Eyelets vs Pole Pockets vs No Mounting — Which Banner Finish to Choose

Vinyl banners come with three mounting options: eyelets (grommets), pole pockets, or no mounting at all. The right choice depends on how the banner will hang and how many times you plan to reuse it.

Eyelets (grommets)

Metal rings punched through the corners and along the edges of the banner. You tie rope, zip-ties, or bungee cords through them to fasten the banner to whatever structure you're hanging it from.

• Best for: shopfronts, fences, walls with hooks, scaffolding
• How many? Four corners minimum. For banners over 6 ft wide, add eyelets every 2 ft along the top edge.
• Reusable: yes — eyelets last for dozens of mounts
• Risk: in heavy wind, only the eyelets take the load. Cheap thin vinyl can tear at the eyelet under strain

Pole pockets

Hollow channels stitched or heat-sealed along the top and/or bottom edges. A pole or rod slides through the pocket, distributing weight across the entire edge instead of concentrating it at corner grommets.

• Best for: hanging from a single horizontal pole, wedding backdrops, stage banners, anywhere the banner needs to hang flat without rippling
• Top pocket only: banner hangs like a curtain (you'll need a weight at the bottom or it'll flap)
• Top + bottom pockets: banner stays taut between two poles — looks much better, the standard for event signage
• Pole not included: you'll need to source a metal or wooden pole separately, usually a bamboo rod for cheap setups

No mounting (raw banner)

Just the printed vinyl, no eyelets, no pockets. Cheapest option.

• Best for: banners you'll glue, tape, or staple to a board
• Best for: single-use banners (photo-op backdrops you'll dispose of after one event)
• Avoid for: any banner hanging in wind — without reinforcement, the edges will tear

How to decide

1. Outdoor + corners-only mounting? → eyelets at minimum 4 corners.
2. Single horizontal pole or rope? → top pole pocket.
3. Premium event backdrop, needs to look taut? → top and bottom pole pockets.
4. One-time use, mounting on a backing board? → no mounting needed.