Can I print both sides of an 18oz blockout banner?

Yes — the opaque core is what makes double-sided printing possible without show-through. Request a quote for double-sided and we will price it for your exact size.

How long does an 18oz blockout banner last outdoors?

Three to five years is typical for a properly tensioned install. The material will outlast the inks slightly; expect gentle fading only after year three in full southern sun.

Is 18oz blockout wind-resistant?

It is far more tear-resistant than 13oz, but any solid banner still catches wind. For sites with sustained wind over 25 mph, mesh is the correct choice — or add wind-relief by mounting on a rigid frame.

Why is blockout more expensive than standard vinyl?

There is simply more material — two PVC faces, a blockout core and a heavier scrim — and it takes longer to hem and weld. The price difference is usually small relative to the added lifespan.

Can I get grommets on an 18oz banner?

Yes. Grommets are optional on this product (hemming is included). Choose 4-corner, every-24" all sides, or top-and-bottom only in the configurator.

Does blockout vinyl work in a window?

It is the only banner material that does. Standard vinyl goes translucent with daylight behind it; blockout stays fully opaque so the graphic reads from the street.

18oz Blockout Vinyl Banners — When Standard Vinyl Isn't Tough Enough

What "blockout" means and why it matters

Standard 13oz vinyl is translucent. Hold it up to the sun and you can see light through it — which means a banner hung in a window, against the sky, or anywhere with light behind it looks washed out. Blockout vinyl solves this with an opaque black or grey core laminated between two white PVC faces. No light passes through, so your colours stay saturated from either side, in any lighting. Our Most Durable 18oz Blockout banner adds reinforced scrim fibres to that core for the highest tear strength of any banner we print.

Configure an 18oz Blockout Banner →

13oz vs 18oz — do I actually need the upgrade?

Ask yourself three questions. Will the banner be up for more than a season? Is there light behind it? Is the location windy, coastal or exposed to freeze-thaw? One "yes" and 18oz is worth the modest premium. Three "no"s and 13oz will do the job for less.

Choose 13oz for: events, grand openings, seasonal promos, anything under 90 days on a solid wall.
Choose 18oz blockout for: street-pole banners, building wraps, construction and scaffolding fencing, coastal or high-wind sites, window installs, and anything that must look new for two or more years.

How big can a blockout banner go?

A single seamless piece prints up to 10 ft on the short side and 145 ft long. Beyond that we heat-weld panels — a welded seam on 18oz is stronger than the surrounding material and virtually invisible from 10 ft away. Oversized building wraps are quoted individually so we can plan seam placement around your artwork.

Hanging a heavy banner safely

18oz vinyl is roughly 40% heavier than 13oz. A 4 × 20 ft blockout banner weighs around 10 lb before hardware. Plan the install accordingly:

Use grommets every 24" (or closer on the top edge for anything over 12 ft long) and tension evenly — a sagging banner catches wind like a sail.
For light poles, order top-and-bottom pole pockets and use the pole's bracket arms. Do not zip-tie a pole banner through grommets; the wind will win.
Use steel-cored bungee ties rather than plastic zip ties on long-term installs. UV makes zip ties brittle within a year.
On chain-link fence, install with the printed face toward the prevailing wind so the fence supports the banner instead of the grommets alone.

Shipping — rolled or folded?

Banners 88" or under on the shortest side ship rolled on a tube and arrive crease-free. Banners 89" or larger ship folded; 18oz vinyl relaxes fully within 24 hours once hung in warm weather, or faster with a hair dryer on low along the fold lines. Never iron vinyl.

File prep for 18oz

Identical to our other banners: CMYK PDF, TIFF, AI, EPS or PSD at 150 DPI full size, 1" bleed, and keep critical text 2" in from the edge. Because blockout banners tend to be large, design at 1:4 scale and export at 600 DPI — the math works out to 150 DPI at full size. Our pre-press team checks every file before printing and will email you if anything is off.

Turnaround and delivery

Standard production is 2 business days, with next-business-day rush available. Order before 11 AM Central to start production the same day. Every banner ships from Houston, TX and reaches most of the continental US in 1 – 3 business days by ground.

Compare all banner materials →

Frequently asked questions

Can I print both sides of an 18oz blockout banner?: Yes — the opaque core is what makes double-sided printing possible without show-through. Request a quote for double-sided and we will price it for your exact size.
How long does an 18oz blockout banner last outdoors?: Three to five years is typical for a properly tensioned install. The material will outlast the inks slightly; expect gentle fading only after year three in full southern sun.
Is 18oz blockout wind-resistant?: It is far more tear-resistant than 13oz, but any solid banner still catches wind. For sites with sustained wind over 25 mph, mesh is the correct choice — or add wind-relief by mounting on a rigid frame.
Why is blockout more expensive than standard vinyl?: There is simply more material — two PVC faces, a blockout core and a heavier scrim — and it takes longer to hem and weld. The price difference is usually small relative to the added lifespan.
Can I get grommets on an 18oz banner?: Yes. Grommets are optional on this product (hemming is included). Choose 4-corner, every-24" all sides, or top-and-bottom only in the configurator.
Does blockout vinyl work in a window?: It is the only banner material that does. Standard vinyl goes translucent with daylight behind it; blockout stays fully opaque so the graphic reads from the street.