How Is a Tagboard Different From a Poster Board?

Tagboard and poster board have a few differences.

Many school projects and some business presentations need a visual display. There are a number of options for creating a poster for these presentations, and two of these options--tagboard and poster board--are easily mistaken for one another. While poster board and tagboard are similar in some ways, they do have their differences.

Definitions

Poster board is defined as four-ply cardboard that is ideally used for posters, signs and mounting, according to the Business Supply website. It works best with oil pastels, markers or crayons when using it as write-on display paper.

Tagboard, on the other hand, was originally defined as a strong cardboard that was used especially for making shipping tags, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. More recently, tagboard is defined as a lightweight cardboard used for making signs or fliers.

Size

Poster board and tagboard come in various sizes. Poster board is thicker and most often has more options for larger sizes than smaller ones. Tagboard, on the other hand, is thinner and more flexible, which makes it easier to produce in different sizes. It can come as small as 8 inches by 12 inches or as large 36 inches by 24 inches. Also because poster board is thicker, it can come in standalone display varieties with 3 or 4 panels that fold in an out; display styles are not an option for the flimsier tagboard.

Cost

One of the most noticeable differences between poster and tagboard is the price. Poster board is thicker and sturdier and, therefore, is made up of more cardboard. This increase in material is passed on to the consumer in an increased price. Tagboard is often cheaper than poster board and also is sold in larger quantities per package.

Best Uses

Tagboard is generally best used for projects that are driven by printing on the board rather than by pasting items to it. It is an alternative to regular paper when making handouts or leaflets. Also, because it is lighter in weight, it can be mounted with tape as opposed to tacks or staples.

Poster board is best used when needing a stronger, sturdier surface that can display text as well as other items that have been taped, stapled or pasted onto it. It is also best advised for displays meant to stand on their own, such as a foldout poster board display used at conferences and conventions. Because of its heavier weight, it should be mounted with tacks or nails so it doesn't fall.

Placement in Stores

Since tagboard and poster board are both used to display information on a larger scale than regular paper, they are often placed right next to one another in the shopping aisle at business and art supply stores. Because they both come in a variety of colors, sometimes consumers will not see the desired color in one form of board and mistakenly buy the correct color in the other style.

References

• Merriam-Webster Online: Definition of Tagboard
• The Free Dictionary: Definition of Poster Board
• Business Supply: Poster Board and Tagboard Product Descriptions