You love the colorful, glowing, and dramatic theme that neon signs bring when placed outdoors. We bet you’ve even seen them indoors in several business places and homes and love how it adorns these spaces.
However, there is one big question that remains unanswered! How much does a neon sign cost?
In this piece, we’ve answered this mind bugging question and included all the factors and features that can affect the cost of a neon sign.
Table of Contents
How Much Do Neon Signs Cost?
After much digging around, we've found that premade neon signs cost between $25 to $500. The final price of the sign is usually determined by the size you want and the design you choose.
Also, since making customized neon signs can be difficult and time-consuming, they are relatively more expensive than their pre-made counterparts.
A customized neon sign can cost between $270 and $1500. This variation in the price will majorly be dependent on the size of the sign
For those looking to get an 18" ×24" sign, budget around $270 to $535. But if you're aiming for a larger 3'×5' sign, be prepared to spend at least $1300.
However, if these neon signs are over your budget, you can opt for the cheaper LED Neon light. These neon lights are the more popular option today, and they cost as little as $25!
What are the Factors that Determine the Cost of a Neon Sign?
Whether you're getting a traditional neon sign or a LED neon light, there are several factors that will determine the price of your neon signs. Some of these factors include;
The Size of the Sign
The size of the neon sign is the most important factor that influences its price. The general rule of thumb is that; the larger the sign, the higher the cost. This is because to successfully make a large neon sign; you will need a lot of materials.
Gathering these materials in bulk is not an easy process and at the end of the day, this makes them naturally more expensive than small sized signs.
Let's take a look at some typical sizes of neon signs and their corresponding price;
Size | Cost |
13” ×32” | $200-$300 |
32” ×13” | $200-$300 |
17” ×30” | $215-$350 |
18" × 24” | $270-$535 |
24” × 31” | $315-$550 |
31” × 24” | $350×$600 |
26” × 26” | $400-$650 |
20” × 37” | $400-$700 |
3’× 5” | over $1300 |
The Complexity of The Design
This is pretty self-explanatory. A simple design with simple shapes and colors will cost a lot less than a complex one.
The complexity of the design is where LED neon lights have the biggest advantage over traditional neon lights. With LED neon's, manufacturers can easily add multiple colors and put specific designs such as logos and other graphics.
The Number of Text on the Sign
Like with the size of the sign, the more texts you add to your neon signs, the more money it will cost you. Depending on your retailer, the wording of a neon sign can cost about $7 per word.
Check out the table below to see how the number of words can vary with the price.
Size (H x W) | Number of Words and Other Inclusions | Cost |
13” x 32” (Horizontal) | One line of written words | $200-$300 |
32” x 13” (Vertical) | Two lines of text | $200-$300 |
17” x 30” | Two lines of text, blinking ability, and an oval shape | $215-$315 |
17” x 30” | Two lines of written text and a picture of a complex object | $250-$350 |
13” x 32” | A customized cut around the written words | $275-$500 |
24" x 31" | Three lines of text and a border | $315-$550 |
31" x 24" | Two lines of text and a picture that is based on a template | $350-$600 |
26" x 26" | Customized round neon signs and texts written around the circle | $400-$650 |
20" x 37" | Two lines of text and another line for your phone number | $400-$700 |
Value
You might think that price and value are the same things, but the truth is that they’re not. The price of a product is how much you buy it, while the value is how much you will gain from the product.
Even though they’re different, the price of a neon sign is still strongly determined by its value. This means, a neon sign that will be placed outside your place of business will have a higher value than one that will sit inside your home. The one with a higher value will cost more.
Additional Features
If you’re planning on putting your neon sign outdoors, weatherproofing the sign will be essential to the sign’s longevity. This and other additional features specific to a particular product or brand will be factors that add to the original price of the neon sign.
Some of these features include; on-site installation and shipping.
Neon Vs. LED Vs. Fluorescent Lights
When you need to light the front of your store or business, you’ll have three options; its either you opt for the traditional neon sign, a neon LED sign, or you go for fluorescent lights.
Direct Cost / Purchasing Cost
Of the three, customized neon signs are the most expensive. It's true; by looking at their size and several other factors, we found that they can cost you $270 to $1500 per square foot. A typical neon theatre marquee can cost about $35,000.
Neon LED signs are a lot cheaper than the traditional glass neon signs. Their price also depends on size, complexity, and the other factors we stated earlier.
Smaller readymade neon LED signs could cost you as little as $25. Some might even cost less. However, when it comes to larger custom LED signs, you should be ready to spend over $200.
Fluorescent lights are by far the cheapest option you would find. These lights cost about $30 per square foot and a measly $10 per bulb.
Maintenance Cost
As for maintenance, these three follow a similar trend.
Neon signs have a very long lifespan, and because of that, they cost more to maintain.
After every 5-7 years, you would often have to replace the sign’s transformers. And although these transformers can cost about $100, they can last as long as 15 years if you get a good one.
LED and Fluorescent signs both have shorter life spans than traditional neon signs; so, they often require little or no maintenance. Fluorescent lights have the shortest lifespan. This is why they’re the cheapest option.
Impact on Electricity Bill
When it comes to which of these signs will have the least impact on your electricity bill,
LED signs are the obvious winners. LED signs use as little as 150 watts of electricity which is almost insignificant when compared to the 400 and 610 watts consumed by neon and fluorescent signs, respectively.
This means it would cost you only $80 per year to run a LED sign. On the other hand, neon signs will cost $200 per year, and the most expensive fluorescent lights would cost about $320 per year.
Neon signs | LED signs | Fluorescent signs | |
Purchasing cost | $250-$1500 | $25-$250 | $40 |
Maintenance cost | $100 | $0 | $0 |
Energy consumption | 400 watts | 150 watts | 610watts |
Electricity cost (per year) | $200 | $80 | $320 |
Where Can I Buy a Neon Sign?
If you've been searching for where you can buy the best neon signs, this section is dedicated to you. Don't worry; there are several places where you can get both pre-made signs or custom neon signs. Here’s how to go about it.
That’s right; your number one search engine is perhaps the best platform to find neon sign makers. A simple search will provide you with several online stores, websites that specialize in the production and distribution of premade and personalized neon signs.
However, you should be careful and ensure that you type in the right keywords into the search box. Also, do not assume that all neon sign makers produce traditional neon signs. Some specialize in LED neon lights alone.
Also, compare these sign makers to ensure that you choose the one best suited for your needs.
Local Stores
Another place you can find neon signs are your old-fashioned local sign maker. Meeting these sign makers physically can help you get the perfect design tailored to your space.
E-commerce platforms
What is a better place to get ready-made neon signs than popular e-commerce platforms like E-bay, Amazon, Alibaba, and so many more?
The best part about these e-commerce platforms is that they provide so many options in terms of price and design. You can then make a choice best suited for you.
Conclusion
These neon signs are a beautiful way to advertise and decorate your workplace and even your home. The customized options have a varying price range of $270 to $1500.
At the end of the day, your final choice will depend on,
- Your budget
- Whether you want a customized or premade neon sign
- And the space available to you.
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