Magnetic Signs — Product Guide
Internal · Updated June 2026
What it is
Magnetic signs are one of Signmax's removable sign materials. They are flexible printed magnetic sheets that can be applied, removed, and reused without permanent mounting. Magnetic signs require a magnetic surface to work and are designed for temporary or movable signage rather than permanent installations.
When to recommend it
Good fit when the customer needs:
- Removable or reusable signage
- Vehicle magnets for temporary branding
- Whiteboard, fridge, or dishwasher magnets
- Flexible signage that can be moved between locations
Not a good fit when the customer needs:
- A non-magnetic surface → recommend Decals or rigid signage materials
- Permanent outdoor signage → recommend Aluminium or Solid PET
- High-speed vehicle use → recommend Decals
Material and specifications
| Material | Magnetic sheet — ferrite and PVC |
| Thickness | 0.6 mm |
| Print method | Digital print, full colour |
| Surface | Matte, UV-protected |
| Use | Indoor and outdoor |
| Minimum size | 10 × 30 mm |
| Maximum size | 900 × 1500 mm |
| Outdoor lifespan | Up to 2 years - (max 1 year near salt water) |
| Temperature resistance | -30 °C to +55 °C, short-term up to +65 °C |
| Origin | China |
| CO2e | 2.79 kg per m² |
Magnetic signs are flexible and easy to apply and remove without leaving residue or damage. The UV-protected surface holds colour well outdoors, though the outdoor lifespan is shorter than rigid materials at up to 2 years. For best adhesion, the surface should be clean, dry, flat, and magnetic — uneven or textured surfaces are not suitable.
Vehicle usage precautions
Magnetic signs are not intended for permanent vehicle use. Long-term application may affect the vehicle's paintwork, especially if the car gets hot, and depending on where the sign is placed on the car, it can loosen or fly off at higher driving speeds.
Customers using magnetic signs on vehicles should remove and clean them regularly. Magnetic signs only work on metal surfaces — they will not adhere to aluminium, plastic, or curved and uneven surfaces. For permanent vehicle branding, recommend Decals instead.
What can and cannot be done
| Option | Possible | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Double-sided magnetic signs | No | Not possible regardless of size or quantity. |
| Contour-cut magnetic signs | Yes - special order | Shape need to be confirmed by production and the order value needs to be at least 1,000 SEK. |
| Whiteboard laminate | Yes — special order | Minimum order value SEK 5,000. Sensitive to dust — less visible if there is print on top. Requires extra production time. |
| Reflective magnetic signs | Yes — special order | Standard reflective only — not prismatic. Price adjustment required to cover material cost. |
| Standard lamination | No | Magnetic signs are not laminated as standard. |
| Magnet added to other products | Yes — special order | Can be added to e.g. engraved aluminium name badges. Handled as an add-on in the quote template. Extra time added manually depending on quantity and complexity. |
Known quality limitations — communicate proactively
- Paint flaking on edges (non-white signs) — On non-white magnetic signs, the colour can sometimes flake or peel from the edges, even with a light touch. This is a known production risk, but it is not expected material behaviour. If this happens, please escalate it to Prepress/Production and do not treat it as normal. Affected signs should be handled as a print defect.
- Colour reproduction on saturated colours — strong or very bright colours can look less intense on magnetic material than they do on screen. This is because of the material and the printing process, and it is not a production error. For designs with strong colours, please make sure the customer knows this before production starts.
- Reduced adhesion in marine, humid, and UV-heavy outdoor environments — Magnetic signs can have weaker adhesion in marine, humid, or very sunny outdoor environments. Salt water, even as humidity, UV exposure, heat, and moisture can permanently weaken the magnetic strength over time. This is a known material limitation. Always inform customers in advance if they want to use magnetic signs outdoors near the sea, in high humidity, or in strong sun. Recommended alternative: use decals if the sign does not need to be removable.
- Surface compatibility — If a customer says that the sign does not stick properly to their surface, treat it as a possible surface compatibility issue first. Do not automatically assume that the product is defective. For larger reorders, recommend sending a test sign first before reclaiming the full order.
Common use cases
- Vehicle magnets — temporary branding for cars and vans that can be removed when not in use. Not suitable for permanent or high-speed use.
- Fridge and dishwasher magnets — common for kitchen and home use, easy to apply and reposition.
- Whiteboard magnets — useful for office and meeting room signage that needs to be updated or moved frequently.
- Temporary signage — suitable for short-term campaigns, events, or seasonal signage on metal surfaces.
- Industrial movable signage — used in warehouses and industrial environments where signs need to be relocated as layouts change.
Sustainability
Magnetic signs are produced in China with a CO2e of 2.79 kg per m². Because the material is reusable, replacement frequency is lower than single-use signage, which helps reduce total environmental impact over time.