Channel Letters and Sign Lettering

You’ve probably seen channel letters a thousand times without knowing the name: the individual, three-dimensional, usually-illuminated letters mounted across the top of a storefront or office building. If you’ve ever pictured your business name in big lit letters on the building, that’s a channel letter sign. They’re also called dimensional letters or lit storefront letters, and they’re the most popular style of exterior business sign—because nothing else reads as cleanly from across a parking lot or down the road at night.

In addition to standard and reverse/halo-lit channel letters, we also build plastic, PVC, acrylic, and metal non-illuminated lettering, so there’s a style and price point to suit nearly any budget. Tell us the budget you’re working with and we’ll design a letter sign that’s cost-effective, attractive, and effective. Our finishing team puts the final touch on every set—painted, brushed, anodized, or patina finishes are some of the most popular options to make a brand really pop.

What Is a Channel Letter?

A channel letter is a three-dimensional letter built as its own individual sign element, rather than printed flat on a panel. The “channel”—the back and sides of each letter—is fabricated from sheet metal, most often aluminum because it won’t rust. A computer-controlled router cuts the letter shape from a flat aluminum sheet, the letter is then painted, and lighting components such as LED modules (or, for a vintage look, neon tubes) are fitted inside. When illuminated at night, channel letters draw the eye of every passer-by.

Because each letter is crafted individually, the design options are nearly endless: almost any font, color, and size, and you can work your logo into the set. That individual construction is what makes channel letters read as the premium choice among exterior business signs.

Are LED Channel Letters Better Than Neon?

For most signs today, yes. As neon has faded in popularity, LED channel letters have become the most sought-after option—advances in LED have matched and even outperformed neon, which is more fragile and harder to repair. That said, neon can still be built into channel letters, and it’s a great choice when you want that classic, old-timey glow. Both options are available, and if you don’t want illumination at all, lighting is optional.

What Affects the Cost of Channel Letters?

Every channel letter project is quoted individually, because a handful of factors drive the price: the size of the letters, the number of them, whether they’re illuminated and how (LED vs. neon, front-lit vs. halo-lit), the finish, and the complexity of installation and electrical hookup at your specific building. Mounting to a tall facade or one with difficult access costs more than a ground-level storefront. The best way to get a real number is to tell us roughly what you have in mind and where—we’ll come back with a quote built around your actual building and budget.

How Do Channel Letters Help Draw In Customers?

Channel letters set a professional tone for your business before a customer ever walks in the door. Their height and illumination give them real stopping power, which is why so many corporate and franchise brands standardize on them. They aren’t only for exteriors, either—you can use channel letters as an interior sign to brand a lobby, mark sections of a store, or serve as dimensional décor.

Channel Letters vs. Dimensional Letters: What’s the Difference?

Dimensional letters are also 3D and may be made from the same materials, but they aren’t illuminated, and they’re usually applied to a sign panel or monument sign rather than mounted individually on a building. Channel letters stand alone and light up; dimensional letters are the non-lit cousin. If you’re not sure which suits your space, that’s exactly the kind of thing we’ll help you sort out.

Call Ortwein at 1-866-867-9208 to find out how we can design, build, or restore your channel letter sign.

Chattanooga Office
Phone: 423-867-9208
sales@ortweinsign.com
2806 E. 50th Street
Chattanooga, TN 37407
M-F 7am-3:30pm
Nashville Office

Phone: 615-726-3558
sales@ortweinsign.com
2215 Dortch Ave,
Nashville, TN 37210
M-F 7am-3:30pm

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1-866-867-9208

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