Information Guide
Guide to Honours Boards
The ideal starting point for anyone who is looking for a detailed guide to the various types of honours boards and the options available to them.
We're Here to Help
You may have been tasked with upgrading your honours boards at your local sports club, or you may simply be looking for new boards to enhance the school school. Either way, let us guide you through the process from start to finish and hopefully you'll feel a little more confident by the end of this guide.
...and if not, we're only a phone call / email away!
How Does the Process Work?
To prepare a quote, honors board manufacturers need a few key details. From that point, they can provide a basic design proof and a price for the board. How do you gather that information, make the right choice, and ensure everything is perfect?
Here are the key points to consider when buying an honours board. We'll also share some helpful tips.
The first consideration is: What material do you think would best suit your needs?
Honours Board Material Options
Material Option 1: Wood
Wood is the main material most people think of when talking about honours boards. Be it the famous boards at Lords or another that springs to mind.
Wooden honours boards are traditional and give a sense of heritage. However, they cost more than acrylic honours boards. This is mainly because they require more labor and time to produce.
Key points of consideration.
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Wooden boards are available in a range of standard wood types
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American white oak and sapele as standard
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Wooden boards can be stained or painted to create a different colour
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Typically they're more expensive due to the amount of time it takes to manufacture them.
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They can have decorative frames and mouldings built into the boards design.
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They can be any size and have a number of options for the shaped tops.
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Text is applied with vinyl lettering which can easily be installed by yourselves.
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A video guide showing how to apply the lettering is available.
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Wood Types and Colours: Which One?
When selecting a wood for your honours board, it helps to picture how each option will look on display and how it can affect text legibility.
Below are two commonly preferred woods, Light Oak and Sapele, along with insights into the ways wood stains can enhance their appearance.
Light Oak
Visual Qualities
Light oak looks like pale white wood with hints of golden-brown. It has a subtle even grain and its lighter shade can “lift” a room visually. This can help if your display area has low light.
Wood Colours
Applying different wood stains can deepen or shift light oak’s natural colour. Whether you prefer a warm, honeyed glow or a cooler, muted tone, stains offer flexibility. You can adjust the colour depth to create the best background for different text colours. This helps ensure easy readability. Our wood stains page shows the many stains we offer.
Sapele
Visual Qualities
Sapele features a warm, reddish-brown color and a noticeable grain pattern. It works well in traditional or formal settings with it's rich colors adding a classic touch.
Wood Colours
Sapele has a strong character, but stains can enhance or soften its natural red tones. This is helpful for balancing the wood’s depth with contrasting text colours such as gold, cream, or white. To see examples of this please see our wood types and stains page.
Further Options
There is no hard and fast rule which says the board colour must match the frame colour. We've produced some stunning boards where the frame colour is a different colour to the board itself. The frame is usually one to three shades darker than the board in these instances, which helps highlight the content being shown. One such example is on our 'examples of honours boards' page.
Why Stains Matter for Text Colour
Stains not only change the board’s aesthetic appeal but also play a crucial role in ensuring your text stands out. By tailoring the wood tone, making it lighter or darker, you can fine-tune contrast levels and ensure the board has clear, easy-to-read lettering.
Have a look at our wood types and stains page which has examples of the most popular text and wood colour choices. This will help give an idea of what colour text is most readable on what colour stain.
Material Option 2: Acrylic
Acrylic honours boards are increasing in popularity due to their modern look and, possibly, the lower price when compared to wood.
Acrylic boards can have coloured or special effect films applied to the rear which either change the background colour of the board or provide a special effect like an etched glass finish.
Acrylic honours boards are typically mounted on the wall using barrel fixings, easily fixed by the majority of people with just a drill and screw driver.
Key points of consideration.
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Modern honours board look which gives a glass like appearance
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Different colour backgrounds are achieved using vinyl to cover the back of the board.
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Hundreds of colour options are available.
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Special effects can be achieved by using specialist films on the back of the board.
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Sandblasted, wood grain, multi-colour, frosted, carbon fibre and more.
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Barrel fixings hold the board slightly off the wall and are easily installed.
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The boards have text applied to the front, making them easy to update by customers.
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There are a number of boards on our 'examples of acrylic honours boards' page which we hope give you ideas and inspiration.
How Big Should the Honours Board Be?
This is probably the most commonly asked question we get and without going into a lengthy explanation covering lots of different variables... it all boils down to.
"Please tell us what you want on the board and we'll work out the size it needs to be for you"
Why is it so hard to know? Well, bigger letters take up more space, smaller ones less space on the board. What is it that needs to be shown? Is it a single column for 1 name. Is that name displayed as "Mr Anon Namehere" or is it "A. Namehere" or ... etc. All of this has an impact on the size of the board.
Do You Have Honours Board Templates?
Yes we do! They're on our Honours Board Templates page.
If you need something different, we hold a lot of templates and our bespoke software allows us to take the information you give us and quickly work out how big an honours board needs to be. All we need from you is a little bit of information, which we'll give an example of below. Sometimes our customers also send an excel spreadsheet showing what's needed.
Example of An Honours Board Enquiry Email.
Please can I have a price for a wooden honours board which will have the following information on it'
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A column showing the years, i.e. 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 etc
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3 Columns for competitions, each one will have one winner shown as "A. Myname"
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1 Column for a pairs competiton, shown as "A. Myname & B. Yourname".
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Logo of the club at the top
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Size, I don't know. Please work this out.
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The top of the board, should be a gable top.
Alternatively, we do have enquiry forms on the relevant pages to help guide you.
How Do I Get a Quote?
Ready to get a price for a wooden honours board that celebrates your organisation’s achievements?
If you'd prefer to talk to us directly, we can be contacted as per the details below.
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Speak to Our Team: 01275 463601
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Email Us: mail@signetsigns.co.uk
We look forward to working with you—let’s make your honours board a lasting showcase of excellence!
Board Shapes, Which One is Best?
That's a tricky question to answer without saying something along the lines of "it depends on what you think is best".
So let's try to give you a few considerations which might impact on this choice.
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Wooden boards can in a range of shapes.
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The more complex the wooden board shape, the higher the cost.
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Acrylic boards can be any shape you like.
Key points of consideration
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Are there other boards in the same location which need to match this one?
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If so, it might be a good idea to try and replicate the same shape.
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Do you want a single logo on the board?
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Gable and Hill Top designs suit boards where one logo sits top and centre on the board.
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Do you want two logos on the board?
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Flat top / rectangular topped boards suit two logos as they can be placed top left and top right of the board giving a balanced layout.
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What Colour Text Is Best For My Board?
Choose honours board lettering colours that have a strong contrast with the wood color. It's not a complicated consideration beyond making sure that the text is as readable as possible. In the image above you'll notice how gold or white text struggles to stand out on a light coloured wood, whereas they really leap out from a dark background. The opposite being true of the darker honours board lettering of course.
Which colour honours board lettering do you need?
Contrast is Key - Light Wood Colours vs Dark
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Darker Wood Finishes: Pair best with lighter text colours, such as light gold, white, cream, or bright colours.
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Lighter Wood Finishes: Benefit from bolder text hues—think matt black, dark grey, navy, or any deep shade.
How Many Wood Colours Do You Offer?
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We provide 90 different text colours as standard—ranging from classic matt black and gold to a huge variety of colours (reds, blues, purples, greens, yellows etc) ensuring plenty of choice to suit most needs.
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For those looking for a very specific hue or brand match, we have an additional 300 colours available. With nearly 400 colour options in total, we can typically meet even the most specialised requirements.
Metallic vs. Matt Finishes
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Metallic Colours: Choices like gold, silver, or copper can give the board a traditional or prestigious feel. They often pair well with darker woods, creating a sophisticated, timeless look. However, chrome finishes typically pick up glare from overhead lights (if there are any) which can impact on the readability of the board.
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Matt Colours: Ideal for a clean, modern aesthetic or to emphasise readability. Matt finishes help reduce glare, which is especially useful in spaces with strong overhead lighting. If it's black text you've decided on, then we would strongly recommend matt black text. It's a very readable colour.
Consistency With Logos and Branding
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If your honours board includes a club or corporate logo, aligning the text colour with key brand colours can create a cohesive appearance.
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As mentioned, our extensive range of text colours simplifies the process of matching corporate or institutional branding, enhancing brand recognition and visual appeal.
Practical Considerations
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Think about the lighting conditions in the space where the board will be displayed. In bright or well-lit areas, a matt finish can prevent reflections, whereas a metallic finish can add a subtle shine in moderate lighting.
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Consider the typical viewing distance. High-contrast text may be especially important if the board will be viewed from several metres away, such as in a large hall where the boards are mounted up high.
By combining a suitable wood type / stain with your carefully chosen text colour, your wooden honours board can strike the perfect balance between style and readability. And with such an extensive palette available, we’re confident we can help you find the perfect solution. As always, we're here to help you if you need assistance.
There is also our guide to wood types and wood stains.
Can I Have A Specific Font?
Short answer: Absolutely. We've over 44,000 fonts in our font library which should cover the vast majority of situations. If you've a specific custom corporate font that you can supply to us, then we'll be able to use that too. Likewise, we can help source bespoke fonts for your board if needed. In the majority of cases, this isn't needed but it's nice to know it's an option if a specific font is required for the honours board lettering.
Shorter answer: Why not rely on our graphic designers to pick the perfect font for you? We've 50+ years experience and if you want to change the font after seeing the design proof, we can do that for you too.
Longer answer: Choosing the right font can make all the difference in how your honours board is perceived and read. A well-selected typeface should be both visually pleasing and easily legible. With 44,000 fonts at our disposal, you can explore virtually any typographic style.
With all that said, if you want to take advantage of our graphic design team and have them choose the font, we can certainly do so. This is how most people proceed to be honest, letting us take care of the considerations and options.
Here are some key considerations to help you find the perfect fit:
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Readability First
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Sans Serif fonts, like Arial and Open Sans, have clean lines and no decorative “tails.” This simplicity makes them popular for clarity and readability, especially for text seen from afar.
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Serif fonts like Times New Roman feel traditional and formal. They often fit classic or heritage settings. These fonts feature small decorative strokes (serifs) at the end of letters, adding a touch of elegance.
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Brand or Venue Identity
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Align your honours board with the organisation's brand by using the same typeface found in brochures, signs, or digital materials. Just let us know what font you wish to use.
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Casual clubs or institutions can use a modern sans serif font for a contemporary vibe. For a more formal theme, a script or decorative font works well.
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Speciality Fonts and Custom Options
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Besides the standard go-to choices, you could opt for a more unusual font that evokes a particular style (e.g., vintage or futuristic).
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With such an extensive font library, we can accommodate unique requests or even custom fonts if you have a specific design in mind.
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Balancing Text Length and Layout
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Consider the amount of information going onto the board (e.g., multiple names per line, long competition titles, etc.). A highly decorative or overly stylised font may become hard to read if space is limited.
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A simple, clear typeface can help you maximise available board space without compromising on legibility.
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Again, as is the common theme in this guide, we are here to help. We can take care of all of this for you if you wish.
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Proofing and Adjustments
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We always provide a design proof before production. This lets you see how your font looks in context. You can check its size, spacing, and style to make sure they meet your expectations on the board.
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If something feels off, like the letters are too small or the font is too thin, we can make changes to ensure everything is perfect.
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Pairing Fonts
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In some cases, you may want to combine two complementary fonts. This technique works well if you have section headings or titles on the board (e.g., one font for competition names, another for winners).
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We can guide you on effective font pairing to maintain a cohesive, professional look.
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By taking these factors into account, you can confidently select a font (or font combination) that complements your honours board’s overall design. If this all seems a lot to get to grips with, just remember that we're here to help you and can take care of all of this if you'd like. Free of charge too!
Can You Match Our Existing Boards?
Short Answer: We can usually get close, but achieving an exact match without having the original board in our workshop is extremely difficult.
Longer Explanation: Creating honours boards that perfectly replicate someone else’s work is challenging, especially if we only have photographs to go by.
Lighting can drastically affect how colours appear in photos; for instance, direct sunlight can make wood finishes look lighter or warmer, while shaded images may appear darker or cooler in tone. Attempting to match a board based purely on pictures is therefore less accurate. It’s also worth noting that this process can be quite time-consuming, so you’ll want to consider whether an almost-exact match is truly necessary.
That said, we’re happy to work with you to get as close as possible. Our team can provide professional advice and recommend finishes, stains, or text colours that complement your existing boards, even if an identical match isn’t guaranteed. If you decide to pursue this route, simply let us know, our goal is to ensure you’re delighted with your new honours board.
How Long Do They Take to Make?
Turn around times depend on the number of boards being ordered and the complexity of them. For instance, one rectangular honour board will be a lot quicker to make then three hill top honours boards with bespoke staining.
Wooden Honours Board Turnaround Times.
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Standard Honours Boards = 2 - 3 weeks
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Bespoke Honours Boards = 2 - 4 weeks
Please note these are honest guidelines. If we're experiencing a sudden surge of a orders with bespoke boards, this will impact on the turn around time. However, the same is also true, if we're experiencing a large number of standard boards then your order will be completed quicker as standard boards can be made very fast.
Deadlines: If you have a deadline, please please let us know. We're happy to help and have yet to fail to meet a deadline but it's good to know about it with plenty of advance warning.
Wooden Honours Boards - FAQ's
Below you'll find some of our most commonly asked questions, along with their answers.
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How do I update my honours board in the future?
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If it's a board purchased from us, simply let us know what needs to go onto the board. We'll send the lettering out for you to apply.
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If it's not a board purchased from us, we can still help but need a bit of information so we get everything right. Please contact us to discuss.
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Can I see a design of my honours board before I purchase?
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Absolutely. We ALWAYS produce a proof, which needs to be approved by our customers, before we proceed to manufacture.
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What size board do I need?
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The section towards the start of this guide will give more details to help with this, but the short answer would be to get in contact with us. Let us work out the size of the board for you.
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Honours Board Guides & Helpful Information
Our most popular guides, written to help give you everything you need to make an informed decision.
