# Billboard Sizes: Standard Dimensions Chart (2026)

URL: https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-sizes
Type: Explainer · Published: 2026-10-08 · Updated: 2026-10-08 · By: Gabie Research

Short answer: The most common billboard is the bulletin, at 14 feet high by 48 feet wide (672 square feet). Smaller bulletins run 10'6" x 36'. A 30-sheet poster shows 10'5" x 22'8" of copy, and a junior poster shows 5' x 11'. Spectaculars run 20' x 60' or bigger. Digital billboards use the same footprints; a digital bulletin's art is 1,400 x 400 pixels.

Key takeaways:
- A bulletin is 14' x 48', or 672 square feet. Smaller bulletins are 10'6" x 36' and 10' x 40'.
- A 30-sheet poster's printed area is 10'5" x 22'8". A junior (8-sheet) poster's is 5' x 11'.
- Vinyl is bigger than the face. Lamar adds 6 inches of bleed on every side of a bulletin.
- Digital boards use the same sizes. Lamar's digital bulletin art is 1,400 x 400 pixels.
- Road signs use 1 inch of letter height for every 30 feet of reading distance.

The standard billboard is a [bulletin](https://gabie.ai/glossary/bulletin) that is 14 feet high and 48 feet wide. That is 672 square feet of ad space ([Lamar](https://lamar.com/products/posters)). Posters and junior posters are smaller. Spectaculars and wallscapes are bigger and often custom. Each size below is the copy area, also called the live area. That is the part people see.

## What are the standard billboard sizes?

The [OAAA](https://oaaa.org/resources/bulletins/) is the US trade group for out of home ads. It lists the formats below. Sizes are height by width.

| Format | Copy area (H x W) | Square feet | Where it stands | Who sees it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulletin | 14' x 48' | 672 | Highways and main roads | Mostly drivers |
| Bulletin | 10'6" x 36' | 378 | Main roads | Mostly drivers |
| Bulletin | 10' x 40' | 400 | Main roads | Mostly drivers |
| Spectacular | 20' x 60' or 16' x 60' | 1,200 or 960 | Downtowns, big interchanges | Drivers and walkers |
| 30-sheet poster | 10'5" x 22'8" | about 236 | Main local roads | Drivers and walkers |
| Junior poster (8-sheet) | 5' x 11' | 55 | Just above eye level, city streets | Walkers and slow traffic |
| Wallscape | No set size | Varies | Sides of buildings | Seen from blocks away |

Sources: [OAAA bulletins](https://oaaa.org/resources/bulletins/), [OAAA posters](https://oaaa.org/resources/posters/), [OAAA junior posters](https://oaaa.org/resources/jr-posters/), [OUTFRONT wallscapes](https://outfront.com/media/billboard-advertising/wallscapes). Square feet are rounded.

## How big is a bulletin?

Most bulletins are 14' x 48'. OAAA also lists 10'6" x 36' and 10' x 40' as standard. Bulletins sit on major roads, and most of their viewers are in cars. OAAA says you can find them in every state except Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and Vermont.

The vinyl is bigger than the face. Lamar adds 6 inches of [bleed](https://gabie.ai/glossary/bleed) on every side. That makes the vinyl 1 foot taller and 1 foot wider than the face ([Lamar spec sheet](https://resources.lamar.com/SMCoreServices/public/materials/pdf/reports/specsheet/202/60228/)). The extra wraps around the frame.

Bulletins tend to run a long time. Clear Channel sells printed bulletins for runs of 16 weeks or more ([Clear Channel Outdoor](https://clearchanneloutdoor.com/products/bulletins/)). Lamar also sells [rotary bulletins](https://gabie.ai/glossary/rotary-bulletin). These move the same ad to a new spot every 60 days (OAAA).

## How big is a poster billboard?

A 30-sheet [poster](https://gabie.ai/glossary/poster) has a total area of 125 x 272 inches ([OAAA](https://oaaa.org/resources/posters/)). That is 10'5" x 22'8". Posters stand on main local roads in shopping and work areas. People in cars and on foot both see them.

The print must fit the frame exactly. Lamar's finished poster is 10'6.5" x 22'9.5". Lamar says any other size will not fit ([Lamar poster spec](https://resources.lamar.com/SMCoreServices/public/materials/pdf/reports/specsheet/208/2351/)). Posters usually run in four-week periods ([Clear Channel Outdoor](https://clearchanneloutdoor.com/products/posters)).

Some sellers list a poster by its panel, not its printed area. Lamar's annual report gives its most common poster panel as 11' x 23'. That is 253 square feet ([Lamar 10-K](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090425/000109042526000008/lamr-20251231.htm)). The printed copy inside that panel is still 10'5" x 22'8". Always ask for the live area before you design.

## How big is a junior poster?

A [junior poster](https://gabie.ai/glossary/junior-poster), also called an 8-sheet, shows 5' x 11' of copy ([OAAA](https://oaaa.org/resources/jr-posters/)). It sits just above eye level. Some stand alone and some hang on buildings. They work in city neighborhoods and on smaller roads.

Lamar's finished junior poster is 5'2" x 11'2" ([Lamar junior poster spec](https://resources.lamar.com/SMCoreServices/public/materials/pdf/reports/specsheet/271/1594)). The vinyl is 2 inches larger each way. The panel is often 6' x 12'. North Carolina's tax guide lists 6' x 12' as a standard face ([NC Department of Revenue](https://www.ncdor.gov/2026-billboard-structures-valuation-guide-final-securedpdf/open)).

A junior poster and a 30-sheet have close to the same shape. Each is about 2.2 times as wide as it is tall. So one design often scales to both.

## What about spectaculars and wallscapes?

[Spectaculars](https://gabie.ai/glossary/spectacular) are custom builds. They may use lights, video, motion or 3D parts. OAAA says they stand where crowds gather, like Times Square ([OAAA](https://oaaa.org/resources/spectaculars/)). The common sizes are 20' x 60' and 16' x 60'.

[Wallscapes](https://gabie.ai/glossary/wallscape) are ads on the sides of buildings. Each one fits its own wall, so there is no set size. OUTFRONT says a standard flight is four weeks ([OUTFRONT](https://outfront.com/media/billboard-advertising/wallscapes)).

## What size is a digital billboard?

[Digital billboards](https://gabie.ai/glossary/digital-billboard) use the same footprints as printed ones ([OAAA](https://oaaa.org/resources/digital-billboards/)). What changes is the art. You send pixels, not inches.

| Digital format | Physical size | Art size |
|---|---|---|
| Digital bulletin | 14' x 48' or 10'6" x 36' | 1,400 x 400 pixels at Lamar |
| Digital poster | Same as a printed poster | Varies by screen |

Lamar asks for digital bulletin art at 1,400 x 400 pixels. It also asks for text at least 15 inches tall ([Lamar digital spec](https://resources.lamar.com/SMCoreServices/public/materials/pdf/reports/specsheet/30/80031)). Screens differ, so always get the operator's spec sheet. On a digital face, six to eight ads often share one loop. Each ad shows for six to eight seconds. See [digital billboard cost](https://gabie.ai/learn/digital-billboard-cost) for how that is sold.

## How far away can people read a billboard?

Road sign engineers use a simple rule. Use 1 inch of letter height for every 30 feet of [viewing distance](https://gabie.ai/glossary/viewing-distance) ([FHWA MUTCD](https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Edition/Chapter2a.pdf)). The rule is for traffic signs, but it is a good start for ads.

| Letter height | Readable from about |
|---|---|
| 6 inches | 180 feet |
| 12 inches | 360 feet |
| 15 inches | 450 feet |
| 24 inches | 720 feet |
| 36 inches | 1,080 feet |

Glare, speed and busy scenes cut these numbers. Short words and strong contrast help. Try the [legibility calculator](https://gabie.ai/tools/billboard-legibility-calculator) to check a design.

## Which size should you pick?

Pick the size for the road and the reader.

- **Fast highway traffic:** a bulletin. It is big enough to read at speed.
- **Local reach on a budget:** posters. You can buy many at once.
- **Walkers and city blocks:** junior posters at eye level.
- **One big moment downtown:** a spectacular or a wallscape.

Size also sets price. See [how much a billboard costs](https://gabie.ai/learn/how-much-does-a-billboard-cost) for rates by format. The [size chart tool](https://gabie.ai/tools/billboard-size-chart) lists each format side by side.

> How Gabie handles this: Gabie Studio opens a design canvas at the face's exact size. It shows a 6-inch bleed, a trim line and a safe area. Gabie Inventory keeps each face's size on record, so reps can search by size band. See [Gabie Studio](https://gabie.ai/platform/studio).

## Questions people ask
### What is the standard billboard size?
The standard billboard is a bulletin, 14 feet high by 48 feet wide. That is 672 square feet. The OAAA also lists 10'6" x 36' and 10' x 40' bulletins.

### How big is a poster billboard?
A 30-sheet poster has a total area of 10'5" x 22'8" (125 x 272 inches), per the OAAA. Lamar's finished poster, with bleed, is 10'6.5" x 22'9.5".

### How big is a junior poster or 8-sheet billboard?
A junior poster shows 5 feet by 11 feet of copy. The panel around it is often 6' x 12'. Junior posters sit just above eye level on city streets.

### What size is a digital billboard?
Digital billboards use the same footprints as printed ones. Lamar asks for digital bulletin art at 1,400 x 400 pixels and text at least 15 inches tall. Pixel counts vary by screen, so ask for the spec sheet.

### How big should the letters on a billboard be?
The federal road sign manual uses 1 inch of letter height per 30 feet of reading distance. By that rule, 15-inch letters read from about 450 feet away.

## Sources
1. Bulletins, OAAA. https://oaaa.org/resources/bulletins/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
2. Posters, OAAA. https://oaaa.org/resources/posters/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
3. JR Posters, OAAA. https://oaaa.org/resources/jr-posters/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
4. Spectaculars, OAAA. https://oaaa.org/resources/spectaculars/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
5. Digital Billboards, OAAA. https://oaaa.org/resources/digital-billboards/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
6. Billboard Advertising: Bulletins, Posters and Junior Posters, Lamar Advertising. https://lamar.com/products/posters (accessed 2026-10-08)
7. Static Poster Spec Sheet, Panel 2351 (updated 10/2026), Lamar Advertising. https://resources.lamar.com/SMCoreServices/public/materials/pdf/reports/specsheet/208/2351/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
8. Static Jr. Poster Spec Sheet, Panel 1594 (updated 10/2026), Lamar Advertising. https://resources.lamar.com/SMCoreServices/public/materials/pdf/reports/specsheet/271/1594 (accessed 2026-10-08)
9. 10' x 30' Bulletin Spec Sheet, Panel 60228 (updated 10/2026), Lamar Advertising. https://resources.lamar.com/SMCoreServices/public/materials/pdf/reports/specsheet/202/60228/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
10. Digital Display Bulletin Spec Sheet, Panel 80031 (updated 10/2026), Lamar Advertising. https://resources.lamar.com/SMCoreServices/public/materials/pdf/reports/specsheet/30/80031 (accessed 2026-10-08)
11. Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025, Lamar Advertising Company (SEC filing). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090425/000109042526000008/lamr-20251231.htm (accessed 2026-10-08)
12. Posters and Junior Posters, Clear Channel Outdoor. https://clearchanneloutdoor.com/products/posters (accessed 2026-10-08)
13. Bulletins, Clear Channel Outdoor. https://clearchanneloutdoor.com/products/bulletins/ (accessed 2026-10-08)
14. Wallscape Advertising, OUTFRONT Media. https://outfront.com/media/billboard-advertising/wallscapes (accessed 2026-10-08)
15. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition, Chapter 2A (December 2023), Federal Highway Administration. https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Edition/Chapter2a.pdf (accessed 2026-10-08)
16. 2026 Billboard Structures Valuation Guide, North Carolina Department of Revenue. https://www.ncdor.gov/2026-billboard-structures-valuation-guide-final-securedpdf/open (accessed 2026-10-08)