Calculating the square footage of a sign is a crucial step in ensuring you meet all the necessary requirements. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this simple, fun, and slightly quirky guide! Whether you’re a seasoned sign pro or just starting, here’s how to measure your sign’s square footage, even if it’s as irregular as a pizza slice.
The Simple Stuff: Height x Width
Let’s start with the basics. If your sign is a simple rectangle or square, all you need to do is multiply the height by the width. Easy peasy, right?
Example:
- Height: 4 feet
- Width: 6 feet
- Square Footage: 4 x 6 = 24 square feet
But What If Everything’s in Inches?
Sometimes, measurements come in inches only. In that case, you have two options. First, you can convert those inches to feet (because typically, every large sign is in feet and in square feet). There are 12 inches in a foot, so divide your measurements by 12.
Example:
- Height: 48 inches (which is 48 ÷ 12 = 4 feet)
- Width: 72 inches (which is 72 ÷ 12 = 6 feet)
- Square Footage: 4 x 6 = 24 square feet
Alternatively, you can multiply the height in inches by the width in inches, and then divide the total by 144 (since there are 144 square inches in a square foot).
Example:
- Height: 90 inches
- Width: 36 inches
- Calculation: 90 x 36 = 3240 square inches
- Square Footage: 3240 ÷ 144 = 22.5 square feet
Mixing Feet and Inches: No Problem!
Got measurements in a mix of feet and inches? No problem! Convert everything to feet first.
Example:
- Height: 3 feet 6 inches (which is 3 + 6/12 = 3.5 feet)
- Width: 5 feet 9 inches (which is 5 + 9/12 = 5.75 feet)
- Square Footage: 3.5 x 5.75 = 20.125 square feet
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The Irregular Shapes: Imaginary Boxes to the Rescue!
Now, let’s tackle those funky shapes. If your sign isn’t a perfect rectangle, draw an imaginary box around the whole thing. Measure the height and width of this box, then use the simple height x width formula. This won’t give you the exact area, but it’s usually close enough.
Example: Imagine a company logo with a unique shape and letters in different sizes. Draw a box around the logo, and another box around each block of text.
• Logo Box Height: 3 feet
• Logo Box Width: 5 feet
3 x 5 = 15 square feet.
• Text 1 Height: 2 feet
• Text 1 Width: 6 feet
2 x 6 = 12 square feet.
• Text 2 Height: 1 foot
• Text 2 Width: 4 feet
1 x 4 = 4 square feet.
Total Square Footage: 15 + 12 + 4 = 31 square feet.
This method can help to get a better optimization of the square footage of the sign; otherwise, the total of the sign as one single piece would be too much. Just be aware that many cities and local offices do not accept this method, so get informed.
Let’s Wrap It Up!
And there you have it! Measuring your sign’s square footage can be a breeze with these simple steps. Now that you’re equipped with this knowledge, you can confidently apply for your signage.
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Stay awesome and keep shining with your signs!