5mm PVC Foam Board

5mm is the entry thickness for self-supporting displays. It is stiff enough for freestanding signage up to about one square meter, yet light enough for velcro or magnetic mounting, which makes it the default stock sheet in most sign shops.

The choice between the two board types is simple: free foam 5mm prints directly on its matte surface, while Celuka 5mm holds screws and carries light structure.

Shine ships both from stock in pallet quantities..

SKU: 5mm PVC Foam Board 카테고리: PVC Foam Board 태그: Thickness

Description

Self-Supporting for Most Indoor Signs

5mm is the sweet spot. It is the thickness at which the board becomes a self-supporting sign panel for the vast majority of indoor applications. The stiffness increase over 3mm is disproportionate: a 5mm board is approximately 4.6 times stiffer than a 3mm board of the same density. This is the cube law at work. The material cost increase is linear, 67% more material by volume. The stiffness increase is cubic. For any application where the board must stand on its own, the value of 5mm over 3mm is measured in multiples of performance per dollar, not percentages.

The Default Stock Thickness

5mm is the default stock thickness in sign shops worldwide. In most of them, the stock sheet is 5mm white free foam, 1220×2440mm. The gauge has become the industry’s default because it answers the most common question, “what thickness should I use for an indoor sign?”, with a single answer that works for the majority of jobs without requiring case-by-case engineering judgment. It is thick enough for a 1m freestanding display panel and thin enough to keep material cost per sign under control on production runs of hundreds or thousands of units.

Compatibility With Sign-Making Processes

The board is compatible with every standard sign-making process without modification. UV flatbed printing, the matte surface accepts ink directly, with cross-hatch adhesion rated 5B per ASTM D3359, no primer, no corona treatment. Screen printing, it is thick enough to resist flexing under squeegee pressure, which would cause ink deposit variation on a thinner board. CNC routing, rigid enough to hold fine detail without vibration, and the edge is wide enough to accept a colored paint fill for a finished edge appearance. Knife cutting, still cuttable by hand with 12 to 15 scoring passes along a straightedge, though most production shops use a panel saw or CNC at this thickness. The board slots into every standard sign holder, stand, and frame system designed for rigid substrate up to 5mm.

Free Foam Versus Celuka

The choice between free foam and Celuka separates two industries. Free foam is for printing, the matte surface is the feature. Meanwhile, Celuka is for structure, the hard skin and screw-holding capacity are the features. A sign shop buys free foam. A furniture factory buys Celuka for door panels and thin cabinet components. The two boards cost differently, print differently, and perform differently under mechanical load. In fact, they share a thickness measurement but almost nothing else.

Technical Specifications

Item	Free Foam 5mm	Celuka 5mm
Product type	Free Foam Board	Celuka Board
Thickness	5 mm	5 mm
Density (recommended)	0.40–0.55 g/cm³. Available up to 0.60.	0.50–0.65 g/cm³
Surface	Matte, naturally textured (Ra 0.5–1.5 μm), no hard skin	Hard skin (0.2–0.5mm), smooth, Shore D65
Flexural strength	≥15 MPa (ASTM D790)	≥18 MPa
Screw holding (face)	Low (non-structural)	≥900N at 0.55+ (QB/T 5883-2023)
Water absorption (24h)	<1% (factory nominal; third-party verification available on request)	<1% (factory nominal; third-party verification available on request)
Fire rating	B2 (DIN 4102-1)	B1 (DIN 4102-1) available
Whiteness (white)	L* > 92	L* > 92
Standard sheet size	1220×2440 mm	1220×2440 mm
Weight per sheet	~6.7 kg at 0.45	~9.0 kg at 0.60
Processing	UV printing / Screen printing / CNC routing / Knife cutting / Gluing	CNC routing / Saw cutting / PUR edge banding / Screw fastening (pre-drill)
UV printing	No primer needed (matte surface), ASTM D3359 5B	Surface prep required, sand or corona treat
⚠ Forbidden	Laser cutting	Laser cutting
Packaging	Standard PE film (included)	Standard PE film (included)
MOQ	2 tons	2 tons

Uses

Freestanding Exhibition Displays

Freestanding trade show and exhibition displays are the core application. A panel at 1m × 2m stands upright in a floor-standing frame without bowing forward or developing a visible wave across the face. Exhibition graphics can be printed, packed flat in a shipping case, and reassembled at the show without warping from the humidity change between the warehouse and the convention center.

Retail Point-of-Purchase Displays

Retail point-of-purchase displays include shelf talkers, counter stands, floor displays, and window signage. A 5mm board printed with a promotional graphic and placed in a floor stand looks professional, stays flat, and survives the weeks-to-months duration of a typical retail promotion without losing its shape. At the end of the promotion, it is recycled or discarded, at a material cost low enough for single-use displays.

Screen Printing Production Runs

Screen printing production runs are a common application in multi-spot-color work. The board needs to stay flat under the downward pressure of the squeegee and the vacuum of the screen lift-off. This is why the board provides more resistance to flexing than thinner gauges, which helps support consistent ink transfer across the full sheet.

Real Estate and Directional Signage

Real estate and directional signage covers signs that must stand on their own in a front yard or at a roadside, held in a metal frame or stake. This gauge provides adequate stiffness for a sign up to approximately 1m². However, for larger real estate signs or signs in windy locations, 8mm or 10mm provides additional wind-load resistance.

Quote Checklist Before Ordering

Confirm density. For self-supporting displays over 600mm in the longest dimension, specify 0.50 to 0.55 g/cm³ for the additional stiffness. For smaller formats, wall-mounted signs, or framed applications, 0.40 to 0.45 g/cm³ is sufficient and more economical. The density difference of 0.10 g/cm³ changes the per-sheet cost by approximately 15 to 20% and the stiffness by approximately 30 to 40%.

If screen printing, confirm thickness tolerance ±0.2mm across the entire batch. This is not negotiable for screen printing, thickness variation beyond this tolerance produces visible ink density variation that the end customer will see and reject.

Confirm the board surface is clean and the PE protective film is intact. The matte surface of free foam board is naturally print-ready but can accumulate dust or oil if the protective film has been damaged or removed during storage and handling.

For large-format signs over 1m², verify that this thickness provides adequate stiffness for the specific span and mounting method. A 1.5m-wide panel will show visible flex at the unsupported center. Either move to 8mm, or add a supporting frame behind the panel.

Confirm fire rating if the sign will be installed in a commercial building, shopping mall, or public space. Standard free foam is B2 (DIN 4102-1). If the venue requires B1-rated materials, Celuka B1 is available, but Celuka has a smooth surface that requires surface preparation (sanding or corona treatment) before UV printing.

Pricing Factors & Getting a Quote

Standard Specification Pricing

5mm free foam board in white, 1220×2440mm, 0.45 density is the highest-volume specification in the signage industry. As a result, the combination of high production volume and standard specifications produces the most competitive pricing per sheet of any self-supporting gauge.

Density Choice and Cost

Density choice directly affects cost. A board at 0.40 g/cm³ costs less than one at 0.55 g/cm³ because the lower-density option contains less PVC resin per sheet. Choose the density that your application requires for stiffness, do not default to a higher density than needed, but do not under-specify density for a freestanding sign that must stay flat.

The Celuka Cost Premium

Celuka costs more than free foam at the same density because the cost premium reflects the additional manufacturing step (cooled calibrator for hard skin formation). Use Celuka only when the application requires screw holding, surface hardness, or B1 fire rating that free foam cannot provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

5mm free foam or 5mm Celuka, how do I choose?

If you are printing signs, free foam. The matte surface is print-ready with no preparation, and the board costs less. If you are building cabinet door panels, furniture components, or anything that involves screws, hinges, or structural joints, Celuka. Free foam has no hard skin and low screw-holding capacity. In contrast, Celuka at 0.55+ density holds screws adequately for light-duty structural applications. Do not use free foam where a screw must hold because the screw will pull out.

What should I consider when selecting a 5mm board for outdoor use?

Thickness alone does not determine outdoor suitability. Rather, the formulation and board type matter more. Standard expanded board is produced without UV stabilizers, so it is not intended for sustained outdoor exposure regardless of thickness. For outdoor signs at this thickness, a UV-stabilized board type is needed. To meet this requirement, Shine offers co-extruded board with a UV-protective cap layer, and UV-stabilized Celuka for applications that also need screw holding or edge banding. Both options are available in the same 1220×2440mm sheet size as the standard expanded board. If your project needs outdoor performance at this thickness, let the supplier know the expected exposure conditions so the correct board type can be specified.

What is the largest sign I can make from 5mm board?

A free foam board at 0.45 density, supported on all four edges (in a frame), can span up to approximately 1.2m × 2.4m, a full sheet, without visible sag at the center. By contrast, a freestanding sign supported only at the bottom (in a floor stand) should not exceed approximately 1m in height, beyond that, wind load and self-weight will cause visible forward lean or bow. For larger freestanding signs, use 8mm or 10mm board, or add edge stiffening with an aluminum frame.

Can I bend 5mm board into a curved display?

Yes, heat it uniformly to 70 to 100°C (free foam) or 115 to 125°C (Celuka), bend to shape around a form, and hold until cooled. Heating time is approximately 30 to 50 seconds per side under an infrared heater. Minimum bend radius: approximately 10 to 15mm for free foam, 15 to 20mm for Celuka (2 to 3× board thickness). The board holds its shape after cooling. For tight-radius bends, make a male/female form to support it evenly during bending because freehand bending produces flat spots and kinks.