Coroplast is the workhorse of the sign industry. If you run a sign shop, print brokerage, or agency, corrugated plastic signs are almost certainly the highest-volume rigid product your clients ask for — and one of the easiest to resell profitably when you have the right trade partner behind you.
This guide covers everything you need to quote, order, and resell coroplast signs with confidence: material specs, thickness selection, hardware, artwork prep, margin strategy, and what to expect on turnaround.
What Is Coroplast?
Coroplast (corrugated plastic) is an extruded polypropylene sheet with a fluted inner structure — think of it as the plastic version of corrugated cardboard. That flute structure is what makes it remarkable for signage:
- Lightweight — an 18"x24" yard sign weighs ounces, which keeps shipping costs low and installation effortless
- Weather-resistant — polypropylene shrugs off rain, sun, and temperature swings for months outdoors
- Dent-resistant — it flexes instead of creasing, unlike aluminum or PVC
- Inexpensive — the lowest cost-per-square-foot of any rigid substrate, which is exactly why it dominates short-term outdoor signage
At Summit Print Partners, coroplast is printed full-color, edge to edge, on UV flatbed presses — ink cured directly onto the substrate for vivid, durable prints with no lamination step required.
Thickness Options: 4mm, 6mm, and 10mm
Thickness is the first spec decision on every coroplast quote, and it's where resellers most often over- or under-quote. Here's the quick framework:
| Thickness | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4mm | Yard signs, real estate, political, short-term event signage | The industry standard. 90%+ of coroplast orders. Fits standard H-stakes. |
| 6mm | Larger panels, windier locations, signs that get handled/moved often | Noticeably stiffer; good middle ground for 24"x36" and up. |
| 10mm | Oversized panels up to 4'x8', semi-permanent installs, A-frame inserts | Maximum rigidity. Quote this when the sign needs to stand up on its own or survive a season. |
If your client just says "yard signs," quote 4mm. If they describe anything bigger than 24"x36" or mention wind, walk them up to 6mm. For the full decision framework, see our guide: 4mm vs 6mm vs 10mm Coroplast: Which Thickness to Quote Your Client.
Sizes: From Yard Signs to Full 4'x8' Sheets
Coroplast prints in virtually any size up to a full 4'x8' sheet. The sizes resellers order most:
- 18"x24" — the standard yard sign; real estate and political staple
- 24"x18" — horizontal orientation for riders and directional arrows
- 24"x36" — larger real estate, open house, and event signage
- 36"x48" and up — construction site signs, fence-mounted panels
- 4'x8' full sheets — job site identification, large event backdrops
Because Summit prints on flatbed equipment, custom sizes cost nothing extra to set up — quote whatever dimension the job actually needs rather than forcing clients into stock sizes.
Single-Sided vs. Double-Sided Printing
Double-sided is the default for yard signs — anything staked in a lawn gets viewed from both directions. One spec detail worth knowing: on double-sided coroplast, flute direction matters. Flutes must run vertically so H-stakes can slide into the sign. A trade printer who does volume coroplast work handles this automatically, but it's a detail worth confirming when a client supplies their own die line.
Single-sided is correct for fence-mounted signs, window placement, A-frame inserts, and anything mounted flat against a surface.
Hardware: H-Stakes, Frames, and Accessories
The hardware conversation is a margin opportunity most resellers leave on the table. Every staked coroplast sign needs an H-stake or step stake, and clients rarely think to ask — which means you should always quote it.
Common add-ons to bundle into your quotes:
- H-stakes — standard wire stakes for 4mm signs
- Heavy-duty step stakes — for 6mm or high-wind placements
- Grommets — for zip-tie or screw mounting to fences and posts
- Hole drilling — for hanging applications
We cover stake types, sizing, and bundling strategy in H-Stakes, Frames & Hardware: A Reseller's Guide to Yard Sign Accessories.
What Your Clients Are Ordering: Top Coroplast Use Cases
Knowing the end use makes you a better quoter. These four categories drive the bulk of coroplast volume, and each has its own spec patterns:
Real estate yard signs. Realtors and brokerages order in recurring batches — a client worth winning once is worth winning for years. Standard spec: 18"x24", 4mm, double-sided, with H-stakes. Full breakdown: Real Estate Yard Signs: A Print Reseller's Spec & Pricing Guide.
Political campaign signs. Seasonal, high-volume, deadline-driven. Campaigns order hundreds to thousands at once and always need them yesterday — which is exactly where a trade partner that ships next-day earns its keep. See: Political Campaign Signs: How Resellers Handle Volume Orders.
Event wayfinding. Directional arrows, parking signs, registration signage — festivals, races, and conferences order in mixed-size kits. See: Event Wayfinding & Directional Signs on Coroplast.
Construction signage. Job site IDs, safety notices, contractor branding on fences. Often larger panels in 6mm or 10mm. See: Construction Site Signage: Specs, Compliance & What to Quote.
Artwork Prep: Mistakes to Catch Before You Submit
The fastest way to protect your turnaround (and your client relationship) is catching file problems before they hit production. The most common issues on coroplast orders:
- No bleed. Full-coverage designs need 0.125" bleed on all sides. Files built exactly to trim size risk white edges.
- Low-resolution logos. Clients pull logos off their own websites. Anything under 150 dpi at final print size will look soft at yard-sign viewing distance — request vector files (AI, EPS, PDF) whenever possible.
- Thin text on double-sided orders. Text below ~1" tall is illegible from the street. Yard signs are read at 10+ mph — bold, minimal, high-contrast wins.
- RGB color files. UV printing works in CMYK. RGB files convert, but vivid blues and greens can shift. Convert and proof before submitting.
- Missing die lines on custom shapes. Custom-cut coroplast needs a vector cut path on its own layer.
Pricing and Margins: How Resellers Make Money on Coroplast
Coroplast is a volume product with healthy markup room. Typical reseller patterns in the trade:
- Standard markup: 40–100% over wholesale cost is common on coroplast, with small-quantity orders supporting the higher end
- Hardware margin: stakes and grommets carry strong percentage margins and add perceived value to the quote
- Recurring accounts: real estate offices and property managers reorder on a cycle — price competitively to win the account, and the lifetime value takes care of itself
- Free shipping changes the math: because Summit ships free via UPS Ground with no minimums, your landed cost is your quoted cost — no freight surprises eating your margin on small orders
For a deeper framework on markup strategy across product lines, see How Sign Shops Price Outsourced Work: A Margin Guide.
Turnaround and Shipping: What to Promise Your Clients
The number one fear resellers have about outsourcing is losing control of the timeline. Here's how to manage it:
- 94.6% of orders ship the next business day — and rush service is never an upcharge
- Free UPS Ground shipping, no minimums — quote your client a realistic in-hands date by adding ground transit time to a next-day ship
- Blind shipping available — orders arrive with no Summit branding, so drop-shipping directly to your client keeps you as the printer in their eyes. How that works: How Blind Shipping Works for Print Resellers
A safe habit: promise your client one day longer than the realistic timeline. Early delivery builds trust; a missed date costs the account.
Why Trade-Only Matters
Summit Print Partners is a trade-only wholesale printer — we sell exclusively to resellers, never to the public. That means we will never compete with you for your own clients, and your customers will never find our pricing. Your accounts stay your accounts. More on why this model protects your business: What Is Trade-Only Printing?.
Coroplast vs. Other Substrates
Coroplast isn't always the right answer. When a client needs multi-year outdoor durability, quote aluminum. When they want a premium feel indoors, PVC often fits better. For a side-by-side decision framework, see Coroplast vs. Aluminum vs. PVC: Which Sign Material to Quote Your Client.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order for wholesale coroplast printing?
There are no minimums — order one sign or one thousand. Free UPS Ground shipping applies regardless of order size.
How long do coroplast signs last outdoors?
Expect 1–2 years of outdoor life in typical conditions. UV-cured inks resist fading, and polypropylene handles moisture well. For multi-year installations, step clients up to aluminum.
Can coroplast signs be cut to custom shapes?
Yes — coroplast die-cuts cleanly to arrows, ovals, and fully custom contours. Supply a vector cut path with the artwork.
What file format should I submit for coroplast printing?
Print-ready PDF with 0.125" bleed, CMYK color, and fonts outlined. Vector art is strongly preferred for logos and text.
Do coroplast signs ship flat?
Yes — signs ship flat in protective packaging. Coroplast's dent resistance makes it one of the safest substrates to ship, and blind shipping to your client's address is available on every order.
Ready to add coroplast to your product line? View coroplast product details or contact us to get set up with a trade account, wholesale pricing, next-day production, and free shipping on every order.