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The Best Banners

Last updated on June 23, 2023

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

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Our Picks For The Top Banners

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
 Top Pick

PartyHooman Burlap First Baby Birthday Banner

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

PartyHooman

Burlap First Baby Birthday Banner

Celebrate your infant’s first birthday in style with this set, which gives you a banner, a cake topper and a crown, each showing the word "One." The signs on the banner are made from burlap to give it a unique look. You can choose from multiple colors to create the look you want for your birthday party.

Overall Take

For Busy ParentsYou’ll get every decoration you need in this set, which includes banners, a crown and a cake topper.

 Runner Up

Alexis Mattox Design Customizable Text Glitter Banner

Alexis Mattox Design

Customizable Text Glitter Banner

This classy banner option lets you choose the message you want displayed as you’re ordering. Simply choose the number of letters, numbers and characters you want to have included in your order, then specify your message at checkout. You’ll then string the letters together and hang them when you’re setting up your party.

Overall Take

Customizable and ClassyCreate a sign that reads exactly the way you want with this customizable banner.

 We Also Like

YGEOMER Nylon Cloth Pennants Flag Banner

YGEOMER

Nylon Cloth Pennants Flag Banner

You’ll get 300 flags in five different colors in this pack, which covers 375 feet in total. You can use it to line ceilings, walls, trees or other types of large surfaces to create a festive environment. The flags are made from fabric and the rope is nylon to give you an item that will last outdoors even through multiple parties.

Overall Take

Liven Up Big PartiesCover a wide area with these pennant-style banners that set the stage for a party to remember.

 Strong Contender

WATINC Letter Stencils & Blank Burlap Banner

WATINC

Letter Stencils & Blank Burlap Banner

The burlap build of this banner makes it extra durable, so you can use it for multiple events. The flags arrive blank, along with a stencil you can combine with paint, chalk or a marker to imprint exactly the message you want. You can even draw your own images on some of the flags.

Overall Take

Totally VersatileThis burlap banner can be used for a variety of occasions, from children’s birthday parties to weddings and more.

Buying Guide

Celebrations are an important part of life. Whether it’s a birthday, graduation, wedding or some other milestone, a party gives you a chance to spend some time with your loved ones. It’s also a great opportunity to count your blessings.

For parents, birthday celebrations can be tricky. You want to make your little one’s special day even more special but knowing exactly what will work best for your child’s age can be a challenge. What you do for a first birthday, for instance, will likely be dramatically different than what you do for a sixth or eighth birthday.

No matter the age, though, there are a few elements that are essential to a successful celebration. Obviously, the people are the most important part. You’ll want to make sure you issue invitations in plenty of time to give invitees a chance to respond. If you’re planning a party for your child, you’ll have to find a way to get a list of friends or classmates, as well as contact information for all their parents. In some cases, your child’s teacher or daycare manager can help get the word out.

Once you have the attendees lined up, it’s time to coordinate the festivities. You’ll need food for the celebrants, of course, and that typically involves a cake. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, graduation or some other milestone, the cake will usually serve as the focal point of the event. You might also want to have some snacks on hand. Finger foods are best so that you don’t have to deal with silverware. Simply hand everyone a plate and napkin and you’re good to go.

But as partygoers arrive, you’ll also want to set up a festival atmosphere. That’s where party decorations come in. The right banner can set the tone, whether you’re celebrating a child, teenager or adult. Add in some matching tablecloths and possibly some confetti and you’ll have a fun party wherever you are.

What to Look For

  • Some banners are made with durability in mind. The truth is, though, that your celebration will only be a few hours in length, at most, so durability might not be a top priority. One exception to this, though, is if your party is being held outdoors. In that case, you might want to look for a banner that can hold up against the elements, whether it’s wind, rain or direct sunlight.
  • You can find banners for every type of celebration, but some can be customized for your unique event. This can allow you to include someone’s name or customize to those events that aren’t covered by traditional banners.
  • Creating your own banner can add that personal touch. But you can opt for a happy medium. Some banners come blank, along with stencils you can use to add your message. You’ll need paint, chalk or a marker with these banners, though.
  • Pennant-style banners can bring a unique look to your celebrations. Instead of a banner that runs straight across, this option has you putting a letter on each one.
  • Blank flag-style pennants liven up any space. This type of banner can help turn your back yard into a miniature carnival for your little ones and all their friends.
  • Even with a non-customized banner, you could add a few extra touches using stencils and some paint or markers. This can be a way to liven things up.
  • Banners aren’t just for one wall. You can add banners to your table and even pin pennant-style flags to the rafters or your ceiling to make an entire space festive.
  • If your birthday party follows a theme, look for banners that match that theme. This may be a time when a customized option works best.

More to Explore

Birthday parties might be a normal part of modern culture, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, at one time, many people weren’t even sure of the exact date they were born. Birth records weren’t protected and maintained by official sources as they are today.

When birthdays finally began to be celebrated, though, it wasn’t for the most festive of reasons. At one time, it was believed that evil spirits visited a person on his or her birth anniversary. To protect the honoree, loved ones would gather around and make loud noises to scare those evil spirits away. Instead of physical gifts, celebrants would simply bring good wishes. As these gatherings evolved, though, gifts became a good sign for the person who was turning a year older, which is how the tradition of birthday presents began.

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