Banner Finishing Explained: Hems, Grommets, and Pole Pockets

Two banners printed on the same material can last a season or a weekend – the difference is finishing. Here is what each option does and when to pick it.

Hems: the foundation

A hem folds and welds the banner edge back on itself, doubling the material where stress concentrates. Skip hems only on short-term indoor banners; for anything hanging outside, hems are the difference between a banner that frays and one that survives the season.

Grommets: where the banner meets the rope

Grommets are the metal rings your zip ties, bungees, or rope pass through. Standard spacing is every 2–3 feet along the perimeter, but placement matters more than count: corners take the most load, and a banner tied only at its corners will tear there first in wind. In our banner builder you can use corner-only, all-sides, or click-to-place custom grommet positions to match exactly where your mounting points are.

Pole pockets: clean and hardware-free

A pole pocket is a deep hem left open at the ends so a pole or rod slides through – the standard for street-pole banners and backdrop stands. Measure your pole diameter and add at least an inch of pocket so the pole slides freely.

Matching finish to location

Fence or wall outdoors: hems plus grommets on all sides. Between two poles: pole pockets top and bottom. Windy open spans: mesh material plus grommets every 18 inches. Indoor curl-free display: no-curl banner stock lies flat without any hardware at all. Every option is priced live in the builder as you toggle it.