Yes, but only if it is built as an outdoor sign. Outdoor rating is a paid build option that adds about 25 percent. It is not what a standard sign is.
An indoor sign hung outside will work until the first real rain. The failure is usually the connections and the transformer, not the tube.
What is different about an outdoor build
It is not a coating sprayed on at the end. The sign is assembled differently.
- ✓ Sealed to IP67. Every joint, tube end and cable entry is closed, and we hold a test report for the rating.
- ✓ A weatherproof power connection instead of the indoor plug pack.
- ✓ Backboard and fixings chosen for weather, with drainage in mind rather than just appearance.
The in between cases
Most questions are not really about full exposure. They are about a covered porch, a patio, a shopfront window, a garden room.
| Location | Needs outdoor build? |
|---|---|
| Open wall, fence, garden | Yes |
| Covered porch or deep eave | Yes, wind carries rain sideways |
| Inside a window facing out | No |
| Unheated garage or shed | No, but avoid condensation on the transformer |
| Bathroom or near a pool | Yes, humidity behaves like weather |
Cold, heat and sun
Temperature is rarely the problem people expect it to be. LED neon runs on 12V and generates very little heat, and it starts instantly in the cold, which is one genuine advantage it has over glass.
Sustained direct sun is the real long term wear factor. It is hard on any colored material, and over years it will dull a printed backboard faster than it will affect the tube. If you have a choice of walls, a shaded one keeps the sign looking new for longer.
If there is any chance the sign gets wet, pay for the outdoor build. The 25 percent is much cheaper than a repair and a reinstall, and an indoor sign that has taken water in is not always economically worth fixing. If it is genuinely staying behind glass, do not pay for it.
Tell us where it is going and we will tell you which build you need.
Frequently asked questions
Can LED neon signs be used outdoors?
Yes, when they are built for it. An outdoor sign is sealed to IP67 with weatherproof power connections, and that build adds about 25 percent to the price. A standard sign is an indoor product and should not be exposed to rain.
What does IP67 mean for a neon sign?
Fully sealed against dust, and able to survive temporary immersion in water. For a wall mounted sign that comfortably covers rain, snow, sprinklers and being hosed down. We hold a test report for the rating rather than just claiming it.
Is an outdoor neon sign more expensive?
About 25 percent more. The difference pays for sealing every joint and cable entry and for a weatherproof power connection, which is assembly work rather than an added coating, so it has to be specified before the sign is built.
Can I put an indoor neon sign under a covered porch?
We would not recommend it. Wind drives rain sideways under eaves and porches, and humidity swings out there are larger than indoors. Anywhere genuinely open to the air, treat it as outdoor.
Will cold weather damage an LED neon sign?
No. It runs on 12V, produces very little heat, and lights instantly in the cold. Sustained direct sunlight is a bigger long term factor than temperature, and it shows on a printed backboard before it shows on the tube.
Can the sign go outside if the plug stays inside?
That is often the best arrangement. The tube and board are built to the outdoor spec and the power supply lives indoors through a wall penetration. Mention it when you request a quote so we can supply the right cable length.
We have made neon since 1998, and we still make it ourselves. If something here does not answer your question, ask us.
