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 Oxfordshire?
- Schools, surgeries and community buildings in Oxford can use smaller totems at the gate to show names, opening hours and the way in.
- Retail units sharing an Oxford car park can use one multi-tenant pylon instead of a cluster of boards competing for attention.
- When a business park near Oxford hides its units behind landscaping, an entrance totem tells visitors which turning to take.
Guide prices in Oxfordshire
Guide prices start from £1,950 and go up to £9,800 per totem, exclusive of VAT. The breakdown below shows where different sizes and options sit. Nothing is final until we have measured up or checked your artwork and sent a written quote.
| 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 Oxfordshire: 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 totem, 1.5–2 m
A compact entrance or forecourt sign in powder-coated aluminium.
Multi-tenant totem
A header panel plus slide-in tenant inserts changed as units are let.
Illuminated totem
Internally lit panels or routed and push-through letters with LED modules.
Towns in Oxfordshire
Main towns in Oxfordshire where we design, make and fit signage, including totem and pylon signs. Select yours, or simply get in touch if your town or village is missing from the list.
- Totem and pylon signs in Oxford
- Totem and pylon signs in Banbury
- Totem and pylon signs in Abingdon
- Totem and pylon signs in Bicester
- Totem and pylon signs in Didcot
- Totem and pylon signs in Witney
Photos of the building, window or vehicle, plus approximate sizes, are enough for us to quote totem and pylon signs anywhere in Oxfordshire. There is no charge for the quote and no commitment until you approve the proof.

