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Custom Directory Signs
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Product description
Custom Directory Signs on 3/16 in Foamcore. Full CMYK UV print. Lists tenants, suites, or departments. Lobby-ready in 1 to…Custom Directory Signs on 3/16 in Foamcore. Full CMYK UV print. Lists tenants, suites, or departments. Lobby-ready in 1 to 2 business days. Free proof included.
Six steps from click to delivered booth
How to orderStep 1
Select your product
Step 2
Choose size, options and delivery
Step 3
Checkout and pay
Step 4
Upload artwork or request design help
Step 5
Approve your email proof
Step 6
We print and ship to your door
Specifications
Custom Directory Signs are lobby-mounted listing boards printed on 3/16 in white Foamcore using direct UV printing in full CMYK color. They list every tenant, suite, or department in one organized display. Best for multi-tenant office buildings, medical campuses, and any facility where visitors need to find a specific room at the entrance.
- Material
- 3/16 in white Foamcore. A polystyrene foam core bonded between two smooth bright white paper faces, rigid and flat for wall mounting.
- Print Method
- Direct UV print. Ink bonds to the Foamcore surface and cures instantly, resisting scratching and smearing under normal lobby conditions.
- Color Output
- Full CMYK. Reproduces logos, color-coded labels, and bold directory text accurately across the full panel.
- Finishing
- Clean-cut edges, ready to frame or mount. No lamination applied. The UV-cured surface is the finished face.
- Size Range
- Standard panels typically run 18x24 in to 24x36 in. Custom dimensions available to fit your frame or mounting location.
- Indoor/Outdoor Rating
- Indoor use only. Direct sun and moisture degrade the paper faces and cause warping over time.
- Single/Double-Sided
- Single-sided standard for wall-mounted directories. Double-sided available for freestanding or frame-mounted panels visible from both sides.
- Weight
- Roughly 1 to 2 lbs for a 24x36 in panel. Mounts easily with adhesive strips, standoffs, or a standard frame without heavy wall anchors.
Features
Key highlights
- Direct UV Print on 3/16 in White Foamcore
- Full CMYK Color Output for Crisp, Readable Listings
- Updatable Panel Format for Tenant Changes
Direct UV Print on 3/16 in White Foamcore
Foamcore runs a polystyrene foam core at 3/16 in thick, bonded between two smooth, bright white faces. That construction gives you a rigid, lightweight panel that mounts flat against any lobby wall without sagging or bowing. At A2Z Printing Hub, direct UV printing bonds to the Foamcore face with ink cured instantly by UV light. The cured surface resists scratching and smearing better than standard inkjet output on paper-faced boards.
Full CMYK Color Output for Crisp, Readable Listings
CMYK direct UV printing uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. That 4-color process reproduces logos, color-coded department labels, and bold directory text accurately across the full panel. Every listing reads clearly from 10 to 15 ft away. Sharp text at that distance means visitors locate the right suite without stepping closer or squinting. Color accuracy is covered fully in Get Your Artwork Right.
Updatable Panel Format for Tenant Changes
Directory layouts built with removable name strips or slide-in panels let you swap a single tenant listing without reprinting the entire board. That matters in multi-tenant buildings where 3 or more suites turn over in a year. One new strip replaces one outdated name. No full reprint. No wasted panels. Updateability gets full treatment in How to Choose.
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Ideal for
Multi-tenant office buildings where visitors need to locate a specific suite number before heading to the elevator.
Medical campuses listing 10 or more departments or physician offices on one board at the main entrance.
Corporate headquarters with departments across several floors, where a single lobby directory routes every visitor correctly.
Church and school campuses listing every ministry, classroom wing, or administrative office by room number at the main entrance.
Hotel and hospitality properties listing conference rooms, ballrooms, and amenity areas so guests navigate without stopping at the front desk.
Warehouse and industrial facilities where a directory at the guard booth lists every zone or dock by bay number.
Property managers outfitting a newly leased building with a full lobby directory before the first tenants move in.
Retail strip centers where a directory near the parking entrance lists every tenant by suite number.
Not the best fit for
Vehicle branding or any sign that moves with a car. Magnetic Signs handle removable vehicle displays without adhesive and without damaging the surface.
Temporary outdoor event signage that needs to survive rain or direct sun for weeks. Custom Banners on PVC Flex vinyl are rated for outdoor short-term use.
Ground-mounted entrance identification at a property driveway. Custom Monument Signs are built for freestanding outdoor installation at property entrances.
How to choose
Use these buying points to choose the right Custom Directory Signs configuration.
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Listing Count Determines Panel Size
Count every tenant, suite, or department on your current roster, then add roughly 20 percent for future additions. Buildings with 5 to 15 listings fit on an 18x24 in panel with text set at 1 in tall, which reads clearly from 10 ft at the lobby entrance. Buildings with 16 or more listings need a 24x36 in panel or a two-panel layout to keep individual listing text above 0.75 in. Crowding more than 20 entries onto an 18x24 in board forces text below readable size, and visitors will step forward to squint rather than read from the door.
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Mounting Location Determines Panel and Frame Choice
A dedicated lobby frame or display case takes a 3/16 in Foamcore panel dropped straight in. Bare wall mounting works with adhesive strips rated for lightweight panels or small standoff hardware (metal spacers that hold the panel a short distance off the wall). A 24x36 in Foamcore board weighs roughly 1 to 2 lbs, so no heavy anchors needed. Measure your wall opening before ordering so the panel fits without field trimming.
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Tenant Turnover Rate Determines Fixed or Updatable Layout
Here's the thing: this is the decision most property managers overlook. Buildings with stable long-term tenants can use a fixed printed layout and reprint the full board when a suite changes. Buildings with 3 or more tenant changes per year benefit from a slide-in strip format, where individual name panels swap out without reprinting the entire board. Tell us your annual turnover rate at order time and we'll set up the column layout to match.
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Brand Consistency Determines Whether You Order Alone or as a System
A single directory ordered on its own works fine for a small building with one entrance. But if you're outfitting a full property, order the directory alongside Custom Directional Arrow Signs and Custom Door Signs in one job. One design file keeps fonts, colors, and logo placement consistent across every sign from lobby to door. Multi-sign orders of 10 or more qualify for volume pricing.
Pair it with
Complete the Lobby Wayfinding System
Your directory tells visitors which suite to find. But it cannot tell them which hallway to take or confirm they've reached the right door. Custom Directional Arrow Signs route visitors from the lobby to the correct corridor or elevator. Custom Door Signs confirm the suite number at each office entrance. These three products cover the full path from building entry to seated appointment.
Step Up the Material for High-Traffic Lobbies
Foamcore suits most lobbies well. That said, buildings with heavy daily foot traffic or frequent contact near the panel may want a harder face. Acrylic Signs (1/4 in clear plexiglass with standoff mounts) give the same directory layout a rigid, floating-wall look that holds up to contact. Custom Wall Signs in aluminum work for directories where the panel takes bumps from carts or equipment.
Brand the Full Reception Area
A lobby directory handles the listing board. Custom Lobby Signs brand the reception wall above or beside it, so visitors see your building identity the moment they walk in. These two signs work as a visual pair at roughly the same eye level and mounting zone.
Outfit the Entire Property in One Order
Property managers outfitting a full building can order every sign type together. Custom Office Signs label each suite door. Custom Building Signs handle exterior identification so visitors find the right address before they reach your lobby directory. Ordering together keeps fonts, colors, and logo placement consistent across the whole property.
FAQs
What Happens When a Tenant Moves Out?
You have two options. A fixed printed layout means you reorder the full panel when a suite turns over, which works well for buildings with 2 or fewer changes per year. A slide-in strip format lets you swap a single name panel without reprinting the entire board, which saves both time and cost in buildings with frequent turnover. Tell us your expected turnover rate when you order and we'll set up the layout accordingly.
Will the Text Stay Sharp After Months on a Lobby Wall?
Direct UV printing cures ink onto the Foamcore surface with UV light, and the cured layer resists scratching and smearing better than standard inkjet output on paper-faced boards. Under normal indoor conditions, with no direct sunlight through a lobby window, text stays crisp and readable without any lamination on top. Keep the panel away from prolonged sun exposure and the UV-cured surface holds its appearance for the life of the board.
How Many Tenant Listings Fit on One Panel?
An 18x24 in panel holds roughly 12 to 18 listings comfortably at 0.75 in text height. A 24x36 in panel handles 20 to 30 listings at the same size, or up to 35 entries if you tighten column spacing slightly. Buildings with more listings than a single panel can carry at readable size can use a two-panel layout that mounts side by side in a shared frame.
Can I See a Proof Before You Print?
Yes. Every order includes a free digital proof showing your exact listing layout, column spacing, font size, and color output before production starts. We do not begin printing until you approve the proof. If we spot a layout issue or a resolution problem in your file, we contact you first.
Is 3/16 in Foamcore Sturdy Enough to Mount Without a Frame?
For most lobby walls, yes. A 24x36 in Foamcore panel weighs roughly 1 to 2 lbs, so adhesive strips rated for lightweight panels hold it flat without drilling. That said, high-traffic lobbies where the sign may get bumped or touched benefit from standoff hardware, which anchors the panel more securely and gives a cleaner wall appearance.
Get your artwork right
We accept
PDF
PNG
JPG
AI
- Accepted file formats
- PDF, PNG, JPG, AI. Vector files (AI or PDF with embedded fonts) are best for logos because they scale to any panel size without losing edge sharpness.
- Resolution
- 150 DPI minimum, 300 DPI recommended. At 300 DPI, directory text stays crisp at 10 to 15 ft viewing distance. Files below 150 DPI produce soft edges that read poorly from across a lobby.
- Bleed
- 0.25 in on all sides. This extra margin prevents white edges from appearing if the cut shifts slightly.
- Safe zone
- Keep all listing text and logos at least 0.5 in from the trim edge so nothing gets clipped during finishing.
- Color mode
- Submit files in CMYK, not RGB. CMYK matches our direct UV print process, so the colors you see in your layout file are the colors that come out on the panel. RGB files convert on our end and can shift slightly.
- Minimum text height
- 0.75 in for 10 ft viewing distance, 1 in or taller for 15 ft. Directory listings set below 0.75 in become difficult to read from the lobby entrance.
Need help building a multi-listing grid with consistent column spacing? Our free online design tool includes directory layout templates. A professional design service is available if you'd rather hand the layout off entirely. Upload your sign artwork and our team sends you a free digital proof showing the exact print layout, mounting holes, and corner style within 24 hours.
Shipping and delivery
How to Order
- Pick your panel size and layout format. Choose a fixed printed directory or a slide-in strip format for buildings with frequent tenant changes. Enter custom dimensions or select a standard size like 18x24 in or 24x36 in.
- Upload your design file or use our free online tool to build your directory layout. List every tenant name, suite number, and floor in the order you want them to appear. Specify single or double-sided printing and any mounting hardware needed.
- Approve your free digital proof showing the exact listing layout, column spacing, font size, and color. Once you approve, production starts within 1 business day. If anything looks off, we adjust at no charge before the job runs.
Production and Shipping Timeline
Standard Foamcore directory signs ship in 1 to 2 business days after proof approval. Shipping adds 2 to 5 business days depending on your location. Multi-sign property packages combining directories, directional arrows, and door signs together run 3 to 5 business days in production. Volume discounts apply automatically on orders of 10 or more signs.
Order before 12 PM EST and your signs go into production the same day. Bulk orders of 10 or more qualify for volume pricing.
Talk to us about your show dateOur promise
Nothing prints until you approve it.
You get a free digital proof first. If your order arrives damaged or off proof, we reprint it free. Checkout is secure and every order ships from the USA.
Reprint guaranteeDamaged or off-proof orders are reprinted at no costSee policy
Proof firstA free digital proof before production startsSee policy
Ships from the USANo overseas transit delays on domestic ordersSee policy
Secure paymentCheckout is secure and card data is never storedSee policy
Volume pricingMulti-booth and repeat orders qualify for volume ratesSee policy
If your order arrives damaged or doesn't match your approved proof, we reprint at no cost. Send us a photo and we handle it right away.
Every order includes a free digital proof before production starts. We do not print until you approve the exact layout. A2Z Printing Hub ships every order from our USA facility, so there are no overseas delays. Checkout accepts all major credit cards and standard payment methods, and volume discounts apply automatically on orders of 10 or more signs.
Care instructions
Cleaning the Printed Face
- Wipe the UV-printed surface with a lightly damp cloth to remove dust or fingerprints. Do not use abrasive cloths or solvent-based cleaners. Either one can lift the cured ink layer and leave dull patches that are not repairable.
Protecting the Panel Long-Term
- Keep the Foamcore panel away from direct sunlight and moisture. Foamcore is rated for indoor use only. A lobby window that lets in hours of direct sun can yellow the white faces and cause the panel to bow over several months.
- Store the panel flat if you remove it for a tenant update. Leaning it against a wall at an angle for more than a few days causes a permanent bow. Check adhesive strips or standoff hardware every 6 to 12 months, especially in lobbies with HVAC airflow, and reapply if the panel shifts.
