How to Install Parking Signs: Height, Holes and Posts

Why choose .040 aluminum for a parking sign?

.040 in aluminum is the rust-proof rigid material on our aluminum sign product page. The product page lists a 5+ year outdoor guarantee and describes the sign as built to bolt to a post, fence or wall.

That makes the material a practical choice when the message needs to remain outside through repeated weather exposure. The material specification describes the panel itself. It does not establish that the wording, reflectivity, support or installation meets the rules for a particular space.

We print custom artwork, rather than selling a catalog of premade stock parking designs. Our aluminum signs are one option in the custom signs collection. We do not sell reflective aluminum or reflective sheeting, so confirm that a nonreflective panel is appropriate before buying.

Should you choose a 12x18 or 18x24 parking sign?

12x18 in is a common parking sign size in general practice; 18x24 in gives you more room for larger lettering and a longer reading distance. Neither size is a universal requirement for every parking application.

Choose the message before the rectangle. A short reservation line needs less space than a restriction containing hours, exceptions and an arrow. If the draft feels crowded, remove unnecessary copy or increase the panel size instead of reducing every line of type.

Single-sided printing suits a panel read from one approach. Double-sided printing can serve two approaches when the support leaves both faces visible. A panel fixed flat against a wall normally has no useful rear viewing face.

Which mounting holes should you order?

Center-Top and Bottom or Top Corners can suit a post installation, depending on the post and bracket arrangement. Drilled holes add a flat $5.00 per sign, regardless of the selected pattern.

Center-Top and Bottom places the attachment points along the sign's vertical centerline. Top Corners needs a support or bracket that reaches both top corners; those holes do not automatically fit a narrow post. All Four Corners can suit a wall or broad backing. Custom placement is also available.

Measure the support's mounting points, not just the panel. Tell us the mounting plan so hole placement can be checked. If the support uses a bracket, get its dimensions before approving the sign. Rounded corners are a separate option, with 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 or 1/2 in radii.

What does ADA section 502.6 require?

ADA Standards section 502.6 requires the International Symbol of Accessibility on required accessible parking identification signs and a minimum bottom height of 60 in. Van spaces also need the designation "van accessible." Measure upward from the finished ground or floor surface to the sign's bottom, not its center. See the U.S. Access Board's ADA parking standards.

These are identification-sign requirements, not a complete accessible parking design checklist. Ask the responsible authority to confirm the layout and any additional requirements for your site. Ordering a wheelchair symbol does not certify the parking space or the installation.

When do MUTCD rules apply to parking signs?

FHWA's MUTCD sets traffic-control standards for public roads and site roadways open to public travel, which can include roadways through privately owned sites. The FHWA MUTCD website is the primary reference; ask the road or site authority which provisions and state standards apply to the proposed sign.

Do not assume every parking stall and every roadway through a lot have identical requirements. Have the intended location reviewed before choosing a panel, especially if an official traffic-control specification calls for a reflective sign. Inline Graphics does not certify MUTCD or ADA compliance.

How do you attach a parking sign to an existing post or wall?

Attach the panel using hardware matched to a sound support, the selected hole pattern and the required finished position. The numbered steps below describe general installation practice for an existing structure.

1. Inspect the support. Check an existing post for movement or damage. For a wall, identify the surface and suitable anchor system. Replace or repair an unsuitable support before mounting a panel.
2. Gather compatible hardware. Obtain outdoor fasteners, washers and any needed brackets separately. Follow the hardware maker's instructions for the support material and panel size.
3. Mark the finished position. Hold the sign where it will be read, check clearance and mark the mounting points. Use the required height for the actual sign application.
4. Align the holes. Match the drilled panel to the post or bracket. On a wall, check for concealed services before drilling and install the selected anchors as directed.
5. Fit the fasteners. Support the panel while attaching it. Level it before final tightening, and secure it without bending the aluminum or damaging the printed face.
6. Check the result. Confirm the panel is stable, both intended faces remain readable and the support does not obstruct the route. Recheck fasteners and visibility during routine property inspections.

For a new post, contact 811, the national call-before-you-dig service, before digging. Follow your state's process, wait for utility responses and markings, and use a suitable installer for the new support. An existing-post guide is not a footing or excavation specification.

The aluminum sign mounting guide covers other support choices.

How much do aluminum parking signs cost?

One single-sided 12x18 in .040 aluminum sign with square corners and no holes costs $74.89. Each row below names the complete printed configuration; quantity rows use the same design throughout.

The 24x36 aluminum sign cost guide expands on the larger panel. These totals exclude artwork preparation, shipping and installation supplies. We do not sell posts, poles, bolts, brackets or concrete.

How do artwork approval and shipping work?

Aluminum sign production takes 3 business days after artwork approval; ground transit is about 3 business days afterward. Approval on a weekday before 12 PM Central lets production start the next business day. Approval after noon or on a weekend counts from the next business day.

There is no production setup fee. An existing file, phone photo or AI-generated image goes through AI image to print for $14.99 per item. "Design it for me" is +$29.99 with two revisions, free when the item itself is $499 or more. A free digital proof follows the order, before printing.

Ground shipping is flat $10 per product to a US address. Check the sign size, side count, wording, arrows and hole placement on the proof before approval.

Need aluminum parking signs or other custom printing? Inline Graphics helps businesses, churches, schools, and event organizers across the country design and print cards, banners, signs, decals, displays, and marketing materials that get noticed. Contact us today for a quote.