A retail sign has to work twice: from the sidewalk, where it decides whether someone walks in, and inside, where it is the wall people photograph and the brand they remember. LED neon does both from one plug, and the dimmer handles the difference between noon and 9 p.m.
We have made signs for boutiques, showrooms, dispensaries, tattoo studios, bike and motorcycle shops, candle and skincare brands, and pop-ups since 2014. Below is what retail stores order, what it costs, and how to compare the quotes you are collecting.
What retail stores order from us
The window sign. Your name or logo facing the street, hung in the window on a ceiling hanging kit or stood on the display base, usually 30 to 48 inches wide. Dimmed during the day so it reads without glare, full brightness after dark. The most common retail order.
The feature wall. A logo or a phrase on the wall customers see as they walk in, or the wall behind the counter. "Retail therapy", "Shop small", "Good things inside", or the logo at 36 to 60 inches. This is the one that ends up on your customers' feeds.
Showroom statement pieces. Furniture, lighting, auto and bike showrooms go big: 6 to 12 feet, made in pieces, on the long wall. See large neon signs for the price bands and how they are built.
Seasonal and campaign signs. A holiday phrase for the window, a launch slogan, a sale message. Dispensaries and fashion stores order these for a window installation and reuse them next year.
Department and directional signs. "Fitting rooms", "Pickup", "New arrivals", small and matching, so the store reads as one brand.
Logos for every location. Once your logo is drawn for tube, the next store gets the same sign. For how a logo becomes neon, see the logo signs page.
What a retail sign costs
Retail signs are priced by width and by how much tube the design needs. Most of the retail signs we quote are 26 to 48 inches wide and land between $450 and $1,000. A short phrase sits at the bottom of each band; a detailed logo sits at the top.
| Width | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Under 24 inches | $285 to $650 |
| 24 to 35 inches | $355 to $545 |
| 36 to 47 inches | $520 to $960 |
| 48 to 59 inches | $700 to $1,345 |
| 60 inches and wider | $980 to $1,590 |
Prices are from the quotes we sent in the last three months and include express shipping, a remote dimmer, the power supply and mounting hardware. A window sign plus a feature wall sign ordered together qualify for a multi-sign discount. See the full price guide.
How to compare neon sign quotes
If you are shopping around, and most retail buyers are, the same sign can come back priced anywhere from $300 to $900. The number alone will mislead you. Compare these five things:
- What is bundled. Some quotes add shipping, the dimmer, the power supply or the mounting kit at checkout. Ours include all of them, and express shipping is included.
- Warranty. One year is common. Ours is 2 years on the LEDs, the power supply and the workmanship, extendable to 4, which matters for a sign that runs 12 hours a day in a window.
- Tube and backing. Ask for the tube width and the backing material. We use 6 mm tube as standard, 8 mm and 12 mm for bigger signs, on clear contour-cut acrylic.
- Who you are dealing with. Marketplace sellers and drop-shippers add a margin on top of a factory. We have made signs to order since 2014, in our production facilities in Dallas, Los Angeles and Shanghai, and we quote directly.
- Support after delivery. If it arrives damaged, we remake the damaged parts at no cost; if it fails in warranty, we replace the part or replace the sign. Ask any maker the same question and keep the answer in writing.
And if a lower written quote for the same sign comes in, send it to us with its design proof and we will beat it.
Sizing a sign for a store
The rule of thumb is a quarter of the width of the wall or window it hangs in, with the smallest letters at least 2 inches tall. From across a street, letters should be 8 inches and up.
- Storefront window: 30 to 48 inches. Measure the glass and leave room on each side so it does not read as cramped.
- Behind the counter or on the feature wall: 36 to 60 inches.
- Showroom long wall: 6 to 12 feet, made in pieces.
- Shelf, fitting room and directional signs: 12 to 24 inches.
Send a photo of the window or the wall with a rough measurement and the proof comes back with the sign at size on it. The size guide has more.
Why LED neon in a store
- Dimmable for daytime. Every sign ships with a remote dimmer. Run it low under daylight so it reads cleanly, and bring it up when the street goes dark.
- Brand colors, matched. 23 LED colors, matched to your brand in the proof. Color count does not change the price. RGB color-changing is available for campaign signs that need to switch palettes.
- Safe in a window and around customers. 12 volts, cool to the touch, no glass. It can hang where people lean in for a photo and where product sits underneath.
- Four ways to mount it. Wall mounted on the included hardware, floated on standoffs, hung in the window on a ceiling hanging kit, or free standing on a shelf or counter. Hard-wired power supplies are available if the sign goes on the store's lighting circuit.
- Built for store hours. The LED tube is rated for 50,000 hours, about 11 years at 12 hours a day, with UL-certified electrical components.
- Outside the building. For a sign on the exterior, order the outdoor build, which is IP67 waterproof with a sealed power supply. For a permanent fascia sign seen from the road, channel letters or a lightbox may suit better, and we make those too.
Stores with more than one location
We have produced sign programs for American Eagle, Charleys Cheesesteaks, Bacardi and Delta. Once your logo is drawn for tube, reorders match the first sign exactly, and the next store opening gets the same window sign in the same color. For 10 signs or more, use the business page and we quote the program as a whole.
How it works
- Send your logo or the phrase. A vector file (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) is best; a PNG, JPG or a photo works. Add a photo of the window or wall.
- Get a priced design proof within one business day. The proof shows the sign as tube, at size on your wall, with the colors, the backing and the price.
- Approve and pay. Revisions are free until it is right.
- It arrives in 10 to 12 days. Express shipping is included. Hang it with the included hardware before opening day.
Tips from 12 years of retail signs
- Order for opening day, not for the lease signing. Count back 3 weeks from opening and send the quote request then; 10 to 12 days to delivery plus time for the proof. Rush production is available for $150 if the date is closer.
- Window signs face out; check them from the sidewalk. Stand outside at night with the sign on. If it washes out, turn the dimmer down; if the glass reflects it, move it a few inches closer to the glass.
- Keep the sign off the sale table. A sign over product draws the eye to the sign. Put it where you want people to look next.
- One sign per sightline. A window sign and a back-wall sign are enough for most stores. More than that and none of them land.
- Keep the box. Seasonal signs go back in it until next year, and a sign that moves to your next location survives the trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a neon sign for a retail store cost?
Most retail signs cost between $450 and $1,000. A 36-inch window logo is around $650; a 48-inch feature-wall phrase is around $900; a 10-foot showroom sign is quoted per design. Every quote is free and includes a design proof.
Can a neon sign hang in a storefront window?
Yes. Window signs hang from the ceiling on a hanging kit or stand on the display base, and the included dimmer lets you turn them down by day and up at night. For a sign on the outside of the glass or the building, order the outdoor build.
Will the sign be bright enough to see from the street?
Yes. LED neon reads from across a street at full brightness, and the dimmer brings it down for daylight. Keep the smallest letters at 8 inches or taller for street viewing.
Can you match our brand color?
Yes. We match each color to the closest of 23 LED colors and show it in the proof. Multi-color logos cost the same as single-color ones.
Can we reuse a seasonal sign next year?
Yes. LED neon ships in a foam-lined box and stores flat. Unplug it, dust it with a soft dry cloth and put it back in the box until the next season.
Can you make the same sign for our other stores?
Yes. Reorders match the first sign exactly, and 10 or more signs are quoted as a program with a bulk price.
How long does it take?
About 10 to 12 days from payment to your door, with express shipping included. Rush production is available for $150 if you have an opening date.