Do neon signs use a lot of electricity?

Traditional glass neon signs do consume a noticeable amount of electricity, typically drawing between 3 and 5 watts per foot, but modern LED neon alternatives use significantly less, often as little as 1 to 1.5 watts per foot.

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How Much Does a Neon Sign Cost to Run in the UK?

Running costs for a neon sign depend on its size, type, and how many hours per day it is switched on. A standard glass neon sign measuring around 60cm might draw approximately 30 to 50 watts, which at the UK average electricity rate of roughly 24p per kWh (as of 2025) works out to somewhere between £26 and £44 per year based on eight hours of daily use.

LED neon signs, which have largely replaced traditional glass tubes in commercial and domestic settings, are considerably cheaper to run. A comparable LED neon sign of the same size might use as little as 10 to 15 watts, cutting that annual running cost to under £10 in many cases.

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Sign Type	Wattage (approx.)	Daily Use (hrs)	Annual Cost (@ 24p/kWh)
Small glass neon (30cm)	15W	8	~£10.51
Medium glass neon (60cm)	40W	8	~£28.03
Large glass neon (120cm)	100W	8	~£70.08
Small LED neon (30cm)	5W	8	~£3.50
Medium LED neon (60cm)	12W	8	~£8.41
Large LED neon (120cm)	30W	8	~£21.02

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Are Neon Lights Cheap to Run Compared to Other Sign Types?

When compared directly to other commercial signage options, neon signs sit in the middle of the efficiency range. Traditional fluorescent box signs and older halogen-lit displays tend to use more energy than either glass neon or LED neon, whereas modern LED panel signs and backlit acrylic displays are broadly comparable to LED neon in their running costs.

For homeowners using a small decorative neon sign a few hours each evening, the electricity cost is genuinely negligible, often amounting to just a few pounds per year. Businesses running larger displays continuously, however, will find the cumulative cost more significant, particularly with traditional glass tube configurations.

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Are Neon Signs Expensive to Maintain?

Glass neon signs require more maintenance than their LED counterparts, and that has a direct bearing on their total cost of ownership. The glass tubes themselves are fragile and can crack or break with minimal impact, and when a section fails the entire tube segment typically needs replacing, which means calling in a specialist.

Transformer units, which convert mains voltage to the high voltage needed to excite the gas inside the tubes, are another ongoing cost to consider. These units have a finite lifespan and replacement can cost anywhere from £50 to £200 depending on the sign’s size and configuration. LED neon signs, by contrast, rarely need any maintenance beyond occasional cleaning.

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Component	Glass Neon	LED Neon
Tube/strip replacement	£80 to £300+ per section	£20 to £80 per strip
Transformer replacement	£50 to £200	Not usually required
Professional repair call-out	£60 to £150 per visit	Rarely needed
Average lifespan	8 to 15 years	50,000+ hours (approx. 17 yrs)
General maintenance frequency	Every 2 to 5 years	Minimal

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Are Neon Signs Bad for the Environment?

The environmental picture for neon signs is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Traditional glass neon tubes contain small amounts of neon, argon, or mercury vapour, and improper disposal of tubes containing mercury poses a genuine environmental hazard. In the UK, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations govern how these items must be disposed of, and you can find guidance on compliant disposal through the UK Government’s WEEE regulations page.

LED neon signs present a cleaner environmental profile during their operational life, consuming far less electricity and producing less heat. That said, LED components still contain materials that require responsible disposal, so checking with your local authority or a certified recycling centre remains important when a sign reaches the end of its working life.

From a carbon footprint perspective, switching from a traditional glass neon sign to an LED equivalent can reduce the sign’s energy-related emissions by 60 to 80 per cent over its lifetime. For businesses with sustainability targets, the UK Government’s guidance on energy efficiency offers a useful starting point for understanding where display signage fits into a broader energy reduction strategy.

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Do Neon Signs Use a Lot of Electricity? Here Is What You Need to Know

The honest answer is that it depends almost entirely on which type of neon sign you are looking at. Traditional glass neon signs do draw meaningful amounts of power, particularly larger commercial installations that run for extended hours, and the transformer units they rely on add further to the overall energy demand. For anyone buying or renting a commercial premises with existing glass neon signage, it is worth factoring running and maintenance costs into the overall budget from the outset.

LED neon signs have changed the conversation considerably. They deliver the same warm, continuous glow that makes neon so visually appealing, but at a fraction of the electricity cost and with far less maintenance overhead. For most domestic buyers and a growing number of businesses, LED neon is now the practical default, and the price gap between the two technologies at point of purchase has narrowed significantly over the past few years.

The environmental dimension is worth taking seriously too, particularly as energy costs remain elevated across the UK. Whether you are decorating a home office, fitting out a bar, or adding signage to a shopfront, understanding the real running costs of your sign before you buy will help you make a more informed decision. The difference between a large glass neon installation and its LED equivalent could easily amount to hundreds of pounds over the sign’s lifetime.

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