What Are Grommets on a Banner?

Grommets are the reinforced metal rings set into the edges and corners of a banner that create finished holes for hanging it. They are also called eyelets, and while most are metal, plastic versions exist for lighter indoor banners. By reinforcing each hole, grommets let you tie, hook, zip-tie, or bungee a banner in place without the vinyl tearing around the attachment points. Grommets are one of the most common ways to finish a banner, and the team at Signarama adds them to most vinyl banners as a standard option. 

What grommets do 

A banner without reinforced holes will tear at the attachment points the first time the wind catches it. Grommets solve that problem and make the banner faster to hang. 

• Reinforce the hanging holes so the banner does not rip under wind or tension. 

• Create consistent attachment points for rope, zip ties, bungee cords, or hooks. 

• Spread stress across the banner edge instead of concentrating it on one weak spot. 

• Give a clean, finished edge rather than a raw punched hole. 

What grommets are made of 

Most banner grommets are metal, usually brass, nickel, or aluminum, pressed into the material for a durable, rust-resistant hole. Plastic grommets are lighter and less expensive and work for indoor banners that will not face weather or heavy tension. The standard grommet for vinyl banners is around three-eighths of an inch across. 

Where grommets are placed 

Placement depends on the banner size and how it will be mounted. Closer spacing spreads wind load across more points, so larger or outdoor banners get more grommets than a small indoor one. A few conventions are standard. 

• In all four corners at a minimum, for basic hanging. 

• Every two to three feet along the edges on larger banners. 

• Along the top and bottom, or all four sides, depending on the mount. 

When you need grommets, and when you don't 

Grommets fit most banners, but they are not the only finishing option, and the right choice depends on where and how the banner hangs. 

• Grommets suit most indoor and outdoor banners hung on fences, walls, or frames. 

• Pole pockets, a sewn sleeve instead of grommets, work better for pole-mounted or hanging banners. 

• Wind-heavy locations may also call for reinforced hems or wind slits alongside grommets to keep the banner from tearing. 

• Very small or rigid signs may not need grommets at all. 

Finishing your banner 

Grommets are a small detail that decides how long a banner survives once it is hung. Signarama finishes vinyl banners with grommets, pole pockets, or hemming to match exactly where and how the banner will be displayed.