Poster vs. Banner — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 6, 2023
A poster is a printed paper designed for sticking to a wall or vertical surface, while a banner is a long strip of cloth or paper bearing a slogan or design, typically hung in a public space for promotional or celebratory purposes.
Difference Between Poster and Banner
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A poster is typically a printed paper that can be affixed to a wall or vertical surface. It usually features images, text, or a combination of both, designed to promote or advertise a product, event, or idea. Posters are often used for decorations or to convey information within a limited space and are a staple for movies, concerts, and other events.
Banners, in contrast, are larger pieces of fabric or similar material that bear a slogan, message, or design. They are intended to be hung or draped across spaces, indoors or outdoors. Banners are more flexible in terms of size and shape and are often associated with public announcements, protests, or celebrations.
While posters are primarily designed to be viewed up close for detailed information, banners are made to be seen from a distance. Posters are more often used in indoor settings such as shops, classrooms, or movie theaters, whereas banners are versatile enough to be used both indoors and outdoors in places like sports events, trade shows, and parades.
The design approach for posters is usually more intricate, taking into account the layout, typography, and aesthetics suitable for close viewing. Banners are designed with simplicity and legibility in mind, often with larger, bolder text and images to capture the attention of people passing by at a distance.
Both posters and banners serve as mediums for communication and advertising. While they share some similarities, their applications, design considerations, and materials vary greatly to cater to their specific usage scenarios.
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Comparison Chart
Material
Paper
Cloth or heavy-duty material
Size
Usually smaller, standardized sizes
Larger, variable sizes
Display Location
Walls, bulletin boards
Hung or draped in open spaces
Durability
Less durable, mainly for indoor use
More durable, suitable for outdoor use
Primary Use
Detailed information for close-up view
High-impact visibility from a distance
Compare with Definitions
Poster
A publicly displayed notice.
A concert poster was displayed at the coffee shop.
Banner
A strip of material with a message.
They hung a banner over the street for the festival.
Poster
A piece of artwork on paper.
Her room is decorated with vintage band posters.
Banner
A web page header.
The website's banner featured their latest product.
Poster
A printed paper for display.
The new movie poster is eye-catching.
Banner
A banner can be a flag or other piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or other message. A flag whose design is the same as the shield in a coat of arms (but usually in a square or rectangular shape) is called a banner of arms.
Poster
Educational or informational printed material.
The conference room featured a poster outlining safety procedures.
Banner
A long strip of cloth bearing a slogan or design, carried in a demonstration or procession or hung in a public place
Students waved banners and chanted slogans
A nuclear disarmament banner was carried round the war memorial
Poster
A poster is a temporary promotion of an idea, product, or event put up in a public space for mass consumption. Typically, posters include both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text.
Banner
A heading or advertisement appearing on a web page in the form of a bar, column, or box
A banner ad
Poster
A large, usually printed placard, bill, or announcement, often illustrated, that is posted to advertise or publicize something.
Banner
Excellent; outstanding
The company was having a banner year
Poster
An artistic work, often a reproduction of an original painting or photograph, printed on a large sheet of paper.
Banner
A piece of cloth attached to a staff and used as a standard by a monarch, military commander, or knight.
Poster
One that posts bills or notices.
Banner
The flag of a nation, state, or army.
Poster
One that travels in speed or with haste.
Banner
A piece of cloth bearing a motto or legend, as of a club.
Poster
A picture of a celebrity, an event etc., intended to be attached to a wall.
He has posters of his favorite band, sports teams and holiday resorts up.
Banner
A headline spanning the width of a newspaper page.
Poster
An advertisement to be posted on a pole, wall etc. to advertise something.
I saw a poster for the film on the side of a bus.
Banner
A rectangular space with text or graphics, especially an advertisement, running across the top of a webpage or other online document.
Poster
(internet) One who posts a message.
Some posters left the online message board after the squabble.
Banner
(Botany) See standard.
Poster
A shot that hits a goalpost, scoring one point.
Banner
Unusually good; outstanding
A banner year for the company.
Poster
A shot that hits a goalpost instead of passing into the goal.
We got three posters in the third and lost.
Banner
To supply with banners.
Poster
(basketball) A dunk over a defending player.
Banner
To give a banner headline to (a story or item) in a newspaper.
Poster
(dated) A posthorse.
Banner
A flag or standard used by a military commander, monarch or nation.
Poster
(archaic) A swift traveller; a courier.
Banner
(by extension) The military unit under such a flag or standard.
Poster
(transitive) To decorate with posters.
To poster the walls of a bedroom
Banner
(by extension) A military or administrative subdivision.
Poster
A large bill or placard intended to be posted in public places.
Banner
Any large sign, especially when made of soft material or fabric.
The mayor hung a banner across Main Street to commemorate the town's 100th anniversary.
Poster
One who posts bills; a billposter.
Banner
A large piece of cloth with a slogan, motto, or emblem carried in a demonstration or other procession or suspended in some conspicuous place.
Poster
One who posts, or travels expeditiously; a courier.
Banner
A cause or purpose; a campaign or movement.
They usually make their case under the banner of environmentalism.
Poster
A post horse.
Banner
(journalism) The title of a newspaper as printed on its front page; the nameplate; masthead.
Poster
A sign posted in a public place as an advertisement;
A poster advertised the coming attractions
Banner
A type of advertisement on a web page or on television, usually taking the form of a graphic or animation above or alongside the content.
Poster
Someone who pastes up bills or placards on walls or billboards
Banner
(heraldry) The principal standard of a knight.
Poster
A horse kept at an inn or post house for use by mail carriers or for rent to travelers
Banner
A type of administrative division in Inner Mongolia and Tuva, made during the Qing dynasty; at that time, Outer Mongolia and part of Xinjiang were also divided into banners.
Poster
An advertisement on paper for sticking to surfaces.
They put up a poster for the lost dog.
Banner
One who bans something.
Banner
Exceptional; very good.
Banner
(transitive) To adorn with a banner.
Banner
To display as a banner headline.
Banner
A kind of flag attached to a spear or pike by a crosspiece, and used by a chief as his standard in battle.
Hang out our banners on the outward walls.
Banner
A large piece of silk or other cloth, with a device or motto, extended on a crosspiece, and borne in a procession, or suspended in some conspicuous place.
Banner
Any flag or standard; as, the star-spangled banner.
Banner
Long strip of cloth for decoration or advertising
Banner
A newspaper headline that runs across the full page
Banner
Unusually good; outstanding;
A banner year for the company
Banner
A sign often made of fabric.
The team ran through a breakaway banner onto the field.
Banner
A symbolic flag or representation.
Each house had its own banner during the competition.
Banner
A headline stretching across a page.
The newspaper's front page had a banner announcing the victory.
Common Curiosities
Can posters be used outdoors?
Posters can be used outdoors but are less durable than banners.
Are banners only made of fabric?
Banners can be made of fabric or other heavy-duty materials suitable for outdoor use.
What is a poster?
A poster is a piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface.
How do you hang a banner?
Banners can be hung using grommets, ties, or poles.
Can banners have different shapes?
Yes, banners can be made in various shapes, not just rectangular.
What is a banner?
A banner is a long piece of cloth or heavy-duty material that displays a message or design.
How do you hang a poster?
Posters can be hung with tape, tacks, or frames.
How long will a poster last compared to a banner?
Banners usually last longer than posters, especially when exposed to outdoor elements.
Can a poster be considered art?
Yes, posters can be artistic and collectible.
Are banners reusable?
Many banners are designed to be durable and reusable.
What sizes do posters come in?
Posters often come in standardized sizes like 24x36 inches.
Is it cheaper to print a poster or a banner?
Posters are typically cheaper to print than banners due to size and material.
Can posters and banners be recycled?
Some posters and banners can be recycled depending on the material.
Do posters require maintenance?
Posters may require care to prevent damage, such as framing.
Are banners suitable for all weather conditions?
Outdoor banners are usually weather-resistant.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
