Home Channel letter signs
Channel letter signs in Raleigh, NC
Channel letters are the lit letters you see on almost every shopping center. We build front-lit, halo-lit and combination sets and mount them on a raceway or straight to the wall.
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- Locally owned since 2009
- Permits handled for you
- Serving the whole Triangle
How a channel letter is built
Each channel letter is its own small cabinet. Aluminum sides, called returns, are bent to the shape of the letter and closed with a back, and LEDs sit inside. On a front-lit letter, a translucent acrylic face lets the light through, held by a slim trim cap around the edge. On a halo-lit letter, the face is solid and the light spills out the back onto the wall.
Because every letter is separate, the sign follows your logo and font closely and reads as crisp shapes in daylight as well as at night. We design the set around your wall, the viewing distance and your landlord's sign criteria. Then we file the permit, build the letters with LEDs and connect power at install.
Ways to light channel letters
Front-lit
The face glows. The brightest and most readable option from a distance, and the standard in most shopping centers.
Halo-lit (reverse channel)
Solid metal faces with the LEDs aimed back at the wall, so each letter sits in a soft ring of light. The wall color matters, since that is what glows.
Front and halo combined
A lit face plus a halo behind it. More depth after dark, at a higher cost than either style alone.
Open-face letters
Letters with no face or a clear one, so the light source shows. A bold, retro look that suits restaurants and bars.
Lit logos
Your logo built the same way as the letters, so the mark lights up right alongside your name.
Other lit signs
Light boxes, LED message boards and neon-style signs, for when individual letters are not the right fit.
Raceway or direct mount
How the letters attach to the building affects the look, the cost and how many holes go in the wall.
- Raceway mount
- The letters sit on a slim aluminum box that holds the power supplies and wiring. Only a few holes go into the wall, which landlords like, and the sign comes down in one piece if you move. The raceway is painted to match the wall.
- Direct mount
- Each letter is fastened to the wall on its own, with wiring run through the wall behind it. The cleanest look, but it needs access behind the wall and more holes in the facade.
- Backer panel
- The letters mount to a painted aluminum panel. Useful on uneven or busy walls, or when you want a block of color behind the letters.
- Which one fits
- Your lease criteria, what is behind the wall and how long you plan to stay usually point to one answer. We check all three on the site visit.
Channel letters we've built
Irish PubLit sign at night
Claire'sMall lit channel letters
CellaxsMall storefront lit letters
Maplewood Family DentalLit dimensional logo on building
Anise PhoLit logo and letters on brick
SwarovskiStorefront letters in mall
Shaba ShabuLit letters on restaurant facade at dusk
Yogurt ExpressionsLit dimensional logo
How a set of channel letters gets made
Site visit
We measure the sign band, check what is behind the wall and find the nearest power.
Criteria and design
We read your lease sign criteria and show you the letters on a photo of your building.
Permits
We file the sign permit and send drawings to your landlord for approval.
Fabrication
Returns are formed, faces cut, LEDs and power supplies fitted, and each letter tested.
Install
We mount the raceway or letters, connect power and check that every letter lights evenly.
Channel letter questions
How much do channel letters cost?
It depends on how many letters, how tall they are and how they are lit. A small storefront set usually starts at a few thousand dollars, and larger or halo-lit sets cost more. You get a free written quote before any work starts.
Front-lit or halo-lit: which is better?
Front-lit letters are brighter and easier to read from far away, so they suit shopping centers and busy roads. Halo-lit letters give a softer, more upscale look that suits offices, salons and medical practices. Some signs use both.
Do channel letters need a permit in Raleigh?
Yes. Raleigh and most nearby towns require a sign permit before a lit sign goes up, and most shopping centers have their own sign criteria too. We take care of both.
How long do LED channel letters last?
The LEDs are rated for 50,000 to 100,000 hours, roughly 10 to 15 years of normal use.
Can you fix the channel letters we already have?
Yes. We replace dead LEDs, swap cracked or faded faces, convert old neon letters to LED and replace damaged letters.
What areas do you serve?
We're based in North Raleigh and work across the Triangle, including Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Garner, Morrisville and Fuquay-Varina.
Related reading
- How Much Does a Business Sign Cost? Raleigh Price Ranges
Typical business sign costs in Raleigh, from PVC and ADA signs to channel letters and stone monuments, plus what drives the price and how to get a real quote.
- Types of Business Signs: A Practical Guide for Owners
The main types of business signs, grouped by where they go: ground, building, lit, interior and temporary. What each one does best and what it trades off.
Get a free channel letter quote
Tell us what you need and where it goes. Carlo will get back to you with questions or a price.
- Free quote, no obligation
- We handle the permit
- Design, build and install in one shop
Rather talk it through?
Call 919-696-0353