A lit sign works around the clock. An unlit sign costs less and needs no power. Which one is right depends on your hours, your street, your budget and, very often, your town’s rules.
Gogi Signs builds both for businesses across New Jersey and New York City. This guide compares them fairly, shows the local rules that can make the choice for you and gives honest facts about LED lighting.
In this guide
The Quick Comparison
| Illuminated | Non illuminated | |
|---|---|---|
| Seen after dark | Yes | Only with outside light |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Lower |
| Power and wiring | Needed | None |
| Permits | Often more steps | Usually simpler |
| Upkeep | Lighting parts to service | Cleaning and checks |
| Town limits | Some towns restrict | Rarely restricted |
Types of Illuminated Signs
- Front lit channel letters. Letters with LED modules inside and a translucent face. See our channel letters.
- Halo lit letters. Light shines out the back of solid letters onto the wall, creating a glow behind them.
- Light boxes. A cabinet with a lit face. See our light box signs.
- Neon and LED neon. Glowing tubes or flexible LED that looks like neon. See our neon signs.
- Externally lit signs. An unlit sign with lights aimed at it, such as gooseneck lamps over a painted or carved sign.
Types of Non Illuminated Signs
- Dimensional letters. Raised letters in metal, acrylic or PVC. See our dimensional letters.
- Metal and composite panels. Printed or vinyl graphics on aluminum. See our metal signs.
- Carved and hand painted signs. Classic signs in HDU or on masonry. See our carved signs.
- Blade signs and awnings. Signs that face foot traffic. See our blade signs.
When a Lit Sign Pays Off
- You are open after dark. Restaurants, bars, pharmacies, gyms and convenience stores need to be found at night.
- Winter afternoons. Short days mean it is dark before the evening rush for months of the year.
- Busy roads. Drivers need to spot you early. Lighting and strong contrast help.
- Your brand look. Some brands depend on a glow, like neon in a bar window.
When an Unlit Sign Makes More Sense
- You close before dark. Many offices and daytime shops do.
- Your town limits lighting. See the rules below.
- The look fits. Carved, painted and brushed metal signs suit historic and upscale streets.
- Budget. An unlit sign costs less to build, install and run.
- Montclair. Exterior signs may be lit only by an external light source, and internally lit signs are prohibited, under section 347 107.4 of its sign rules. Halo signs are excluded from that ban.
- Hoboken. Lit signs must be externally lit with the light shielded from homes and streets, and backlit and neon signs are not permitted in historic districts unless the Historic Preservation Commission approves them, under section 196 31H of its zoning code.
- New York City. In C1 and C2 districts, which cover many neighborhood retail streets, lit signs may total no more than three times the lot's street frontage in square feet, and never more than 50 square feet per frontage, under Zoning Resolution 32 643. Larger limits apply in other commercial districts under section 32 644.
Some towns also set lighting curfews, according to the Sign Research Foundation. Our sign permits team checks your town’s rules before we design.
NYC Rules for Lit Signs
New York City’s building code appendix H requires the wiring for sign lighting to be entirely enclosed in the sign cabinet and limits approved plastic in internally lit signs to 200 square feet. A tenant also needs the building owner’s written authorization before getting an illuminated sign permit, according to the Department of Buildings. Our sister company in New York compares two lit options in front lit vs halo lit channel letters.
Honest Facts About LED Lighting
- LEDs dim, they do not just die. ENERGY STAR explains that LED lifetime is based on when light output drops by 30 percent, in its LED lighting guide.
- Cold is not a problem. One common sign module, the Qwik Mod, is rated to operate from minus 30 to plus 60 degrees Celsius, according to its data sheet.
- Power supplies wear out first. Module warranties often run 120 months, while many power supplies are covered for 60 months, according to the SloanLED warranty.
You will see claims online that LED signs use 80 percent less energy than neon or last 50,000 hours. We could not find a solid source for those figures, so we do not use them. What we can say is that LED is the standard for new lit signs today.
Timers and Light Sensors
A lit sign does not need to burn all night. A timer turns it off at a set hour, and a light sensor, called a photocell, turns it on at dusk and off at dawn. Many signs use both, so the sign comes on when it gets dark and goes off after closing. That saves power, helps the lighting parts last longer and makes it easy to follow a town curfew if yours has one. Remember to check timers after a power outage and when the clocks change in spring and fall.
Cost: What Changes With Lighting
Lighting adds LED modules, power supplies, translucent faces, wiring and a connection to building power. It can also add permit steps and an electrical inspection. Over time, it adds parts to service. An unlit sign skips all of that. Our sign quote guide explains how to compare quotes line by line. Every Gogi price includes the survey, design, fabrication and installation.
Five Questions to Help You Choose
- What are your hours? If you are open after sunset for much of the year, lighting earns its cost.
- What does your town allow? Some towns limit or ban internal lighting.
- What does your lease say? Many landlords set sign criteria, including lighting.
- Is there power at the wall? Adding a circuit adds cost.
- What look fits your brand? A glow, or a classic painted or metal finish.
If you are still unsure, consider a sign that can be lit later. We can build letters or a cabinet with room for lighting so you can add it if your hours change, as long as your town allows it.
Visibility Without Lighting
An unlit sign can still work hard. Strong contrast, simple fonts and the right letter height do most of the work in daylight. Pixel Wraps, our sister graphics shop, shares the same rules for moving vehicles in how to design vehicle graphics people can read in traffic. For more on the materials behind each option, read best outdoor sign materials.
Common Questions About Lit and Unlit Signs
Do I need an illuminated sign?
Are lit signs allowed in my town?
How much more does a lit sign cost?
How long do LED sign lights last?
Can I light a sign from outside?
Do LED signs work in cold weather?
Lit or Unlit, Built to Fit Your Town
We will check your town’s rules and show you both options. See our outdoor signs, then request a free quote.
Sources and further reading
- Township of Montclair NJ: sign illumination rules
- City of Hoboken NJ: sign regulations
- NYC Zoning Resolution: illuminated signs in C1 and C2 districts
- NYC Zoning Resolution section 32 644: illuminated signs in C4 to C7
- Sign Research Foundation: dealing with sign lighting restrictions
- NYC Building Code 2022: appendix H, outdoor signs
- NYC Department of Buildings: illuminated sign questions
- ENERGY STAR: learn about LED lighting
- Principal Sloan: Qwik Mod LED data sheet
- SloanLED: global limited warranty
