A roller banner is a printed graphic on a spring-loaded roller inside a base, with a pole that holds it upright. They all look similar in a photo; the differences show up on the tenth setup.

What actually differs between banners

The base. A wider, heavier base resists knocks and keeps the graphic vertical. Very light bases save a kilo in your car and fall over in a draughty hall.

The pole. Three-section poles with a bungee cord are quicker and more rigid than telescopic poles, which slip under load and let the top edge sag.

The material. Standard 440gsm PVC is fine for occasional use. A grey-back polypropylene or a stop-curl laminate resists the tube curl that develops when a banner lives rolled up between events, and it blocks light so the graphic does not glow when there is a window behind it.

Artwork rules that matter

  • Design at 850 x 2000mm for a standard unit, plus around 100mm extra at the bottom that rolls into the cassette and is never seen.
  • Keep everything important between 900mm and 1700mm from the floor. That is eye level. The bottom 800mm is behind people, chairs and tables at every event you will ever attend.
  • One message. Someone reads a roller banner in about three seconds from three metres away. A headline, three short lines and a way to get in touch is the ceiling.
  • Minimum type size 24pt, and larger for the headline — 100pt or more is normal at this scale.
  • 150dpi at full size is enough. Vector logos and text stay sharp at any size.

Setting it up so it stays straight

Put the base on a level surface, extend the pole fully before lifting the graphic, then pull the banner up in one steady motion rather than in stages. Clip the top rail on before releasing tension. If the graphic leans, the pole is not fully seated in the base socket — that is the cause nine times out of ten.

Looking after it

Roll it away after every event; leaving it standing overnight stretches the material. Store it upright in its bag, never flat under something heavy, and never in a hot car boot in summer, which is what causes permanent curl. Wipe marks off with a damp cloth only — solvents lift the print.

When to choose something else

Outdoors, use a teardrop flag instead. Roller banners are indoor products; the first gust turns one into a sail. For a market stall or an outdoor event, a PVC banner with eyelets or a printed gazebo will survive where a roller banner will not.