Can I get a fixed price for tray signs in March before committing?

Yes. We start from the guide range, £1,250 to £3,450 per sign excluding VAT, then measure up or look at your photos and artwork. That gives a fixed written price reflecting the real size, materials, access and any design or consent work. You only commit once you accept that price and approve the proof.

How deep is a tray sign?

Returns are usually 50–75 mm, enough to hide a fixing rail and give a visible edge. Deeper trays are possible where you want room for LED modules later or need to cover an uneven fascia, and we set the depth at survey based on what is behind.

What colour should the tray be?

Pick a colour that contrasts strongly with your lettering and suits the frontage. Charcoal, anthracite and black with white or metallic letters read clearly on most buildings, while light trays with dark letters suit darker brick. Matching the RAL colour of your window frames gives a coordinated look.

Do tray signs dent or scratch?

Powder-coated aluminium is tough, but a folded tray can dent if struck by a ladder or vehicle, and deep scratches expose bare metal. Touch-up paint is available in the RAL colour, though repairs are rarely invisible. On low fascias near loading areas, a higher fixing position helps.

What is the typical timescale for tray signs from enquiry to fitting?

A quote typically follows once we have your photos or have surveyed the site, and making and fitting is typically booked a few weeks after you approve the proof. Where advertisement consent applies, that decision has to come through before anything goes up, which can add several weeks. We give you an expected timescale with your quote for March.

What do you need from me to quote for tray signs in March?

Photos are the most useful start: the whole frontage, window or vehicle, plus a close-up of the area involved. Add rough measurements, your logo or artwork if you have it, and the address. From that we can say whether a survey visit is needed and send a written quote, followed by a proof for you to approve.

Tray signs in March | Smart Signs

Tray signs are fascia signs folded from aluminium sheet so the face turns back at the edges into returns, typically 50–75 mm deep, then powder coated and hung on concealed fixings.

Good reasons to look at tray signs in March

Where several March shops share a parade, a charcoal tray with white letters stands apart from the printed panels around it.
An estate agent in March may change window displays weekly but keep the fascia for years, which is where a durable powder coat pays back.
Professional practices in March, such as dentists, opticians and solicitors, may prefer a tray because a clean folded edge suggests care.

What tray signs cost in March

Guide prices start from £1,250 and go up to £3,450 per sign, 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.

Tray signs in March: guide prices, supplied and fitted
Item	Guide, ex VAT	Inc. VAT (20%)
Tray sign up to 3 m, vinyl lettering	£1,250 – £2,100	£1,500 – £2,520
Tray sign 3–5 m, raised acrylic lettering	£1,850 – £3,450	£2,220 – £4,140
Push-through or routed letters (non-lit)	£350 – £950	£420 – £1,140

Length matters most, because longer trays need joints, more coating and more fixing rail. Then come the lettering method, letter count, special or metallic powder coats, access height and removal of the old sign. Every figure is confirmed after survey and an artwork check.

Options for your March project

Routed tray with push-through letters

Letters cut through the face with acrylic pushed through, ready to light.

Tray with raised acrylic letters

Solid acrylic letters fixed proud of the face for depth and shadow.

Tray with built-up letters

Fabricated metal letters on the tray face for a layered look.

Do you need permission for a sign in March?

Will you need permission? For a non-illuminated sign at your own business address in England, usually not, as long as it stays inside the deemed consent limits: letters no taller than 0.75 m (0.3 m in an area of special control) and nothing above the bottom of a first-floor window. Historic streets need more care. In a conservation area the details matter more, and fixing to a listed building usually needs listed building consent, with fixings into mortar joints rather than brick or stone faces generally preferred. We check with you before anything is ordered, and can prepare drawings and photos for an application, or submit it for you.

Covering March and Cambridgeshire

Our service reaches March and all of Cambridgeshire. The first step depends on the job: a site visit for signs that need measuring, fixing or wiring, or a photo-based quote for graphics and lettering where pictures and sizes tell us enough. Addresses in PE15 are all within our March coverage. March is about 14 miles east of Peterborough.

Close to March

Get in touch about tray signs for your business in March. Share photos, measurements and any artwork you already have; we will send a free quote and a proof to check, and nothing is made until you say yes.

More signs in March

All sign types in March · Tray signs across Cambridgeshire

Typical lifespan	Many years; powder coat weathers better than wet paint
Typical lead time	typically 3–4 weeks from proof approval, allowing for folding and coating
Typical size	Up to about 5 m per run; longer fascias in jointed sections

Tray signs in March