An LED neon sign is rated for 50,000 hours of light or more. At 12 hours a day that is over 11 years; left on around the clock it is still more than five. The tube itself almost never fails. When a sign does stop working it is nearly always the power supply, and that is a plug-in part you can replace in a minute. This guide covers what the lifespan numbers mean, what actually wears out, how the warranty works, and the handful of habits that keep a sign looking new.
How long an LED neon sign lasts
The LEDs inside the tube are rated for 50,000 hours or more before they dim noticeably. They do not burn out the way a bulb does; they fade slowly, and 50,000 hours is the point at which brightness has dropped enough to notice. Here is what that rating means at different daily use:
| Hours lit per day | Years to 50,000 hours |
|---|---|
| 4 hours (a bedroom or living room sign) | 34 years |
| 8 hours (a shop open during the day) | 17 years |
| 12 hours (a bar or restaurant) | 11 years |
| 24 hours (a window sign never switched off) | 5.7 years |
Running the sign through the dimmer at less than full brightness extends that further. Most businesses run at 50 to 70 percent, which is easier on the LEDs and the power supply and usually looks better anyway.
What actually wears out
In practice, the part of a sign that fails first is the power supply, the box between the wall plug and the sign. It does the hard work of turning household current into 12 volts, it runs warmer than the sign does, and like any electronic power supply it has a finite life. Two things follow from that:
- A sign that goes dark or flickers has almost always lost its power supply, not its tube. Plug a known-good supply in and the sign comes back.
- The power supply is covered by the 2-year warranty, and after that a replacement power supply costs a fraction of the sign. A sign bought today should outlive two or three of them.
The acrylic backing does not degrade indoors. The silicone tube can yellow slightly after many years in direct sunlight, which is one reason outdoor signs are built differently.
How long glass neon lasts
Hand-bent glass neon typically lasts 8 to 15 years. The glass tube and the gas inside it are long-lived; the transformer that drives them is the part that wears, and it is replaceable, so a well-kept glass sign can run for decades with a transformer change along the way. Glass is fragile, so breakage in a move or an install is a bigger risk than age. The LED neon versus glass neon guide compares the two.
The warranty
Every sign we make, custom or from the shop, carries a 2-year warranty on the LEDs, the power supply and workmanship. You can extend it to 4 years when you order; the extension is shown on your quote and usually costs 15 to 25 percent of the sign price. Bulk orders of 10 or more signs carry a 1-year warranty.
If anything fails inside the warranty, email your order number and a photo or short video of the problem and we replace the failed part, or the sign if that is what it needs. If a sign arrives damaged, send photos of the sign and the box within 7 days of delivery and we remake the damaged parts at no cost; every sign ships in a foam-lined, insured box.
How to make a sign last
- Clean it dry. Unplug the sign and dust it with a feather duster or a soft dry cloth. No sprays, no liquid cleaners, nothing abrasive on the acrylic.
- Use the dimmer. Full brightness is rarely the best look and it is the hardest setting on the electronics. Set it once for the room and leave it.
- Keep indoor signs dry. An indoor sign is fine in a window or at an outdoor event, as long as it does not get rained on. A sign that lives outside needs the outdoor build, which is sealed and rated IP67.
- Give the power supply air. Do not bury it under fabric or seal it in a closed cabinet. On a shelf, behind the counter or on the floor behind the sign is fine.
- Keep the box. If the sign moves to a new shop or a new house, the foam-lined box it arrived in is the safest way to transport it.
- Mount it once, properly. Use the pre-drilled holes and the included hardware, or standoffs, rather than adhesive on a heavy sign. See how to hang a neon sign.
If the sign stops working
- Check the plug and the outlet with something else. Switched outlets and tripped breakers catch out more signs than faults do.
- Check the dimmer. Press the on button on the remote and turn brightness up; a sign dimmed to zero or switched off by the remote looks dead.
- Check the connection between the power supply cord and the sign cord. Unplug and reseat it.
- Swap the power supply if you have a spare or a second sign. If the sign lights, you have found the fault.
- Email us with your order number and a photo or video. Inside the warranty we replace the part; outside it we tell you what to order.
A single dark section while the rest of the sign is lit is a tube fault rather than a power fault. It is rare, and inside the warranty it is replaced.
Frequently asked questions
How long do LED neon signs last?
The LEDs are rated for 50,000 hours or more, which is over 11 years at 12 hours a day and more than five years left on continuously. The power supply usually needs replacing before the tube does, and it is a plug-in part.
How long do glass neon signs last?
Typically 8 to 15 years. The transformer is the part that wears and it is replaceable, so a glass sign can run much longer with a transformer change.
Can I leave my neon sign on 24/7?
Yes. Continuous running does not shorten the LED rating; it just uses the hours faster. At 24 hours a day a sign reaches 50,000 hours in about five and a half years. A timer keeps it off when nobody is looking.
What is covered by the warranty?
LEDs, power supply and workmanship for 2 years, extendable to 4 years at purchase. Bulk orders of 10 or more signs carry 1 year. Transit damage is remade free if reported with photos within 7 days of delivery.
Why did my sign stop working?
Almost always the power supply. Check the outlet, the dimmer remote and the cord connection first; if those are fine, the power supply needs replacing, which is covered inside the warranty.
Do LED neon signs fade?
Very slowly. The 50,000-hour rating is the point where brightness has dropped enough to notice, not where the sign stops. Running through the dimmer slows it further.