A totem sign is a free-standing sign on its own foundation, typically 1.5–4 m tall, used at site entrances and car parks to show a business name, tenants or directions where a wall sign won't be seen.
Why choose totem and pylon signs in Bristol?
- Evening guests arriving at Bristol hotels, restaurants and leisure venues find the entrance more easily when the totem is lit.
- Schools, surgeries and community buildings in Bristol can use smaller totems at the gate to show names, opening hours and the way in.
- On an industrial estate around Bristol with several entrances, directional totems at each junction point deliveries to the right unit.
Guide prices in Bristol
Guide prices for totem and pylon signs run from £1,950 to £9,800 per totem, excluding VAT. The table below breaks that down; your actual price is fixed in writing once we have surveyed the site or checked the artwork.
| Item | Guide, ex VAT | Inc. VAT (20%) |
|---|---|---|
| Totem 1.5–2 m, non-lit | £1,950 – £3,950 | £2,340 – £4,740 |
| Totem 2.5–4 m, non-lit | £3,950 – £7,500 | £4,740 – £9,000 |
| Illuminated totem (lit panels or letters) | £4,950 – £9,800 | £5,940 – £11,760 |
Height and face area drive the structure, foundation and wind-loading design, so they move the price most. Lighting, tenant panels, built-up letters, surfacing to break out and reinstate, ground conditions and consent drawings follow. Every figure is confirmed after a site survey and services check.
Totem and pylon signs in Bristol: permission and rules
A free-standing totem usually needs express advertisement consent from the council's planning department, especially if it is illuminated, tall or close to a road. In England, decisions usually take up to 8 weeks and consent is normally granted for 5 years. Illuminated totems cannot rely on deemed consent in conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes, the Broads or areas of special control. Councils also look at highway safety, so a site plan showing sightlines helps. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own advertisement regulations and application routes. We can prepare the drawings, site plan and photos for an application, or submit it for you.
Options worth considering
Non-lit pylon, 2.5–4 m
A taller structure readable from a road, on a larger foundation.
Illuminated totem
Internally lit panels or routed and push-through letters with LED modules.
Non-lit totem, 1.5–2 m
A compact entrance or forecourt sign in powder-coated aluminium.
Across Bristol
We cover the whole of Bristol — the city centre, retail parks, business districts and suburbs. Send the address with your enquiry and we’ll arrange the survey.
Start your totem and pylon signs enquiry for Bristol now: images and rough measurements help us price accurately. Quotes cost nothing, and you see and approve the design before production starts.