How Much Does a Custom Wooden Sign Cost in the UK? Price Guide
See how much a custom wooden sign costs in the UK, from house signs to carved business signs and CNC cutting, plus what drives the final price.
As a rough guide, a custom wooden sign in the UK often costs £30 to £80 for a small, simple house sign, £60 to £200 for a deeper carved hardwood sign, and £150 to £500 or more for a large business sign. The final price depends mainly on the timber, the size, how much carving and detail is involved, and how it is finished for outdoor use. Makers set their own prices, so two quotes for the same sign can differ.
What drives the cost of a custom wooden sign
House signs, chopping boards and CNC cut parts are usually priced from the same ingredients. Knowing them makes quotes easier to read.
Timber type
Softwoods such as pine are the most affordable and suit painted or indoor pieces. Hardwoods like oak, iroko or sapele cost more but last far longer outdoors and look richer when carved. Sheet materials such as plywood and MDF are the budget option for flat, cut shapes. Standard MDF is for indoor use only, so ask the maker about moisture-resistant or exterior-grade boards if your piece will live outside.
Size and thickness
A bigger sign uses more timber and more machine time. Thicker solid boards also cost more than thin panels.
Carving depth and detail
Lettering can be engraved lightly, V-carved for crisp traditional letters, or cut deep and raised. Deeper carving, small fonts, borders and pictures (a house number with a tree, say, or a detailed logo) all add machine time and hand finishing. Simple, bold text in a single font is the most affordable choice.
Finishing and weatherproofing
Finishing is often a big part of the price. An outdoor sign needs a suitable exterior oil, varnish or paint, usually applied in several coats with drying time in between. Even with good protection, outdoor timber needs re-oiling or re-coating every so often, so ask your maker what they recommend and how often.
Design time
If you have a finished design file, the maker can go straight to cutting. If you are starting from an idea or a sketch, someone has to lay out the lettering and artwork, which is usually charged as a fixed fee or by time.
Machine set-up
Every CNC job needs the design turned into toolpaths, the material clamped down and the right cutters fitted. That set-up time is the same whether you order one piece or ten, which is why one-off items can seem expensive compared with the price per piece in a batch.
Quantity
Ordering several of the same item, such as matching signs for holiday lets or a set of wedding table numbers, spreads the set-up and design time across the batch. Ask for a price per item at different quantities.
Fixings and mounting
Screws, wall plugs, stand-off fixings, chains, posts or a stake for the garden all add to the cost. A free-standing sign on an oak post is a bigger job than a plaque you screw to a wall.
Delivery of bulky items
Small plaques and boards post easily, but long shelves, large signs and post-mounted signs are bulky and heavy. They often need a courier rather than standard Royal Mail, which can add a noticeable amount. Collecting locally can save money on larger pieces.
Bespoke house sign prices and other typical jobs
| Type of job | Rough UK price |
|---|---|
| Small house number or name plaque, softwood or MDF, painted | £25 to £60 |
| Carved hardwood house sign (oak or similar), outdoor finish | £60 to £200 |
| Free-standing sign on a post | £120 to £350+ |
| Carved business or shop sign, larger size | £150 to £500+ |
| Personalised chopping or serving board | £25 to £70 |
| Small bespoke shelf or wall piece | £40 to £150 |
| CNC cutting of your own design in plywood or MDF | Often £40 to £80 an hour of machine time, plus material |
These are guides, not quotes. Large sizes, exotic timber, gilding and complex artwork all sit above these ranges.
CNC cutting cost in the UK
If you have a design and simply need it cut, CNC cutting cost in the UK is usually worked out from three things: the sheet material, the machine time and a set-up charge. As a rough guide, many workshops and makers charge somewhere around £40 to £80 an hour for machine time, with a minimum charge for small jobs. Lots of small internal shapes, pockets and fine engraving take longer than simple outlines.
Supplying a clean vector file (such as DXF or SVG) with clear measurements keeps the cost down. If you only have a sketch, expect to pay for the file to be drawn up first.
A note on chopping boards and food use
A personalised chopping board makes a lovely gift, but if it will be used for food, ask the maker which timber and finish they use. Close-grained hardwoods such as maple, beech or walnut are common choices, finished with a food-safe oil. Wooden boards should be hand washed and re-oiled now and then, rather than put in the dishwasher.
How to keep the cost down
- Keep the wording short. Fewer letters in a bold font means less carving time.
- Choose the timber to suit the spot. Painted softwood suits a sheltered porch, while oak or another durable hardwood suits an exposed gatepost.
- Supply your own design file if you have one, or keep the artwork simple.
- Order matching items together to share the set-up cost.
- Allow time. Outdoor finishes need drying time between coats, and rush jobs often cost more.
If you want a logo, team badge or character on your sign, makers need permission to reproduce someone else's brand or characters, so ask for an original design or use your own artwork.
How to get an accurate quote on Hire a Maker
The best way to find out how much your custom wooden sign will cost is to describe it and let makers price it. Post a free request in your own words and include:
- the wording, layout and rough size
- whether it will go indoors or outside, and how it will be fixed
- your preferred timber or finish, if you have one
- up to 4 photos or sketches (a photo of where it will hang helps)
- your town and postcode, and whether you are happy to have it posted or want local makers only
- an optional budget and "needed by" date
Makers who do CNC routing and cover your area get an email alert and reply through on-site messages with ideas, prices and timings. Price, payment and delivery are agreed directly between you and the maker. Our guide on how to brief a maker has more tips on what to include.
Questions people ask
How much does a custom wooden sign cost for a house?
A simple painted house sign is often roughly £25 to £60, while a carved oak house sign with an outdoor finish is more like £60 to £200. Size, carving depth and fixings make the biggest difference.
How long does a wooden sign last outside?
A well-finished hardwood sign can last many years outdoors, especially if it is re-oiled or re-coated when the finish starts to look tired. Ask your maker which finish they use and how to look after it.
Is a CNC cut sign cheaper than a hand-carved one?
Often yes, because the machine does most of the cutting. Hand carving takes much more skilled time, so it usually costs more, though many makers combine both.
Can I send my own design to be cut?
Yes. A clean vector file with measurements is ideal and usually the cheapest route, as it removes design time from the quote.
Ready to see real prices? Post a free request for your sign or wooden piece, or browse makers who do CNC routing and message them directly. If you prefer a slate or acrylic look, our guide on what laser cutting is covers another way to make personalised signs.