Guide · 5 min read
Face-lit vs halo-lit letters: which suits your business?
Face-lit letters glow through an opal acrylic face, so the name reads clearly from a distance at night, while halo-lit letters shine light backwards onto the wall for a softer outline glow. As a guide, a typical business name costs £2,400–£8,900 + VAT face-lit and £2,800–£9,800 halo-lit, confirmed after survey.
What is the difference between face-lit and halo-lit letters?
Face-lit letters are fabricated letters with an opal acrylic face that diffuses light from LED modules inside, so the whole face of each letter glows. Halo-lit, or reverse-lit, letters have a solid face, usually metal, and the LEDs shine backwards onto the wall, creating a glowing outline around each letter.
Halo letters are stood off the wall by 25–50 mm on locators so the light has room to spread. Both types typically have returns, the sides of each letter, 50–100 mm deep.
How do they look by day and by night?
By day, face-lit letters show the colour of the face, which can be coloured acrylic or vinyl applied over opal, with a painted or metal-finish return. Halo-lit letters look like solid metal letters: brushed or mirror stainless steel, painted aluminium, or brass and copper finishes for a premium look.
At night the difference is bigger. Face-lit letters are bright and read clearly from a distance, which suits busy roads, retail parks and late opening. Halo-lit letters give a softer, more refined effect: the face stays dark, so the name reads as a silhouette against light on the wall.
What kind of wall do halo-lit letters need?
Halo lighting depends on the surface behind it. It needs a light-coloured, fairly smooth wall to read well: render, smooth stone, painted panels or a light aluminium composite backing panel all work. Dark brick, deeply textured cladding and glazing tend to swallow the glow.
If the wall isn't suitable, a light-coloured backing panel can be fitted first, with the letters stood off that. Face-lit letters are much less fussy, because the light comes out of the letter face, so they work on brick, cladding or a dark fascia.
How much more do halo-lit letters cost?
Halo-lit letters usually cost a little more per letter, because of the metal faces and finishes, the stand-off fixings and the care needed to get an even glow. As guide prices, excluding VAT and confirmed after survey:
- Face-lit letter, 300–600 mm tall: £140–£360 each.
- Halo-lit letter, 300–600 mm tall: £160–£420 each.
- Typical business name of 10–14 letters: £2,400–£8,900 face-lit, £2,800–£9,800 halo-lit.
- Final electrical connection by an electrician: £150–£350 for either type.
Which type needs more maintenance?
Both use LED modules and low-voltage drivers, which last far longer and use much less power than the neon and fluorescent tubes they replaced. The drivers are the part most likely to need attention over the years, so they should be housed where they can be reached, such as behind the fascia or in a weatherproof enclosure.
Face-lit acrylic faces can be cleaned with mild soapy water. Brushed metal halo faces hide fingerprints and water marks better than mirror finishes, and the wall behind halo letters may need an occasional clean to keep the glow even.
Which style suits which business?
The choice usually comes down to how far away people see you, when you trade and the look you want:
- Face-lit suits takeaways, convenience stores, pharmacies, gyms and any business that trades after dark or needs to be seen from a moving car.
- Halo-lit suits restaurants, salons, offices, hotels and professional firms that want a quieter, more upmarket look.
- Halo-lit is often easier to get consented in conservation areas, where councils often prefer subtle lighting to bright faces.
- Combined face-and-halo letters are also possible, giving a lit face plus a glow behind for maximum presence.
Do illuminated letters need consent?
Usually. In England, deemed consent for illuminated signs is limited and does not apply in conservation areas and other protected areas, so most lit lettered fascias need express consent. Decisions usually take up to 8 weeks, and we can prepare the drawings and brightness details for the application, or submit it for you.
The final mains connection is made by an electrician to BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations, and you receive the certificate for the circuit.
Want a second opinion on your sign?
Send a photo and a rough size. We’ll tell you what would work, what it’s likely to cost and whether consent is needed.