{
  "slug": "channel-letter-sign-cost",
  "title": "Channel Letter Sign Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Channel Letter Sign Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/channel-letter-sign-cost",
  "summary": "Estimate illuminated channel letter cost from letter count and size.",
  "description": "Channel letters — the individually fabricated, internally illuminated letters common on storefronts — are priced primarily by per-letter fabrication cost, which scales with letter height, plus LED module and power supply cost, plus installation. This calculator adds average cost per letter (which rises with height — 12 inch letters run less than 24 inch letters because of more aluminum return and more LED modules needed per letter), LED and driver cost, mounting/raceway hardware, and installation labor, to produce a project total. Typical fabrication cost for standard aluminum-faced, acrylic-front channel letters with LED illumination runs roughly $35-$75 per letter per inch of height as a rough shop rule (e.g., a 18-inch letter might run $650-$1,300 fabricated), though this varies by fabricator, letter style (routed-and-backed vs standard), and whether it's a rush job. Electrical hookup and a licensed electrician's final connection are typically a separate line item from the sign fabrication and install.",
  "formula": "Fabrication cost = letters × height (in) × cost per inch; total = fabrication + LED/driver cost + raceway + install − any discount for identical repeated letters.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=channel-letter-sign-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "letterCount",
      "label": "Number of letters",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 8,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "heightIn",
      "label": "Letter height",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 18,
      "unit": "in",
      "min": 4,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "costPerInch",
      "label": "Fabrication cost per inch of height, per letter",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 40,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 5,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "ledDriverCost",
      "label": "LED + power supply cost (total)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 450,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "raceway",
      "label": "Raceway/mounting hardware cost",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 350,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "installLabor",
      "label": "Installation labor",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 900,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Estimated project total",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "fab",
      "label": "Fabrication cost (letters only)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "perLetter",
      "label": "Average fabrication cost per letter",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Number of letters: 8",
      "Letter height: 18 in",
      "Fabrication cost per inch of height, per letter: 40 $",
      "LED + power supply cost (total): 450 $",
      "Raceway/mounting hardware cost: 350 $",
      "Installation labor: 900 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Estimated project total: $7,460.00",
      "Fabrication cost (letters only): $5,760.00",
      "Average fabrication cost per letter: $720.00"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter number of letters.",
      "Enter letter height (in).",
      "Enter fabrication cost per inch of height, per letter ($).",
      "Enter led + power supply cost (total) ($).",
      "Enter raceway/mounting hardware cost ($).",
      "Enter installation labor ($).",
      "Read your estimated project total on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "letterCount": 5,
        "heightIn": 11,
        "costPerInch": 24,
        "ledDriverCost": 275,
        "raceway": 200,
        "installLabor": 550
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "letterCount": 8,
        "heightIn": 18,
        "costPerInch": 40,
        "ledDriverCost": 450,
        "raceway": 350,
        "installLabor": 900
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "letterCount": 13,
        "heightIn": 29,
        "costPerInch": 64,
        "ledDriverCost": 725,
        "raceway": 550,
        "installLabor": 1450
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why does letter height matter so much for cost?",
      "a": "Taller letters need more aluminum for the return (the sides), more acrylic for the face, and more LED modules to illuminate evenly, so cost scales close to linearly with height even though it's not a simple area calculation like flat signage."
    },
    {
      "q": "What's the difference between raceway and direct mount?",
      "a": "A raceway is a metal box mounted to the wall that houses wiring and power supplies with letters mounted on top, simplifying install and hiding wiring, but adding visible hardware. Direct-mounted letters look cleaner but require wall penetrations for each letter's wiring, often costing more in install labor."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does letter style change cost beyond height?",
      "a": "Yes — routed-and-backed letters (aluminum face with routed-out letter shapes backed by acrylic, lit from behind for a halo or reverse-lit look) generally cost more than standard front-lit acrylic-faced letters due to extra fabrication steps."
    },
    {
      "q": "Who handles the electrical hookup?",
      "a": "The sign company typically fabricates and installs the sign and low-voltage wiring, but the final connection to the building's electrical service usually requires a licensed electrician and a separate electrical permit, billed apart from the sign contract."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/signage-permit-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/banner-sign-install-labor",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/sign-shop-hourly-rate"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Channel Letter Sign Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/channel-letter-sign-cost)"
}