Wooden Letter Board

Updated: July 9, 2026

What Is a Wall Menu Board and Where Is It Used?

A wall menu board is a wall-mounted board that displays a menu, price list or welcome message in a café, restaurant or hotel — with content you can change by hand. In a letter board system there is no chalk to rewrite and no print to replace: you set the letters into the rails, and when something changes you simply re-set that line.

That flexibility takes the board well beyond menus. The same panel works as a drinks list in a coffee shop, a daily menu in a diner, a room-rate board at a hotel reception, a service list at a salon, a floor directory in an office building — and a message board at home. In this guide we walk through the use cases, the comparison with chalkboards, and the size and material details of a wooden wall menu board.

In Cafés and Restaurants: Updating Prices Takes Minutes

The most common pain with a café wall menu is familiar: prices change, printed boards go stale. Switching to a seasonal menu or adjusting prices means new artwork and another trip to the print shop. On a letter menu board the same job is just swapping the numbers on one row — the rest of the menu stays untouched.

In restaurants serving home-style daily food, the panel works as a restaurant price board: soups, mains and the day's dishes can be re-set every morning. Coffee shops split hot, iced and slow-brew drinks across separate panels for a categorised layout. The board also earns its keep beyond the menu — a single spare row covers announcements like "Today's coffee" or "Happy hour 5-7 pm". For real installations from real businesses, see our changeable menu board customer examples.

Beyond the Menu: Wayfinding, Welcome Signs and Floor Directories

The board's second major role is wayfinding and information. Hotel receptions list room types and airport transfer rates with currency symbols; a "WELCOME" sign at the entrance, a floor directory in the corridor and event-hall directions all come out of the same letter kit. Some of our customers use it as a tenant directory in office and apartment lobbies.

What these scenarios share is this: the content changes now and then, but you don't want to order a new sign every time. A wooden letter board covers that need with a one-time purchase.

Chalkboard or Letter Board — Which Menu Board Works Better?

Chalkboards have their charm, but in daily business use they carry three weak spots: every wipe means rewriting the whole menu, and the result is only as legible as the handwriting; chalk dust is an unwelcome guest next to an espresso machine and a pastry display; and in humid air the writing smears.

On a letter board the typography is standard: every letter is the same size, every line sits level, and the menu reads clearly from the back table. Nothing smears or fades, and a change only touches the line that changed. If no one on your team has gallery-grade handwriting, a letter board shows your menu with the same crispness every single day.

Wooden Letter Board Specifications: 73×91 cm Solid Pine, 504 Characters

The Architab wooden letter board is made in our workshop in Cappadocia, Türkiye:

• Size: 73 cm wide × 91 cm high × 4 cm deep (approx. 28.7″ × 35.8″) — a professional format for business walls
• Material: 100% solid pine, protected with two coats of varnish against moisture and stains
• Kit: 504 snap-in characters (346 letters, 131 numbers, 27 special characters) included in the box
• Mounting: screws to the wall; no electricity, internet or app required
• Extra letter sets are available separately if you run low

Mind the material difference: many boards on the market pair an MDF body with PVC or acrylic letters. Solid pine is a different class in both texture and durability — and our letters are wood too, cut in 3D. The second difference is size: the 25×25 cm letter boards sold for home décor, with 121-149 letters, cannot carry a café menu. The 73×91 cm board and its 504-character kit are sized to hold your full menu on one wall. Full details are on the Wooden Blackboard Letter Chart (73×91 cm) product page.

What size, and how many panels?

A simple rule of thumb: one 73×91 cm board carries a 12-14 line menu — enough for most coffee menus on a single panel. If your menu splits into categories (hot, iced, frozen, desserts), run two, three or four panels side by side or spread them to fit the wall; the system is modular, and panels can be added later. Most businesses mount the board slightly above eye level on the wall behind the counter — the spot everyone looks at while ordering.

Care and lifespan

The double-varnished solid pine surface wipes clean and resists stains; an occasional pass with a slightly damp cloth is all it needs. Chalk dust, marker ghosting and print fading simply don't exist in this system. Each board is made to order in our Cappadocia workshop and ships worldwide, single units included; if anything wears out over the years it will be your letters — and replacing a letter set costs far less than replacing a board.

At Home and at Events: The Letter Board Off Duty

The wooden letter board isn't only for businesses. At home it holds the day's motto, the weekly meal plan in the kitchen, or a name-and-height chart in a kid's room. It's also a favourite at weddings and birthdays as a welcome sign or photo-corner prop: set the message, take the photos, set a new one tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lines fit on the wall menu board?

Depending on your rail layout, 12-14 lines sit comfortably on the 73×91 cm board. With the item name on the left and the price on the right, a line holds roughly 20-25 characters.

How do the letters change — do they fall off?

The letters slot into the rails. To change a line, slide the letters out by hand and set the new ones. They stay put in daily use and don't shift in a draught.

Can I buy extra letters if I run out?

Yes. The box includes 504 characters, and an extra wooden letter set is sold separately for businesses with very large menus.

How is it mounted?

The board screws to the wall — a 15-20 minute job with a standard drill and wall plugs. No electrical connection is needed.

Can it be used outdoors?

The board is protected with two coats of varnish and works in covered terraces and under eaves, away from rain. We don't recommend it for spots exposed to direct rainfall.