Charity shop signs volunteers can keep up to date
A charity shop runs on donations, volunteers and quick pricing. Clear tags, a sign that says when to bring donations and a board for the volunteer rota save everyone time.
Charity shop signs and price tags
A charity shop needs price tags by category (about 4 × 7 cm, colour-coded if you rotate stock), an A4 sign by the door with donation drop-off times, a notice board in the back room for the volunteer rota and pricing guide, and lettering for a themed window. Print on 250 gsm card and keep a stock of blank tags.
Last reviewed 3 October 2026
What a charity shop usually needs
- 1
Price tags
Price, size where it applies and, if the shop rotates stock, a colour or a date code so volunteers know what to move on. Matching tags make donated goods look like a shop, not a jumble sale.
- 2
Donation signs
When to bring donations, where to leave them and what the shop can and cannot take. A clear sign by the door saves bags left on the pavement overnight.
- 3
A volunteer notice board
The rota, the pricing guide, how to use the till, the shop's procedures and a thank you section. It is the one place new volunteers look before asking the manager.
- 4
What your money does
A sign by the till that says what the charity does with the money raised, in the charity's own words. Customers spend and donate more when they see where it goes.
- 5
Themed window lettering
Back to work, wedding season, autumn knits: a theme in the window built from donated stock and a few large letters. Themed windows give passers-by a reason to look in.
- 6
Volunteers wanted
A sign in the window and by the till asking for volunteers, with the hours you need and how to apply. Many recruits are customers already.
Sizes for a charity shop
| Piece | Size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Price tags | About 4 × 7 cm | Room for price, size and a colour code |
| Rail and shelf price signs | A6 (10.5 × 14.8 cm) | One price for a rail of the same item |
| Donation sign | A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | Readable on the door or by the drop-off point |
| Volunteer board headers | A4 strip, about 7 cm tall | Separates rota, pricing and procedures |
| Window lettering | One letter per A4 or A3 sheet | A3 reads from across the street |
| Volunteers wanted | A4 or A3 | A3 in the window, A4 by the till |
Free printables for a charity shop
Price tags for donated stock, signs for the door and the donation drop-off, and headers for the volunteers' notice board.
Charity shop price tags
Printable charity shop swing tags in berry: five standard prices, five of each, filling one A4 sheet of 25 tags at 50 by 30 mm. Free PDF.
OpenShop sign maker
Make a printable shop sign for a door or window: open and closed, opening hours, a sale or a notice such as back in 10 minutes. Free A4 or A3 PDF.
OpenNotice board headers
Print a big lettered title banner and matching section headers for a notice board: letters 10, 15 or 20 cm tall on A4. Free PDF for halls and offices.
Open
Want the window lettering designed?
WallKiwi's lettering maker designs display lettering from a word and a theme, such as autumn knits in warm orange letters, one letter per sheet, ready to print for the window. Designs use credits, and a free account includes some each month.
Questions people ask
What should a charity shop price tag show?
The price, the size for clothing and shoes, and any code the shop uses to rotate stock, such as a colour for the week it went out. Keep it consistent so every volunteer tags the same way.
What should a charity shop donation sign say?
When donations are accepted, where to bring them and what the shop cannot accept, following your charity's own policy. Asking people not to leave bags outside when the shop is closed is common.
Should a charity shop mention Gift Aid?
If your charity runs a Gift Aid scheme for donated goods, a sign at the donation point helps donors sign up. Use the wording your charity provides, as the scheme has specific rules.
How do you organise a volunteer notice board?
Split it into the rota, pricing guidance, shop procedures and news, with a header for each. Keep personal contact details off the board and in the manager's records instead.
How can a charity shop window stand out?
Choose one theme, build it from the best donated stock, add a few large letters and change it every couple of weeks. Seasonal and local themes give people a reason to look in.