What's the best way to order coordinated yard signs for a candidate slate with different names and offices?

Ordering coordinated yard signs for a slate of candidates with different names and offices is straightforward when you follow a step-by-step approach. The key is to keep the visual style unified, make each candidate clear, and ensure every sign meets your campaign’s needs for visibility and durability. Below you’ll find practical advice for every stage, based on real campaign experience and proven best practices used by Legit Fast Printing.

What Are Coordinated Slate Yard Signs?

Coordinated slate signs are a set of yard signs where every candidate gets their own sign, but all share the same style, color, and layout. Only the name and the office change. This makes the whole slate look connected while keeping messages clear.

How to Order Coordinated Signs for a Candidate Slate: Quick Guide

• Pick one design system: Use the same colors, fonts, and border for all signs.
• Choose a standard size: 18x24 inches is the most popular for campaign signs, but check if you need larger signs for highways or long names.
• Create versions: Make a separate version (a separate print file or product item) for each candidate and office.
• Keep it simple: Last name in large, bold letters, office title below. Three to five main elements is best.
• Order what you need: Plan your quantity based on placement locations plus a reserve of 10-15% for spares.

Step-By-Step: Placing Your Slate Yard Sign Order

1. Plan your slate layout
   • Pick your background color and font family.
   • Decide if you want a logo, endorsement, or slate name. Place these at the top or bottom so they don’t crowd the main info.
2. Settle on a sign size
   • Most campaigns use 18x24 inches.
   • Bigger roads may need 24x36 inches for more visibility. Check out our detailed guide on when to go bigger.
   • Small, budget-friendly signs (like 12x9 inches) work well for inner neighborhoods. For more on small sign uses, see our post on when small yard signs make sense.
3. Gather your candidate info
   • Have names and office titles exactly as you want them printed.
   • Collect any legal disclaimers required for your area.
4. Create a clean template for each sign
   • Keep the name large and bold, office easily visible below, and don’t overload with extra text.
   • Use high-contrast colors for easy readability from the street.
5. Send print-ready files
   • Each candidate is a unique file or product item to avoid mix-ups.
   • Our team at Legit Fast Printing can assist if you need help with design or formatting. Learn more about our free design help.
6. Order your batch
   • Add 10-15% reserve for later needs.
   • Bundle your order for volume discounts where possible.

Recommended Yard Sign Sizes and Materials

• Standard campaign sign: 18x24 inches
• Larger campaigns: 24x36 inches
• Budget/secondary locations: 12x18 or 12x9 inches

For slate campaigns, most use the same size for all candidates. If you need a custom size, larger options like 24x36 inches offer more room for long names or extra details.

The best material is corrugated plastic. It is weather-resistant, lightweight, and budget-friendly for both single signs and large batches. Legit Fast Printing uses 4mm rigid coroplast and fade-resistant inks to help your signs last through the whole campaign season.

Design Tips for Maximum Visibility

• Make the candidate’s last name the focus.
• Keep the office line clear ("for Mayor", "School Board").
• Use no more than 2-3 main colors.
• Match font, spacing, and borders across all signs to signal unity.
• Leave empty space so the design is easy to read from a distance.

Example Layouts:

• WILLIAMS
  for City Council
• CLARK
  for School Board
• LEE
  for Mayor

If you want to add a slate name or shared logo, keep it smaller, at the top or bottom border, so it does not compete with the main text.

Ordering Process with Legit Fast Printing

1. Select your design method:
   • Upload your artwork through the product page (see our Custom + Personalized Horizontal Yard Sign option).
   • Or email our team for design help or template advice.
2. Choose your size and quantity:
   • Order packs that fit your slate: 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 signs as needed.
   • Each candidate’s sign is its own item or print file to avoid mix-ups.
3. Confirm print details:
   • Proof for spelling, office titles, colors, and disclaimer lines.
   • Use high-resolution files to ensure your signs look crisp.
4. Submit and track your order:
   • Legit Fast Printing processes signs quickly and offers tracked shipping so you know when to expect delivery.

Placement Tips for Slate Signs

• Group signs together in high-traffic areas for strong slate branding.
• Keep spacing even so each sign is clearly visible.
• Don’t crowd too many signs on a small patch – it hurts readability.
• Corner lots and frontage offer best exposure.
• Give the highest name recognition sign the best spot in a group.

For more detailed advice, review our guide on placing campaign signs for maximum effect.

How Many Signs Should You Order?

• Estimate your target number of display spots.
• Multiply by the number of different candidate versions.
• Add 10-15% extra for replacements or late opportunities.

For example, if you want each of 3 candidates to have presence at 50 locations: 3 x 50 = 150 signs, add 10% (15), for a total of 165 signs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing different design styles or fonts for each candidate.
• Cramming all names on one sign – this reduces visibility for everyone.
• Tiny text that is not readable from the road.
• Adding too many slogans or logos that crowd the main message.
• Ordering without checking a mockup from a distance first.

Best Practices for Slate Yard Sign Orders

• Always have one unified design system for your slate.
• Keep the top line the same (logo or endorsement) where needed, but let office titles change.
• Focus on simplicity: large name, clear office, limited colors.
• Send individual design files for each candidate.
• Choose weather-resistant, sturdy materials for outdoor use (like corrugated plastic).
• Order early enough to proof, print, and distribute signs without feeling rushed.

Need more guidance? See our post on planning bulk campaign yard sign orders for detailed strategies.

Sample Product for Slate Campaigns

This product is ideal for campaigns that want a fast, reliable way to create a uniform slate. Upload each candidate’s design file, select size and quantity, and get professional, durable yard signs shipped quickly to your team.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Summary

For the most effective coordinated yard signs for a candidate slate, use a simple, unified design system with only the name and office changed for each candidate. Stick with standard sizes, choose weather-resistant corrugated plastic materials, and plan your quantity based on location and reserve needs. Legit Fast Printing supports every stage with expert design help, fast production, and premium materials so your campaign slate is ready to stand out.

If you’re ready to order, have questions, or need templates, you can start your coordinated slate order here or browse our full range of custom signs and printed signage options any time.