The question we get most often is not "what does it cost." It is "how fast can we be up."

The answer depends on format and placement, but here is the realistic timeline — and where things typically go wrong.

The short version

For a placement that is already available, and where the creative is ready, two to three weeks is a realistic timeline from signature to banner on the facade.

If the creative still needs to be produced, or the placement requires municipal approval, allow four to six weeks.

Week 0: choosing the placement

The first step is deciding which surface fits the job — not which one happens to be available.

This is where you clarify:

  • Format and size
  • Period and duration
  • Direction and type of traffic at the placement
  • Price including print, installation and any fees

It typically takes a couple of days if you know what the campaign needs to achieve. It takes longer if that decision is still open.

Be aware: Attractive scaffolding periods are often gone within a few days. Construction projects run on their own calendar, and the surface becomes available when the scaffolding goes up — not when it suits your media plan.

Week 1: agreement and production files

Once the agreement is in place, print-ready files need to be delivered. This is where most delays happen.

Expect to deliver:

  • A file in the correct aspect ratio for the specific surface
  • Sufficient resolution for large-format print
  • Fonts embedded or converted to outlines
  • Colors in CMYK, not RGB

If your files are not ready, design work typically adds one to two weeks.

Weeks 1–2: approval and permits

Some placements require a municipal permit, and the rules vary from municipality to municipality. In Copenhagen there is also a fee on advertising in public space, which is included in the price.

How long it takes depends on the municipality and the time of year. It is rarely the bottleneck, but it is not something you can skip, either.

We handle the application ourselves for the placements where it is required.

Week 2: print

Large-format printing on banner fabric typically takes two to four working days, depending on size and the print shop's queue.

At 250 m², you are really talking about several panels that need to be welded together. That takes longer than a single smaller banner.

Weeks 2–3: installation

The installation itself usually takes a single day. It has to be coordinated with the scaffolding contractor or the property, and it depends on the weather — strong winds postpone installation.

After installation, the surface is photographed, so you have documentation that the campaign is live.

The three classic delays

1. The creative is not ready. By far the most common cause. Start the design work in parallel with choosing the placement, not after.

2. The files are wrong. Low resolution, RGB colors or the wrong aspect ratio send the material back and cost days. Ask for the specifications as soon as the agreement is in place.

3. The decision drags on. While you wait for internal approval, someone else books the surface. Scaffolding periods do not wait.

If you are in a hurry

If you have a fixed launch date, work backward from it — and build in a week's buffer beforehand. Weather, construction and print queues are things no one fully controls.

And if you are really in a hurry: a digital screen can be live within a few days, because there is no print or installation involved. It is often the fastest route into public space when the deadline is tight.

In short

  • Choosing the placement — 2–5 days
  • Agreement and files — 2–7 days
  • Permit (if relevant) — 1–2 weeks
  • Print — 2–4 working days
  • Installation — 1 day

Two to three weeks if everything is ready. Four to six if it is not.