August 25, 2026
Post board sizes in the US range from 14×22 inches up to 4×8 feet. Whether you’re doing a school project, a trade show, or a commercial campaign, here’s the complete guide.
Post board sizes in the US range from 14×22 inches up to 4×8 feet. Whether you’re doing a school project, a trade show, or a commercial campaign, here’s the complete guide.
Post board sizes. Whether you’re searching for “post board” (meaning poster board, the physical substrate) or trying to understand the range of sizes available for a display project, this guide covers everything.
In the US, poster boards are sold in standard sizes ranging from 14×22 inches (small) to 22×28 inches (standard) to foam core formats up to 48×96 inches. Professionally printed advertising posters follow a separate set of standard sizes, from 11×17 up through 40×60 inches.
We work primarily in the printed poster world at American Guerrilla Marketing. Our campaigns involve large-format printed pieces going up on city walls from Williamsburg to Silver Lake to Wicker Park. But we field questions about board sizes constantly, so here’s the full guide covering both poster boards and printed poster formats.
When people search for “post board sizes,” they’re usually looking for one of two things: the physical board substrate used for handmade signs and school projects, or the standard sizes for printed advertising posters. Here’s both.
| Board Size Name | Dimensions (inches) | Area (sq ft) | Material | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 14 x 22 | 2.14 | Cardboard | Tabletop signs, small event displays |
| Standard | 22 x 28 | 4.28 | Cardboard | School projects, science fairs, office signs |
| Large | 24 x 36 | 6.00 | Foam core | Trade show displays, professional exhibits |
| Extra Large | 28 x 40 | 7.78 | Foam core | Large event signage, retail displays |
| Standard Foam Core | 20 x 30 | 4.17 | Foam core | Photo mounting, gallery display backing |
| Large Foam Core | 32 x 40 | 8.89 | Foam core | Professional trade show panels |
| Full Sheet | 48 x 96 | 32.00 | Foam core / gatorboard | Exhibition walls, large display builds |
| Poster Name | Dimensions (inches) | Area (sq ft) | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small / Tabloid | 11 x 17 | 1.30 | Interior windows, bars, coffee shops |
| Medium | 18 x 24 | 3.00 | Music venues, retail interiors |
| Standard Outdoor | 24 x 36 | 6.00 | Street campaigns, construction walls |
| Movie One-Sheet | 27 x 40 | 7.50 | Theater lobby displays |
| Transit / Two-Sheet | 40 x 60 | 16.67 | Bus shelters, transit advertising |
If you’re looking for the regular, everyday “post board” that you’d buy at a store, the standard size is 22 inches by 28 inches. This is the poster board sold in every major US retail chain that carries school or office supplies.
At 22×28, the board is practical. Large enough for a full student project with title, content sections, and visuals. Small enough to transport under your arm or in a standard school bag when rolled (cardboard board) or flat-packed.
The 22×28 is a environment-friendly format at 4.28 square feet of total surface area. The 22-inch width gives you enough horizontal space for multiple column layouts. The 28-inch height provides room for a title section at the top and content below. This makes it the default choice for any hand-designed presentation board.
Standard Post Board: 22×28 inches is the US standard for poster board sold at retail. It’s used for school projects, office signage, and point-of-sale retail displays that use standard display hardware. For professionally printed advertising campaigns, the comparable standard is 24×36 inches.
The right post board size depends on the specific application. Here’s how to match size to use case.
School projects almost always use the 22×28 standard. Science fairs often specify tri-fold boards that open to 36×48 inches. If your child’s school or science fair has specific size requirements, check with the event organizer before purchasing. Requirements vary by school district and event type.
For classroom presentations where the board sits on a desk or a small easel, 22×28 is the right standard. For room-wide display projects where the board mounts on a wall, 24×36 foam core provides better rigidity and more visibility from across the room.
Business uses for post boards range from meeting room door signs to temporary retail promotional boards. For signs that go in standard retail display stands (the kind with a 22×28 insert slot), use 22×28. For signs that mount on easels in a lobby or conference room, 24×36 foam core is more professional and holds its shape better under floor spotlight lighting.
For temporary event signage at trade shows in venues like the convention center in the Javits Center district of New York or the South Hall at the LA Convention Center, 24×36 or 32×40 foam core is the professional standard. These sizes accommodate full-color printed graphics mounted to the board surface for a polished appearance.
Trade show displays have their own size conventions. Standard booth panel sizes are typically 24×36 or 24×48. These match foam core and gatorboard dimensions so that printed graphics can be mounted flush to the board with clean edges.
For a 10×10-foot booth space, a typical back wall display might use three to four 24×36 panels side by side, creating a 72 to 96-inch wide visual backdrop. The panels are mounted to the booth structure using hook-and-loop (Velcro) tape or purpose-made panel mounting hardware.
For larger exhibition spaces, 32×40 panels or full-sheet 48×96 boards are used to build continuous display walls without visible seams between panels. These large-format boards are heavier and require more installation effort but produce a cleaner finished appearance.
Retail stores use a variety of post board sizes depending on the display hardware already in place. Standard counter display stands in the US pharmacy and grocery market typically hold 22×28 boards. Larger aisle-end displays use 24×36 boards. Overhead signing in retail environments may use custom-cut boards or proprietary display systems.
For a local retail client in a neighborhood like the Flatiron District in New York or the Beverly Hills commercial district in Los Angeles, understanding what size board fits the existing display hardware is the first step before any design work begins. Buying or designing boards that don’t fit the hardware is a costly mistake.
The most common source of confusion is between post board sizes and printed poster sizes. They’re not the same product, and they don’t share the same standard sizes.
A 22×28 post board (poster board) is a blank physical substrate. You create content on it by hand or by mounting a printed piece. You buy it at a craft or office supply store for $1 to $5.
A 24×36 printed poster is a commercially printed sheet produced on a large-format press or inkjet printer with your design already on it. You order it from a print shop or online print service in quantities of 25 to 5,000 or more. The per-unit cost ranges from $1.50 to $10 depending on paper stock and quantity.
The 22×28 board is 2 inches narrower and 8 inches shorter than a 24×36 printed poster. They’re not interchangeable. A 22×28 design file does not print correctly on a 24×36 press without adjustment, and a 24×36 file would not fit on a 22×28 board without cropping.
If you’re ordering a professional campaign poster, specify 24×36 (or your chosen standard). If you’re buying post boards for a school project or retail sign, specify 22×28. The distinction matters before you start designing.
Key Distinction: Post board (poster board) = blank physical substrate, standard 22×28. Printed advertising poster = commercially printed design, standard 24×36. Two different products, two different size standards. Know which one you need before you start.
Use this framework to choose the right size for your specific need.
Step 1: Determine the use. Is this for a school project? Use 22×28 cardboard board. For a science fair with tri-fold? Use 36×48 tri-fold board. For a trade show display? Use 24×36 or 32×40 foam core. For a professionally printed street campaign? Use 24×36 printed paper poster (not a physical board).
Step 2: Check the display hardware. If the board will sit in an existing display stand, frame, or easel, measure the available space before ordering. Nothing is more frustrating than a board that’s too wide for its easel jaw.
Step 3: Consider the content. Simple text with one or two images: 22×28 is adequate. Complex layouts with multiple sections, charts, and photos: 24×36 foam core gives more breathing room and better visual organization.
Step 4: Think about transport. 22×28 cardboard boards are light and easy to carry. Foam core boards at 32×40 are stiffer and require more careful handling during transport. Full-sheet boards at 48×96 require a vehicle with cargo space or a delivery service.
Step 5: Match the visual environment. A 22×28 board in a large conference room at a trade show looks undersized and amateur. A 24×36 or 32×40 foam core panel with a professionally printed and mounted graphic looks intentional and polished. Scale the board to the environment where it will be seen.
The standard post board (poster board) sizes in the US are: 14×22 inches (small), 22×28 inches (standard), and 24×36 inches (large, usually foam core). For professionally printed advertising posters, the standard sizes are 11×17, 18×24, 24×36, and 27×40 inches.
22×28 inches is the most common poster board size sold in the US. It’s the default at office supply, craft, and school supply stores. For professionally printed advertising campaigns, 24×36 is the most common standard format.
Most science fairs use either a standard 22×28 flat board or a tri-fold board that opens to 36×48 inches. Check the specific event’s requirements before purchasing. Requirements vary by school district and event type.
Most trade show booths use 24×36 or 32×40 foam core boards. Full 4×8-foot (48×96 inch) foam core or gatorboard panels are used for larger display walls. Confirm your booth dimensions and available mounting points before ordering board sizes.
Standard inkjet and laser printers cannot print on rigid boards. For a printed finish, you print your design on paper and mount it to the board using spray adhesive or dry mounting. Specialty large-format printers can print directly onto foam core surfaces, which is how trade show graphics are sometimes produced.
No. Standard post board (poster board) is thin cardboard, flexible, and inexpensive. Foam core is a rigid sandwich of foam between two coated paper surfaces, stiffer and more professional. Both are sold in poster board dimensions, but they’re different products with different performance characteristics.
For more on this, explore our experiential marketing.
Most retail stores carry foam core up to 32×40 inches at art supply stores. Full-sheet 48×96 inch foam core is available through specialty sign shops and online professional suppliers. This size requires special handling and is usually delivered or picked up in person rather than shipped in standard packaging.
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