Will someone visit my premises in Inverness before quoting?

If the job needs it, yes. For signs fixed to a building, anything illuminated or work at height, we arrange a survey to measure, check the wall and plan access. For window graphics, lettering and many vehicle jobs, clear photos with measurements are often enough, and we only visit if something needs a closer look.

Why does our old lightbox flicker?

In an older box it's usually failing fluorescent tubes, starters or ballasts, and replacing them one at a time rarely lasts. Patchy light can also mean water has got in. Converting the box to LED fixes the cause, if the frame is sound.

Can the face be changed later?

Yes, which is one of the main advantages of a lightbox. Flex faces unclip or untension and acrylic faces slide or lift out, so a new design can go in without moving the box. Keep the face dimensions from handover for easy reordering.

Does the price of lightbox signs in Inverness include VAT?

No. Our guide range of £1,250–£4,800 per lightbox excludes VAT, which is added to the quote. The final figure depends on size, materials, access, removal of existing signage or graphics and the artwork needed, and we confirm it in writing after a survey or once we have checked your files.

Do lightboxes let in water and insects?

A well-made box is sealed around the face, with small drainage holes along the bottom so condensation can escape. LEDs run much cooler than tubes, so less heat draws insects in. Taking the face off occasionally to clean inside keeps the light even.

How long does it take to get lightbox signs in Inverness?

It typically takes a few weeks from first enquiry, with much of that time falling after you approve the proof, while the work is made and scheduled. Graphics and vehicle jobs are typically shorter than fabricated or illuminated signs. If advertisement consent is needed, the council's decision comes first and adds to the overall timescale.

Lightbox signs in the Highlands and Islands

A lightbox sign is a shallow enclosed box with a translucent face and LED lighting inside, so the whole panel, or just lettering routed into it, glows evenly at night.

Why choose lightbox signs in the Highlands and Islands?

When an old fluorescent box above an Inverness shop flickers, an LED conversion can cost far less than a new sign.
An Inverness takeaway trading mostly after dark keeps its name and number readable with a fully lit face.
On a dimly lit Inverness side street, a lightbox brings its own light and helps customers find the door.

Guide prices in the Highlands and Islands

Budgeting for lightbox signs? The guide below runs from £1,250 to £4,800 per lightbox. VAT is extra. Size, materials and access decide where your job lands, and we confirm it in writing after surveying or checking the artwork.

Lightbox signs in the Highlands and Islands: guide prices, supplied and fitted
Item	Guide, ex VAT	Inc. VAT (20%)
Lightbox up to 3 m, printed face	£1,250 – £2,650	£1,500 – £3,180
Lightbox 3–5 m, routed and push-through letters	£2,450 – £4,800	£2,940 – £5,760
Replacement face for an existing lightbox	£295 – £950	£354 – £1,140

Length and face type drive most of the price; shaped or double-sided boxes, old-cabinet removal, fascia repairs, access equipment and consent drawings add to it.

Consent for illuminated signs in the Highlands and Islands

A lit sign is the clearest case for applying first. Scotland's 1984 Advertisement Regulations treat illuminated signs differently from unlit ones, and express consent is usually needed for halo-lit letters, lightboxes and lit projecting signs. We check with the council before you commit to lightbox signs, then put together scaled drawings, photo mock-ups and lighting details, which you can submit via eDevelopment.scot or we can submit for you. Expect the council to look at brightness (PLG05 is the usual reference) and to prefer steady light, perhaps on a time switch. The mains connection is completed by an electrician to BS 7671.

Options worth considering

Printed flex face

Joint-free over long spans and simple to re-print later.

Routed push-through face

Only the lettering glows, standing slightly proud of the face.

Replacement face

A new face cut to fit a sound existing box.

Towns in the Highlands and Islands

Below: towns across the Highlands and Islands where Smart Signs handles lightbox signs. The service, the process and the guide prices are the same in each, and places missing from the list are covered as well.

Parts of the Highlands and Islands involve long journeys or a ferry crossing, so surveys and fitting are arranged case by case and travel is itemised on your quote.

Tell us where you are in the Highlands and Islands and what you need. We quote for lightbox signs free of charge, and the design proof always comes before any making or fitting.