AED signage requirements 2026: the law, the sign and the cost
No federal law requires an AED sign. States set the rules: New York requires a sign at the entrance of buildings that must have an AED, and Minnesota added roadside AED signs in 2025. Use the green ILCOR sign, post it at entrances, along the route and above the cabinet, and keep projecting signs within the ADA 4-inch limit. Signs cost $16.15 to $44 (25 Oct 2026).
AED wall sign, $44 See the rules
01Is an AED sign required by law?
There is no federal AED sign rule. OSHA does not require AEDs at most workplaces, so it has no AED sign standard either. Sign duties come from states, and they usually apply only where the state already requires the AED.
| Rule | Who it covers | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| New York (in effect 2007) | Buildings already required to have an AED: schools, health clubs with 500 or more members, places of public assembly for 1,000 or more | A sign showing where the AED is, posted at the entrance[1] |
| Minnesota Statute 160.802 (signed 22 May 2025) | Outdoor AEDs open to the public at all times | Optional roadside wayfinding signs; the AED owner requests and pays for them[2] |
| Your state | Varies | Check the AED laws by state tracker for your state's placement and sign rules |
Even where no law applies, signs are the cheapest fix for the biggest gap in workplace response: only about half of US workers can find the AED at work[3], and survival falls 7 to 10 percent for every minute without CPR or a shock[4].
02What should an AED sign look like?
Use the universal AED sign that ILCOR, the international resuscitation committee, recommended on 3 June 2008: a green square (colour RAL 6032) with a white heart, a lightning flash and a small cross in the upper corner[5]. Its shape and colours follow ISO 7010 and ISO 3864-3[5].
| Element | ILCOR rule |
|---|---|
| Colour | Green, RAL 6032[5] |
| Symbol | Heart with a lightning flash and a cross, no letters inside the square[5] |
| Text | "AED" may go in a separate box; the full word "defibrillator" is not encouraged[5] |
| Arrow | May be combined with a standard direction arrow[5] |
| Purpose | Show that an AED is here, where it is in the room, or the way to reach it[5] |
The UK adopted a newer version of the same green sign in 2017[6]. In the US, most AED makers and sign sellers use the ILCOR design or a red Philips or ZOLL version. Pick one design and use it on every floor, so people learn it.
03Where should AED signs go?
Think in three layers: the entrance, the route and the cabinet.
Tell people an AED is in the building
- Window decal or placard at each main entrance
- Required at the entrance in New York's covered buildings[1]
Lead people to it
- Arrow signs at each turn on the way
- A 3-way sign above the cabinet, readable from both sides of the hall
Mind the ADA limits when you mount them. A projecting sign whose bottom edge is between 27 and 80 inches above the floor may stick out no more than 4 inches; hang overhead signs so they leave at least 80 inches of clear height[7]. Mount flat wall signs and placards so they do not protrude at all.
2 entrance placards + 2 cabinet wall signs = 4 signs × $44 = $176[8]
Add 4 arrow signs on the routes: plan about $16 to $44 each[8]
04How much do AED signs cost?
| Sign | Price (25 Oct 2026) | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Philips AED wall sign | $44 | Above the cabinet |
| Philips awareness placard | $44 | Entrance or reception |
| Cubix transforming wall sign | $16.15 | Above the cabinet; changes look when the AED is removed |
| HeartSine 350P package Best value | $1,463.80 | AED, cabinet, 3-way sign, wall poster, decal in one order |
Prices from AED Leader and Response Ready[8]. The cheapest way to get a matching sign is inside an AED package: see all AED value packages or our AED cabinet cost guide.
Get the AED, cabinet and sign in one order
HeartSine 350P package: AED, wall cabinet, carry case, first responder kit, 3-way sign, wall poster, inspection tag and decal for $1,463.80, checked 25 Oct 2026.
350P package at AED Leader See it at Response Ready05AED signage checklist
- Check your state rules in the AED laws by state tracker; New York requires an entrance sign in covered buildings[1].
- Use the ILCOR green sign or one brand design everywhere[5].
- Put a placard at every main entrance.
- Place arrow signs at every turn between the entrance and the AED.
- Mount a 3-way sign above the cabinet; keep projecting signs within 4 inches or above 80 inches[7].
- Walk the route with a new employee: if they cannot find the AED in under a minute, add a sign. Size the number of AEDs with the AED quantity calculator.
06AED signage questions
Is an AED sign required by law?
There is no federal AED sign rule. Some states require one where an AED is already required: New York, for example, requires a sign at the entrance of schools, health clubs with 500 or more members and places of public assembly for 1,000 or more that must have an AED.
What does the universal AED sign look like?
It is a green square (RAL 6032) with a white heart, a lightning flash and a small cross, recommended by ILCOR on 3 June 2008. The letters AED may go in a separate box and a direction arrow may be added.
Where should AED signs be placed?
At every main entrance, at each turn on the route to the AED, and directly above the AED cabinet, ideally as a 3-way sign that can be read from both sides of the hall.
How high should an AED sign be?
Mount it above the cabinet so it is visible over people's heads. Under the 2010 ADA Standards, a projecting sign between 27 and 80 inches above the floor may stick out no more than 4 inches, and overhead signs must leave 80 inches of clear height.
How much does an AED sign cost?
A Philips AED wall sign or awareness placard is $44 and a Cubix transforming wall sign is $16.15 at AED Leader and Response Ready, checked 25 Oct 2026. Some AED packages include a 3-way sign.
Does Minnesota have AED signs on roads?
Yes. Minnesota Statute 160.802, signed 22 May 2025, set up roadside wayfinding signs for outdoor AEDs open to the public; the AED owner requests them and pays the costs.
Related guides
AED laws by state · New York AED laws · AED cabinet cost · AED maintenance checklist · Good Samaritan AED laws · What is in an AED kit
How we check: prices are read from the live AED Leader and Response Ready listings on the date shown; rules are quoted from the eCFR. See our editorial standards and methodology. AED Best Brands is independent of AED manufacturers.
Sources
- New York State Senate, Look for signs showing location of defibrillators in public buildings, 20 November 2007.
- Minnesota Department of Transportation, AED wayfinding signs: Minnesota Statute 160.802, signed 22 May 2025.
- American Heart Association, CPR Facts and Stats.
- OSHA, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
- ILCOR Task Force on AED signage, letter to national resuscitation councils on the universal AED sign, 3 June 2008.
- Resuscitation Council UK, Guidance: standard sign for AEDs.
- U.S. Access Board, 36 CFR Part 1191, Appendix D (2010 ADA Standards technical chapters): 307.2 protrusion limits, 307.4 vertical clearance, 308.2.1 and 308.3.1 reach ranges.
- AED Leader and Response Ready sign listings, checked 25 Oct 2026: Philips AED wall sign $44, Philips awareness placard $44, Cubix transforming wall sign $16.15 (in stock at Response Ready, out of stock at AED Leader); HeartSine 350P AED package $1,463.80 with a 3-way sign and wall poster.
Updated 25 October 2026.