Specify sign holes by their position, count, diameter and distance from the board edges to each hole centre. “Two holes near the top” leaves too much open to interpretation. A measured specification lets you compare the order diagram with your fixing plan before the board is drilled.
This guide explains the Custom holes controls offered on supported sign products. It describes how to communicate the machining request, not how to design a safe building installation. The person responsible for mounting must choose suitable hardware, support and clearances for the actual board and location.
Choose the board size before placing holes
Start with the finished width and height in the sign configurator. Check the units and orientation before selecting mounting. Hole positions are measured against these dimensions, so changing the board size can change the available diameter, spacing and opposite-edge measurements.
Under the supported mounting choices, select Custom holes, or a holes-with-hardware option if that is what you require. Holes alone do not include screws or standoffs. Read the selected option and final order summary rather than copying the hardware shown in an illustrative photograph.
For a whole room-identification project, the door, toilet and table-number sign guide also covers wording, materials and different mounting choices.
Select a position pattern, then the count
The Hole position choices describe the arrangement of the centres. Choose the pattern that matches your plan, then review which values are editable and which the form calculates.
| Position choice | Arrangement | How the count works |
|---|---|---|
| Top row | A horizontal row near the top | Enter the count; centres are evenly spaced between the left and right positions |
| Middle row | A horizontal row halfway down the board | Enter the count; the top and bottom distances are half the board height |
| Bottom row | A horizontal row near the bottom | Enter the count; the opposite top distance is calculated |
| Four corners | One hole near each corner | Fixed at four holes |
| Around the edges | Holes along all four edges | Calculated from the board size, edge distances and maximum spacing |
For Around the edges, the starting maximum spacing is 300mm. The system distributes holes along each edge without exceeding the selected maximum and counts shared corners once. It does not simply divide the perimeter by 300 and round the answer. Review the resulting count and drawing after every change.
The form accepts up to 200 holes. If the requested spacing needs more than that, increase the spacing or discuss the specification before ordering. A count limit is a machining limit, not a recommendation for how many fixings an installation needs.
Set the hole diameter for the actual hardware
The default diameter is 3mm for rivets. It is a starting value, so confirm it against the rivet, screw or other fitting you intend to use. Do not treat every hole in an example image as the same diameter.
The maximum allowed diameter is the smallest of 50mm, 30% of the board width, or 30% of its height. For a 100 × 200mm board, the limit is 30mm because 30% of the smaller side is the controlling value. A larger board may reach the 50mm cap.
These limits do not decide whether the board is strong enough at a particular fixing point. Large openings remove more material, and the remaining material, board thickness and hardware still need consideration. If the required opening is outside the offered controls, explain it before checkout rather than using the nearest available value.
Measure from each edge to the hole centre
The four fields under Edge to hole centre (mm) refer to the centre of a hole, not its nearest rim. This difference becomes important as the diameter increases.
A 20mm diameter hole has a 10mm radius. Placing its centre 10mm from an edge makes the circle touch that edge, leaving no material between the opening and the edge. That is a geometric boundary, not a recommended mounting clearance. More distance may be necessary for your board and fixing method.
For a top row on a 200mm-high board, a 25mm top inset gives a 175mm bottom distance. The bottom value is derived because both describe the same row. A middle row sits at half the height. Four-corner and perimeter layouts use top, bottom, left and right insets to define their rectangle.
Check the drawing, artwork and order summary
The controls show a scaled position diagram and a coordinate list measured from the top-left corner. Small holes are enlarged in the drawing for visibility. Use the numbers to check the request rather than measuring the preview on your screen.
The form rejects holes that extend outside the board or overlap. Resolving an error means correcting the diameter, count, spacing or insets, not merely dismissing the message. Keep text, logos and QR codes away from the marked positions; use the artwork preparation guide when setting up the file.
Review the exact hole positions on the artwork proof before approving production. Check the board's orientation as well: rotating the design is not the same as keeping an asymmetric hole arrangement unchanged. Payment and file upload do not approve the proof.
FAQ
Does a 10mm edge distance mean 10mm of material beside the hole?
No. The field measures to the centre. Subtract half the hole diameter to find the geometric gap from the hole rim to the edge. Whether that gap is suitable for mounting needs a separate check.
Why can I not change the count for Four corners?
That pattern places exactly one hole at each corner, so its count is four. Choose a row pattern for an editable count, or Around the edges for a count calculated from the spacing.
Will 300mm perimeter spacing put a hole at exactly every 300mm?
Not necessarily. It is the maximum centre-to-centre spacing. The system divides each available edge into equal sections that do not exceed it, then calculates the count with shared corners counted once.
Can I order holes and standoffs for a PVC sign?
PVC can have drilled holes and standoffs where that option is offered for the selected product. Confirm the board size, thickness, hardware and support for the location. Selecting holes alone does not add standoffs.