Foamex or Polyboard
Choose Foamex unless weight is your main concern and the board will stay indoors. The price will not help you decide, as the two are almost identical.
Polyboard only wins on weight.
That is the honest summary. Foamex is a solid foamed PVC sheet that is the same material all the way through. Polyboard is a foam centre between paper faces. The paper is what makes it so light and so neat when new, and it is also the source of every weakness it has.
| Foamex | Polyboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Light | Lighter |
| Surface knocks | Marks, but takes a fair amount | Dents at the slightest bump |
| Corners | Quite robust | Crush easily in transit |
| Damp and rain | Copes | Warps, so strictly indoor |
| Edge | Smooth, solid | Foam centre on show |
| Reuse | Several outings | Best for one or two |
Compare the prices and you will see why weight decides
| Board | A2 | A1 | A0 | 30in x 20in | 40in x 30in | 60in x 40in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3mm Foamex | £7 | £12 | £20 | £10 | £20 | £35 |
| 3mm Polyboard | £7 | £12 | £20 | £10 | £20 | £35 |
| 5mm Foamex | £8 | £14 | £25 | £11 | £22 | £37.50 |
| 5mm Polyboard | £8 | £14 | £25 | £11 | £22 | £35 |
| 10mm Foamex | £20 | £30 | £40 | £25 | £35 | £60 |
| 10mm Polyboard | £20 | £30 | £40 | £25 | £35 | £60 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
Across the whole table, the only difference is at 5mm and 60in x 40in. Since you are not saving money by choosing the softer board, it has to earn its place some other way.
When Polyboard really is the better pick
- You are carrying it yourself. A folder of boards on the Tube is a different experience when each one weighs next to nothing.
- It hangs from something delicate. Thin cord, light Velcro and temporary walls all favour less weight. See lightweight boards for hanging.
- The panel is big and thick, but short-lived. A 10mm board in Foamex is a hefty thing. In Polyboard you get the same chunky look and can lift it with one hand.
- It is a one-off. A presentation, a model base or a single-day display does not need toughness.
When Foamex is the obvious choice
Anything outdoors, in a damp room, in a public area, or in the back of a van more than once. Likewise for any display that people can touch, as children and bags find soft surfaces quickly.
A test you can do with your thumb
Press a thumbnail gently into a spare piece of each. Polyboard will hold the mark. Foamex will mostly shrug it off. Now imagine that happening to your panel on a busy stand, and you will know which one you want.
Foam boards at work.
Your questions.
Is Polyboard the same as foam board or foamcore?
Broadly, yes. Those names are all used for a foam centre with paper faces, although exact products vary from one maker to another.
Which one gives the print a better finish?
Both are smooth when new, and the print looks much the same on either. The difference appears after handling, when Polyboard shows dents sooner.
Can Polyboard be recycled with paper?
Usually not, because the paper and foam are bonded. Check with your local waste service or contractor before putting it in a recycling bin.