How much does an illuminated sign cost? Price and what affects it

An illuminated sign costs from €300. From there, the price depends mainly on three things: size, type of sign (lightbox, backlit built-up letters or LED neon) and installation.

There is no fixed rate because no two façades are the same. A small sign for the inside of a shop has nothing in common with a built-up sign several metres wide at the top of a warehouse. In this guide we explain what a manufacturer looks at when preparing a quote, so you know what you are paying for and can compare offers properly.

If what you want is to work out which type of sign suits you, we have a separate guide: types of illuminated signs.

More surface means more material, more LED modules, more power supply and a sturdier structure. That is why size is the first thing that shapes the price.

But it is not just about square metres. These also matter:

• Proportion: a very long sign may have to be made in several sections and joined on site.
• Reading distance: if the sign has to be seen from across the street or from a road, the letters need to be bigger, and everything else follows.
• Available space: often the façade sets the size. At the Europa Perruquers hair salon, for example, we made the lightbox to fit the opening so that it covered the entire lintel above the shop window.

One tip: don't size the sign by eye. Measure the available space and think about where people need to see it from. It will save you having the quote redone.

Each type is made differently, and that shows in the price. Without going into detail (we cover it in our guide to sign types):

• Lightbox: a frame with a translucent face lit from inside. It is usually the most economical option for large surfaces, and the graphic can be changed later on. You'll find more in our article on backlit lightboxes.
• Backlit built-up letters: each letter is a three-dimensional piece with its own lighting. There are more workshop hours per piece and more setting-out and fitting work on the façade. In return, the finish is more premium.
• LED neon: a flexible strip that traces the outline of a logo or lettering. The price depends largely on the length of the line and how many colours it uses.

They can also be combined. For the GSM Mediatech shop we mixed blocks with cut-out illuminated letters and illuminated built-up lettering, and added a projecting sign so it could be seen from the shopping centre walkway.

Two signs of the same size and type can be priced differently because of what goes inside and out.

• Frame and face materials: aluminium, lacquered sheet metal, PVC, acrylic or translucent banner. They change the weight, how well it stands up outdoors and the finish.
• Type of lighting: front-lit (light comes through the face of the letter), halo (light is thrown back onto the wall) or combined. Halo lighting means standing the letters off the wall and getting that gap right so the light spreads evenly.
• Colours and consistency: a sign with several light colours, or a long word where every letter must match, needs more control. For the Stephouse letters we assembled the whole sign in the workshop and switched it on before installation, to check that every piece gave the same colour and brightness.
• Double-sided: a projecting sign at right angles to the façade is seen from both directions along the street, but it carries twice the graphics and lighting.

This is where many price comparisons go wrong. The sign has to be lifted, fixed and wired, and every façade has its own conditions.

What affects installation cost most:

• Height: at street level simple equipment is enough; at the top of a warehouse you need a mobile elevating work platform. The Maher Consulting sign, for example, was set out and fixed from a lifting platform, above the line of windows.
• Type of surface: fixing to masonry, to sheet metal or to a timber fascia are different jobs. The fixing method depends on the wall.
• Electrical connection: whether there is a power point nearby or one has to be run to the sign, and whether you want the cabling hidden.
• Removing the old sign: taking down the existing one is work too.
• Opening hours and access: in a shopping centre or a shop that is open to the public, fitting is scheduled so as not to disrupt business.

That is why a serious quote will usually ask for photos of the façade, or a site visit, before confirming the price.

Putting a sign on a façade, especially an illuminated one, usually involves some kind of council procedure. What is required, what it costs and how long it takes depends on each local council, and sometimes on the building's owners' association too.

Ask whether the quote includes the technical information councils tend to request (dimensions, materials, a mock-up of the sign on the façade) or whether you'll need to get it yourself. We go into more detail in permits for a sign on your façade.

The more information you give upfront, the tighter the price and the fewer surprises. Have this ready:

• Photos of the façade, head-on and from a distance, plus the dimensions of the available space.
• Your logo as a vector file (AI, PDF or EPS), if you have it.
• Where it goes: outside or inside, at what height and on what surface.
• What type of sign you have in mind or, if you're not sure yet, the effect you're after.
• Whether there is a power supply nearby.
• Whether an existing sign needs removing.

And when you have several offers, check you are comparing like with like. Do they include design or artwork preparation? Installation? Travel? Removal of the old sign? Sometimes a lower price is simply a quote that leaves things out.

At Unical we have been designing, making and installing signs since 1994: lightboxes, backlit built-up letters and LED neon. We manufacture in Barcelona and install all over Spain with our own team, so the people who give you the price are the same people who make sure the sign goes up properly.

See examples and options on our illuminated signs page or request a quote with photos of your façade. You can also call us on +34 937 50 23 04.