Custom Blade Signs for NYC & New Jersey Businesses
Projecting signs that put your business in the line of sight. We design, fabricate, and install double-sided blade signs for storefronts, restaurants, and commercial buildings across all five boroughs, New Jersey, and the broader Tri-State area — and can assist with the DOB permitting process.
35+ Years
Family-owned since 1989
In-House Fabrication
CNC, laser, welding, paint
NYC · NJ · Tri-State
All five boroughs + beyond
Permit Assistance
DOB, DOT, LPC guidance
Custom Blade Signs — Designed, Fabricated & Installed by a NYC Sign Shop
Signs New York designs, fabricates, and installs custom blade signs for businesses across New York City and New Jersey — from a simple painted aluminum panel for a Brooklyn café to an illuminated lightbox blade for a retail storefront in SoHo or a professional office in Jersey City.
Everything is produced in-house at our facility using CNC routing, laser cutting, metal fabrication, welding, and precision finishing. We work with aluminum, stainless steel, acrylic, Dibond, and PVC — selecting the right substrate based on your design, location, and budget.
Because blade signs project beyond the building line into the public right-of-way, NYC requires DOB permits for signs over 6 square feet, plus licensed sign hangers for installation. We can assist you through the permitting process and advise on what’s required for your specific location and zoning district.
Perpendicular Visibility
Seen from both directions of foot traffic
Illuminated & Non-Lit
LED lightbox and non-illuminated options
In-House Everything
Design, fabrication, finishing, installation
Permit Assistance
DOB, DOT, LPC — we guide you through
Our Work — Blade Signs Across NYC & NJ
Real projects. Real storefronts. Every sign fabricated and installed by our team.
Illuminated Lightbox Blade
Italian restaurant · Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Flat Panel with Scroll Bracket
Wine bar · West Village, Manhattan
Dimensional Letter Blade
Retail store · SoHo, Manhattan
Custom Die-Cut Aluminum
Barbershop · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Non-Illuminated Dibond Panel
Law office · Jersey City, NJ
Round Lightbox Blade
Café · Hoboken, NJ
What Is a Blade Sign?
A blade sign — also called a projecting sign, hanging sign, or swinging sign — is a sign mounted perpendicular to a building’s facade. Instead of lying flat against the wall where only someone standing directly in front can read it, a blade sign projects outward into the sightline of people walking down the sidewalk in both directions.
In New York City, where storefronts sit shoulder to shoulder and pedestrians move fast, that perpendicular angle is the difference between being seen and being walked past. The same applies in busy commercial corridors across New Jersey — from Hoboken and Jersey City to Newark and the suburban downtowns along the NJ Transit corridor.
We fabricate blade signs from aluminum, steel, acrylic, Dibond, and PVC in our NYC facility. Every sign is custom — no templates, no stock shapes. Whether you need a flat panel blade for a boutique in Williamsburg, a lightbox blade for a restaurant on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, or a die-cut shape for a salon in Montclair, NJ — we build it from scratch and install it ourselves.
Blade Sign vs. Projecting Sign
Same thing — interchangeable terms. "Blade sign" is the common industry name; "projecting sign" is used in NYC building code and zoning language.
Blade Sign vs. Hanging Sign
Also the same product. "Hanging sign" emphasizes how it's suspended from a bracket or arm. Common in retail and historic district contexts.
Blade Sign vs. Wall Sign
A wall sign lies flat against the facade. A blade sign projects outward, perpendicular. Wall signs are seen head-on; blade signs are seen from down the block.
Blade Sign Types We Fabricate
Each type serves a different aesthetic and functional purpose. All custom-built in our NYC shop and installed across New York and New Jersey.
Daytime · Budget-Friendly · Historic Districts
Non-Illuminated Flat Panel
Aluminum, Dibond, PVC, or MDO with printed, painted, or vinyl graphics on both sides. Clean, simple, effective. The workhorse of blade signage — and the most common type on NYC streets.
- Materials Aluminum, Dibond, PVC, MDO
- Sides Inside glass or outside glass
- Best for Retail, offices, cafes
Restaurants · Bars · 24-Hour · Below-Grade
Illuminated Lightbox
Cabinet-style blade with internal LED behind translucent acrylic face. Your logo glows evenly day and night. Available in rectangular, square, round, or custom shapes.
- Illumination Internal LED, energy-efficient
- Face Translucent acrylic
- Shapes Rect, round, custom
Professional · Corporate · Hotels · Medical
Dimensional Letter Blade
Raised individual letters — metal, acrylic, or PVC — on a flat blade panel. Dimensional depth creates shadow and visual interest that flat graphics can’t match.
- Letters Metal, acrylic, PVC
- Mount Pin, stud, or flush
- Effect 3D shadow, professional
Any Business · Logo-Shaped · Landmark
Custom Shape / Die-Cut
CNC-cut into any shape — your logo silhouette, an icon, a shield, a crest. Custom shapes are the most photographed blade signs on the street. They become landmarks.
- Method CNC router, laser cut
- Materials Aluminum, acrylic, Dibond
- Effect Unique, iconic, shareable
Blade Sign Sizing & NYC Permit Requirements
Size matters in NYC — it determines whether your blade sign needs a DOB permit, and what the approval process looks like.
Under 6 Sq Ft — No Permit Required
- Maximum visibility — your graphic faces the viewer directly with no glass between them
- Standard sizes: 2' × 3' (exactly 6 sq ft) or smaller — 18" × 24", 12" × 24", 12" × 18"
- Fastest path to installation — no filing, no wait time
- Most small businesses, cafes, and retail storefronts in NYC fall in this range
Most Popular Permit-Free Sizes
2' × 3' (6 sq ft max) · 18" × 24" · 12" × 24" · 12" × 18" · Custom shapes within 6 sq ft
Over 6 Sq Ft — Permit Required
- Signs larger than 6 sq ft require a DOB construction permit
- Illuminated signs of any size require an electrical permit
- Illuminated projecting signs require an Annual Illuminated Sign Permit
- Signs in historic districts (SoHo, Greenwich Village, Brooklyn Heights, etc.) require LPC review regardless of size
- NYC requires a Licensed Sign Hanger for raising or lowering any sign
We Can Help
We assist with the permitting process — advising on zoning requirements, size limits for your district, and what documentation you'll need for DOB, DOT, or LPC filings.
Key Sizing Rule: If you want to avoid the permit process entirely, stay at or under 2′ × 3′ (6 sq ft) and non-illuminated. This is the most common configuration for NYC blade signs and gets your sign up fastest. For NJ installations, permit requirements vary by municipality — we advise on local rules for your specific location.
Materials Built for Northeast Weather
Every material is selected for outdoor durability in the NYC and NJ climate — freeze-thaw cycles, salt air, UV exposure, and wind loads.
| VINYL TYPE | BEST FOR | INDOOR LIFE | KEY DETAIL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast Vinyl | Long-term logos, lettering, corporate branding | 7–10 years | Thinnest, most conformable vinyl. Conforms to slight wall textures. Premium option for permanent installations. |
| Calendered Vinyl | Standard decals, signage, medium-term use | 5–7 years | Thicker and more affordable than cast. Ideal for flat, smooth surfaces. The workhorse vinyl for most wall decal projects. |
| Printed Vinyl (Opaque) | Full-color graphics, photos, illustrations | 5–7 years | White vinyl digitally printed with UV inks. Contour-cut or poster-cut. Laminated for scratch and UV resistance. |
| Removable / Repositionable | Temporary, seasonal, tenant spaces | 3–5 years | Low-tack adhesive that peels off without residue or paint damage. Can be repositioned multiple times. |
| Metallic & Specialty | Accent walls, luxury retail, premium environments | 5+ years | Gold, silver, chrome, brushed metal, glitter, and mirror finish vinyl. Adds depth and tactile interest to feature walls. |
| Transfer Tape / Dry Apply | Multi-piece lettering installations | N/A (application tool) | Used to transfer pre-spaced vinyl letters from backing to wall in a single application. Ensures consistent spacing and alignment. |
Common Blade Sign Shapes
Standard shapes or fully custom — we CNC-cut to any form your brand requires.
Rectangle
Most common. Versatile. 18"×24" to 36"×48" standard.
Square
Compact, balanced. 24"×24" to 36"×36". Logo-centric.
Circle / Oval
Soft, approachable. Popular with cafes, boutiques, bakeries.
Shield / Crest
Heritage look. Hospitality, pubs, professional practices.
Custom Die-Cut
Shaped to your logo or brand motif. Most unique option.
Most NYC blade signs are 2′ × 3′ or smaller to stay within the 6 sq ft permit-free limit. Larger sizes are available — they just require a DOB permit. We confirm sizing and requirements before design.
Bracket & Mounting Options
Standard shapes or fully custom — we CNC-cut to any form your brand requires.
Scroll / Ornamental
Wrought-iron or powder-coated steel with decorative scrollwork. Classic for boutiques in Park Slope, cafes in the West Village, and historic neighborhoods throughout NYC and NJ. Black, bronze, gold, or custom finishes.
Straight-Arm / Minimal
Clean horizontal arm. Modern, architectural. Suited for corporate offices in Midtown, tech companies in DUMBO, hotels, and contemporary retail. Steel or aluminum with matte or brushed finish.
Pole-Mounted
Hangs from a vertical pole extending from the facade or freestanding post. Common in strip malls across New Jersey, multi-tenant buildings, and mixed-use developments. Easy sign changes in shared configurations.
Flush Wall-Mount + Standoff
Short arm holds sign parallel to wall but pushed out 6–12". A hybrid between flat wall sign and full projecting blade. Good for buildings with limited sidewalk clearance — common on narrow Manhattan side streets.
Ceiling-Hung / Interior Projecting
Suspended from ceiling or mounted perpendicular to interior walls. For shopping centers, food halls like Urbanspace or Gotham West Market, office building lobbies, and hotel corridors. Used for wayfinding and tenant identification in multi-story or multi-unit buildings throughout NYC and NJ.
NYC Mounting Considerations: New York’s building stock includes century-old brick, brownstone, limestone, concrete, steel, and modern glass curtain walls. Each substrate requires a different anchoring strategy — masonry anchors for brick, through-bolts for concrete, welded brackets for steel. Improper mounting is the most common cause of blade sign failures and DOB violations. Our installers assess the facade before every job.
Bracket & Mounting Options
Standard shapes or fully custom — we CNC-cut to any form your brand requires.
Scroll / Ornamental
Wrought-iron or powder-coated steel with decorative scrollwork. Classic for boutiques in Park Slope, cafes in the West Village, and historic neighborhoods throughout NYC and NJ. Black, bronze, gold, or custom finishes.
Straight-Arm / Minimal
Clean horizontal arm. Modern, architectural. Suited for corporate offices in Midtown, tech companies in DUMBO, hotels, and contemporary retail. Steel or aluminum with matte or brushed finish.
Pole-Mounted
Hangs from a vertical pole extending from the facade or freestanding post. Common in strip malls across New Jersey, multi-tenant buildings, and mixed-use developments. Easy sign changes in shared configurations.
Flush Wall-Mount + Standoff
Short arm holds sign parallel to wall but pushed out 6–12". A hybrid between flat wall sign and full projecting blade. Good for buildings with limited sidewalk clearance — common on narrow Manhattan side streets.
Ceiling-Hung / Interior Projecting
Suspended from ceiling or mounted perpendicular to interior walls. For shopping centers, food halls like Urbanspace or Gotham West Market, office building lobbies, and hotel corridors. Used for wayfinding and tenant identification in multi-story or multi-unit buildings throughout NYC and NJ.
NYC Mounting Considerations: New York’s building stock includes century-old brick, brownstone, limestone, concrete, steel, and modern glass curtain walls. Each substrate requires a different anchoring strategy — masonry anchors for brick, through-bolts for concrete, welded brackets for steel. Improper mounting is the most common cause of blade sign failures and DOB violations. Our installers assess the facade before every job.
From Concept to Installation
Every blade sign project follows five steps — all managed in-house at our NYC facility.
01
Consultation
Brand, goals, budget. Site visit to assess facade, measure, identify restrictions.
02
Design
Mockups showing your blade sign on your actual storefront. Materials, finishes, bracket recommendations.
03
Permits
We advise on requirements and assist with documentation for DOB, DOT, or LPC as needed.
04
Fabrication
Built in NYC — CNC, laser, welding, painting, finishing. 7–14 business days after design approval.
05
Installation
Licensed sign hangers. Structural assessment, bracket install, electrical, final alignment. Site left clean.
Blade Signs by Industry
Different businesses use blade signs differently. Here’s how each industry benefits from a projecting sign on the streets of New York and New Jersey.
On a block with ten storefronts in SoHo or along Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, the one with a blade sign gets noticed first. Visual anchor drawing foot traffic from both directions.
Blade signs set the tone before anyone reads the menu — whether it's a trattoria on Arthur Avenue, a café on Smith Street, or a bistro on Washington Street in Hoboken.
Salons & Barbershops
Custom shapes — scissors, a comb, a silhouette — make salon blade signs memorable on busy streets in Astoria, the East Village, or Montclair, NJ.
Professional Services
Blade signs help clients find your law office in a multi-tenant building on Broadway, your accounting firm in Midtown, or your practice on JFK Boulevard in Jersey City.
Hotels & Hospitality
First physical touchpoint for guests. Quality materials and finishes communicate the level of experience — from boutique hotels in the Lower East Side to inns along the Jersey Shore.
Custom-shape blade signs double as public art in gallery districts like Chelsea, Bushwick, and the Ironbound in Newark. An extension of artistic identity on the streetscape.
Multi-Tenant Buildings
Standardized blade sign programs with consistent sizing, materials, and mounting — plus swappable tenant panels as tenancies change. Common in commercial buildings across all five boroughs.
Patients need to find you quickly. A clean blade sign with your practice name and floor number removes guesswork — whether you're on the Upper East Side or in Fort Lee, NJ.
Where We Install Blade Signs
Our custom blade signs are manufactured in-house in New York City and professionally installed throughout the Tri-State area. From all five boroughs to New Jersey and beyond, we help businesses stand out with high-impact signage solutions.
- Midtown
- Downtown / FiDi
- Upper East Side
- Upper West Side
- Harlem
- Tribeca · SoHo · Chelsea
- DUMBO
- Williamsburg
- Park Slope
- Bushwick · Flatbush
- Bay Ridge
- Brooklyn Heights
- Astoria
- Long Island City
- Flushing
- Forest Hills
- Jackson Heights
- Maspeth
- Riverdale
- Pelham Bay
- Morris Park
- Fordham
- St. George
- Tottenville
- Jersey City · Hoboken
- Newark · Fort Lee
- Bergen County
- Westchester County
- Long Island
- CT · PA
Related Signage Solutions
Illuminated 3D letters
Storefront Signs
Complete packages
Backlit cabinets
Aluminum & steel panels
Full catalog
Ready to Get Your Business Noticed?
Your blade sign starts with a conversation. Tell us about your business, your location, and what you want your sign to communicate — we design, fabricate, and install in-house, and assist with permitting as needed.
35+
Years in NYC signage
24hr
Mockup turnaround
100%
In-house production
NYC + NJ
Tri-State Coverage
- Call: 718-453-8300
- Email: info@signsny.com
- Visit: Brooklyn, NY · Est. 1989
Get a Free Blade Sign Quote
Blade Sign FAQs
A blade sign is a sign mounted perpendicular to a building’s facade, projecting outward so it’s visible to pedestrians and traffic from both directions. Also called projecting signs, hanging signs, or swinging signs. They’re one of the most effective sign types for street-level visibility in NYC and NJ.
Non-illuminated flat panels start around $700–$1,200. Illuminated lightbox blades range $1,500–$4,000+. Dimensional letter blades start around $1,200+. Custom die-cut shapes start at $1,400+. We provide detailed quotes after understanding your specific project.
Signs at or under 6 sq ft (2′ × 3′ or smaller) and non-illuminated typically do not require a DOB permit. Signs over 6 sq ft require a construction permit, and illuminated signs need additional electrical permits. Signs in historic districts like SoHo, Greenwich Village, or Brooklyn Heights need LPC approval. We assist our clients through the permitting process and advise on what’s required for your specific location.
Permit requirements in NJ vary by municipality. Some towns require sign permits for any exterior signage; others have size thresholds similar to NYC. We advise on local requirements for your specific NJ location before design begins.
Typical turnaround is 2–4 weeks from design approval. Fabrication takes 7–14 business days depending on complexity. Permit timelines vary — simple permits can be same-day; LPC reviews take longer. We manage the full timeline.
Yes — most blade signs are double-sided by default since the sign is visible from both directions of foot traffic. Single-sided is available but uncommon.
In NYC, stay at or under 2′ × 3′ (6 sq ft) and non-illuminated. This is the standard for most small business blade signs and gets your sign up fastest with no DOB filing required.
Absolutely. NYC and NJ are full of brick buildings and we install on them regularly. We use masonry anchors and structural assessment — matching the anchoring method to the brick type and condition on site.
Yes — we offer illuminated lightbox blade signs with internal LED. Keep in mind that illuminated signs require additional permits in NYC (electrical and annual illuminated sign permit). We can advise on the best approach for your location and budget.
Standard turnaround is 3–5 business days from approved artwork. Rush orders (1–2 business days) are available for an extra fee.
It depends on the size and placement. Small decals usually don’t require a permit, but larger signage may fall under NYC zoning or building code rules. They can advise based on your specific situation.
Yes. Full removal and replacement services across NYC and NJ. Where possible, we reuse existing mounting points to minimize facade disturbance.