Choose the right face and illumination
Brand colors, face material, cabinet depth, internal lighting, and viewing distance work together to keep the identity legible after dark.
Sign system / 02
Outdoor Lighted Signs
Make your identity work after dark.
Custom illuminated and non-illuminated sign systems make a business easier to find and remember from the building, the parking lot, and the road.
The short answer
A lighted sign is a cabinet or letter set with light sources inside, usually LED modules behind a translucent face. Face material, lighting layout and power routing decide how it looks after dark and how it ages. National cost guides put outdoor lighted signs at $500 to $5,000.
Best fit
Designed around the way your site gets seen.
- Illuminated cabinets and pole signs
- Monument and pylon formats
- Building and roadside applications
- Custom graphics matched to your business
Planning factors
Options & planning.
Every recommendation is shaped around the site, the audience, the business identity, and the practical path to installation.
Design around the location
Building scale, roadside placement, existing structure, local rules, and the customer approach all shape the final sign, whether it is a cabinet, monument, pylon, or pole format.
Understand the limited warranty
Suntronix offers a three-year limited warranty on qualifying Lexan lighted sign faces. Vandalism is excluded; exact coverage and project terms are confirmed in the proposal.
Need help with the location, permits, or installer coordination? See site survey and installation support
Buyer’s guide
What to know before you buy.
Straight answers to the questions buyers ask most, with the sources behind every figure.
Which face material holds up best on a lighted cabinet?
Polycarbonate faces are widely used for lighted cabinets because of their impact resistance; GE's data sheet for Lexan sign sheet cites protection against vandalism. Flexible faces suit very large cabinets, and routed aluminum faces let only the letters glow. Match the face to the cabinet size and the risk at the site.
Suntronix offers a limited warranty on qualifying Lexan lighted sign faces. Vandalism is excluded, and exact coverage is confirmed in the proposal. Ask any supplier which faces qualify for coverage and what the exclusions are.
Sources: GE Structured Products - Lexan SG305 Sheet for Signs, product data sheet
What electrical work does a lighted sign need?
A dedicated circuit, a listed sign and a disconnect within sight of it. The National Electrical Code requires electric signs to be listed and installed per the listing, and a disconnecting means within sight of the sign. Distance to power often drives the electrical cost.
HomeAdvisor puts electrical wiring for a sign at $560 to $2,300, and HomeGuide puts underground power runs at $10 to $25 per foot installed. A cabinet on an existing pole with power already there avoids most of that.
Sources: EC&M - NEC Rules for Electric Signs and Outline Lighting (NEC Article 600); HomeAdvisor - How Much Does Commercial Sign Installation Cost? (updated June 20, 2026); HomeGuide - How Much Does a Business Sign Cost? (Dec. 19, 2023)
Should you reface an old cabinet or replace it?
Reface when the cabinet, lighting and structure are sound; replace when the cabinet is rusted, the wiring is old or the size no longer fits the site. A new face in a good cabinet is often the lowest-cost upgrade. Some cities require a permit even for a replacement face.
Converting an older cabinet to LED lighting is another option. Because the NEC requires electric signs to be listed, ask how a retrofit will be listed and labeled, and who is responsible for that.
Sources: EC&M - NEC Rules for Electric Signs and Outline Lighting (NEC Article 600); Panguitch City, UT - Signage Permit and sign requirements (one city's example)
The after-dark check
When the lights come on, the face still has to read.
These are real illuminated sign faces photographed in the Suntronix shop. They show how the face, graphics, and cabinet work together before the sign reaches the field.
An illuminated face keeps the primary identity bright and defined.
High-contrast graphics and lit lettering create a crisp surface of recognition.
The sign face, lighting, cabinet, and graphics are resolved as one finished system.
Before the first conversation
Before we talk.
A few real details from the site make it easier to compare the right sign directions and define a practical next step.
- 01
Document the first clear view
Show how customers approach the building or property in daylight and after dark, when possible.
- 02
Collect usable brand artwork
Bring the cleanest available logo files and identify the business name customers need to recognize first.
- 03
Note the existing conditions
Include photos and dimensions of any wall, cabinet, pole, or electrical service that may affect the work.
If you do not have every detail yet, start with the address, a few photographs, and the visibility problem you want the sign to solve.
Weighing the investment? See what a sign needs to earn in the ROI calculator
Field proof
Related projects.
Real Suntronix work connects the planning decisions to the sign customers see in the field.
Outdoor Signs
Wittmer’s Sewing Sign
Read the case study →
Lighted Signs
Rockhouse Coffee Sign
Read the case study →
Lighted Signs
Eldon’s Automotive Sign
Read the case study →
Lighted Signs
La Niña Fresa Sign
Read the case study →
Lighted Signs
Quinn Construction Sign
Read the case study →
Outdoor Signs
Railroad Brewing Storefront Sign
Read the case study →Quick answers
Common questions.
Does Suntronix warranty sign faces?
Suntronix offers a three-year limited warranty on qualifying Lexan lighted sign faces. Vandalism is excluded; exact coverage is confirmed in the proposal.
Can you help with installation?
Suntronix can coordinate permitting and installation for a fee, or provide information to your installer.
How much does an outdoor lighted sign cost?
HomeAdvisor puts outdoor lighted signs at $500 to $5,000 nationally, with more for large or custom cabinets. Electrical work and permits are often extra. These are third-party estimates, not Suntronix pricing.
What is a Lexan sign face?
Lexan is a brand of polycarbonate sheet sold in sign grades for lighted faces. Its maker's data sheet highlights impact resistance and protection against vandalism. Suntronix offers a limited warranty on qualifying Lexan faces; vandalism is excluded and coverage is confirmed in the proposal.
Does a lighted sign need an electrical permit?
Usually. The sign must be a listed product installed per its listing, with a disconnect within sight of it under the National Electrical Code, and your jurisdiction may inspect that work. Ask your permit office what it requires.
Can I just replace the face on my old sign?
Often, if the cabinet and lighting are sound. It is often the least expensive way to update a sign. Check whether your city requires a permit for face replacement and whether the sign is nonconforming.
What happens after I reach out?
Suntronix reviews the location, visibility needs, timing, and business goals before shaping a concept and quote.
Can I send a logo or site photo?
Yes. The quote form accepts a JPG, PNG, or PDF up to 5 MB so the team can understand the project sooner.
Related field notes
Helpful guides.
Use these short guides alongside the site details so the next conversation has a clearer starting point.
What changes project cost?
See why the site, sign system, and delivery path belong in the first scope conversation.
Read the field noteDesign for the approach
Review how distance, traffic, and sight lines affect the first read.
Read the field noteSources
Figures on this page come from the publishers below. They are general, third-party references rather than Suntronix pricing or specifications, and your site, local code and product choice will change them.
- GE Structured Products - Lexan SG305 Sheet for Signs, product data sheet (accessed Sep 23, 2026)
- EC&M - NEC Rules for Electric Signs and Outline Lighting (NEC Article 600) (accessed Sep 23, 2026)
- HomeAdvisor - How Much Does Commercial Sign Installation Cost? (updated June 20, 2026) (accessed Sep 23, 2026)
- HomeGuide - How Much Does a Business Sign Cost? (Dec. 19, 2023) (accessed Sep 23, 2026)
- Panguitch City, UT - Signage Permit and sign requirements (one city's example) (accessed Sep 23, 2026)
