Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Estimated project total
$7,460.00
Fabrication cost (letters only)
$5,760.00
Average fabrication cost per letter
$720.00
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How to use this
- 1Enter number of letters.
- 2Enter letter height (in).
- 3Enter fabrication cost per inch of height, per letter ($).
- 4Enter led + power supply cost (total) ($).
- 5Enter raceway/mounting hardware cost ($).
- 6Enter installation labor ($).
- 7Read your estimated project total on the right — it updates as you type.
- 8Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
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.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
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 $
Results
- Estimated project total: $7,460.00
- Fabrication cost (letters only): $5,760.00
- Average fabrication cost per letter: $720.00
What each field means
Inputs
- Number of letters
- The number of letters used in the calculation. Starts at 8 so you have a working example on load.
- Letter height (in)
- The letter height used in the calculation, measured in in. Starts at 18 in so you have a working example on load.
- Fabrication cost per inch of height, per letter ($)
- The fabrication cost per inch of height, per letter used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 40 $ so you have a working example on load.
- LED + power supply cost (total) ($)
- The led + power supply cost (total) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 450 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Raceway/mounting hardware cost ($)
- The raceway/mounting hardware cost used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 350 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Installation labor ($)
- The installation labor used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 900 $ so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Estimated project total
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Fabrication cost (letters only)
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Average fabrication cost per letter
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why does letter height matter so much for cost?
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.
What's the difference between raceway and direct mount?
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.
Does letter style change cost beyond height?
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.
Who handles the electrical hookup?
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.
Accuracy and 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.
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Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Channel Letter Sign Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/channel-letter-sign-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/channel-letter-sign-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Channel Letter Sign Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Channel Letter Sign Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/channel-letter-sign-cost) (2026).