What size should safety signs be?

Why Safety Sign Size Matters

The main purpose of a safety sign is to communicate a clear message quickly and from a reasonable distance. The size of the sign affects:

• How far away the sign can be seen and understood.
• How easily people can recognise the symbol and read any text.
• Whether the sign stands out from its background and surroundings.

If a sign is too small for the viewing distance, it may be effectively invisible until it is too late to act. This is particularly important for fire exit signs, emergency escape route markers and hazard warnings.

Standards and Guidance on Sign Size

UK safety sign design is guided by standards such as BS 5499 and ISO 7010. These focus mainly on the symbols, colours and layout, but they also provide guidance on legibility and viewing distances.

There is no single “one size fits all” rule in law. Instead, the general principle is that safety signs must be:

• Clearly visible from the distance at which they need to be seen.
• Large enough that the symbol and any text can be recognised quickly.
• Appropriate for the environment (for example, larger in warehouses and car parks than in small offices).

Most UK safety sign manufacturers offer a range of standard sizes and provide guidance on typical viewing distances for each size.

Common Safety Sign Sizes

Although different suppliers may use slightly different ranges, typical safety sign sizes include:

• 100 x 100 mm – Small signs for close-up use, such as on doors, machines or equipment.
• 150 x 200 mm – Common size for many indoor warning, prohibition and mandatory signs.
• 200 x 300 mm – Widely used for general workplace safety signs and fire equipment signs.
• 300 x 400 mm – Suitable where signs need to be seen from further away, such as in warehouses or corridors.
• 400 x 600 mm and larger – Used for long viewing distances, large open areas, external locations and construction sites.

These sizes are often available in a choice of materials, such as self-adhesive vinyl, rigid plastic, aluminium composite and photoluminescent options.

Viewing Distance and Legibility

As a general rule, the further away people need to see a sign, the larger it should be. A simple way to think about this is:

• Small signs (around 100 x 100 mm) – Best for viewing at a few metres or less.
• Medium signs (around 200 x 300 mm) – Suitable for typical indoor viewing distances of 5–10 metres.
• Large signs (300 x 400 mm and above) – Better for longer distances, large rooms, warehouses and external areas.

Text size also matters. If you add wording to a sign, the letters must be large enough to read from the intended viewing distance. In many cases, relying mainly on the standard ISO 7010 symbol and using minimal text helps improve quick recognition.

Fire Exit and Escape Route Sign Sizes

Fire exit and escape route signs are particularly important, because they must be visible in an emergency, often in low light or smoky conditions. For this reason, they are usually larger than other safety signs and often photoluminescent (glow in the dark).

Typical sizes for fire exit signs include:

• 150 x 300 mm – Suitable for small rooms and short corridors where viewing distances are modest.
• 200 x 400 mm – Commonly used in offices, corridors and stairwells.
• 300 x 600 mm – Used in larger spaces, warehouses, factories and long escape routes.

When choosing fire exit sign sizes, consider:

• The length of the escape route and how far away the sign needs to be seen.
• Obstructions such as racking, partitions or doorways that may block the view.
• Whether additional repeater signs or directional arrows are needed along the route.

Indoor vs Outdoor Safety Sign Sizes

Indoor signs are usually viewed at shorter distances, so medium sizes are often sufficient. Outdoor signs, or signs in large open areas, may need to be significantly larger to remain effective.

For example:

• External construction safety signs may need to be 400 x 600 mm or larger so they can be seen from the road or site entrance.
• Car park and traffic management signs often require larger formats so drivers can read them in time to react safely.
• Perimeter warning signs (for example, “CCTV in operation” or “Private property”) may need to be visible from the boundary or approach road.

Outdoor signs should also be made from durable materials, such as aluminium composite, and designed to withstand UK weather conditions.

Choosing the Right Size for Your Workplace

When deciding what size your safety signs should be, it helps to walk the area and ask a few simple questions:

• From where do people need to see this sign?
• Is the view clear, or are there obstructions such as shelving, machinery or doors?
• Is the area well lit, or could lighting be poor at times?
• Is the sign for staff who know the site well, or for visitors and contractors who may be unfamiliar with the layout?

If in doubt, it is usually better to choose a slightly larger sign, particularly for critical messages such as fire exits, emergency equipment and serious hazards.

Custom Sizes and Special Locations

Standard sizes work well in most situations, but there are times when a custom size is useful. Examples include:

• Narrow columns or beams where a standard sign will not fit.
• Unusual mounting heights or angles, such as overhead gantries or suspended signs.
• Large open spaces where extra-large signage is required for long viewing distances.

Many UK safety sign manufacturers can produce custom-sized signs to match your specific requirements while still using BS 5499 and ISO 7010 compliant symbols.

Summary

There is no single legal size for every safety sign, but there is a clear expectation that signs must be large enough to be seen and understood from the distance at which they are needed. In practice, this means:

• Using smaller signs for close-up applications on doors, equipment and machinery.
• Choosing medium to large signs for general workplace safety messages.
• Selecting larger, often photoluminescent signs for fire exits and escape routes.
• Using extra-large signs for outdoor areas, construction sites and traffic routes.

By matching the size of your safety signs to the environment and viewing distance, and by using designs that comply with BS 5499 and ISO 7010, you can help ensure that your signage is both compliant and effective in keeping people safe.