Guide · 6 min read
How much does a shop sign cost?
A flat aluminium composite fascia sign is a guide £495–£1,650 + VAT supplied and fitted, a tray sign £1,250–£3,450 and an illuminated letter set for a typical business name £2,400–£8,900. Size, materials, lighting, access and consent drawings drive the final figure, which we confirm after a survey.
How much does each type of shop sign cost?
These are guide prices for signs supplied and fitted, excluding VAT, and confirmed after a survey and artwork check. They give you a realistic starting point for a budget.
- Flat aluminium composite fascia: £495–£950 up to 3 m, £750–£1,650 for 3–5 m.
- Tray sign in folded, powder-coated aluminium: £1,250–£2,100 up to 3 m with vinyl lettering, £1,850–£3,450 for 3–5 m with raised acrylic lettering.
- Flat-cut letters: £18–£65 per letter around 300 mm tall, or £320–£1,200 for a typical name set.
- Built-up 3D letters, non-lit: £55–£165 per letter, or £850–£2,600 for a typical 10–14 letter name.
- Projecting sign, non-lit: £395–£1,350.
- Face-lit letters: £140–£360 per letter, or £2,400–£8,900 for a typical name.
- Halo-lit letters: £160–£420 per letter, or £2,800–£9,800 for a typical name.
- LED lightbox: £1,250–£4,800 depending on size and face.
What makes one sign cost more than another?
Size is the obvious driver, but material and construction matter just as much. A printed aluminium composite panel is simple to make, while a tray sign involves folding and powder coating, and every built-up letter is fabricated individually.
Illumination adds LED modules, drivers, cable routes and an electrician's connection. The number of letters matters for lettered signs, which is why they are priced per letter. Artwork time, a complex logo and any shaped or routed parts add cost too.
Location and access also play a part. A high sign above a busy pavement may need an access platform and a council licence, while a ground-floor fascia on a quiet street can often be fitted from a scaffold tower.
What extras should you budget for?
These are the items most often missing from a low headline price. Ask whether each one is included:
- Access equipment: a scaffold tower or access platform, £150–£450 per day if needed.
- Removing and disposing of the old sign: £95–£250.
- Final electrical connection for a lit sign by an electrician: £150–£350, with a certificate for the circuit.
- Advertisement consent drawings and the council's application fee, if consent is needed.
- Making good the fascia behind an old sign, such as filling holes or repairing timber.
- A council licence to place scaffolding or a platform on the pavement, where required.
How do you compare sign quotes like for like?
Two quotes for 'a 4 m shop sign' can describe very different products. Line them up against the same checklist before you decide:
- Material and thickness: 3–4 mm aluminium composite, folded aluminium, acrylic, or stainless steel in grade 304 or 316.
- Finish: printed and laminated, cut vinyl, powder coated in a named RAL colour, painted or brushed metal.
- Letters: flat-cut or built-up, face-lit or halo-lit, with letter heights and return depths stated.
- Lighting: how many drivers, where they are housed and who makes the final connection.
- Fitting: access equipment, removal of the old sign, fixing type and making good.
- Consent: whether drawings or an application are included.
- VAT: whether it is included or shown separately, and whether the figure is fixed or an estimate.
Is a cheaper sign a false economy?
Not always. A printed aluminium composite fascia is a sound, long-lasting choice for many shops, and the extra spend on a tray or built-up letters buys depth and presence rather than basic durability.
Cutting cost tends to backfire in the hidden details: short-life vinyl on a sunny frontage, mild steel fixings that rust, unlaminated print, or LED drivers sealed where nobody can reach them. Ask what the sign is made from and how the graphics are protected, and expect stainless steel fixings and laminated print.
How can you keep the cost down?
There are several sensible ways to reduce the price without ending up with a sign you'll want to replace early:
- Keep a sound existing fascia board and fit a new panel or letters to it.
- Choose a non-illuminated sign with a trough light rather than lit letters, where it suits the building.
- Keep the wording short: fewer letters cost less and read more clearly.
- Combine the fascia, projecting sign and window lettering into one visit to share the access cost.
- Supply print-ready artwork if you already have it.
How do you get a firm price?
Send photos of the frontage and rough measurements, and we'll give you a guide figure. After a survey we send a scaled design proof and a fixed written price, and nothing is made until you approve it.
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.