If you’ve ever driven past a business area at night, you’ve probably noticed a bright, glowing sign on every storefront. These signs are more than just decoration. They’re a powerful marketing tool designed to help businesses stand out, attract attention, and stay visible long after the sun goes down. But what are these glowing signs actually called?
The short answer is illuminated signage. However, there are several different types of glowing signs, each offering its own unique style and purpose.
In this guide, we’ll break down some of the most common types of illuminated signs and the key characteristics of each one.
What is illuminated signage?
Illuminated signage refers to any sign that uses lighting to enhance its visibility, especially during nighttime hours or in low-light conditions. These signs can be lit internally, externally, or from behind, depending on the desired effect. Most modern illuminated signs use LED lighting because of its high energy efficiency and long lifespan.
You might hear illuminated signage casually called “glowing signs” because of their bright, glowing appearance, particularly after dark. They are commonly used for:
- Retail storefronts
- Restaurants and cafes
- Hotels
- Entertainment venues
- Gas stations and convenience stores
- Shopping centres
- Medical clinics and pharmacies
- Office buildings
What are some common types of glowing signs?
Glowing signs come in several different styles, each designed to improve visibility and strengthen brand recognition. Some common types of illuminated signs include:
Channel Letter Signs
Channel letters are individually crafted, three-dimensional letters that are mounted directly onto a building. Each letter is internally illuminated, usually with LED lighting. Businesses can choose from front-lit, back-lit, combination-lit, or open-face letters. These glowing signs offer a clean, professional appearance and are a popular choice amongst a wide variety of businesses.
Cabinet Signs
An illuminated cabinet sign, sometimes called a box sign, is a sign with an internal lighting system housed within a cabinet-shaped frame. The face of the sign is typically made from translucent acrylic so the light can shine through, creating a bright, glowing display. Cabinet signs are popular because they’re highly visible both day and night, and relatively cost-effective for larger signage.
Pylon Signs
Illuminated pylon signs are tall, freestanding signs that are typically mounted on one or two poles and positioned near roads, highways, or entrances to commercial properties. These large signs are designed to be highly visible from a distance, making them well-suited for attracting passing traffic along busy roadways.
Monument Signs
Glowing monument signs are freestanding signs, similar to pylon signs, but are shorter and closer to the ground. They are often placed near the entrance of a business, and built on a solid base, which gives the property a more refined, polished appearance.
Neon Signs
When you picture a classic, glowing sign, a neon sign might be the first thing that comes to mind. Traditional neon signs are made from hand-bent glass tubes filled with gas that lights up when electricity passes through them, giving them their warm, distinct glow. Today, many modern “neon” signs are actually created using flexible LED tubing designed to mimic the same iconic look. These LED versions offer the aesthetic appeal of traditional neon while being more energy-efficient, durable, and easier to maintain. That said, authentic glass neon signs still exist and continue to be used, especially in custom art pieces and specialty businesses.
LED Digital Displays
LED digital displays are modern illuminated signs that use high-resolution LED screens to show dynamic content such as text, images, or animations. Unlike static signs, these glowing displays can be updated quickly and remotely, allowing businesses to change messages or promotions in real time.
What’s the difference between illuminated and non-illuminated signage?
The main difference between illuminated and non-illuminated signage comes down to visibility. Since illuminated signs use built-in lighting, they remain bright and readable, even at night or in poor weather conditions. These are what we would commonly refer to as “glowing signs”, because of the way they stand out with a bright, noticeable presence after dark.
Non-illuminated signs, on the other hand, do not light up themselves and rely entirely on external light sources (like sunlight) to be seen clearly. While they are still widely used and can be a cost-effective option for many businesses, the main limitation of a non-illuminated sign is its reduced visibility, especially after dark.
Ready to make your business stand out with a glowing sign? Contact us today at National Neon to get started!
