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 Shropshire?
- Retail units sharing a Telford car park can use one multi-tenant pylon instead of a cluster of boards competing for attention.
- For a Telford dealership or garage set back from a main road, a pylon readable on approach gives drivers time to slow and turn.
- Evening guests arriving at Telford hotels, restaurants and leisure venues find the entrance more easily when the totem is lit.
Guide prices in Shropshire
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 Shropshire: 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.
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.
Towns in Shropshire
Main towns in Shropshire 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 Telford
- Totem and pylon signs in Shrewsbury
- Totem and pylon signs in Wellington
- Totem and pylon signs in Oswestry
Whether your business is in a busy centre or a quieter corner of Shropshire, getting a quote for totem and pylon signs is free. Share photos and sizes, then approve the proof before anything is made.

