There is no single standard billboard size in South Africa. Faces are built to suit the structure, the site and what the approving authority allows, and different media owners use their own formats. That said, a handful of sizes come up repeatedly, and knowing them helps you plan artwork and budget before you ask for a quotation.
This guide explains the usual formats, why the size you want is not always the size you can build, and what changes when you move from a small face to a large one.
Common formats
A 6 m x 3 m face is a familiar suburban and urban format, often used on rotating campaigns and smaller structures. A 12 m x 3 m face is a wide landscape format seen on longer sites and frontage positions. An 18 m x 6 m face is a super billboard scale used on major roads and large structures, and it demands far heavier steel, foundations and lifting. These are examples, not a fixed list, and a site may call for a different proportion altogether.
- Landscape faces suit highways and wide sight lines, where the viewer sees the whole face as they approach
- Portrait faces suit business districts and slower traffic, where the structure stands tall and narrow
- Wide strip faces suit building frontages and long boundary walls
- Digital faces follow the screen module layout, so the final size comes from the module arrangement
Why size is driven by the site
The approving authority may limit face area and height, particularly near freeways or in sensitive areas. Wind exposure matters too, because a large flat face acts as a sail, and the foundation and column must be designed for it. The footprint available, the ground and the distance from the road also decide how big a structure can sensibly be.
For that reason, the size should be confirmed alongside the structure type. See billboard types for how unipoles, monopoles and others carry faces of different sizes.
Size and viewing distance
A face is read from a distance, so its size needs to match the speed of the traffic and how far away the viewer first sees it. On a fast road, fewer words and larger lettering carry better than a crowded layout. On a slow urban road a smaller face can work with more detail. If you are unsure, our team can advise during the site survey.
Some sites are limited by height more than width, so a slightly smaller face on a taller structure may clear a sight line that a wider face would not.
Size, printing and flighting
Your face size sets the skin dimensions, the allowance for tensioning or fixing, and the number of panels or the single piece required. Large faces are often printed in sections and joined, which affects where the artwork seams fall. Check the artwork requirements before you design, and see billboard flighting for installation.
Choosing a size
Start with the site and the authority's limits, then pick the largest face that fits both and still reads well from the approach. If you are renting, the sizes on offer are confirmed at enquiry, as they depend on available sites. Send your details through the quote form and we will confirm the size and structure that suit.
Once the size is confirmed, the structure, foundation, printing material and installation method follow, and the quotation reflects each of them.
If you are renting space instead of building, sizes depend on the sites available at the time of enquiry.
At a glance
This billboard sizes guide explains common billboard sizes in South Africa and how to choose between them. Examples include 6 m x 3 m suburban faces, wide 12 m x 3 m landscape faces and large 18 m x 6 m super billboard formats, though the right size depends on the structure, the site and the limits set by the approving authority. Landscape, portrait and digital module layouts each suit different roads, business districts and viewing speeds.
The guide covers how face area affects wind loading, foundations, steel, lifting, skin printing and flighting, and why a billboard size must be confirmed alongside the structure type. Whether you plan a roadside site in Gauteng, a highway face near Johannesburg or a building frontage in Sandton, send your site details through the quote form and we will confirm which billboard size suits your location and campaign. We confirm sizes on your quotation. We also explain how to match a face to the road, the viewing distance and the structure in Midrand, Centurion or Cape Town. Send photographs and the position you have in mind, and we will recommend a size.
Common questions
What is the most common billboard size?
Sizes vary by media owner and site. A 6 m x 3 m face is a familiar example, and 12 m x 3 m and 18 m x 6 m are other examples.
Can I choose any size I like?
Not always. The approving authority, the structure, the wind loading and the site limit what can be built.
Does a bigger face cost more?
Generally the structure, foundation, lifting and printing all grow with size. Costs are confirmed on your quotation.
What size are digital billboards?
Digital faces follow the screen module layout, so the size is set by how the modules are arranged.
How do I know which size suits my site?
Send your site details and photographs and we will advise on structure and face size.
