What are some of my options for a board?

Display boards for offices, classrooms, conference rooms, and shared workspaces come in a far wider range of types than most buyers initially realize. The choice between a whiteboard and a bulletin board is just the first decision - within each category, materials, mounting options, frame types, and specialty features create dozens of options suited to different specific applications. This guide maps the full range of board options to the environments and use cases each one best serves.

What Are the Main Categories of Boards?

Boards for professional and educational environments fall into three broad categories: writing boards (whiteboards, chalkboards, glass boards), pinning and posting boards (bulletin boards, cork boards, tack boards, fabric boards), and combination boards (which integrate writing and posting surfaces on a single frame). Each category serves a different primary function: writing boards are for creating and erasing temporary content; posting boards are for displaying documents, notices, and reference materials; combination boards serve both functions. Within these categories, material choices and specialty features create further variation. Bulletin boards and whiteboards are the two most commonly purchased category representatives, but they represent only a starting point in the full board selection landscape.

What Are Some of My Options for a Board

Option 1 - Whiteboards

Whiteboards (dry-erase boards) accept temporary writing with dry-erase markers that can be wiped clean with an eraser or cloth. They are the standard in meeting rooms, classrooms, and any environment where content is regularly created, reviewed, and erased. Magnetic whiteboards add the ability to use magnetic accessories (magnetic dry-erase markers, document holders, and magnets) for attaching materials to the board surface. Non-magnetic standard whiteboards are more economical. Glass whiteboards use a tempered glass surface that provides the cleanest dry-erase performance with no surface ghosting and a premium aesthetic.

Option 2 - Cork Bulletin Boards

Cork bulletin boards are pinning surfaces made from natural cork that accepts pushpins cleanly and recovers well after pin removal. Cork boards are the standard for posting documents, notices, and reference materials in offices, classrooms, and shared spaces. They are available framed (aluminum, wood, or plastic frames) or unframed for tiled wall installations. Cork board thickness affects durability: thicker cork (1/2 inch or more) provides better pin grip and longer service life than thin cork (1/4 inch) under heavy daily pin use.

Option 3 - Fabric Tack Boards

Tack boards with fabric surfaces use woven textile (burlap, linen, or polyester) over a high-density foam or fiber backing that accepts pushpins. Fabric boards provide a more professional appearance than cork boards and are available in dozens of colors and textures to complement interior design specifications. Fabric boards are commonly used in lobbies, reception areas, conference rooms, and client-facing environments where the display surface is visible as a design element.

Option 4 - Combination Boards

Combination boards integrate a whiteboard writing surface and a cork or fabric posting surface on a single frame. The most common configuration is left-half whiteboard / right-half cork or fabric. Combination boards are practical in meeting rooms and classrooms where both writing and posting functions are needed at the same wall location, and where installing two separate boards side by side is less desirable than a single integrated unit.

Option 5 - Glass Boards

Glass boards use a tempered glass surface for dry-erase writing. The glass surface provides the cleanest dry-erase performance: ghosting (faint residual marks remaining after erasing) does not occur on glass, unlike standard whiteboard surfaces which develop ghosting over time. Glass boards maintain pristine writing surface quality indefinitely with normal use and cleaning. They are available in clear glass (wall color shows through), white glass (opaque white surface), and colored glass variants. The premium aesthetic of glass boards suits executive offices, high-end conference rooms, and design-forward workspaces.

Option 6 - Portable and Easel Boards

Portable boards (easel-mounted or on caster wheels) provide display capability without wall mounting. Floor-standing easel boards are used in conference settings, trade shows, training rooms, and any environment where wall mounting is not practical. Mobile whiteboard carts allow a writing board to be moved between rooms. Double-sided portable boards provide display capability on both faces of the board for maximum flexibility in dynamic presentation environments.

How to Select the Right Board for Your Environment - Step by Step

1. Determine the primary function. Writing and erasing - whiteboard or glass board. Posting documents - cork or fabric board. Both functions - combination board.
2. Assess the environment aesthetic. Professional client-facing - glass board or fabric tack board. Classroom or office work area - standard whiteboard or cork board. Reception or lobby - fabric tack board.
3. Decide on mounting. Permanent wall installation - framed board. No drilling allowed - easel or floor-standing. Need mobility - caster-mounted board.
4. Determine the size. Individual reference - small (24x36). Group work room - medium (48x72). Conference or training - large (48x96 or larger).
5. Consider specialty features. Magnetic accessory use - magnetic whiteboard. No ghosting requirement - glass board. Color-coding or design coordination - fabric board in specified color.

Quick Reference - Board Types by Environment

Board Size Selection for Different Room Configurations

Board size selection has a significant impact on how useful the board is in practice. A board that is too small for the room creates a situation where participants cannot read the content from their seats, and the board fills too quickly during active use. A board that is oversized for the space creates visual awkwardness and, for posting boards, may encourage accumulating outdated content because there is always space for more.

Standard size guidance by room type: small conference rooms (4 to 6 people) - 36x48 inch whiteboard or 24x36 inch cork board. Medium conference rooms (6 to 12 people) - 48x72 inch whiteboard or 36x48 inch posting board. Large training rooms (12 to 30 people) - 48x96 inch or larger whiteboard, possibly spanning the full front wall. Hallway and break room posting boards are typically 24x36 to 36x48 inches, sized for reading while standing at the board rather than from a seated distance.

For environments where content must be visible from specific distances, a general rule of thumb is that standard marker writing is legible at approximately one foot of viewing distance per 1/8 inch of letter height. One-inch letters are legible at approximately 8 feet. For most conference room use, 1-inch to 1.5-inch letter height is the practical standard, which is the typical default size range for standard whiteboard marker writing.

Troubleshooting

The board is not staying mounted on the wall

The mounting hardware is not anchored in wall studs, or the anchors are not rated for the board weight. Heavy whiteboards (36x48 inches and larger) require stud anchoring at two or more points. Use a stud finder to locate studs and anchor at the stud positions. For walls without accessible studs (concrete, brick, metal stud with gypsum board), use appropriate masonry or toggle anchors rated for the board weight plus 50 percent safety margin.

Pins will not stay in the board

The cork or fabric surface is worn and no longer grips pins securely. For cork boards, this indicates the cork has reached the end of its service life and the board needs replacement or the cork surface needs replacement. For fabric boards, the underlying foam or fiber backing has compressed past the point of effective pin grip.

The whiteboard surface is leaving marks even after cleaning

The whiteboard surface has developed ghosting from old marker residue. Use a whiteboard surface cleaner (not standard glass cleaner) to remove ghost marks. If ghosting persists after multiple cleaning cycles with whiteboard cleaner, the surface has been permanently stained. See How Do I Take Care of My Whiteboard? for detailed whiteboard care guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a whiteboard and a dry-erase board?

The terms are interchangeable. Both refer to a surface designed for temporary writing with dry-erase markers that can be erased with a dry cloth or eraser. "Whiteboard" is the more common consumer term; "dry-erase board" is used in some professional specifications.

Can I write on a fabric tack board?

Standard fabric tack boards are designed for pin posting only, not writing. Combination boards that include both a fabric posting section and a whiteboard writing section are available for environments needing both capabilities on a single surface.

What is a self-healing board?

Self-healing boards use a vinyl or rubber surface material that closes over the hole left by a pushpin when the pin is removed, leaving a virtually invisible mark. Self-healing surfaces last longer under heavy daily pin use than standard cork or fabric because they do not accumulate visible holes over time.

How big of a board do I need?

A board should provide enough display area for all regularly posted content to be displayed without overlapping. A rough rule is that active content should occupy 70 to 80 percent of the board surface, leaving 20 to 30 percent clear for readability. Standard small group conference rooms are typically served by 48x36 inch boards; large training rooms typically use 48x96 or larger.

Can cork boards be used outdoors?

Standard cork boards are not rated for outdoor use. Moisture causes cork to deteriorate rapidly. For outdoor posting needs, use weather-resistant boards specifically rated for outdoor use with sealed frames and UV-stable surfaces.