Backlit acrylic letters are a CNC-engraved acrylic shell with a hidden aluminum back plate and LED inside. The painted face stays clean while light releases at the edges for a bright wall halo, the lightweight route for indoor and covered-outdoor branding, UL Listed and built to U.S. electrical code, with a 3-year warranty.
Backlit Acrylic Letters: The Lightweight, Refined Route
Backlit acrylic letters are the light, bright route for protected spaces. They are not a metal substitute for every outdoor wall. They are built for interiors, covered storefronts, reception walls, and close-view branding where crisp detail and low weight matter more than broad weather tolerance.
How Today’s Acrylic Letters Are Built
Each letter is a CNC-engraved acrylic shell with an aluminum back plate and an LED strip inside. The face and front-side edges are masked with paint, so the face itself does not glow. Light releases at the rear and side edges and washes the wall as a clean, even halo. The aluminum plate closes the rear and helps pull heat away from the LEDs.
Opal acrylic is the default because it diffuses light evenly, and frosted clear acrylic can be used when the look calls for it. This is the current build, not the older exposed acrylic back-panel style.
Where Acrylic Fits Best
Acrylic fits spaces where people see the sign up close: reception desks, office lobbies, retail interiors, mall storefronts, hotel interiors, clinics, and salons. It is a good route when you want clean detail, a bright halo, and easy handling on site. Keep it indoors or under cover, away from direct, sustained rain. For open exterior walls, large sizes, harsh weather, or coastal exposure, a metal route is safer.
Brightness, Detail, and Honest Limits
Acrylic can throw a bright, even halo at close range, which is useful indoors where the sign is read from a few feet away. That does not make it the best route everywhere. Its recommended weather range is narrower than metal’s, and the 3-year warranty assumes the sign is used in a suitable setting. For protected branding, acrylic is strong. For exposed walls, don’t force it.
Quality, Customization, and What Ships With Every Order
Every set is CNC engraved to your wording, font, and size. CNC engraving holds tight detail and supports more complex shapes than a fabricated metal shell, and the faces are painted or powder-coated in your chosen color. The electrical side follows U.S. practice: safe 12V DC low-voltage power from one or more UL Listed Mean Well power supplies, never wired straight to line voltage, and the finished sign is UL Listed and built to U.S. electrical code.
Each order ships with a 1:1 layout template, stud bolts, the lead wiring, the power supply, and both the wiring and installation diagrams. The letters carry a 3-year warranty, and the power supply carries its own Mean Well one-year manufacturer warranty.
Specifications at a Glance
Light source
12V DC LED
LED life
Rated for more than 100,000 hours
Power supply
One or more Mean Well power supplies, sized to the sign (110V AC in, 12V DC out). The letters run on safe 12V DC and are never wired straight to 110V or 240V line power
Certification
UL Listed (Electric Signs)
Warranty
3 years on the letters. If an issue is not from misuse we supply the affected parts. The power supply carries its own Mean Well one-year manufacturer warranty
Lead time
About 15 business days after drawing approval, plus about one week for DHL shipping
Quote time
1 business day
Mounting
Flush, or with a small standoff off the wall
Recommended letter size
About 4 in to 15 3/4 in (100 to 400 mm) recommended
Minimum stroke width
3/4 in (20 mm) and up. Even stroke widths work best
Lighting effect
A clean painted face by day and a bright, even wall halo when lit. The face does not glow, and light releases at the rear and side edges, so it reads as halo-based rather than face-lit
Best for
Indoor and covered-outdoor only, under an awning or canopy. Keep it out of long-term rain and open exposure
Shell, Finish, and Back Panel
Shell material
Opal acrylic by default (frosted clear optional), CNC engraved for high precision and complex shapes
Fabrication
CNC engraving (tighter detail than a fabricated metal shell, with room for more complex shapes)
Total thickness
At or below about 1 3/16 in (30 mm), adjusted in about 3/16 in (5 mm) steps
Finish options
Gloss, semi-gloss, or flat powder-coat / paint colors only
Back panel
Aluminum back plate, fully hidden. It closes the rear and helps pull heat away from the LEDs
LED Lighting
Lighting format
LED strip inside the engraved shell. Opal acrylic diffuses the light evenly toward the rear and side release edges
Lighting colors
White (about 6500K), warm white (about 3000K to 4000K), red, yellow, blue, and green. RGB or WRGB is available with a controller
LED life
Rated for more than 100,000 hours
Visual effect
A clean painted face by day and a bright, even wall halo when lit. The face does not glow, and light releases at the rear and side edges, so it reads as halo-based rather than face-lit
Power and Wiring
Power supply
Mean Well, 110V AC input to 12V DC output, one or more sized to the sign
Indoor option
Indoor: non-waterproof LRS series
Outdoor option
Outdoor: waterproof LP series, rated IP67
Lead wire
16 AWG (1.5 mm²) plenum copper, about 23 5/8 in (600 mm) by default. Trunk wire is 14 AWG (2.5 mm²) or larger, sourced locally to suit the run
Operating temperature
-22°F to 158°F (-30°C to 70°C)
The letters run on safe 12V DC low-voltage power. They are never wired straight to 110V or 240V line power.
Trunk wire is usually sourced locally because the run length depends on the site and where the power sits.
The waterproof outdoor power supply does not change the acrylic weather limit. Keep the letters under cover, out of long-term rain.
What Ships With Every Order
Included accessories
Stud bolts
Nuts and washers
Stainless steel tube spacers
Full-size 1:1 layout template
Wiring diagram
Installation diagram
Lead Time and Shop Drawings
We turn a quote around in about one business day. Standard production runs about 15 business days after you approve the shop drawings and payment clears, plus about a week for DHL shipping. Very large letters, bulk orders, heavy finishes, or complex logos can take longer, and we state that in the quote. We don’t design a brand from scratch. We turn your confirmed wording, font, size, and reference into production-ready shop drawings for your approval, so the factory builds from the final approved drawing rather than from assumptions.
Share what you can from the list below and the recommendation will follow your project.
Your logo or wording, vector preferred and a clear image fine to start
Letter height or overall width, plus any thin-stroke details
The setting: indoor or covered-outdoor, and how protected it is from rain
The wall surface and where the power supply can sit
Your preferred face color and lighting color, the U.S. destination, and any deadline
Not sure your location is protected enough for acrylic? Send a photo and the size. We’ll tell you directly whether acrylic fits or whether a metal route is safer.
Backlit Acrylic Letters Project Examples
Real acrylic projects, from indoor brand walls and reception areas to covered storefronts, where lightweight construction, a bright halo, and close-up detail mattered.
An indoor brand wall where light weight and a clean, even halo made acrylic the right call. The painted face stays crisp by day, and the rear and side light release gives a bright halo that reads well at close range.
Sample Signs detail:
CNC-engraved opal acrylic shell, painted white face
Aluminum back plate, fully hidden
Masked face, with light released at the rear and side edges
Internally lit with 12V DC LED, white
Even wall halo, flush or small-standoff mount
UL Listed, 3-year warranty, for indoor or covered-outdoor use
Modern backlit acrylic letters are a CNC-engraved acrylic shell with a hidden aluminum back plate and an internal LED, with the face masked so light releases at the edges and washes the wall. They’re light, bright at close range, and detailed, built for indoor and covered-outdoor settings. The University of Cincinnati Economics Center found that about 60% of businesses that updated their signs reported roughly 10% higher sales, so the right interior sign earns its place.
Our backlit letters split into three routes by material and construction. Here's how each one is built, how it lights, and where it fits best.
Luxury Backlit Metal Letters
Details
Luxury is our brightest and most dimensional metal route, built from a fabricated 304 stainless steel shell with a visible light-transmitting acrylic edge. The lit edge gives a crisp halo and a premium read up close, which makes it a fit for boutique and flagship storefronts, hotel and restaurant entrances, and upscale retail and hospitality facades. It holds up indoors or outdoors, in normal rain with the occasional downpour.
Shell: 304 stainless steel, in a mirror-polished, brushed, or powder-coated finish.
Lighting: high-brightness LEDs with a visible lit acrylic edge for a strong halo.
Mounting: flush to the wall.
Best for: premium retail, hospitality, and storefronts, indoor or outdoor.
Installation: mounts flush, or with spacing if the project calls for it.
Classic is the practical metal route for large or fine-stroke letters, using a stainless steel shell with a hidden diffuser that reflects a soft, even halo off the wall. Because the halo is forgiving, it works well on oversized lettering, serif and thin-stroke logos, and longer viewing distances. It’s a common choice for building facades, office and corporate exterior signage, oversized storefront signs, churches and institutions, and tougher outdoor walls.
Shell: stainless steel with a fully enclosed acrylic diffuser.
Lighting: soft, even reflected halo (reverse-channel structure).
Mounting: off the wall, spaced to form the halo.
Best for: oversized letters, serif marks, and tougher outdoor walls.
Installation: mount off the wall about 3/8″ to 3/4″ (10 to 20 mm), professional installer recommended.
Acrylic is the lighter, more refined route for indoor and covered spaces, made from a CNC-engraved solid acrylic shell on an aluminum back plate and lit from the back for an even halo. It suits office reception and lobby walls, showroom and retail interior branding, conference and boardroom signage, and covered or recessed storefronts. Because it’s acrylic, keep it under a canopy, roof, or covered entrance and away from long-term rain. For open weather, choose a metal route.
Shell: CNC-engraved solid acrylic on an aluminum back plate, painted or powder-coated.
Lighting: LED modules inside, light released from the back for an even halo.
Mounting: off the wall, on a covered surface.
Best for: reception walls, indoor branding, and covered storefronts, kept out of long-term rain.
Installation: powered by a UL-listed Mean Well power supply, mounts under a canopy or covered entrance.
Acrylic is the call for protected settings where light weight, a bright halo, and close-up detail matter, such as indoor brand walls, reception areas, and covered storefronts kept out of direct rain. For open exposure, very large letters, or deep metal dimensionality, a metal route fits better. Whichever route you choose, the build holds the same standard: safe 12V Mean Well power supply, UL Listed, and a 3-year warranty. In University of Cincinnati research, 41.5% of people form quality judgments about a business from clear, well-made signage.
Compare backlit letter models by project fit
A side-by-side look at how Classic, Luxury, and acrylic compare on brightness, halo, dimensional effect, installation, size, materials, and lighting, so you can match the route to your project.
Classic Backlit Metal Letters
Cost-effective metal backlit letters with strong outdoor durability, clean halo lighting effect, and reliable performance across many indoor and outdoor projects.
Accessories, install guide, and 3-year warranty included.
Most Recommended
Luxury Backlit Metal Letters
Premium metal backlit letters with stronger direct brightness, a more pronounced halo effect, and broad suitability for luxury retail, office, and hospitality projects.
Strong fit for office, retail, and hotel projects.
Good outdoor weather resistance.
Even illumination with no exposed LED dots.
Accessories and warranty same as Classic.
Backlit Acrylic Letters
CNC engraved acrylic-shell backlit letters with refined 3D appearance, strong direct illumination, and excellent close-range display quality for indoor and covered settings.
Direct light is less dependent on wall reflectivity.
Accessories and warranty same as Luxury.
21+Years of Fabrication Experience
1000+Custom Sign Projects Delivered
60+Countries Served Worldwide
24/7Fast Project Communication Support
How the Quote and Production Workflow Works
Here's how a project moves from first contact to a tracked shipment. Two control gates are built in on purpose: payment never jumps straight to production, and production never jumps straight to shipping.
SummarySend your logo or wording, target size, mounting surface, and any reference images so we understand the sign before quoting.
TimingInitial review usually starts within 1 business day.
The project starts the moment we have enough to picture your sign. Vector files (AI, CDR, EPS, or a production-ready PDF) are ideal, but a clear image or sketch is enough to begin. At this stage we usually confirm the wording or logo, rough size, quantity, indoor or outdoor use, the mounting surface, a preferred finish, the destination, and your timeline.
SummaryWe check the technical feasibility and prepare a quote based on the confirmed project basics.
TimingUsually within 1 business day of receiving usable details.
Before quoting, we review the production route, material direction, lighting method, installation conditions, and shipping context. The quote reflects product and shipping cost for the project as described. If the design needs a special process, an unusual finish, or extra structural support, we flag it before moving on.
SummaryOnce you approve the quote and pay, the order is activated and enters pre-production confirmation.
TimingRight after quote approval and payment.
Paying does not start manufacturing. It releases the order into the next stage so our team can begin the detailed drawing work. This keeps the technical details locked before anything is cut, which is what prevents expensive mistakes later.
SummaryOur designers prepare production-ready shop drawings and send them for your sign-off before production.
TimingUsually within about 3 business days of payment.
This is the main pre-production gate. The drawing package confirms final dimensions, structural details, materials, finishes, mounting method, wiring-exit and hole positions, and installation notes. Production only begins after you approve the drawings, so the factory builds from a confirmed spec rather than an assumption.
SummaryWith drawings approved, we build the sign to the confirmed specification.
TimingMost standard orders finish in about 15 business days after drawing approval. Special processes may add time.
Depending on the sign type, production can include cutting, forming, welding, surface finishing, acrylic work, LED assembly, internal wiring, and final assembly. Plating, chemical corrosion effects, and other special processes are scheduled with extra time. The aim is not just a finished sign, but one that matches the approved drawings.
SummaryWhen production is done, we send finished-product photos for your confirmation before shipping.
TimingRight after production completes.
This gives you a clear visual check before the sign leaves the factory, covering appearance, structure, finish, and overall execution. It also creates a deliberate handoff between “built” and “ready to ship,” instead of treating shipping as automatic.
SummaryWe run a 24-hour continuous lighting test and release for packing only after it passes and you confirm.
TimingA 24-hour continuous lighting test runs before dispatch.
This is the main post-production quality gate. We start the 24-hour burn-in while you review the photos. If anything shows up during the test, we fix it and run the full 24 hours again until it passes. After the test passes and we have your confirmation, we move to packing and release.
SummaryAfter release, we arrange shipping and send tracking so you can follow the delivery.
TimingShipment is arranged right after release. Transit depends on destination and method.
Once packed, we ship by the agreed method and share tracking as soon as it is available. Projects ship by express, air freight, or sea freight depending on size, destination, and schedule. With DHL, total delivery usually runs about 25 days from order, roughly 15 business days of production plus about a week in transit.
Send Details for an Acrylic Quote
Send your logo or wording, letter height or overall size, the stroke style, the setting and how protected it is from rain, the wall surface and where the power supply can sit, a preferred face and lighting color, and any deadline. We’ll confirm fit and quote it in about one business day. Once it’s up, a good sign keeps working for the business day and night, so over time it pays for itself. In a FedEx Office survey, 68% of people said they’d bought something because a sign caught their eye, and University of Cincinnati research found 85.7% say a sign conveys a business’s personality.
Backlit Acrylic Letters FAQ
Questions specific to the acrylic route. General questions on lighting, power, shipping, and payment are in the main FAQ below.
Backlit letters push light out the back of each letter onto the wall, creating a soft glow outline around the letter. Front lit letters light up the face itself. Backlit letters give a more refined, architectural look. Front lit letters read brighter and more direct from a distance.
By default the light source is a safe low-voltage 12V DC LED. LED modules, strips, or PCB LED boards are mounted inside each hollow letter shell. The light is directed toward the mounting wall and reflects back, forming a halo of light around each letter.
They are widely used for storefronts, reception and lobby walls, office and hotel branding, and architectural façades, both indoors and outdoors. For outdoor use we adjust the structure, waterproofing, and material grade to the environment. Metal models (304, or 316 for coastal) are the safer outdoor choice. For large letters we use an aluminum letter shell, which cuts weight and makes shipping and installation easier. Acrylic letters are best kept to indoor and covered-outdoor settings.
We provide a 3-year warranty on our backlit letters. Within 3 years, for any damage that isn’t caused by misuse, we supply the affected parts so you can carry out the repair. Two things to note:
The power supply is covered by its own manufacturer’s warranty. We use Mean Well by default, which carries a 1-year warranty. In practice, as long as the power supply sits in a well-ventilated low-voltage enclosure, it rarely fails.
If we re-make a single part years later, it may look a little brighter than the surrounding letters. That’s because LEDs dim slowly over their life, which is normal for all LED signage rather than a fault.
The sign stays fully usable as long as it’s bright enough for your setting, and many of our customers run theirs well past 5 years.
We mainly use:
Fabricated stainless steel (304 by default, 316 for coastal or high-salt)
CNC-engraved acrylic
Aluminum for the shell on very large letters, to reduce weight
Internal parts include LED lighting and a Mean Well power supply. Each separate piece has its own two-core wire for the positive and negative connections. For example, the letter “i” is made of two pieces.
Standard finishes include:
Mirror polished, brushed, and painted
Powder-coated in gloss, matte, or semi-gloss
Metallic looks such as gold, rose gold, brass, copper, and bronze
Effects like wood-grain and antique
We can match Pantone, RAL, Sherwin-Williams, or Benjamin Moore colors. For coastal or salt-air environments, we recommend powder-coat, brushed, or mirror finishes rather than electroplating.
Typically 25mm to 100mm (1 to 4 inches), depending on letter size, stroke width, the space the LEDs need, and the look you want. Depth is usually adjusted in steps of about 5mm (3/16 inch).
We use LED modules, strips, or individual LEDs chosen to fit the specific details of each sign, balancing brightness, evenness, heat, and long-term reliability. For very high-detail indoor work or large runs we can use custom PCB LED boards for more precise, uniform light (higher cost and lead time, mainly indoor).
Yes. Brightness can be set with a dimmer. For automatic control you can add a dusk-to-dawn light sensor (turns the sign on at night and off in daylight) or a timer (on/off at set times each day). Please let us know in advance if you’d like any of these, so we configure them with your order.
They are solid three-dimensional letters with a finished surface, so they look clean and premium even when switched off.
Standard single colors include white (~6500K), warm white (~3000-4000K), red, yellow, blue, and green. RGB / WRGB color-changing is available for wider strokes and comes with a controller. If you choose color-changing, then where the stroke width and budget allow, we recommend WRGB. The added White (W) diodes greatly expand the range of colors the sign can produce and make the result look richer.
High-quality LED systems are typically rated for over 100,000 hours. The dimming is gradual rather than sudden. LEDs lose brightness slowly instead of burning out, and the eye usually doesn’t register the change until it reaches around 30 percent, so a sign keeps reading as bright and even through years of normal use. Many signs run well past five years before anyone thinks about a refresh. Replacement is need-based. As long as the sign is bright enough for your setting, there’s no reason to change it, and a relight restores full output whenever you decide you want it.
Backlit letters need very little maintenance. Wipe them with a clean soft cloth dampened with clean water. Avoid alcohol-based or harsh chemical cleaners, especially on painted or plated finishes. In coastal areas, regular cleaning with clean fresh water (typically every 1-2 months) helps protect the sign’s finish.
To quote your project we need:
Your sign’s vector design file
The target size
A photo of the installation spot
Any preferred material, finish, or lighting color
The more detail you send, the more accurate the quote. If you have a clear budget, tell us and we’ll do our best to suggest a suitable option within it.
We need vector artwork (AI, EPS, SVG, or PDF), which you can usually get from your designer. A high-resolution image is fine to start the conversation, but production still needs vector artwork for accurate manufacturing. One thing to watch: a “vector” file made by auto-converting a bitmap (such as a PNG or JPG) through software or a website is basically useless. The edges come out jagged and a lot of detail is lost, which makes it worse than a sharp bitmap. Our designers can rebuild vector artwork from a high-resolution bitmap, but some differences in detail are unavoidable, so it’s best to get the source file from your designer saved as a vector.
AI-generated images and renderings are welcome as a visual reference, but production still needs vector artwork. If your image came from an AI chat, ask that same AI conversation which font it used, and send the font name together with the artwork (you can also ask the AI to give you the design as an SVG vector file) and the rendering. Even if the rendered letters are warped or stylized, the font name gives our team a reliable baseline to rebuild clean vector outlines.
Yes. Based on your wall, viewing distance, and wording we can recommend suitable sizes, proportions, and letter structure.
There is no strict font restriction, but very thin strokes need a minimum width (generally at least 10mm, about 3/8 inch) so the LEDs can be arranged evenly and the halo lights uniformly. For fonts with fine serifs or narrow local strokes, the Classic model is usually the safer choice.
A quick guide:
Classic backlit metal is the safest pick for oversized letters, outdoor projects, and fonts with fine serifs or narrow strokes. Its reflected halo is forgiving of dark spots.
Luxury backlit metal is a flush-mount premium metal look, with strong dimensional presence and no stand-off needed, well suited to boutiques, flagship stores, hotels, and upscale façades.
Backlit acrylic is lightweight and great for close-up detail and indoor or covered-outdoor settings.
Send us your wording, size, and location and we’ll recommend the best fit.
Yes. After your order is confirmed we prepare a detailed shop drawing for your approval, and production doesn’t start until you sign off. Before shipping, we also send finished-product photos and a 24-hour lighting-test confirmation, so nothing leaves the factory without your approval.
They are usually mounted with stud bolts: holes are drilled in the wall, the letters are fixed with the stud bolts, and the wiring is connected in parallel to one power supply. We include a mounting template, stud bolts, wiring, and instructions. DIY is possible with basic electrical knowledge, but professional installation is recommended. If your wall can only take a few holes, or none at all, we also offer pre-mounted backplate and ceiling-suspension options (described in the next question).
The letters run on a safe 12V DC low-voltage system, never wired straight to 110V or 240V line power. Each order includes one or more UL-listed Mean Well power supplies, sized to the sign. For a standard U.S. 110V supply, they plug in as-is, so most projects just connect and go.
If your site runs on industrial or commercial power, send us the voltage before we build so we can match the right power supply. If you want to run the sign off a 12V AC landscape lighting system, you’ll add a US-bought power supply that suits it, since the letters themselves run on 12V DC. Tell us your power source up front and the sign arrives ready to connect.
Yes, with one added part. Landscape lighting usually runs on 12V AC, and the letters run on 12V DC, so the two don’t wire together directly. Add a US-bought power supply or LED driver that puts out 12V DC for the sign, on its own line. Let us know if that’s your setup and we’ll plan the wiring around it.
Yes, for the metal routes. We apply waterproofing matched to the installation environment, with sealed components and a suitable outdoor-rated power supply, so the sign performs long-term outdoors. We also adjust the specification for tougher conditions:
316 stainless for coastal or high-salt areas
Heavier waterproofing for heavy rain and high humidity
Materials chosen for very cold climates
Acrylic letters are built for indoor and covered settings, not open-weather outdoor use, so for exposed locations choose a metal route.
Each order ships with everything needed to position and power the sign:
The letters
A Mean Well power supply (LED driver)
A mounting template
Stud bolts and hardware
The wiring
Installation instructions
If only a few holes can be drilled, we can pre-mount the letters on a backing plate, so the whole sign installs as a single piece. It then needs only one hole for the power cable plus 2-4 stud-bolt holes. If the wall can’t be drilled at all, the only option is suspension: the sign and its backplate are hung from the ceiling as one unit. Either approach can add to the shipping cost, so tell us about your mounting surface and any constraints and we’ll recommend the best approach.
Yes. For coastal or high-salt environments we recommend 316 marine-grade stainless steel to resist corrosion, with powder-coat, brushed, or mirror finishes. We avoid electroplating there. Indoor coastal projects can use 304, but cleaning matters: wipe the letter shell with a clean soft cloth dampened with clean water to remove salt from the surface.
Yes, for the metal routes. We raise the waterproofing specification for wet climates so the letters stay reliable in heavy rain and high humidity. Keep acrylic letters to indoor or covered locations, and use a metal route where the sign is exposed to the weather.
Yes, they suit cold environments. For extreme cold, send us the local temperature range so we can choose the right materials and electrical setup.
Price depends on size, material, structural complexity, finish, lighting, and installation method. Every sign is custom, so the more detail you provide, the more exact the quote.
We accept PayPal (under PayPal’s seller-protection policy we issue you a PayPal Invoice) and credit-card payments processed through PayPal. Full payment is required before production. Any PayPal or credit-card transaction fees aren’t included in the quote and are paid by the buyer. For any questions about PayPal payment, please contact PayPal’s official customer service.
When you confirm your order, we’ll need:
Your recipient name and recipient company
Your shipping address (not a PO box)
Your PayPal account address (in email format)
Our finance team will then send you a PayPal Invoice so you can complete payment.
Lead time depends on the finish, size, quantity, destination, and installation requirements, so we confirm a real timeline once we understand your project. As a general guide, most orders are completed in about 15 business days, plus shipping time (DHL takes roughly one week). We don’t promise a blanket rush time, but if you have a deadline, tell us early with your project details and we’ll let you know what’s realistic.
By default we ship worldwide with tracking through couriers such as DHL, UPS, FedEx, and TNT (air or sea freight for large orders). Delivery time depends on the destination and the shipping method you choose. Any import duties or local taxes follow your country’s rules. If you can accept a slightly longer delivery time, we can use DDP air freight, where the freight forwarder handles customs clearance and pays the duties. This is about 5-10 days slower than DHL, but the freight is cheaper and duties are included. Sea freight can also be arranged on a DDP basis.
Customs duties are charged by the customs authority where you live, based on your country’s policy, and they aren’t part of our production and shipping quote. For specifics you can contact your local customs. The HS (customs) code for backlit letters is 9405600000. Scam text messages are very common nowadays, so if you receive a message like this, contact DHL’s customer service through their official website to confirm the situation. You’re also welcome to contact us and we’ll check with our DHL contact. Either way, don’t ignore the message. If it goes past the deadline, DHL may dispose of the package. If you’d rather not deal with duties at all, you can choose DDP air freight from the start: you simply wait for the goods to arrive, the freight is cheaper, and customs clearance and duties are included. The trade-off is that transit takes roughly 5-10 days longer.
A CNC-engraved acrylic shell with an aluminum back plate and an LED strip inside. The face and front-side edges are masked to block light, so light releases from the rear and side edges, toward the wall, for a bright halo. The aluminum plate seals the rear and helps with heat. Opal acrylic is the default, and frosted clear is optional. The older exposed acrylic back-panel description no longer reflects how these are built.
It’s best for indoor and covered-outdoor settings, kept out of direct rain. Acrylic is not an unrestricted outdoor solution. For open exposure, long-term harsh weather, or very large letters, a metal route, usually Classic, should be reviewed first.
Its recommended weather range is narrower than metal’s, and keeping the sign in suitable conditions protects the internal LED strip and the 3-year warranty. Within protected settings, acrylic’s bright halo, light weight, and detail are real advantages.
Its wall halo often looks brighter up close, and it can give a clean, vivid effect. But brightness alone shouldn’t decide the route. The setting, the dimensional depth, and the size all matter. We frame acrylic as bright and refined for the right setting, not as the brightest and therefore always best. Note the face itself stays painted and doesn’t glow. The brightness is the halo on the wall.
Total thickness usually stays at or below about 1 3/16 in (30 mm), adjusted in about 3/16 in (5 mm) steps. That’s shallower than Luxury, so acrylic isn’t the route for the deepest, most metal-like dimensional volume.
Choose acrylic for protected indoor or covered-outdoor settings where light weight, a bright halo, and close-up detail are the priorities. Choose a metal route when the project needs a broad weather range, very large letters, or strong dimensional metal presence.
Your logo or wording, with vector preferred, the letter height or overall size, the stroke style with any thin strokes noted, the setting and rain exposure, the wall surface and mounting method, where the power supply can sit, a preferred face and lighting color, and any deadline.
About Us
We’re a factory-direct maker of custom backlit letters, with 21 years of fabrication and more than 1,000 projects delivered across 60-plus countries. Every sign is built to order in our own shop, so the wording, size, material, finish, and lighting match your project, not a catalog. Our signs are UL listed and built to meet U.S. electrical code, and we ship to your door with tracking. Going direct to the maker means clearer answers, tighter quality control, and no reseller markup.
A few practical reasons projects move forward here instead of stalling, built around control, clarity, and getting the sign right the first time.
Factory-Direct Manufacturing
You work with the people who actually build the sign. With 21+ years of fabrication in our own facility, there is no reseller in the middle adding markup or slowing down answers.
Welded Metal Construction
Most channel letters are riveted or glued together, with visible trim caps around the face. Ours are welded metal shells instead. We grind the seams down and tuck them out of sight, so the letters look cleaner up close and more finished on the wall.
Two Quality Gates Before Shipping
Nothing ships on assumption. You confirm finished-product photos, and every order runs a 24-hour continuous lighting test before it is packed and released.
Built for U.S. Projects
Our signs are UL listed and built to meet U.S. electrical code. We quote in the units you work in and ship worldwide with tracking, so your sign arrives ready to install.
A Complete, Ready-to-Install Kit
Each order includes the letters, a Mean Well power supply, a 1:1 mounting template, stud bolts and hardware, wiring, and instructions, so you have everything needed to position and power the sign.
3-Year Warranty
The letters carry a 3-year warranty for issues not caused by misuse, with the power supply covered by its own 1-year Mean Well manufacturer warranty.
We searched for months and found a great supplier through Google. The communication was efficient, the sign quality was excellent, and the halo effect looked even better than expected after installation.
Alex HaffRetail Project Manager
The team was patient with drawings, revisions, and shipping coordination. The custom backlit letters arrived safely packed and matched our approved design very closely.
Christina BuckleyBrand Consultant
HiSun Advertising Co., Ltd
Address
Floor 7th, Qiang Sheng Mansion, No.145 of Pujian Road, Pudong District, Shanghai, China
Zip Code
200127
Business Hours
Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (China Standard Time)
Communication
24/7 - send details anytime and we'll reply within 1 business day