What a pylon sign is built for
Pylon signs are mounted on a pole or tower, well above eye level, so drivers can spot them from a distance on a wide or fast road. They're the standard choice for shopping centers and multi-tenant properties set back from the street, where a handful of businesses need to share one visible sign.
What a monument sign is built for
Monument signs sit low to the ground, usually near the entrance or property line. They read better up close than from a distance, which makes them a good fit for walkable retail fronts, office parks and any property where the sign is meant to confirm you've arrived rather than flag you down from the highway.
Cost and permitting
Pylon signs are taller and heavier, which usually means a structural engineering review and a bigger permit process. Monument signs are typically simpler and less expensive to permit and install, though local codes still set limits on height and size for both.
A real example
We recently refaced the pylon sign at Dhanani Plaza in Houston, replacing faded panels for T-Mobile, a smoke shop, a beauty salon and several other tenants on one structure. It's a good example of what a pylon sign is for: keeping several businesses visible from the road at once.
If you're not sure which one fits your property, send us the address and a photo of the site and we'll tell you honestly which type makes sense before we quote anything.