projects, check our 10 tips for international Wild Posting® campaigns.

The Basics: Poster Sizes 101

You don’t want to constantly be referencing exact sizing in a campaign. Instead, in the United States, we use three main categories of poster:

• Small — up to 11 inches x 17 inches
• Medium — 16 inches by 20 inches up to 18 inches x 24 inches
• Large — 24 inches x 36 inches up to 40 inches x 60 inches

We use all these sizes in our Wild Posting® campaigns, but large is the most popular size. Learn how these compare with other formats in our Wild Posting® vs. outdoor advertising comparison.

Why Does Poster Size Matter in a Wild Posting® Campaign?

Size matters in Wild Posting® for many reasons.

• Visibility: You want the posters to be big enough that passersby can see them easily. More importantly, you want them to be able to read whatever you have on the poster from far away.
• Creativity: In Wild Posting®, what draws the eye wins the day. Utilizing different sizes of posters can set your campaign apart. For instance, you could use a bunch of different-colored small posters to create an image of a flower or star, or you could stick to the more traditional Wild Posting® format of putting a bunch of similar posters in one place.
• Cost: As you might imagine, the bigger the poster, the more expensive it usually is to produce. Using a smaller poster could cut campaign costs.
• Environment: Wild Posting® is not about fitting in. It’s about making noise, and using a different size poster than other people can help your brand or product stand out.

For more on cost comparisons, see our bus bench advertising guide and billboard advertising services.

Everything You Need to Know About Small Posters

Small posters measure from the size of a regular sheet of paper to slightly bigger than a legal-sized piece. While we use them less than bigger sizes in our campaigns, they can be effective when you want to plaster an area entirely with papers. It takes less wheatpaste to put them up and less ink to print them, making them cost-effective. We love them for checkerboard patterns or creating a unique shape using posters.

Small Poster Sizes

• 8.5 inches x 11 inches
• 11 inches x 17 inches
• 12 inches x 18 inches

Everything You Need to Know About Medium Posters

We use medium posters more frequently than small posters in our Wild Posting® campaigns. They tend to be sturdy, thanks to the bigger size, and can cost a bit more. People walking past can see these posters better than small ones and read the type on them. Learn more about why medium posters work well in effective outdoor advertising campaigns.

Medium Poster Sizes

• 16 inches x 20 inches
• 18 inches x 24 inches

Everything You Need to Know About Large Posters

The industry standard for Wild Posting® posters is 24 inches x 36 inches. Sometimes we go even bigger, like with a jumbo-sized 36 inches x 72 inches, but you have to pick and choose when to make that type of impact, or it won’t remain effective. For most campaigns, the standard size works perfectly, giving enough room for a large image and moderate-sized type people can read from far away.

Large Poster Sizes

• 24 inches x 36 inches
• 27 inches x 39 inches
• 27 inches x 40 inches
• 40 inches x 60 inches
• 36 inches x 72 inches

U.S. Standard Poster Dimensions and Sizes

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International Standard Poster Dimensions and Sizes

We carry out Wild Posting® campaigns all over the world. Often, a campaign will launch in several countries at the same time using the same creative, so we need to know what the U.S. equivalent to an Architectural D poster is. Understanding foreign sizes and dimensions can also cut out a lot of headaches when dealing with the vendor. For more international context, read our international Wild Posting® tips. ... (tables and regional sections unchanged, but you could cross-link each city to coverage map pages as you’ve started) ...

Printing Standard Posters

In addition to understanding standard poster sizes and poster dimensions, it helps to know some basics about paper and printing before you start your campaign. The size of your poster can influence cost and other considerations when choosing paper weights and printing methods.

What About Paper Weight?

The higher the paper weight, the better the quality of the paper. While Wild Posting® posters don’t need to last forever, they must be somewhat durable because you want the campaign to last long enough for people to see it.

Standard Poster Sizes and Dimensions FAQs

Still have questions about standard poster sizes and dimensions? Here are a few answers.

Start a Wild Posting® Campaign Using Standard Poster Sizes and Dimensions

Wild Posting® is one of the most creative, efficient and fun ways to advertise. No matter what size poster you need, we can help you with your next campaign. Contact us now to get started!