Outdoor advertising surrounds people every day—on highways, sidewalks, public transit, and city centers. While many people recognize outdoor ads when they see them, they may not realize how many different formats exist or how strategically they are used. Each type of outdoor advertising serves a specific purpose, environment, and audience.

This article explores the most common examples of outdoor advertising, explaining how each format works, where it appears, and when businesses should use it.

Overview of Outdoor Advertising Formats

Outdoor advertising, also known as out-of-home (OOH) advertising, includes any advertising placed in public, physical spaces. These formats are designed to reach people while they are commuting, traveling, shopping, or spending time outside their homes.

The most common outdoor advertising formats include:

• Billboards

• Transit advertising

• Street furniture advertising

• Posters and wallscapes

• Digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising

Each format differs in size, placement, cost, and impact.

Billboards

Billboards are the most iconic and recognizable form of outdoor advertising.

What Are Billboards?

Billboards are large advertising structures placed along:

• Highways

• Major roads

• Urban streets

• Commercial areas

They are designed for high visibility and long-distance viewing.

Types of Billboards

Traditional Static Billboards

These use printed vinyl or paper materials and display a single ad for a set period.

Features:

• Fixed creative

• High exposure

• Long display duration

Digital Billboards

Digital billboards use LED screens to display rotating ads.

Features:

• Multiple advertisers per board

• Shorter display intervals

• Dynamic and animated content

Digital billboards allow flexibility and real-time updates.

Mobile Billboards

Mobile billboards are ads placed on:

• Trucks

• Vans

• Trailers

They move through targeted areas and events, increasing flexibility and novelty.

Why Businesses Use Billboards

Billboards are ideal for:

• Brand awareness

• Product launches

• Local visibility

• Highway and commuter exposure

They deliver repeated impressions with minimal effort from the audience.

Transit Advertising

Transit advertising reaches people while they travel.

What Is Transit Advertising?

Transit advertising includes ads placed on or inside public transportation systems such as:

• Buses

• Trains

• Subways

• Trams

• Taxis

It reaches commuters during daily routines.

Types of Transit Advertising

Bus Advertising

Bus ads appear on:

• Bus sides

• Bus backs

• Interior panels

They offer wide city coverage and repeated exposure.

Train and Subway Advertising

These ads appear:

• Inside train cars

• On station walls

• On platforms

They are especially effective in densely populated urban areas.

Taxi and Rideshare Advertising

Taxi ads may appear:

• On vehicle rooftops

• Inside vehicles

• On digital screens

They often target urban and tourist audiences.

Why Transit Advertising Works

Transit ads benefit from:

• Daily repetition

• Captive audiences

• High-frequency exposure

Commuters see the same messages repeatedly, reinforcing recall.

Street Furniture Advertising

Street furniture advertising places ads on everyday public structures.

What Is Street Furniture Advertising?

Street furniture includes:

• Bus shelters

• Benches

• Kiosks

• Trash bins

• Information panels

These ads are positioned at eye level in pedestrian-heavy areas.

Common Street Furniture Formats

Bus Shelter Advertising

Bus shelter ads:

• Reach waiting passengers

• Offer long viewing times

• Are highly visible in urban areas

They are ideal for detailed messaging.

Bench Advertising

Bench ads appear on seating areas in:

• City streets

• Parks

• Transit stops

They target pedestrians and local foot traffic.

Kiosk Advertising

Kiosks often include:

• Maps

• Information screens

• Interactive displays

Ads placed here reach tourists and city visitors.

Advantages of Street Furniture Advertising

Street furniture ads offer:

• Close-up engagement

• Pedestrian targeting

• Strong local relevance

They are especially effective for local businesses.

Posters and Wallscapes

Posters and wallscapes bring flexibility and artistic potential to outdoor advertising.

What Are Outdoor Posters?

Outdoor posters are printed ads placed on:

• Building walls

• Construction barriers

• Dedicated poster panels

They vary in size and placement.

Types of Posters

Small and Medium Posters

Often placed in:

• High-traffic pedestrian areas

• Transit stations

• Retail districts

They deliver frequency and affordability.

Wallscapes (Murals)

Wallscapes are:

• Large-format ads painted or mounted on buildings

• Highly visible and impactful

They often become visual landmarks.

Why Brands Use Posters and Wallscapes

These formats are used for:

• Creative storytelling

• Cultural relevance

• Urban branding

Wallscapes can create strong emotional connections.

Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) Advertising

Digital OOH is the fastest-growing segment of outdoor advertising.

What Is Digital OOH Advertising?

DOOH uses digital screens placed in public spaces such as:

• Shopping malls

• Airports

• Transit hubs

• City centers

• Retail stores

It combines outdoor visibility with digital flexibility.

Types of DOOH Screens

Digital Billboards

Large LED screens in high-traffic areas display rotating ads.

Indoor Public Screens

Screens inside:

• Malls

• Gyms

• Elevators

• Office buildings

They reach audiences during dwell time.

Interactive Digital Displays

Some DOOH ads allow:

• Touch interaction

• QR code engagement

• Mobile integration

This increases engagement and measurability.

Benefits of DOOH Advertising

DOOH offers:

• Real-time creative updates

• Time-of-day targeting

• Dynamic messaging

• Strong visual impact

It bridges offline and online marketing.

Event and Experiential Outdoor Advertising

Some outdoor ads are tied to live experiences.

Pop-Up Installations

Brands create:

• Temporary displays

• Interactive setups

• Photo opportunities

These generate buzz and social sharing.

Sponsorship and Event Advertising

Outdoor ads appear at:

• Sports venues

• Festivals

• Concerts

They reach highly engaged audiences.

Guerrilla Outdoor Advertising

Guerrilla advertising uses unconventional outdoor placements.

Examples include:

• Sidewalk art

• Projection mapping

• Unexpected installations

These tactics aim to surprise and create viral attention.

Place-Based Outdoor Advertising

Place-based ads appear in specific environments.

Examples:

• Gas stations

• Gyms

• Retail checkout screens

• Parking garages

They target audiences based on location context.

Comparing Outdoor Advertising Formats

Each outdoor format serves different goals.

Best Formats for Brand Awareness

• Billboards

• Wallscapes

• Digital billboards

Best Formats for Local Businesses

• Street furniture

• Bus shelters

• Posters

Best Formats for Commuters

• Transit advertising

• Subway and train ads

Best Formats for Flexibility and Data

• Digital OOH

• Interactive displays

Choosing the right format depends on audience and objectives.

Creative Considerations Across Formats

Regardless of format, outdoor ads must follow key creative rules.

Simplicity

Outdoor ads should:

• Use minimal text

• Communicate one message

• Be readable at a glance

Visual Impact

Strong visuals matter more than long copy.

High contrast and bold design improve visibility.

Brand Recognition

Logos and brand elements should be:

• Clear

• Prominent

• Consistent

Outdoor ads often reinforce brand memory rather than drive immediate action.

Measuring Success Across Outdoor Formats

Measurement varies by format.

Methods include:

• Traffic and impression estimates

• Location data analysis

• Brand lift studies

• QR codes and short URLs

DOOH offers the most advanced measurement options.

Combining Multiple Outdoor Advertising Formats

Many campaigns use several formats together.

Examples:

• Billboards for awareness

• Transit ads for frequency

• DOOH for dynamic messaging

Multi-format campaigns increase reach and impact.

Outdoor Advertising in Urban vs Rural Areas

Urban Environments

Urban outdoor ads benefit from:

• High foot traffic

• Dense commuter populations

• Frequent exposure

Rural and Highway Environments

Rural and highway ads:

• Reach drivers

• Offer long viewing distances

• Deliver strong repetition

Format choice depends on geography.

Industries That Use Outdoor Advertising Most

Outdoor advertising is popular among:

• Retail brands

• Real estate companies

• Automotive brands

• Entertainment and events

• Tourism and hospitality

Its versatility supports many use cases.

Future Evolution of Outdoor Advertising Formats

Outdoor advertising continues to evolve.

Emerging trends include:

• Smarter digital screens

• Programmatic DOOH buying

• Data-driven placement decisions

• Greater interactivity

Innovation is expanding what outdoor ads can do.

Final Thoughts

Outdoor advertising comes in many forms, each with unique strengths. From massive billboards and immersive wallscapes to transit ads, street furniture, and cutting-edge digital displays, outdoor advertising offers unmatched visibility in the physical world.

By choosing the right format—or combination of formats—businesses can effectively reach audiences where they live, work, and travel. When paired with strong creative and strategic placement, outdoor advertising remains a powerful tool for building awareness, reinforcing brand presence, and supporting modern marketing campaigns.