Ever wondered why a 5ft banner costs £60 and not £20? Here's what actually goes into the price of a banner no sales spin, just the real costs.
1. The Material (~15–25% of cost)
Heavy-duty 510 GSM PVC vinyl costs around £3.50 per square metre wholesale. A 5×5ft banner is roughly 2.3 sqm, so material alone = about £8.
2. The Ink (~10–15%)
Solvent or latex inks for outdoor banner printing cost around £1.90 per sqm. For our 5×5ft example that's another ~£4.40.
3. Labour (~20–25%)
Someone has to set up the file, check colour and resolution, load the roll, print it, cut it, hem the edges, eyelet the corners, inspect for defects, roll it, package it. Budget £3.50–£5 per banner.
4. Machine Running Costs (~10%)
Large-format printers cost £30,000–£80,000. They need maintenance, parts, electricity and depreciation. About £1.50 per banner.
5. Overheads (~15–20%)
Rent on a London workshop, business rates, insurance, admin. Realistically £2 per banner for a small shop.
6. Packaging & Finishing (~5%)
Brass eyelets, heat-welded hem tape, cardboard tubes, boxes. About 50p–£1 per banner.
7. Profit Margin (~15–25%)
Retail banner shops typically mark up about 2–3× cost. That's where the business actually makes money.
Why "Cheap" Online Banners Are Cheap
Banners under £10 exist because someone is cutting corners: thinner material, water-based inks, no hemming, plastic eyelets. They fade, tear, and you re-order in three months.
Our Prices
A 5×5ft PVC banner from BPSD is £60 retail hemmed, brass-eyeletted, weatherproof. See our full price list.