Custom Neon Signs: The Ultimate Guide to LED Neon Lights for Your Business, Home, or Event
By the Meon Neon Team | Denver, Colorado
You've seen them lighting up your favorite coffee shop, glowing behind the bar at the hottest new restaurant in town, and turning plain walls into Instagram-worthy backdrops. Custom neon signs have become one of the most powerful ways to transform a space — whether it's a storefront, a bedroom, a wedding venue, or an entire commercial building.
But here's the thing: the neon sign industry has changed dramatically in the last few years. Traditional glass neon is fading out, and LED neon signs have taken over — offering brighter colors, safer operation, lower energy costs, and nearly unlimited design possibilities.
If you've been thinking about getting a custom LED sign for your business or home, this guide covers everything you need to know — from how modern LED neon lights actually work, to what to look for in a neon sign maker, to how much a personalized LED sign really costs.
Let's get into it.
What Are LED Neon Signs (And How Are They Different from Traditional Neon)?
When most people picture neon lights, they think of the buzzing glass tubes filled with neon gas that have decorated bars and diners since the 1950s. Those signs are iconic, but they come with serious downsides: they're fragile, expensive to repair, run hot, and use a lot of electricity.
Modern LED neon signs use flexible silicone tubing filled with tiny LED lights to replicate that classic neon glow — without any of the drawbacks. The result looks virtually identical to traditional glass neon, but the technology behind it is completely different.
Here's how they compare:
Traditional Glass Neon:
- Fragile glass tubes that break easily
- High voltage (dangerous if damaged)
- Hot to the touch
- Expensive to repair
- Heavy and difficult to install
- Limited color options without custom gas mixes
LED Neon Signs:
- Flexible, durable silicone construction
- Low voltage (safe to touch)
- Cool to the touch, even after hours of use
- 100,000+ hour lifespan (over 11 years of continuous use)
- Lightweight and easy to mount
- Millions of color options, including RGB color-changing
For nearly every application — from custom light signs for a business to neon lights for a room at home — LED neon is the better choice in 2025.
Why Businesses Are Investing in Custom Neon Signs
Walk through any trendy neighborhood and you'll notice something: the businesses that stand out almost always have distinctive signage. A custom neon sign does more than just display your name. It communicates your brand's personality, draws eyes from the street, and gives customers a reason to stop, look, and come inside.
Here's what a custom LED sign actually does for a business:
Foot traffic. A well-placed neon sign is visible day and night. For retail stores, restaurants, salons, and cafes, that visibility translates directly into customers walking through the door. Custom LED signs for business aren't just decoration — they're a marketing tool that works 24/7.
Social media buzz. We live in the age of the shareable moment. A beautiful neon wall sign or a clever light-up sign becomes an instant photo opportunity. Your customers take photos, tag your business, and share it with their followers. That's free advertising you couldn't buy.
Brand identity. A custom neon logo sign or a LED logo sign mounted behind your counter communicates professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail. It tells customers you care about the experience, not just the transaction.
Atmosphere. Lighting changes everything about how a space feels. Neon wall signs and LED light signs create warmth, energy, and ambiance that overhead fluorescents never could. Restaurants, bars, gyms, tattoo shops, dispensaries, and salons all use custom neon to set the mood.
The businesses getting the most value from custom neon signs tend to be cafes and coffee shops, restaurants and bars, hair salons and barbershops, fitness studios and gyms, dispensaries, tattoo parlors, event venues, and retail boutiques. But we've seen custom LED neon signs work beautifully for law offices, real estate agencies, auto shops, and even dental practices.
Custom Neon Signs for Home: Not Just for Businesses
LED neon signs aren't just for commercial spaces. The demand for neon signs for rooms, personalized neon signs for homes, and custom neon name signs has exploded — and for good reason.
Bedrooms and living rooms. A neon sign with a favorite quote, a name, or a simple design adds personality to any room. LED signs for rooms are especially popular in bedrooms, game rooms, and home offices. They cast a soft, ambient glow that's perfect for creating a relaxed atmosphere without harsh overhead lighting. Neon lights for rooms have become a go-to for interior design on every budget.
Weddings and events. Custom neon name signs have become one of the most popular wedding trends in recent years. Whether it's the couple's last name, a phrase like "Better Together," or a custom monogram, a neon sign adds a dramatic focal point to any reception, photo booth, or ceremony space. And unlike flowers or other one-night décor, a personalized LED sign goes home with you after the event.
Gifts. A personalized neon sign — whether it's someone's name, a meaningful date, or an inside joke — makes one of the most memorable gifts you can give. Custom LED name signs are popular for birthdays, housewarmings, anniversaries, and graduations.
Home bars and entertainment spaces. A custom neon light for a home bar or man cave instantly elevates the vibe. Whether it's your family name, a beer logo recreation, or a custom design, LED neon signs bring commercial-quality atmosphere into residential spaces.
How Custom LED Neon Signs Are Made
Understanding the production process helps you know what you're paying for — and what separates a quality sign from a cheap one.
Step 1: Design. Everything starts with your concept. You provide the text, a logo file, or even a rough sketch. A professional neon sign maker then creates a digital mockup showing approximately how your sign will look when lit. At Meon Neon, we offer free mockups to every customer — no commitment required — so you can see your vision before you spend a dollar.
Step 2: Technical review. Not every design translates perfectly to LED neon. The tubing has minimum bend radius requirements, and some fine details need to be simplified to work in neon form. A good custom neon sign company will walk you through any adjustments and make sure you're happy before production starts.
Step 3: Production. Your design is built using flexible LED silicone strips mounted to an acrylic backing. The LED strips come in different widths — 6mm for fine detail, 8mm for the most popular all-around look, and 10mm for bold, large-scale signs. A quality manufacturer inspects the finished sign, tests all functions, and photographs it for your approval before shipping.
Step 4: Delivery and installation. Custom LED neon signs ship with everything you need: the sign itself, a power supply, a remote control for dimming, and mounting hardware. Most signs are lightweight enough to install yourself with basic tools. For businesses that want professional installation, most reputable neon sign makers offer that as an add-on service.
The entire process — from placing your order to having a glowing sign on your wall — typically takes 7 to 14 days, depending on the complexity of the design and where you're located.
What to Look for When Choosing a Custom Neon Sign Company
Not all custom neon signs are created equal. The market has been flooded with cheap custom neon signs from overseas drop-shippers who offer low prices but deliver poor quality, terrible customer service, and signs that die within months.
Here's what to evaluate before you order:
Quality of materials. Ask about LED density (120+ LEDs per foot for standard, 144+ for RGB), silicone tubing quality, and the grade of acrylic backing. Cheap neon signs often use thin silicone that yellows over time and low-density LED strips that create a dotted, uneven glow instead of a smooth neon look.
Warranty. A reputable neon sign maker will offer at least a two-year warranty covering materials and workmanship. If a company won't stand behind their product for at least a year, that tells you something about the quality.
Free mockups. The best custom neon sign companies let you see a mockup of your design before you commit. If a company wants payment before showing you what you'll get, consider that a red flag.
Turnaround time. Industry-standard production takes about 3 to 5 days, with another 3 to 5 days for shipping. If a company is quoting you 4 to 6 weeks, they're either drop-shipping from overseas or running an inefficient operation. Look for companies offering 7- to 10-day total turnaround.
Customer reviews. Check Google reviews, not just testimonials on their website. Look for comments about product quality, communication, and how the company handles problems.
Installation support. Whether you're mounting the sign yourself or need professional installation, a good company provides clear instructions, video guides, and responsive support if you run into issues.
How Much Do Custom Neon Signs Cost?
This is the question everyone asks first, and the honest answer is: it depends on size, features, and complexity.
Here's a general pricing framework so you know what to expect:
Small signs (12" to 18"): $150 to $350. Perfect for desk signs, small home accents, or simple text displays. These work great as personalized neon signs and gifts.
Medium signs (24" to 36"): $400 to $800. The most popular range for both home and business. This covers most custom neon name signs, quote signs, and small business logo signs.
Large signs (36" to 48"): $800 to $1,500. Ideal for storefront signage, restaurant feature walls, and event backdrops. Custom LED signs for business in this range make a serious visual statement.
Extra-large and commercial signs (48"+): $1,500 to $5,000+. Large-format signs for buildings, events, and major commercial installations. These often involve modular construction where multiple sections connect together.
Features that affect price:
- RGB color-changing capability adds roughly 15% to the base price
- Rainbow (individually addressable) LEDs add about 20%
- UV-printed custom backing adds around 10%
- Premium molded acrylic construction adds about 30%
- Outdoor weatherproofing (IP67 rating) adds a variable amount depending on sign size
- Professional installation ranges from $99 for basic drywall to $2,000+ for commercial projects
When comparing prices between companies, make sure you're comparing the same specifications. A cheap custom neon sign that uses thin silicone, low-density LEDs, and comes with a 90-day warranty is a fundamentally different product than a premium sign with professional-grade materials and a two-year guarantee.
RGB, Rainbow, and Color-Changing: Which LED Neon Option Is Right for You?
One of the biggest advantages of LED neon over traditional glass neon is the range of color options available. Here's a breakdown of the three main categories:
Standard monochrome. A single, fixed color. This is the classic neon sign look and it's the most affordable option. You choose your color at the time of order — warm white, cool white, red, blue, green, pink, purple, orange, yellow, or ice blue are the most popular. Monochrome signs are clean, timeless, and work in virtually any setting.
RGB color-changing. The entire sign can change to any color in the spectrum — over 16 million color options controlled by a remote. You can set a single static color, cycle through colors, or pick from multiple dynamic modes. This is a great option if you want flexibility or if your brand uses multiple colors. RGB custom LED neon signs are especially popular in bars, event venues, and entertainment spaces.
Rainbow (individually addressable). This is the premium option. Each LED in the sign can display a different color simultaneously, creating rainbow effects, chasing patterns, and complex animations. Rainbow neon signs come with both a remote control and app connectivity for maximum control. These are showstoppers — perfect for businesses that want to stand out and for homeowners who want a unique centerpiece.
Indoor vs. Outdoor: What You Need to Know
Not all LED neon signs are rated for outdoor use. Here's what matters:
Indoor signs (IP65 rated) are dust-tight and protected against water splashes. They're perfect for interior walls, sheltered patios, and covered outdoor areas. The vast majority of custom neon signs — both for businesses and homes — fall into this category.
Outdoor signs (IP67 rated) offer enhanced protection against direct rain, snow, and temperature extremes. If your sign will be mounted on an exterior wall with direct weather exposure, you need outdoor-rated construction. This involves additional weatherproofing of all connections and junction points.
Operating temperature range for quality LED neon is typically -4°F to 113°F (-20°C to +45°C), which covers virtually all climates.
If you're not sure whether you need indoor or outdoor rating, ask yourself: will the sign be exposed to direct rain or snow? If yes, go with IP67. If it's under any kind of cover or canopy, IP65 is fine.
Create Your Own Custom Neon Sign: The Process
Ready to bring your vision to life? Here's what the process looks like with a professional neon sign maker:
1. Share your idea. Send your text, logo, or concept. It can be a polished vector file or a napkin sketch — a good company works with whatever you have.
2. Get a free mockup. Within hours, you should receive a visual mockup showing how your custom neon sign will look. This is your chance to refine the design, adjust sizing, change colors, and make sure it's exactly right.
3. Review your proposal. Once the design is finalized, you'll receive a detailed proposal with exact specifications, pricing, and timeline. Everything should be transparent — no hidden fees.
4. Approve and pay. Once you approve, production begins. The best companies will send you quality control photos of your completed sign for final approval before it ships.
5. Receive and install. Your sign arrives with mounting hardware, a power supply, a remote control, and installation instructions. Hang it, plug it in, and watch your space transform.
The whole process should feel easy and collaborative. If a company makes it feel complicated, stressful, or unclear, that's a sign (no pun intended) to look elsewhere.
Finding Custom Neon Signs Near You
If you're searching for "custom neon signs near me," you're not alone — it's one of the most common searches in this industry. And while local proximity is nice, what actually matters is quality, communication, and reliability.
Here's the reality: most custom neon signs are manufactured in specialized facilities, not in local workshops. What makes a "local" neon sign company valuable isn't that they build your sign in the back room — it's that they offer personalized service, professional installation in your area, and responsive support if you need it.
At Meon Neon, we're based in Denver, Colorado, and we serve customers nationwide. For local Colorado customers, we offer professional installation services, a showroom you can visit by appointment, and the ability to pick up your sign in person. For customers across the country, we ship via FedEx and DHL with full tracking and insurance, and we provide comprehensive installation support by phone and video.
Whether you're in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, or a small town in between — you deserve the same quality, service, and attention to detail as someone who walks into our Denver shop.
Why Meon Neon?
We started Meon Neon because we couldn't find a custom neon sign company that delivered premium quality at a fair price with fast turnaround and genuine customer care. So we built one.
Here's what makes us different:
Free mockups for every customer. See your design visualized before you commit a single dollar. No obligation, no pressure.
7-to-10-day delivery. Our production timeline is 3 to 5 days, with 3 to 5 days for shipping. That's industry-leading speed without cutting corners on quality.
2-year comprehensive warranty. We stand behind every sign we sell with a warranty that covers materials and workmanship defects. Our LED components are rated for 100,000+ hours of continuous use.
15% price-beat guarantee. Found a comparable sign cheaper somewhere else? Show us the quote and we'll beat their price by 15%. We're confident in our value because we know what goes into our signs.
Woman-owned, Denver-based. Meon Neon is co-owned and operated by Vida Elekovic and Noah Crowley. When you work with us, you're supporting a small, woman-owned business that genuinely cares about your project.
Professional installation available. From basic drywall mounting to complex commercial installations, our team handles it so you don't have to.
Ready to Light Up Your Space?
Whether you're a business owner looking for custom LED signs to draw more customers, a couple searching for the perfect neon name sign for your wedding, or someone who wants to add personalized neon lights to your home — the right sign can completely transform your space.
And getting started is simpler than you think.
Get your free mockup today. Tell us your vision, and we'll show you what it looks like in neon — at no cost and with no commitment. Visit meonneon.com or call us at (720) 593-8389.
Let's create something that makes your space impossible to miss.
Meon Neon is a Denver-based custom LED neon sign company offering nationwide shipping, professional design, and industry-leading turnaround times. Visit our showroom by appointment at 8405 W 54th Place, Arvada, Colorado 80002.
