How to Hang a Banner (So It Actually Stays Up)
Banners are hanging everywhere — at birthday parties, sporting events, schools, hospitals, and storefronts. If you have the right materials and know a few tricks, hanging a banner is easy.
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Maybe you purchased an awesome-looking printed banner, and now you have to figure out how to hang it on the wall. If you want to hang a banner without the hassle of grommets or double-sided tape, try Banner Ups banner finishing solution using these easy steps.
How to Hang Banners — Instructions
1
STICK
Peel and stick Banner Ups adhesive tabs onto the corners of the banner. The industrial adhesive bonds instantly to vinyl, mesh, and fabric.
2
TAPE
If outdoors, run PowerTape along the back edges of the banner to create a clean, reinforced hem in seconds.
3
PUNCH
Use the PowerPunch to punch a clean hole through the tab and tape in one quick motion.
4
HANG
Run rope or zip tie through the hole and hang your banner. Ready to face wind, rain, and sun without tearing out at the corners.
Gather Your Materials
Before you begin, you’ll need to gather your materials. The supplies are inexpensive and easy to find. You will need:
- A vinyl banner
- Banner Ups tabs or grommets
- Hanging material (twine, rope, bungee, zip ties, etc.)
- Adhesive tape
- Tape measure
Straighten the banner before you start. Unroll it and lay it out on a flat surface, preferably right after removing it from its packaging. Smooth out any wrinkles by hand or with a squeegee. Check for holes or tears near seams where they might have come loose during shipping or storage.
Make sure your vinyl banner is suited for the area in which it will be hung. For windy environments, use either a mesh banner or a thicker 18oz banner — these types will disperse the wind load leading to less tearing at the corners.
Inside or Outside?
Is the banner going inside or outside? Inside banners only need tabs or grommets, but if the banner goes outside you will want additional support around the banner edges.
Typically, double-sided hemming tape is used to fold all four edges of the banner, and then a grommet is punched in the corners. Hemming double-sided tape takes time and can be a hassle when trying to line up the fold.
Banner Ups Adhesive Tab Method
The Banner Ups adhesive banner tabs allow you to hang any banner without having to install grommets or purchase an expensive grommet, sewing, or welding machine. Banner Ups products are made from strong polymer materials coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive — very strong plastic pieces that stick to the corners and edges of banners. Just peel, stick, and punch a hole through the tab, and your banner is ready to hang.
For larger banners, Banner Ups PowerTape can be used to get the strength of a sewn or welded hem — and more — without the time or expense. The adhesive tabs are not only faster and easier to install compared to grommets, they are stronger too. The tabs cover a larger surface area on the banner, spreading the wind force throughout the tab, letting your banner hold up against the strongest winds.
We tested banners with our tabs and tape in a wind tunnel and had the banner hold up at a windy 98 mph!
Grommet Method
A common banner hanger is to use grommets — metal rings placed along the corners and edges of banners. To install grommets you will need a grommet machine, which can cost a few hundred dollars and can be hard on your arms and back. Once the grommet is punched into the corners, you use rope, zip ties, or bungees to hang the banner.
Grommets are usually made of metal and look strong but, used by themselves without reinforcement, they can easily tear out of banners in windy conditions. To prevent this, you must reinforce with a hem by double-sided tape, sewing, or welding — all time-consuming, and the last two require expensive equipment.
What to Use to Hang Banners
- Rope: The easiest option. Tie one end around your pole and use the other end to secure your banner. Best for permanent or semi-permanent installations.
- Bungee cords: Allow for flexibility and stretching on the corners. Give banners some flex in high winds — ensure there is no over-stretching to make the banner too taut, as this may cause adhesive slipping.
- Zip ties: Secure and easy to use. Preferred method for hanging along chain-link fences and indoor banners.
How to Hang a Banner on a Wall (Without Damage)
Hanging a banner on a wall — an interior wall, a storefront, or a trade-show booth — is mostly about choosing a mount that holds the banner flat without punching holes in the wall or the banner. Here is how to do it damage-free.
- Removable mounting adhesive. EZ SpotOn Duo bonds a banner to smooth walls, glass, and storefronts, then peels away clean — no residue, no paint damage.
- Reclosable fasteners. EZ Mount uses 3M Dual Lock so you can take a banner down and rehang it as often as you like — ideal for banners you rotate.
- Reinforce the banner first. Add adhesive tabs at the corners so the mount grabs a solid, reinforced edge instead of thin vinyl that can stretch or tear.
- Skip the wall-wreckers. Nails, screws, and staples damage both the wall and the banner, and cheap packing tape pulls paint off when you remove it.
How do you hang a banner on a wall without damaging it?
Use a removable mounting adhesive or reclosable hook-and-loop strips instead of nails, screws, or packing tape. Reinforce the banner’s corners with adhesive tabs so the mount holds a solid edge, and the banner comes down clean with no holes in the wall.
What is the best way to hang a banner on a wall?
Reinforce the corners with tabs, then mount with removable adhesive (interior walls, glass) or Dual Lock strips (for banners you rehang). Keep the banner taut enough to sit flat, but not so tight that the corners pull loose over time.
At the end of the day, most people find that grommets require a significant investment of time and equipment to install — and they often still fail. With the Banner Ups method, banners have never been easier to hang. If you have any questions about using any Banner Ups products, please contact us at 1-618-281-8090.
