LED neon vs glass neon — which should your business choose?
Glass-tube neon has lit up cities for a hundred years. Today most businesses choose LED neon instead. Here are the differences in plain words, so you can choose what suits your space.
Quick comparison
| LED neon | Glass neon | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About a third | High — hand-bent glass |
| Power use | 7–8 W per metre | Much higher |
| Heat | Barely warm | Gets warm |
| Voltage | Low (12/24 V) | High voltage |
| Durability | Shatterproof silicone | Fragile glass |
| Contents | No mercury or gas | Gas, sometimes mercury |
| Control | Dimmer, RGB, remote | Limited |
| Lifespan | Approx. 50,000 hours | Long but needs servicing |
Cost — at purchase and every month
LED neon is cheaper to make because no glass bender is needed. The low power draw also shows on the electricity bill: a small sign lit twelve hours a day uses only a few kilowatt-hours a month. For a shop or café that switches the sign on every evening, that adds up over the years.
Safety
Glass neon runs on high voltage and can break if knocked. LED neon uses low voltage, barely warms up and is made of soft silicone — a safer choice for children's rooms, events, gyms and busy spaces.
Looks — can you tell the difference?
From a distance both give the same soft, even glow. Glass has a slightly “rounder” light that some love in retro interiors. LED neon offers crisper colours, more colour options and RGB effects. When the sign is part of the interior — say a logo behind the bar — most people see no difference at all.
Maintenance
LED neon is practically maintenance-free: wipe off dust with a soft cloth and switch it off when you close. Glass neon may need a specialist if gas leaks or a tube cracks.
When is glass neon still right?
If you are restoring a heritage sign or want exactly the authentic retro look, glass can be right. For almost every other business — shops, cafés, salons, offices and events — LED neon is the practical choice.
Try it yourself
In our sign designer you can type your text, choose a colour and see it glow on a wall — or on a photo of your own space. Send the design and get a visualisation and fixed price within 24 hours. Curious about prices? Read How much does a neon sign cost?
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