How to Measure a Sandwich Board Before Ordering a Custom Insert

To measure a sandwich board for a custom insert, measure the panel that fits in the frame, not the outside of the stand. Remove an existing insert if you can, record its width, height, and thickness, then check the frame’s rails or channels to see how the panel slides or fastens into place. Measure both faces if you plan to replace both panels.

A frame described as a 24 x 36 inch A-frame may not give you enough information to order safely. The outside size, visible opening, and removable panel can all be different. Legit Fast Printing offers a custom 24 x 36 inch sandwich board insert printed on 4mm rigid coroplast, so the key question before ordering is whether your frame accepts a panel of that size and thickness.

Know which part of the sandwich board you are measuring

A sandwich board, also called an A-frame sign, is the standing frame. An insert is the separate printed panel that goes into or onto that frame. The frame may cover part of the panel with rails, clips, or a border.

Keep these measurements separate:

• Outside frame size: The full width and height of the stand. Do not use this as the insert size.
• Visible opening: The part of the graphic you can see after the panel is installed. This helps you place text, but it may be smaller than the panel itself.
• Insert size: The actual width and height of the removable panel. This is the size you need to match when ordering a replacement.
• Panel thickness: The thickness the frame’s channel or fasteners can accept.

That distinction matters most with slide-in frames. A panel can extend behind the top, bottom, or side rails, so measuring only the visible area could lead you to order a replacement that is too small. Our guide to frame size versus insert size explains the difference in more detail.

What to have ready

• A tape measure or rigid ruler
• The current insert, if you still have it
• A place to record measurements for each face of the frame
• Your frame’s instructions or panel-size label, if available
• A photo of the rails, channels, or clips if the fit is hard to describe

Work on a stable surface. If the old panel is held by clips or fasteners, release them carefully rather than bending the panel out of the frame. Check the frame before you order, too. A bent rail or broken clip may affect how the new insert sits even if its dimensions are correct.

How to measure your existing A-frame insert

1. Remove the old panel and measure it flat

If the existing panel fits properly, it is your best starting point. Measure its full width from edge to edge and its full height from edge to edge. Record the dimensions as width x height, and note which edge goes at the top. Do not measure just the printed area or the portion visible inside the frame.

Look at the corners and edges while the panel is out. Is it a plain rectangle, or does it have holes, notches, or trimmed corners? A standard rectangular insert should not be treated as a direct replacement for a specially cut panel without checking the mounting details.

If the old insert is damaged, compare its edges with the frame before copying its size. A curled or worn edge may be hard to measure accurately. If it has always slipped or rattled, its dimensions may not be the ones you want to repeat.

2. Measure the space the panel occupies

Inspect the frame with the insert removed. For side channels, measure the available width where the panel sits and note whether it slides in from the top. For a panel retained by top and bottom rails, check how much of the panel those rails cover. For clips, note where they grip the edges.

Measure width near the top, middle, and bottom. Measure height near the left edge, center, and right edge. If those readings differ, record them all rather than assuming the frame is perfectly square. The narrowest point may limit what will fit, but the way the panel enters the frame matters as well. Do not guess at a final cut size by subtracting an arbitrary amount from the visible opening.

If there is no old insert, look for a frame label or instructions that state the intended panel dimensions. If you cannot find them, record the channel dimensions and take clear photos of how the panel would be installed before choosing a product size.

3. Check thickness and how the panel is held

Width and height alone do not guarantee a fit. An insert that is too thick may not enter a channel or close under a clip. A thinner panel might not sit securely in a frame designed for a thicker one.

Measure the old panel’s thickness if possible, or check the frame’s stated material requirement. Legit Fast Printing’s custom 24 x 36 inch A-frame insert is made from 4mm rigid coroplast. Check that your frame accepts a 4mm panel before ordering it.

Also note whether the frame uses slide-in channels, clips, screws, or another attachment method. If the old panel has mounting holes or unusual cuts, do not assume a rectangular printed insert will arrive with those features. The listed insert is the panel only, with no frame or hardware included.

4. Check each display face

Do not assume both sides of an older sandwich board are identical. Remove and measure each panel if you plan to replace both. Note whether the messages should match or differ, and which way each panel must face when installed.

The listed Legit Fast Printing insert has one-sided printing. If your frame holds one panel on each face and you want a printed message on both faces, plan for two inserts. Check the dimensions of both openings before selecting a quantity.

Will a 24 x 36 inch insert fit?

A 24 x 36 inch panel is an option for sandwich board frames built to accept that insert size. It is not a measurement you can safely infer from the frame’s overall height or from a product name alone. The match depends on the required panel width, required panel height, accepted thickness, and mounting method.

Before choosing the listed insert, confirm all of the following:

• The frame calls for a 24 x 36 inch removable panel, or a properly fitting old panel measures 24 x 36 inches.
• The frame accepts 4mm rigid corrugated plastic.
• The panel can be installed without holes, notches, or hardware that the insert does not include.
• You have counted the panels needed for the faces you want to print.

If one of those points is unclear, pause before ordering. A frame with a smaller panel area is not made compatible by trimming the artwork alone. If your board uses another size, gather the exact measurements and mounting details first. See our A-frame insert size guide for more on checking the fit.

Use the visible opening to plan your artwork

The full insert dimensions tell you what size panel to order. The visible opening tells you where your message can go. After reinstalling the old panel, look at how much of its edges the frame hides. Keep essential text, a phone number, a QR code, and any other critical details clear of those covered areas.

For printed signage people will read while passing a storefront or event entrance, focus on a short main message. A bold headline, clear contrast, and limited supporting text are easier to read than a crowded panel. Check the design from the direction people will approach the board, not just on a computer screen.

For example, imagine a shop using one face to say “Sale Today” and the other to direct visitors to the entrance. The layout can differ by face, but each panel still needs to fit its own side of the frame. If you are also ordering custom yard signs to guide people from a parking area, use the same clear wording across the printed signage so visitors can follow it easily.

Upload high-resolution artwork and spell-check the final message. Review dates, prices, contact details, and directions before ordering. A correctly sized insert will not fix a blurry image or a line of text hidden behind a rail.

Choose the right material, quantity, and location

Corrugated plastic is a practical material for temporary and repeated outdoor signage because it is lightweight and weather-resistant. The listed sandwich board insert uses 4mm rigid coroplast. Material choice still starts with fit: a panel must be compatible with the frame that holds it.

For quantity, count display faces, not just frames. A board with two panel holders needs two one-sided inserts to show a printed message in both directions. If one side faces a wall and will not be seen, one panel may meet your needs. For an event using several sandwich boards, record the message and panel count for each location before ordering.

Think about placement while designing. A board near a shop entrance may need a different message from a board at a parking turn. Set the frame where people can see it without blocking an entrance or pedestrian route, and follow the location’s rules for sidewalk signs. For a larger event, custom yard signs can carry directional messages along the route while a sandwich board delivers the main message at the destination.

Common ordering mistakes to avoid

• Ordering from the outside frame dimensions: Measure the removable panel or confirm the frame’s required insert size instead.
• Using the visible opening as the cut size: Rails may hide part of a larger panel.
• Checking only width and height: Confirm 4mm material works with your channels or clips before choosing the listed insert.
• Assuming both faces match: Measure each side if you are replacing both panels.
• Ordering one insert for two printed faces: The listed product is printed on one side.
• Overlooking mounting details: Record any holes, notches, or special edge shapes on the old panel.
• Putting text against the edge: Check which parts of the panel the frame will cover.

The quickest final check is to write one line for each panel: width x height, thickness, mounting method, printed face, and quantity. Compare those notes with the product details before you submit your artwork.

Frequently asked questions

Should I measure the sandwich board frame or the old insert?

Measure both, but use a properly fitting old insert to identify the panel’s full width, height, and thickness. Check the frame to confirm how that panel fits. Do not order using the stand’s outside dimensions alone.

Is the visible opening the same as the insert size?

Not necessarily. A frame’s rails can cover the panel’s edges. Use the full panel dimensions for sizing, and use the visible opening to decide where text and graphics should go.

Is every A-frame insert 24 x 36 inches?

No. A 24 x 36 inch insert fits frames designed for that panel size, but sandwich boards vary. Check your own frame and existing panel before ordering.

Does the sandwich board insert include a frame?

No. Legit Fast Printing’s listed 24 x 36 inch product is a printed insert only. The sandwich board frame and hardware are not included.

Do I need two inserts for a two-sided sandwich board?

If your frame holds a separate panel on each face and you want both faces printed, order two one-sided inserts. Measure both sides first.

What if my current insert has holes or notched corners?

Record their positions and check the frame’s mounting requirements before ordering. Do not assume a rectangular replacement panel includes pre-cut holes or notches.

What if I do not have the old panel?

Check the frame for a label or instructions stating its intended panel size. Then measure the channels and visible opening, note how a new panel would enter the frame, and confirm the accepted thickness before selecting an insert.

What artwork should I prepare?

Prepare high-resolution artwork sized for the panel, with important details placed where the frame will not cover them. Keep the message easy to read and check all spelling and contact details before ordering.

Measure first, then order

The right replacement is the panel that fits your particular frame, not simply one that looks close on a product page. Measure the old insert when available, check the frame’s opening and mounting method, confirm thickness, and count the faces you need to print.

Once those details match, Legit Fast Printing’s custom 24 x 36 inch coroplast A-frame insert offers a way to refresh an existing sandwich board with your own artwork and text, without ordering another frame.