The difference between hoardings and billboards

Two types of advertising that are popular among businesses are billboards and hoardings. They have some factors in common – most notably their size – but they are not the same. This blog will break down the differences between them.

What hoardings are

Hoardings are large-scale boards that are made out of either metal or wood. The places where they will most often be seen are building sites, where they are used to screen off the site from the public. This means they serve a safety purpose – but they are also usually covered in advertising imagery and text. Because they stretch for a long distance, hoardings can feature ads that have multiple images or a genuine narrative.

What billboards are

Billboards are another form of advertising that is large in scale – although they are not as big as hoardings. They consist of a single vinyl sheet that is held up by a metal frame and that contains the printed advertisement. Places where you will see billboards include railway stations, city centres and roadsides. They are put up in spots that attract a lot of vehicle or pedestrian traffic.

Which should you choose?

This depends on the type of campaign you are running and the desired effect on the public.

Hoardings offer the chance to create a subtle and immersive blend of imagery and text, while billboards are ideal for simpler and punchier messaging. You can discuss both options with professionals before deciding.

At Ainsley Signs, we offer large format printing in Manchester that is perfect for billboards. Contact us now.