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 East Sussex?
- Schools, surgeries and community buildings in Brighton can use smaller totems at the gate to show names, opening hours and the way in.
- Landlords letting units in Brighton can keep totems current with spare blank inserts, so a new tenant's panel slots straight in.
- When a business park near Brighton hides its units behind landscaping, an entrance totem tells visitors which turning to take.
Guide prices in East Sussex
How much? Expect a guide range of £1,950–£9,800 per totem, VAT excluded. The rows below show what moves a job up or down that range, and the figure becomes firm once the survey or artwork check is done.
| 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 |
Guide prices, supplied and installed with foundations and excluding VAT, are £1,950 to £3,950 for a non-lit totem 1.5–2 m tall and £3,950 to £7,500 for a non-lit totem 2.5–4 m tall. An illuminated totem with lit panels or letters is guided at £4,950 to £9,800.
Totem and pylon signs in East Sussex: 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
Directional totem
Smaller site signs pointing visitors to receptions, bays and buildings.
Illuminated totem
Internally lit panels or routed and push-through letters with LED modules.
Multi-tenant totem
A header panel plus slide-in tenant inserts changed as units are let.
Towns in East Sussex
The towns below are all part of our coverage of East Sussex. Each link opens the totem and pylon signs page for that town, with guide prices, consent notes and how to get a quote.
- Totem and pylon signs in Brighton
- Totem and pylon signs in Eastbourne
- Totem and pylon signs in Hastings
- Totem and pylon signs in Hove
- Totem and pylon signs in Bexhill-on-Sea
- Totem and pylon signs in Hailsham
- Totem and pylon signs in Seaford
- Totem and pylon signs in Rottingdean
- Totem and pylon signs in Crowborough
- Totem and pylon signs in Portslade
- Totem and pylon signs in Peacehaven
Anywhere in East Sussex, the first step is the same: send photos and rough sizes for a free quote on totem and pylon signs. You approve a proof to scale before anything is made.

