Nothing grabs attention after dark like a glowing sign. But should you go with traditional glass neon, or modern LED? Here’s how they compare.
Traditional glass neon
Classic neon uses glass tubes, hand-bent by skilled craftspeople and filled with gas that glows when high voltage runs through it.
- Look: a warm, all-round glow with a genuine retro character
- Running costs: uses more power than LED
- Durability: glass is fragile and can break if knocked or during transport
- Safety: runs on high voltage, so it needs careful installation and placement
- Repairs: broken tubes need a specialist to re-bend and refill
LED signs (including LED neon)
LED signs use light-emitting diodes. “LED neon” or “neon flex” places LEDs inside a flexible silicone tube to recreate the neon look.
- Look: bright, even light in almost any colour, including a very convincing neon style
- Running costs: uses much less energy than glass neon
- Durability: flexible and shatter-resistant, so better for busy spaces
- Safety: runs at low voltage and stays cool to the touch
- Options: can be dimmable, colour-changing or on a timer
Which should you choose?
For most businesses, LED is the practical choice: cheaper to run, tougher and safer, while still giving that eye-catching glow. Glass neon suits businesses that want an authentic vintage look and are happy with more care and higher running costs.
LED also works beyond neon-style lettering: lightboxes, channel letters and illuminated 3D letters all use it.
Planning an outdoor lit sign? Lit signs often have extra rules. Read our guide: Do you need council approval for a business sign in NSW?
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Snip SIGNS designs and installs LED and neon-style signs for shops, cafes, salons and offices across Sydney. Call 0433 466 694 or send us your details.