A fabric banner in Malaysia costs from RM18.73 per m² — a 3 × 6 ft banner on 80gsm flag fabric is RM31.31, and a 4 × 8 ft is RM55.66. Fabric is printed by dye-sublimation, so the ink is in the fibre rather than sitting on top: no glare, no crackle when it folds, and it packs into a bag. That is why fabric wins indoors, at events and for anything hung in front of lights, and why PVC flex still wins on a wet fence.
Fabric banner vs PVC flex banner
| Fabric (polyester, dye-sublimation) | PVC flex (340gsm / 510gsm) | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Matte, soft, no glare under lights | Slight sheen, can reflect stage lighting |
| Feel and weight | Cloth; light, drapes | Plastic; stiff, heavy at size |
| Folds | Folds flat, creases hang out | Creases are permanent; must be rolled |
| Outdoors | Fine in sun and rain, but wets through and dries; not for a construction fence | The outdoor default; wipes clean |
| Wind | Mesh fabric versions available | Mesh PVC for exposed spots |
| Fixing | Heat-cut edge; hang from a bar, tension into a frame, or sew your own hems | Eyelets, pole pockets or fold-back, chosen at the printer |
| Price, 3 × 6 ft | From RM31.31 | From RM35.99 |
Pick fabric for a banner that hangs indoors, at an exhibition or a stage, travels to more than one event, is photographed under lights, or is a flag. Pick PVC flex for a shopfront, a fence, a hoarding or anything that lives outdoors for weeks — see banner printing prices for that side of the range.
The five fabrics and what each is for
All five are polyester, printed by dye-sublimation, cut to your exact size, and priced by area. Maximum 3 × 5 m.
| Fabric | Rate per m² | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Flag fabric 80gsm | RM18.73 | Flags and soft hanging banners. The classic lightweight flag cloth; prints one side and the design shows through the back in mirror image. |
| Mesh fabric 110gsm | RM21.96 | An open knit that lets wind through — outdoor flags, sports-field fence banners, breezy walkways. |
| Satin fabric 110gsm | RM25.19 | A smooth face with a soft sheen — table throws, stage backdrops, indoor hanging displays. |
| Mesh-hole fabric 120gsm | RM26.80 | A perforated mesh with a regular hole pattern, the least wind load of the range for the most exposed spots. |
| Double-sided blockout 280gsm | RM41.98 | Printed on both faces with an opaque core between them — two-sided flags and hanging banners with no show-through. |
The decision usually comes down to two questions. Will it be seen from both sides? If yes, blockout is the only fabric that prints two different faces; flag fabric shows the front through the back in reverse, which is fine for a logo and wrong for text. Will wind reach it? If yes, one of the two mesh fabrics.
Fabric banner prices by size
One piece, cut to size, before delivery. Every price is the live rate from the fabric printing configurator on 12 September 2026.
| Size (ft) | Flag 80gsm | Mesh 110gsm | Satin 110gsm | Mesh-hole 120gsm | Blockout 280gsm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 × 5 | RM17.41 | RM20.41 | RM23.42 | RM24.91 | RM39.03 |
| 3 × 6 | RM31.31 | RM36.71 | RM42.11 | RM44.80 | RM70.18 |
| 4 × 8 | RM55.66 | RM65.26 | RM74.86 | RM79.65 | RM124.76 |
| 8 × 8 | RM111.33 | RM130.53 | RM149.73 | RM159.30 | RM249.52 |
There is no setup fee and no minimum order. A single 2 × 5 ft flag is RM17.41.
How a fabric banner is finished and hung
Fabric is not eyeletted the way PVC is. The edges are heat-cut, which seals the polyester so it does not fray, and the piece is supplied flat. A stitched hem is deliberately not added on the heavy blockout, because a stitched edge curls on that weight.
That leaves three ways to hang it:
- Over a bar or rope. Fold the top edge over a pole and clip or tie it. Fabric is light enough that spring clamps or bulldog clips hold it.
- Tensioned in a frame. For a permanent or repeat installation, a stretch-fabric skin zipped over an aluminium frame is the cleaner solution — that is the fabric display range, which includes tension-fabric backdrops, barricades and door buntings with the frame supplied.
- Sewn. A local tailor can add a pole sleeve, a rope hem or eyelets in minutes if you need them; ask for a 3″ sleeve for a standard 1.5″ pole.
Designing for fabric
Dye-sublimation is different from UV printing in two ways that affect the artwork:
- There is no white ink. White in the design is unprinted fabric, so it is the white of the cloth. Fine for banners; for a two-sided flag with a white background, choose blockout so nothing shows through.
- Colour is softer. Sublimated colour is slightly less punchy than on glossy PVC, and dark colours lose a little depth on the lightweight flag fabric. If a deep black or a brand colour matters, satin or blockout hold it better. Design in CMYK and check against a printed swatch — the colour guide for printing explains why the screen is not the reference.
Beyond that, the usual large-format rules apply: full-size document at 100–150 dpi, 3 mm bleed, vector logos. For a flag, remember the back is the mirror of the front unless it is blockout.
Fabric in the Malaysian climate
Polyester does not rot and dye-sublimated ink is in the fibre, so sun and rain do not lift the print the way they can on a laminated surface. What a fabric banner will do outdoors is get wet through in a storm and dry again — it is not the material for a construction fence, where PVC mesh wipes down and stays taut. For an event under a canopy, a shopping-mall atrium, an air-conditioned hall or a flag on a pole, it is the better-looking choice and the easier one to carry home.
FAQ
How much does fabric banner printing cost in Malaysia?
From RM18.73 per m² on 80gsm flag fabric, which makes a 3 × 6 ft banner RM31.31 and a 4 × 8 ft banner RM55.66 at Tandaku. Satin is RM25.19 per m², mesh fabric RM21.96, and double-sided blockout RM41.98. No setup fee, no minimum order.
Is fabric or PVC better for a banner?
Fabric for indoors, events, stage and photography — it is matte, folds into a bag and does not glare under lights. PVC flex for a shopfront, a fence or anything that lives outdoors for weeks, because it wipes clean, takes eyelets and costs less at the heavier weights.
Can a fabric banner be used outdoors?
Yes, for flags, sports fields, sheltered walkways and events. It handles sun and rain, but it soaks through in a storm and cannot be wiped down like PVC, so it is not the choice for a construction hoarding or a long-term fence banner. For exposed outdoor spots choose mesh fabric or mesh-hole fabric so wind passes through.
What fabric is used for banner printing?
Polyester, in five weights: 80gsm flag fabric, 110gsm mesh, 110gsm satin, 120gsm mesh-hole and 280gsm double-sided blockout. All are printed by dye-sublimation, which bonds the ink into the fibre rather than laying it on the surface.
Can you print both sides of a fabric banner?
Only on double-sided blockout fabric, which has an opaque core between two printed faces so the two sides can carry different artwork. On flag fabric the front shows through the back as a mirror image, which is acceptable for a logo and unreadable for text.
How do you hang a fabric banner?
The edges are heat-cut and supplied without eyelets. Fold the top over a bar and clip it, tension it into a fabric-display frame, or have a tailor add a pole sleeve or eyelets. Fabric is light enough that clips and cable ties hold it.
Does a fabric banner crease?
It folds without permanent creasing, which is the main practical advantage over PVC. Hang it and light creases drop out; a warm iron on the reverse or a steamer removes anything stubborn. Keep it folded in a bag between events rather than rolled.
Price your fabric banner
Choose the fabric and enter your size on the fabric printing configurator — the price is on screen before you commit. Related reading: mesh banner printing · backdrop printing · standard banner sizes