Short answer: very little. Our 50cm "BUT FIRST, Coffee" sign uses about 23 watts at full brightness. That's roughly 0.6p an hour, or about £1.47 a month if it's on 8 hours a day.
At UV Neon we believe in transparency, so we measured one of our popular signs with a Tapo Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring, at full brightness and fully dimmed, over two full days.
What's inside our signs
We use high-quality SMD2835 LEDs at 120 LEDs per metre, which draw around 8 watts per metre (about 2.4 watts per foot) at full brightness. A sign's power use depends on how many metres of LED it contains, not the size of the board. Our 50cm test sign has roughly 3 metres of LED.
Energy usage: full brightness vs dimmed
| Brightness | Power use | Cost per hour | 8 hrs a day (per month) | 24/7 (per month) |
| Full brightness | 0.023 kWh/h (23W) | 0.6p | £1.47 | £4.42 |
| Fully dimmed | 0.002 kWh/h (2W) | 0.05p | £0.13 | £0.38 |
Based on 26.32p per kWh, the Ofgem price cap for October to December 2026. Your own tariff may differ.
LED neon vs traditional glass neon
Traditional glass neon signs can use 0.8 to 1.2 kWh per hour. At 8 hours a day that's roughly £50–£77 a month, compared with about £1.47 for our LED sign. That's more than 95% energy savings.
Tips to keep running costs down
- Use the dimmer. Dimmed, our test sign costs under 40p a month even left on 24/7.
- Use a smart plug or timer so the sign isn't on overnight.
- Stick to mains power. It's the most efficient and reliable way to run a sign. Batteries cost far more per hour.
FAQ
Is it safe to leave an LED neon sign on all night?
LED neon runs at low voltage and stays cool to the touch, but a timer saves energy and extends the life of the LEDs.
Does a bigger sign cost more to run?
Yes, in proportion to the length of LED in it. At around 8 watts per metre, every extra metre adds about 0.2p an hour at full brightness.
Thinking about a sign without a plug? See whether neon signs can run on batteries. Ready to order? Design your own LED neon sign or get a free logo mockup.
