The best way to make your business stand out? A backlit sign can help. Their bright, illuminated design makes them easy to see from a distance so your storefront stays visible long after the sun goes down. However, choosing the right material matters as much as creating the right design. A sign’s material affects everything from its brightness and durability to its weather resistance and overall appearance.
So, what is the best material for backlit signs? In this post, we’ll dive into the most popular material options and the benefits of each.
What is a backlit sign?
A backlit sign is an illuminated sign that uses internal lighting, typically LEDs, to shine through a translucent face or lettering. Some common examples include illuminated channel letters, cabinet signs, monument signs, or pylon signs. By lighting the sign from within, backlit signs remain highly visible both day and night or in low-light conditions.
What is the best material for backlit signs?
There isn’t a single “best” material for every backlit sign. The right answer varies depending on your goals, budget, the size of the sign and where it will be installed. Acrylic is a common material used for backlit signs, but other options include polycarbonate, flexible face fabric, glass, or aluminum.
Let’s take a closer look:
Acrylic
Acrylic is the most popular material used for backlit signs. Why? It offers excellent light diffusion, creating a smooth, even glow across the entire sign face. Unlike some of its counterparts that can create bright or dark spots, acrylic produces a clean, professional appearance. It is highly durable and weather-resistant so it works for both indoor and outdoor applications. Acrylic resists yellowing over time and is available in various colours, finishes, and thicknesses.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is another popular choice, particularly for signs installed in areas where durability is a top priority. Offering similar light transmission to acrylic, polycarbonate is much more impact-resistant, making it less likely to crack or break. This is great for high-traffic areas, locations that experience severe weather, or areas prone to vandalism. Although more expensive than acrylic, its added strength makes it a worthwhile investment for some businesses.
Flexible Face Fabric (Flex Face)
Flexible face fabric is best used for large illuminated signs, such as those found on shopping centres, roadside pylon signs, or commercial buildings. Rather than using rigid plastic panels, these tensioned sign faces are lightweight, durable, wind-resistant, and capable of spanning much larger areas than acrylic or polycarbonate. Flexible face materials provide consistent illumination across oversized signs while reducing the overall weight of the structure.
Glass
Glass can be used for certain backlit signs, but isn’t as common as acrylic or polycarbonate. It offers a sophisticated, high-end appearance and excellent scratch resistance, making it popular for upscale office buildings, hotels, or architectural signage. However, glass is heavier, more fragile and costs more to manufacture and install than other material options. As a result, it’s usually reserved for specialized projects where aesthetics are the primary focus. While glass can be used outdoors, it’s less common for exterior backlit signs due to its weight, cost, and increased risk of breakage.
Aluminum
Although aluminum is not generally used as the translucent face, it impacts the overall construction of a backlit sign. Aluminum is the most common material used for sign cabinets and frames because it is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and extremely durable. A high-quality aluminum frame protects the internal lighting system while providing long-lasting support for the illuminated face. Since aluminum doesn’t rust, it performs exceptionally well in outdoor environments and requires minimal maintenance over its lifespan.
How long do backlit signs last?
A well-built backlit sign can last up to 10 years or more with proper care. Modern LED lighting systems often last between 50,000 and 100,000 hours, while the sign face and cabinet can last even longer when made from quality materials.
A professionally designed backlit sign made with high-quality materials can enhance your business’s visibility and strengthen your brand for years to come. For more information, contact National Neon Signs today!
