3 things to consider when buying a house number sign

A house number sign might seem like a small detail, but it makes a real difference to how your home looks from the street. Beyond street appeal, there's the practical side too – guests finding your place, deliveries arriving at the right door, and emergency services locating you quickly when it matters.

There's no shortage of options out there, which can make choosing one feel a bit overwhelming. So let's run through what actually matters: material, size and visibility, and how you can make it your own.

Material matters more than you'd think

The material you choose affects how long your sign lasts, how it handles the weather, and how much upkeep you'll be doing.

Durability and weather resistance

Metal signs are a popular choice, and for good reason. Brass and stainless steel look great – classic and sleek – but they can need regular maintenance to keep rust and corrosion at bay. Aluminium is the quiet achiever here: lightweight, completely rustproof, and handles harsh weather without complaint. It's why we use it for our signs.

Ceramic has that traditional cottage look, but it can chip or crack if you're not careful (and honestly, it can look a bit dated).

Wooden signs bring warmth and a rustic feel, but if you're in an area with humidity or decent rainfall, you might find yourself dealing with warping or rot down the track.

Acrylic is affordable and versatile, but it won't last as long as metal and tends to fade and discolour in the sun.

Maintenance

Aluminium wins hands down here. No rust, no corrosion, and the finish holds up for years. You won't be out there cleaning and repainting every few months.

Size and visibility – the practical stuff

Your house number needs to be readable from the street. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many signs fail this basic test.

Making it legible

Go for at least 200mm in height for the whole sign. And choose a font that's actually readable – those fancy decorative scripts might look nice up close, but they're useless from the footpath.

Contrast is your friend. Dark wall? Light sign. Light wall? Dark sign. Simple, but it makes all the difference for people trying to find your place.

Where to put it

Height-wise, somewhere between 120-150cm from the ground usually works well, though your property layout might change that.

Position it near your front door or main entrance where it's visible from the street. Check there's nothing blocking the view – plants have a habit of growing over signs, and that outdoor furniture arrangement might look great but could be hiding your numbers.

Local rules

Some councils have specific requirements about size and style, so it's worth checking before you order. Some areas also recommend reflective or illuminated signs for visibility at night. Our signs don't have built-in lighting, but plenty of our customers add a spotlight or similar to keep their numbers visible after dark.

Making it yours

This is the fun part – customising your sign to suit your place.

Signs come in all shapes: rectangles, squares, circles, and more. Pick something that fits with your home's character rather than just grabbing whatever's cheapest.

Think about your home's style. A sleek modern sign on a Federation cottage looks odd. A rustic wooden-look sign on a minimalist contemporary home looks equally out of place. Match the vibe.

Colour matters too. If your home has Dulux Monument trim, a sign in a similar tone will look intentional and cohesive, not like an afterthought.

Wrapping up

Choosing a house number sign comes down to three things: picking a material that'll last (aluminium's hard to beat), making sure people can actually read it from the street, and choosing a style that suits your home.

Take your time with it. It's a small detail, but it's one of the first things people notice about your place.