Neon or LED-neon: which to choose for signage?
Short answer: for a warm retro glow and authenticity, go with classic glass neon; for brightness, a safe 12V supply and a longer service life, go with flexible LED-neon. Which one you pick depends on where the sign hangs and the light you want.
Neon and LED-neon give different light in the same shapes: both bend into a logo, a slogan or a shaped outline. Classic neon is glass tubing filled with inert gas that glows in a warm, living colour. LED-neon is a flexible run of LEDs inside a silicone profile, powered by a safe 12V supply.
The choice here is rarely about which is better. It's about place and mood. In the protected interior of a bar or a retro photo zone, warm glass neon often wins on character. On a facade, on the street, and on a sign switched on every evening, bright, unbreakable LED-neon is the more practical pick.
Classic glass neon
This is the technology with character. A craftsman bends glass tubing to your lettering and fills it with inert gas — the light comes out warm, even and alive, with the retro tint neon is loved for.
The price for that look is fragility. Glass breaks, and it runs through a high-voltage transformer, so classic neon is happiest where it's protected: inside a bar or coffee shop, in a window, or in a finished photo zone. Repair is harder: a damaged tube isn't patched, it's remade. Classic neon is part of our separate neon-sign offering.
Flexible LED-neon
LED-neon is a flexible LED strip inside a matte silicone profile that diffuses the light into one even, continuous line. It runs on a safe 12V supply instead of high voltage — and that, rather than any saving on electricity, is the real difference: per metre the two draw roughly the same.
Why it's the more common pick for the street and facades: • unbreakable — silicone won't shatter like glass and shrugs off rain; • bright and even along its whole length, easy to read from a distance at night; • simpler repair — a damaged segment or the power supply is swapped without remaking the whole line; • a long service life under daily evening use.
The trade-off is a slightly more technical look: by day it's a matte silicone strip, not a clear glass tube.
How to choose for your spot
Go by the place and by when the sign is on. • Bar, restaurant, retro interior: classic glass neon adds authenticity and a warm mood — where nothing will knock into it. • Photo zone: both work. Glass neon for a vintage frame; LED-neon when you want bright, saturated colour and toughness under a stream of people. • Facade sign and the street: almost always LED-neon — brighter, safer at 12V and more weather-resistant.
TheFace makes both, and at the free survey we'll advise which suits your spot, your light and the job. The visit, survey and quote are free; the 3D visualization on a photo of your facade comes after you confirm the order. Neon signs are a separate TheFace offering: we manufacture and install with our own crew.
| Criterion | Classic neon | LED-neon |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness & evenness | Warm, soft light; a characteristic warm tint | Brighter, an even line along its whole length |
| Durability / service life | Lasts for years while the glass is intact | Long service life, years of daily evening use |
| Energy use | Higher — runs via a high-voltage transformer | Low — efficient 12V |
| Fragility & safety | Glass is fragile, high voltage | Flexible and unbreakable, safe 12V |
| Daytime look | Clear glass tubes, the outline shows | Matte silicone strip, even tone |
| Repairability | Harder — the tube is remade | Easier — swap a segment or the power supply |
| Where it fits | Bar, retro interior, window, photo zone | Facade, street, bright photo zone, signage |
What we need to price it
The quote is free. What happens next depends on whether you already have artwork.
You have artwork
Send it with a photo of the site — we’ll say what has to change in the construction, and price it.
No artwork yet
We start with a survey — from photos of the facade or on site. We’ll advise on format and construction. The visualization comes once you confirm the order.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to discuss your project?
Tell us about the task — we’ll quote for free and suggest a solution.