Guide · signs & materials
Floor decals: materials, slip rating and where to use them
Floor decals (also called floor graphics or floor stickers) are printed vinyl with an anti-slip laminate over it, cut to shape and stuck straight onto the floor. They direct people, mark where to stand and advertise right where people look while walking.
In one paragraph
For anywhere people walk, use floor vinyl with an anti-slip laminate, apply it to a clean, dry, smooth, sealed floor, and get the slip rating in writing before you order. Ordinary sticker, wall or window vinyl is not a floor product and can be slippery, especially wet. Indoors on a sealed floor, expect a floor graphic to last months rather than years: it is a campaign item, not a permanent fitting.
What are floor decals?
A floor decal is a printed graphic on adhesive-backed vinyl, finished with a tough laminate so it can be walked on. Floor decals, floor graphics, floor stickers and floor clings all mean the same thing in everyday use. What separates them from an ordinary sticker is the laminate and the adhesive: both are chosen for shoes, trolley wheels and mopping.
We make anti-slip floor decals cut to any shape. For a graphic on a wall or glass, see wall decals or window decals instead.
What we print for this
Proofed before they run
What are floor decals used for?
| Use | Typical example |
|---|---|
| Wayfinding | Arrows and paths in warehouses, clinics, schools and shopping centres |
| Queues and spacing | Stand-here dots and queue lines at counters and checkouts |
| Retail floor graphics | An offer at the shelf edge, at the entrance or by the till |
| Branding | A logo at reception, in a lift or at an event entrance |
| Safety marking | Pedestrian zones, keep-clear areas and where equipment lives |
A retail floor graphic usually sits in the main walking path, so it has to survive daily foot traffic and still read clearly from standing height.
Why the laminate matters
The laminate is the layer you stand on. A floor-grade anti-slip laminate has a fine texture that grips shoes and stands up to scuffing and cleaning. A gloss laminate, or plain printed vinyl, can be slippery, particularly when wet.
Slip resistance is the part that matters and the part nobody should guess at. In Australia, the slip resistance of floor surfaces is classified under AS 4586. A floor graphic in a space the public walks through is a duty-of-care item, so ask for the rating of the finished laminate in writing and keep it on file. Ours is confirmed on your quote against the actual laminate.
Which floors will a decal stick to?
Floor decals are made for smooth, sealed floors: sealed or polished concrete, vinyl, lino, smooth sealed tiles and sealed timber. Almost every failure is a surface problem, not a print problem. They struggle on:
- Heavily textured or non-slip tile: the vinyl only touches the high points, edges lift within days, and a lifted edge is a trip hazard
- Grout lines, where edges catch and lift
- Raw or dusty concrete and unsealed timber
- Freshly sealed or polished concrete, which keeps releasing solvent for weeks; ask when it went down, and wait
- Carpet, which needs a different product altogether
Sweep, wash, then let the floor dry properly: not mopped ten minutes earlier, because leftover cleaner is a common reason an edge curls. Press the decal down from the centre out, and keep the mop off the edges for the first day.
Can floor decals go outdoors or in wet areas?
Only with a tougher laminate made for it, and with a shorter life. Sun, rain, grit and heat break down an indoor adhesive and laminate quickly. An entrance that gets wet, heavy trolley traffic or outdoor paving all shorten how long a graphic lasts, so say where it is going when you ask for a price.
What size and shape should floor graphics be?
Size it by how it will be read. As a rough guide, a stand-here dot works at about 300 to 400mm across, and an arrow people read while walking wants to be 500 to 600mm or more. People read a floor graphic from above and at an angle, so keep the words few and large; sign sizes and viewing distance has letter heights by distance.
A circle or a rectangle is the simplest cut; a contour cut follows the outline of your logo. Use rounded corners rather than sharp points, which catch first. And place graphics where feet go, not where trolley wheels and pallet jacks turn. Supply artwork as vector or high resolution: see file formats for print and print resolution.
Will a floor decal damage the floor?
On a properly sealed floor, within its expected life, a floor decal peels off and leaves no residue. Left down far longer, the adhesive hardens and removal becomes a slow peel and a cleaning job. On an unsealed or damaged floor, removal can lift whatever was already loose. To take one up, warm it gently, peel at a low angle, and test any adhesive remover on a hidden patch first.
Floor decals and wet floor signs
A floor decal is not a wet floor sign. A caution wet floor sign stands up while the hazard is there and is put away when it is gone; a warning stuck down permanently stops being noticed. For portable signs, an A-frame or a printed safety sign is the right product, and safety sign symbols and colours explains the shapes and colours.
How to order floor decals
Floor decals are quoted per job, because size, quantity, the cut and the floor itself all move the price, and floor graphics run much larger than a sticker. Send the sizes, how many you need and a photo of the surface they go on, and you get a written price with GST and delivery included and the slip rating confirmed. Start on the floor decals page. We deliver Australia-wide, and most customers apply them themselves.
Common questions
Are floor decals safe to walk on?
Yes, when they use an anti-slip floor laminate and are applied to a clean, dry, sealed floor. Ask for the slip rating of the finished decal in writing and check it suits the area, especially anywhere that gets wet.
Can I use normal vinyl stickers on the floor?
No. Ordinary sticker vinyl and gloss laminate can be slippery and wear through quickly underfoot. Use a product made for floors, with an anti-slip laminate and an adhesive suited to the surface.
How long do floor graphics last?
Indoors on a sealed floor in normal retail traffic, months rather than years. Heavy trolley traffic, a wet entrance or outdoor use shorten that considerably, so order with a replacement in mind if the message needs to stay up.
Do commercial floor decals come off cleanly?
On a properly sealed floor within their expected life, yes: they peel off and leave no residue. Left down far too long, or on an unsealed floor, removal is slower and can lift loose coating.
Can floor graphics go outdoors?
Only with a tougher laminate made for outdoor and wet areas, and with a shorter life than indoors. Say where the graphic is going when you ask for a price.
Can I get floor decals in Parramatta or elsewhere in Sydney?
Yes. We deliver floor decals Australia-wide, so you order online and they are couriered to you in Parramatta or anywhere else in the country.
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