Measuring Your Door Panel
Truck doors are not all the same shape. Most have a flat, workable area bordered by a body crease, the window frame, and the door handle. Before ordering, measure the widest flat rectangle you can fit inside those borders — that is your usable sign area, not the full outer dimension of the door.
- Measure the flat area width — side to side, staying inside any body crease.
- Measure the flat area height — top to bottom, staying clear of the window frame and handle.
- Round down slightly. A sign with a half-inch of margin on every side looks intentional; a sign that touches the door edges looks stretched.
- Test the surface with a fridge magnet first. If it does not stick, the panel is aluminium or fibreglass — see the note below.
Common Door Sizes by Vehicle Type
| Vehicle | Typical door panel | Recommended sign size |
|---|---|---|
| Regular-cab pickup | Compact front door | 12" × 24" |
| Crew-cab pickup | Larger front or rear door | 18" × 24" |
| Cargo van (Transit / ProMaster) | Wide sliding or rear door panel | 18" × 24" or 24" × 24" |
| Dually / cube van | Large flat door or side panel | 24" × 24" |
Not sure which size fits? Send us the make, model, and year in the quote form — we can confirm the right size before you order.
Ready to size your doors?
Order the standard pair, or send us your door measurements for a custom fit.
Order Magnetic Sign PairWhy Door Placement Beats Other Panels
Doors are the highest-visibility flat surface on a truck — visible from the side at intersections, in parking lots, and to anyone walking past the vehicle. They also open and close constantly, which is exactly why a magnetic sign belongs there instead of glued vinyl: pulling a sign off before a car wash or a personal errand takes seconds, and there is no risk of catching the edge on a door hinge the way a poorly cut vinyl edge can.
Steel vs. Aluminium Doors
Magnetic signs hold only on steel body panels. Several common trucks and vans have aluminium doors, where a magnet will not grip at all:
- Ford F-150 (2015+): aluminium doors and hood — magnets will not hold on the front doors.
- Honda Ridgeline: aluminium body panels throughout.
- Some heavy-duty trims: check with a fridge magnet — panel material varies by trim level.
If your door panels are aluminium, magnetic signs are not an option for that surface — permanent vinyl door lettering is the correct product instead.
Installing a Magnetic Sign on a Door
- Clean the door panel with soap and water, then dry it fully. Dust and road film under the magnet cause premature wear on both the sign and the paint.
- Line the sign up parallel to the body crease or door edge — a sign installed slightly crooked is the most common complaint we hear, and it is avoidable by eyeballing against a straight line on the vehicle.
- Press from the centre outward to remove air pockets, working toward each edge.
- Check that no edge overlaps the door seam — an overlapping edge catches wind at highway speed and lifts.
Related Reading
- Magnetic Signs for Trucks — full material specs and care instructions.
- Magnetic Truck Signs Canada — nationwide shipping and fleet quantity pricing.
- Custom Vehicle Magnets — design options for cars, vans, and mixed fleets.
- Permanent Door Lettering — for aluminium doors or trucks that stay dedicated to work full-time.