Businesses will use all sorts of printed forms of marketing to get their brand or products out there. They either come in roll-up banners that stand upright with the help of an aluminum base and pole, or they are cardboard cutouts with a cardboard stand. Regardless of what type of standee you’re thinking of, it will come in a variety of sizes.
The most common standee banner sizes are 2 × 5 feet, 2-1/2 × 6 feet, and 3 × 6 feet and have a maximum of 8 × 8 feet. Cardboard standees usually stand between 4 and 6 feet, but there are printers that will make them 8 feet tall.
In this guide, I’ll explain in greater detail what a standee is, what its benefits and downsides are, and how standees compare to sandwich boards.
What Is a Standee?
A standee is a marketing tool that businesses use to promote their brand, products, or event. Unlike posters and flyers, you do not have to plaster them to a flat surface. Instead, they come with self-standing bases that prop the display upright.
Types of Standees and Their Sizes
There are two types of standees you should know about—banner standees and cutout standees.
Banner Standee
A standee banner comes with an aluminum base and rotating feet. Inside the base is the canvas display that extends vertically. Standee banners typically measure 2 feet wide and 5 feet tall. Other common sizes include 2-1/2 × 6 feet and 3 × 6 feet. The width of the standee banner is limited to the width of the aluminum base.
Here is how you set up a banner standee:
- Unpack the banner standee and the aluminum pole from the hard-shell case.
- Place the aluminum base on a flat surface and flip it upside down.
- Rotate the legs so that they are perpendicular to the base.
- Flip the aluminum base right side up.
- Extend the banner as far as it will go from the aluminum base.
- Place the pole in the circular insert on the base (behind the canvas display).
- Align the top of the canvas sheet with the groove on top of the pole to keep the display upright.
Cutout Standee
Cutout standees, which are known as cutouts or cardboard cutouts, are marketing displays made of cardboard. The board is cut in the shape of a person or object. People will prop them in front of their businesses to attract passersby.
This type of standee works similarly to banner standees. It’s self-standing, but it does not feature an aluminum base with rotating legs or a pole. Instead, you’ll find on the back a cardboard stand that keeps the cutout standing at a slight angle. You’ll also find variations in the standing mechanism, including rotating stands with a plastic pole or a detachable cardboard stand.
Cutout standees can be made in virtually any size you want. Some businesses will print miniature cutouts (less than 12 inches tall) to place on top of tables and desks. However, if your goal is to make your business stand out in a crowd, you should think about printing at least 4-foot-tall cutouts.
Pros and Cons of a Standee
Like any marketing display, standees have a set of advantages and disadvantages worth considering.
Pros
- Eye-catching—Regardless of how much detail you put into the banner or cutout standee, it will definitely catch your audience’s attention. A display standing at least 4 feet tall is difficult to miss, especially when it’s directly in front or to the side of someone.
- Detailed—You can add as many or as few details as you want to your standee. Businesses will commonly add promo deals, product names, prices, and contact information on standees, alongside their logo and a large picture.
- Size—Again, you are free to choose whatever standee size you want. However, the larger the standee is, the more eye-catching it becomes and the more details you can add to the display.
- Simple to use—Setting up a standee can be done in under 60 seconds. Plus, the banner rolls up inside the aluminum base, which fits inside a hard-shelled case for easy transport.
- Relatively inexpensive—Although the size of the banner will ultimately determine how much it costs to make, standees are pretty cheap. In addition, you can replace the banner in your standee whenever your business offers another promo deal.
Cons
- Limited reach—Like any other stagnant marketing tool, standees will not reach a tremendously wide audience. The only people it will reach are those who walk or drive by it. A standee’s reach is nothing compared to social media and TV ads.
- Not weatherproof—Cutout standees, which are made of cardboard, are not particularly resistant to water. When it rains, you will have to move the standee indoors to prevent it from curling over itself and disintegrating. Also, prolonged exposure to sunlight may cause its colors to fade.
- Easily blown away by the wind—Standees are incredibly lightweight. As such, they do not stand up to gusts of wind very well. Even if you prop it against the side of a wall, the wind from passing vehicles may cause the standee to topple over.
Standee vs. Sandwich Board
A standee looks and acts similarly to sandwich boards. However, there are a few distinct differences you should know before deciding which of them to get.
Size
Standees come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The largest standee you can get measures 8 × 8 feet. However, you can print them on tiny banners or cardboard templates, depending on where you wish to place it.
Sandwich boards are considerably smaller than standees. At most, it will have a display area of 28 × 44 inches, but with the frame, the overall measurement grows to 29 × 55 inches.
Frame
Standees don’t have a frame. Instead, they come with bases or legs that prop them upright or at a slight angle. As such, they don’t require a ton of floor space to set up.
Sandwich boards come with corrugated plastic or wooden frames that prop up the display to keep it at eye level.
Adjustability
You can print new banners for your banner standee. Cutout standees, however, need to be replaced entirely.
Sandwich boards can come with whiteboard displays that let you erase and add anything you want. So, while sandwich boards may have a steeper upfront cost, they are much more adjustable than standees.
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