Signage FAQs | What is a Channel Letter?

Channel letters are the most ubiquitous form of electric signs in the US. Called channel letters because they are bent aluminum frames in the shapes of letters into which neon, and now LEDs, are installed and translucent faces added. Traditional channel letters are mounted to a raceway or track mounted to the building face where the letter wires are connected and covered. The raceway also serves as the mounting face in many cases.

Channel letters continue to be the most popular choice for retail and restaurant locations because they light up at night.  Although few new installations use neon inside channels, some businesses use open channels with exposed neon for a retro look.

LED illuminated channel letters run at approximately 50% of the cost of neon and last four times as long – up to 10,000 hours. Maintenance costs for LED are significantly less than neon. Recent innovations in LED technology have made the up front cost of channel letter purchases more affordable than ever.

Whatever your choice for illumination, channel letters can be bent and formed into almost every font or letter style.  They can also be back lit and internally lit to create dramatic nighttime looks. This is another reason that they continue to be popular today with business owners, architects and designers.