Illuminated vs Non-Illuminated Signs: Which Is Right for Your Business?
Updated ·3 min read
Choose an illuminated sign if you trade after dark, are on a busy evening street or need to be seen from a distance at night. Choose a non-illuminated sign if you mainly trade in daylight, want the lowest cost and quickest turnaround, or are in a conservation area or listed building, where lit signs are harder to get approved.
The differences at a glance
- Cost: non-illuminated signs start from £12.00 inc VAT for an aluminium panel and are priced online. Illuminated signs are made to order and quoted per job.
- Lead time: a flat aluminium sign takes 3 working days to make. A projecting lightbox takes 5 working days and a neon sign 7 to 10 working days.
- Planning: in England, many non-illuminated fascia signs have deemed consent. The majority of illuminated signs need advertisement consent.
- Installation: both can be installed on request. Illuminated signs also need a power supply where the sign goes.
- Visibility: lit signs work day and night. Unlit signs rely on daylight and street lighting.
When an illuminated sign is worth it
Lighting earns its keep when your busiest hours are after dark, or your street is dark for much of the winter: restaurants, takeaways, bars, pubs, gyms, late-opening shops and salons. It also helps on long, busy streets, where a projecting lightbox catches people walking or driving from both directions.
Inside, LED neon is popular for feature walls, bars and photo spots, where it adds as much to the atmosphere as to visibility.
When a non-illuminated sign is the better choice
If you mainly trade in daylight, a well-designed unlit sign does the job for less. Offices, trade counters, clinics and most daytime retail are well served by a flat aluminium sign, a brushed aluminium stand-off panel or a vinyl signtray.
Raised 2.5D lettering or a fret-cut face adds depth and shadow without lighting. Unlit signs are also simpler to get through planning, which matters in conservation areas and on listed buildings.
Types of illuminated sign
- Projecting lightboxes: double-sided boxes fixed at right angles to the wall and lit from inside. Ours come in A2, A1 and A0.
- LED neon: LED lighting shaped into lettering or a logo, in a full range of colours, for interiors and windows.
- Illuminated fascias and built-up letters: lit trays or individual letters, often halo-lit so the light glows from behind. These are bespoke and quoted per job.
See the full illuminated range.
Check planning before you choose
In England, a non-illuminated sign on your business premises can often go up without an application if it meets the deemed consent conditions on size and height. The majority of illuminated signs need advertisement consent, and in conservation areas, National Parks and other protected areas the deemed consent for lit signs does not apply at all.
Our guide to planning permission for shop signs explains the rules, but always confirm with your local planning authority.
Common questions
Do illuminated signs need planning permission?
Usually. The majority of illuminated signs need advertisement consent from your local planning authority, and lit signs lose their deemed consent in conservation areas and other protected areas.
How much more does an illuminated sign cost?
Illuminated signs are quoted per job because the price depends on size, lighting, construction and fixing. Non-illuminated aluminium signs are priced online from £12.00 inc VAT. Send your details on our quote page for an illuminated price, usually the same working day.
What is a halo-lit sign?
A halo-lit sign has solid letters lit from behind, so the light washes onto the wall around them and creates a glowing outline. It is a subtle, premium look, and we quote it per job.
Which is quicker to make?
Non-illuminated signs. A flat aluminium sign takes 3 working days to make, while a projecting lightbox takes 5 working days and a neon sign 7 to 10 working days, all counted from proof approval.
