What you get
3 sizes, 3 boards, one message: the Private Sign puts the information right where people are looking for it. Go up to 297 × 100 mm if people read it from as far as 4 m. Every private sign printing job is made to order.
- Printed in full colour and made to order in the UK
- A person checks uploaded files for size, bleed and resolution
- Upload your own PDF, or ask us to set it up
- Free UK delivery over £49.99 this week, otherwise £7.95
Private Sign Printing
Need "Private" on a wall, door or fence? Our private sign printing does it: one clear sign that puts the information right where people are looking for it, in 3 sizes and 3 boards.
Charity, school, club or place of worship? up to 10% off every orderBusiness? up to 5% off your first order
- Free UK delivery over £49.99 this week
- Dispatch from 1 working day
- Printed in the UK
Overview
This notice sign puts the information right where people are looking for it. Typical homes for it are public buildings, warehouses, shops and offices. Our private sign printing is made to order in the size and board you choose.
Private sign printing: which material
There is a board for each kind of spot in our private sign printing range:
- 3mm Foamex, a rigid PVC foam board that screws or sticks up easily and is happiest indoors or out for a season
- 3mm Dibond, aluminium skins on a solid core, the one to pick for a sign that stays outside for years
- self-adhesive vinyl, which sticks flat to smooth walls, doors, glass and machine guards
Inside, Foamex or vinyl does the job. Outside for the long haul, go Dibond.
Reading the sign
It reads "Private". White lettering on a solid blue panel keeps it clean and easy to read, so the words do the work.
Where to fix it
At eye height, right where people have to act on it. Keep all door signs at the same height so people know where to look; 1.4 to 1.7 metres is usual.
Before you order private sign printing, think about how far away people will be. Rule of thumb from ISO 3864-1: each 25 mm on the short side of the sign gives roughly a metre of reading distance. That makes 200 x 50 to about 2 m, 250 x 75 to about 3 m and 297 x 100 to about 4 m. These are door-and-wall sizes, made to be read from a few steps away.
Door signs are not usually required by law, but they save staff a lot of "where is the...?" questions.
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 require employers to use a safety sign where a risk cannot be removed or controlled some other way.
Send a print-ready PDF, build it in the online designer, or pay for our artwork service (you get 1 design and 2 rounds of changes). Whichever you pick, a person checks the file before it prints. Every private sign printing order is made to order and dispatched from the UK. Postage is £7.95 to the UK mainland and free over £100, worked out after discounts and not counting artwork fees. The Highlands add £10, and addresses in Northern Ireland, the Scottish islands, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Scilly or the Isle of Wight get a quote. Full details are on the delivery page.
Also worth a look: door and information signs and everything in safety signs. The guide to safety sign colours covers the choice in more depth.
Sizes and prices
Smallest first. Tap a price to load that size into the buy box.
| Size | 3mm Foamex | 3mm Dibond aluminium composite | self-adhesive vinyl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 × 50 mm | |||
| 250 × 75 mm | |||
| 297 × 100 mm |
Final prices per item with the lowest-priced options. UK delivery £7.95, free over £49.99 this week. Choose a price to load it into the price calculator.
Specs
Materials, sizes and finishing.
| Message | Private |
|---|---|
| Sign type | Text |
| Materials | 3mm Foamex, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite and self-adhesive vinyl |
| Sizes | 200 × 50 mm, 250 × 75 mm, 297 × 100 mm |
| Viewing distance | 200 x 50: 2 m, 250 x 75: 3 m, 297 x 100: 4 m |
| Full colour, single sided | |
| Made by | Made to order and dispatched from the UK |
| SKU | FP-SAF-246 |
| Price | Final price shown in the configurator. No surprises at checkout. |
| Delivery | UK mainland £7.95 per order, free over £49.99 this week. Scottish Highlands +£10; islands and NI quoted. |
| Artwork check | Free file check on uploaded artwork (resolution, size and bleed). |
Which size do I need?
A safety sign must be large enough to read from where people will see it. Our conservative guide, based on the distance-factor method in ISO 3864-1, is about 1 metre of viewing distance for every 25 mm of sign height (the shorter side). Use it with your own risk assessment.
| Size | Readable from up to about |
|---|---|
| 200 × 50 mm | 2 m |
| 250 × 75 mm | 3 m |
| 297 × 100 mm | 4 m |
Well lit or internally lit signs can be read from further away; dim areas need larger signs.
Questions
Quick answers about private sign printing.
Which size of Private sign can be read from across the room or yard?
Measure the distance first, then match it: 2 m calls for 200 × 50 mm, 3 m calls for 250 × 75 mm and 4 m calls for 297 × 100 mm. Traffic, dim corners or glare all justify going one size bigger. The largest, 297 × 100 mm, is the choice for wide open spaces.
Has ISO 7010 got a symbol for "Private"?
No, ISO 7010 has no pictogram for this exact message. So the sign is words only, in white lettering on a blue panel.
Where do I fix the Private sign?
For "Private", the usual spot is on or beside the door, desk or area it names, at eye level. Walk the route yourself and make sure it is seen from the direction people come.
Am I legally required to display "Private"?
Door and information signs are not required by law in themselves. They help visitors find their way and keep staff-only rooms private. Where signs go is set by your own risk assessment.
Could the Private sign say something different, or carry our logo?
Yes, we can make it as a custom job. Tell us the text you want in place of "Private", or send your logo. Use the question box on this page, or the Get a quote page for a bigger job.
How soon will the Private sign reach me?
Standard takes 4 working days to make, or Express 2 working days. The courier then needs 1 to 3 working days, and the tracking link comes by email. Goods worth £100 or more travel free to a UK mainland address; below that, delivery is a flat £7.95 for the whole order.
Foamex, Dibond or vinyl: which should I choose?
Ask where it is going. Outdoors or somewhere it may get knocked: Dibond aluminium composite. Smooth doors, glass or machinery: self-adhesive vinyl. Anywhere else indoors: 3mm Foamex, which is light and easy to fix.
Asked by buyers
How much will the Private Sign set me back?
£3.81 is where the Private Sign starts, set up as 200 × 50 mm and self-adhesive vinyl on the Saver speed. Change the size, material, extras, quantity or speed and the total on the page moves straight away. The price you see is the price you pay at checkout, with delivery the only thing that can be added. Delivery anywhere on the UK mainland is £7.95 an order, and it costs nothing once the goods come to £100 or more after any discount code (design and artwork fees are not counted).
If I buy the Private Sign today, when will it leave you?
As the page first opens, the speeds for the Private Sign are Express 2 working days, Standard 4 and Saver 6, counting Monday to Friday and skipping bank holidays. The count begins once we have your order and a file ready to print. A bigger size or a different material can move it by a day either way; each speed shows its own days as you choose. Tracking arrives by email on the day it ships, and the courier usually takes one to three working days from there.
Is delivery ever free?
It is £7.95 for the whole order, not per item, and free once the goods reach £100 after any discount code; design or artwork charges are left out of that £100. On its own the opening price of £3.81 would add £7.95 for mainland delivery; reach £100 of goods and that goes to zero. A mainland Highlands postcode puts a single £10 on the order. Northern Ireland has its delivery priced before you pay, and so do the Channel Islands, the Scottish islands, Scilly, the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Man. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81. On this page, Private Sign starts from £3.81.
How big does our Private Sign have to be to read across a room or yard?
Stand where someone first needs to read "Private" and pace out the gap to where it will hang. Then match that number: up to 2 m for 200 × 50 mm, 3 m for 250 × 75 mm or 4 m for 297 × 100 mm. Dim corners or people on the move call for one size bigger. Those distances follow the ISO 3864-1 distance-factor method (25 mm of height per metre) and sit alongside your risk assessment, not in place of it.
Which is the smallest and which the biggest sign I can order here?
Smallest: 200 × 50 mm, from £3.81. Biggest: 297 × 100 mm, from £4.26. One more is listed in between, and every figure is for the cheapest options. Not sure which? Mark the space out with tape or string first and stand back to look. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all.
What will people understand when they see a Private Sign?
Its job is to put a plain written instruction in front of people: "Private" is laid out as a text sign. There is no ISO 7010 pictogram for "Private", so the words alone carry the meaning. You will find it useful at an office, a shop, a school or a club house. Word for word, this sign says "Private".
And the largest sign, 297 × 100 mm: how much is that one?
From £4.26, with the cheapest settings and the Saver service. Material by material, it is 3mm Foamex at £25.15, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite at £37.23 and self-adhesive vinyl at £4.26. Add £7.95 for UK mainland delivery, or nothing at all once the goods reach £100. Select it on the page and swap materials, finishes and speed to watch how the figure moves. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81. On this page, Private Sign starts from £3.81.
Could the total go up after I reach the checkout?
The only thing that can join the goods price is delivery; the price you see is the price you pay at checkout. Delivery anywhere on the UK mainland is £7.95 an order, and it costs nothing once the goods come to £100 or more after any discount code (design and artwork fees are not counted). If you pick a paid design option, it sits in the basket as a separate line with its own fee, so every penny is listed before you pay. Nothing is printed ahead of time: each sign is made to order for you. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81. For reference, Private Sign is listed in 3 sizes, the smallest being 200 × 50 mm.
I need several signs, some in different sizes. How do I buy them?
Set up the first size, type how many you need next to Add to basket, then go back and set up the next size as another line. Every price you see is for one sign, and the quantity box does the multiplying. Paying for artwork? It is charged once per line, not per item, and the option to reuse artwork from another basket item adds no second fee. For big numbers, ask on our Get a quote page. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all. Nothing is printed ahead of time: each sign is made to order for you.
Could you price a 250 × 75 mm sign for me?
From £4.01, with the cheapest settings and the Saver service. Material by material, it is 3mm Foamex at £24.26, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite at £36.05 and self-adhesive vinyl at £4.01. Add £7.95 for UK mainland delivery, or nothing at all once the goods reach £100. Select it on the page and swap materials, finishes and speed to watch how the figure moves. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all. On its opening option, Private Sign leaves us after 6 working days on Saver.
Can a private person buy a single sign?
Yes. One is enough, and you do not need a business name or an account to check out. The opening price is £3.81, and any bank card will do. On its own the opening price of £3.81 would add £7.95 for mainland delivery; reach £100 of goods and that goes to zero. A person still checks your file before it is printed, just as for a big order. Nothing is printed ahead of time: each sign is made to order for you.
We are kitting out a hall with several different signs. Can they all go in one order?
Yes. Put each sign in the basket with whichever size and board suits its spot, then pay once at checkout. One delivery charge covers the whole order, and it drops to nothing when the goods reach £100 after any discount code. Picking the same board for every sign gives the set a matching look; "Private" comes in 200 × 50, 250 × 75 and 297 × 100 mm.
Is there a quicker turnaround for this sign?
Work back from the day you need it. Express takes 2 working days to get the Private Sign out, against 6 on Saver, and costs £5.06 on the opening option rather than £3.81. Add up to three working days for the courier, plus any time you need to finish the file. Cutting it fine? Put your date in the question box before you order.
I live in the Scottish Highlands. Will the Private Sign cost more to send?
The whole UK is covered. Outside it, sadly, we cannot deliver. Mainland addresses in the Highlands pay one extra £10 on the order, even when delivery would otherwise be free. For Northern Ireland, and for the Channel Islands, the Scottish islands, Scilly, the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Man, we tell you the delivery cost before you pay, so message us your postcode on the Contact page or our Get a quote page. Choose Saver and this sign leaves us after 6 working days; Express brings that down to 2. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81. On this page, Private Sign starts from £3.81.
I am not a designer. What if the file I send turns out to be unusable?
You will not be left guessing. Each uploaded file is opened and looked over by a member of the team, and problems such as low-resolution pictures, no bleed or the wrong page size are sent back to you to fix before printing. If fixing it sounds like a chore, choose typesetting for £15: we lay out your text and logo, show you a first draft, then make up to two rounds of changes. Make the artwork for this sign the same size as the one you order, such as 200 × 50 mm. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all.
Will anyone look at my file before it is printed?
Every file gets a human check for size, bleed and resolution, and we contact you about any problem before printing. Nobody can know your details better than you, so double-check names, numbers and dates: we print what is supplied, and work begins once the order and file are confirmed. Make the artwork for this sign the same size as the one you order, such as 200 × 50 mm. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all.
Which file formats can I upload?
A PDF made at the size you ordered works best, with the fonts embedded or turned into outlines. AI, EPS and SVG are fine too, as are high resolution JPG, PNG or TIFF images. Word, PowerPoint or Canva designs can be used, but save them out as a full quality PDF where you can. Attach up to 3 files of up to 25 MB each on the product page, or order first and send them afterwards; we email you a link. Make the artwork for this sign the same size as the one you order, such as 200 × 50 mm. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex.
Can the wording on a Private Sign be changed, or our logo added?
A school can add its crest to "Private", a club its badge, a shop its name. Choose typesetting (£15) if you know the words, or design from your brief (£35) if you would like us to lay it out; each comes with one first draft and two rounds of changes. Have your own finished file? Upload it free and one of our team will look it over. Keep the symbol and safety colours unchanged so the sign still reads the right way. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex.
How many pixels does a photo need to print well on this sign?
Roughly 3,508 pixels across and 1,181 down for a 297 × 100 mm design, which is 300 dpi. Things read at arm's length need that 300 dpi at full size to stay crisp. Text and logos are safest as vector art, which never goes fuzzy. Pictures saved from a website or social media are nearly always too small, and our file check will point out any that could print blurred. Make the artwork for this sign the same size as the one you order, such as 200 × 50 mm.
What thickness is the Private Sign, and does it feel sturdy?
The sticker version, in self-adhesive vinyl, is only a film, so it sits flush on a door or wall. Every rigid option measures 3 mm. Foamex is a lightweight PVC foam board. Dibond has aluminium on both faces around a plastic middle, so it stays flat and firm but is easy to fix. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex. On its opening option, Private Sign leaves us after 6 working days on Saver.
Does the Private Sign come in a peel-and-stick version?
Yes: self-adhesive vinyl is one of the material choices, and that version is simply a sticker with a backing to peel off. Use it on smooth things like glass, doors, cupboards, machines or painted plaster. Clean and dry the surface first, then smooth it on working out from the middle. If the wall is rough or dusty the sticker will not grip well, so go for one of the boards. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex. On this page, Private Sign starts from £3.81.
We are putting up a full set of signs at our premises. Which ones sit well next to this one?
Two good companions for it are Staff Only Sign and Admin Office Sign. Each has a page of its own with every size, material and a live price, and picking one material for all of them makes the wall look like a matching set. Put the lot in a single basket and you pay one delivery charge, which drops to nothing when the goods reach £100. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex.
It gets dark early in winter. Can people still read the Private Sign in the evening?
Only if a light falls on it. The Foamex, Dibond and vinyl sticker versions are printed without any reflective or glow-in-the-dark layer. So for a church car park, a school path or a yard used on winter evenings, put it beneath a lamp that is already there, or add a light. If your risk assessment says a sign has to reflect or glow, buy that one from a firm that makes them. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex. Nothing is printed ahead of time: each sign is made to order for you. Material choices for Private Sign: 3mm Foamex, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or self-adhesive vinyl.
Will a Private Sign cope with rain and wind outdoors?
"Private" can go outside as long as you match the material to the job. For a sign that stays out for years, Dibond is the one to choose. Foamex will manage a sheltered spot, such as a porch or under a canopy, but it is really an indoor board. Strong sun slowly fades any print, so glance at outdoor signs every so often and swap any that have become hard to read. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex.
What is the easiest way to put up a Private Sign?
It depends what "Private" is going on. Brick or plaster: screws through holes near the corners, washers under the heads, and a light hand (Foamex especially). Painted doors and smooth walls inside: foam tape or sticky pads, no drilling needed. Fences and railings: two or four holes, then cable ties. Glass and glossy panels: the vinyl version, pressed on after a wipe and a dry. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex.
Which material is cheapest for the Private Sign?
Taking the smallest size, 200 × 50 mm, as the example: self-adhesive vinyl at £3.81, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite at £35.09 and 3mm Foamex at £23.55. Larger sizes follow a similar pattern, and the full grid sits in the size table further up the page. Think about where it is going first: a cheap material in the wrong spot can end up costing more. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81. Material choices for Private Sign: 3mm Foamex, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or self-adhesive vinyl.
How would I decide between Accessible Lift Sign and Private Sign?
Comparing the Private Sign with the Accessible Lift Sign, this is what changes. Sizes: 3 on this page, the smallest 200 × 50 mm, and 4 on the other, the smallest A4 (210 × 297 mm). Opening price: £3.81 on this page and £5.02 on the other. Go by the spot it is going in and how long it needs to last, then open both pages and compare the live totals.
Can I buy the Private Sign and other products in the same basket?
Yes. Different products, sizes and quantities can all sit in one basket, each as its own line with its own options. Delivery is charged once for the whole order, £7.95 to the UK mainland, and it is free when the goods reach £100 after discount codes. If two items share a design, choose the option to reuse artwork from another basket item and there is no second artwork fee. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81. Nothing is printed ahead of time: each sign is made to order for you.
Can a volunteer order without setting up an account?
Yes. There is a guest checkout, so a one-off order does not need a login. Payment is by debit or credit card, processed by Stripe. The confirmation email that follows lists everything bought and what was paid, which helps when you claim the money back from the group. What the page shows is what the group pays, plus any delivery. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all.
Can I send this sign back if I no longer need it?
Not for a change of mind. This sign is made for your order, and goods made to your specification fall outside the 14-day cancellation right (reg. 28(1)(b) of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013). You can still cancel and get all your money back before production begins. Anything faulty, damaged or wrong is covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and we reprint it or refund you. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all.
We need a few different designs. Do they each need their own order?
One checkout covers the lot. Add a basket line for every design, attach the right file to each, then pay once. You pay a single delivery charge of £7.95 for the whole order, or nothing if the goods add up to £100 or more. Repeating one design on another line? Choose the artwork choice that points to a file already in the basket, and no second design fee is charged. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81.
Who looks after me once I have bought the Private Sign?
You deal with FatPrint the whole way through. Once you order, somebody checks the artwork, the Private Sign is printed specially for your order, and a courier delivers it with a tracking link by email. Need to ask something along the way? Use the question box here or the Contact page and a real person answers.
Next year we will want the same sign again. Is reordering easy?
Yes. Treat it as a fresh order of the same item with the same settings, and attach the file you used last time. Keep a copy of the print file in a shared folder so whoever orders next year can find it. Change any details that have moved on, such as a new email address or this year's date, before uploading. Nothing is printed ahead of time: each sign is made to order for you. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all. On this page, Private Sign starts from £3.81.
The parcel turned up damaged. How do I sort it out?
Look everything over when it arrives. If something is damaged or missing, contact us within 48 hours through the contact form, with your order number and photos of both the item and the packaging. Please keep hold of it until we reply; we then sort out a reprint or a refund. Your legal rights stay the same, as the returns page sets out. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81. Choose Saver and this sign leaves us after 6 working days; Express brings that down to 2.
Can the Private Sign carry wording in two languages, for example English and Welsh?
A community centre or a surgery often wants every visitor to understand a notice, and this sign can do that. Tick typesetting for £15, then give us your wording in each language, already translated, since translation is not something we do. You get one first draft and two rounds of changes. Keep the same symbol and sign colours so nobody misreads it. Make the artwork for this sign the same size as the one you order, such as 200 × 50 mm. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all.
Some of our visitors have poor eyesight. Will this sign be easy for them to read?
Good contrast, a simple bold typeface and the right size for the reading distance make the biggest difference. Our standard safety designs already use the high-contrast colour combinations set out for safety signs. Put it at eye level in good light, away from reflections, and use as few words as possible. Make the artwork for this sign the same size as the one you order, such as 200 × 50 mm.
Does a Private Sign come upright or wide?
Landscape. "Private" is offered in 200 × 50, 250 × 75 and 297 × 100 mm. That shape is made for wide spaces, such as a fence panel, the wall above a door or a long corridor. If your spot needs the opposite, pick one of the paid design options and we re-lay it to suit.
What if 297 × 100 mm is still too small for the Private Sign?
The size list tops out at 297 × 100 mm, starting at £4.26. Anything bigger is priced on request: send the size, the material and how many through our quote form. A board over A0 counts as oversize for delivery, which adds £15 to the order once. Sizes for this sign go from 200 × 50 mm at the small end to 297 × 100 mm, 3 in all.
The spot gets full sun all afternoon. Could this sign warp in the heat?
It depends on the board. Foamex is foamed plastic, and a large, thin sheet in strong sun can curve, most of all when it is held only at the corners. Dibond sandwiches a core between aluminium skins and stays flat, which is why people choose it for signs that live outdoors for years. If you go with Foamex, fix it flat to a wall along its length or pick a thicker option. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex. Before delivery, this sign costs from £3.81. Material choices for Private Sign: 3mm Foamex, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or self-adhesive vinyl.
Could the Private Sign go on a door, say an office or classroom door?
It can, and the vinyl sticker version is the tidiest way to do it on a door or a glass panel. On a flat door, the 3mm Foamex board with foam tape on the back is a good alternative. Aim for eye height, either beside the door or on the side people push, so an open door does not hide it. Fire doors are different: ask the person responsible for the building before you drill into one. For this sign, the material can be self-adhesive vinyl, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or 3mm Foamex. Material choices for Private Sign: 3mm Foamex, 3mm Dibond aluminium composite or self-adhesive vinyl.
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