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.

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.

Is there a typical lead time for tray signs in Sheffield?

Yes, though it varies with the job. The lead time typically runs from the day you approve the proof, not from the first enquiry, and is typically a few weeks. Survey visits, artwork changes and any consent application sit before that point, so getting photos, sizes and logo files to us early typically shortens the overall timescale.

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

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.

Can a tray sign cover an old fascia completely?

Yes, in most cases. A tray can be sized to the full fascia board with folded ends that wrap the corners, hiding the old timber. We still check the board is sound and fix through to solid structure, because hidden rot can loosen fixings over time.

How much should I budget for tray signs in Sheffield?

As a guide, £1,250–£3,450 per sign + VAT. Where your job falls in that range depends on size, materials, access height, whether old signage has to come off and how much design work is involved. We confirm a fixed price after a survey or artwork check, before anything is ordered.

Tray signs in South Yorkshire

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.

Why choose tray signs in South Yorkshire?

Businesses moving into a refurbished Sheffield building can use a wrap-around tray to hide an uneven old fascia without stripping it out.
Clinics and salons in Sheffield wanting a calm, premium look can get it from raised acrylic letters on a matt tray, unlit.
Shoppers walking along a Sheffield pavement see a sign side-on first, and tray returns give it a solid edge from exactly that angle.

Guide prices in South Yorkshire

How much? Expect a guide range of £1,250–£3,450 per sign, 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.

Tray signs in South Yorkshire: 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

Guide prices, supplied and fitted and excluding VAT, are £1,250 to £2,100 for a tray up to 3 m with vinyl lettering, and £1,850 to £3,450 for a 3–5 m tray with raised acrylic letters. Routed or push-through letters on a non-lit tray add a guide £350 to £950.

Do you need permission for a sign in South Yorkshire?

Advertisement consent in England comes from the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007. A sign is either excluded from control, has deemed consent, or needs express consent from the council's planning department. For a plain, unlit sign on your own premises, deemed consent usually applies when characters are 0.75 m tall or less (0.3 m in an area of special control) and the top edge is below the first-floor windows. Conservation areas need more care, and a listed building usually needs listed building consent as well; working without it can be a criminal offence. We confirm the route before you commit, and can prepare the drawings for an application or submit it for you.

Options worth considering

Tray with built-up letters

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

Tray with vinyl lettering

Cut-vinyl text on a powder-coated tray: the entry point.

Light-ready tray

Deep enough for LED modules, with cable entry agreed, fitted unlit for now.

Towns in South Yorkshire

Pick your town below to see the page for tray signs there. The list shows the main towns in South Yorkshire; smaller places around them are covered too.

Whether your business is in a busy centre or a quieter corner of South Yorkshire, getting a quote for tray signs is free. Share photos and sizes, then approve the proof before anything is made.