A first name in script comfortably fits 60 to 90 cm wide for most rooms. Longer names either get wider or get split onto two lines.
The constraint that surprises people is not width, it is letter height. Nothing below 5 cm tall can be bent in tube, so a long name on a narrow wall runs out of room before it runs out of budget.
Starting from the name, not the wall
Script fonts vary enormously in how much width a letter takes, but as a working guide for a single first name in one line:
| Name length | Typical width | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 letters | 50 to 60 cm | Ava, Noah |
| 5 to 6 letters | 60 to 75 cm | Olivia, Daniel |
| 7 to 8 letters | 75 to 95 cm | Isabella, Benjamin |
| 9 or more | Consider two lines | Christopher |
When to split onto two lines
Two lines is not a compromise. For a full name, or a name plus a date, it often reads better than one long line, and it suits a wall that is taller than it is wide.
- ✓ First name over surname. The classic arrangement, and the most forgiving.
- ✓ Name over a date in a smaller supporting font.
- ✗ Splitting a single word across two lines. It reads as a mistake even when it is deliberate.
Names with accents
Worth knowing before you type it in: the online customizer strips accent marks. José comes out as Jose, Björn as Bjorn, Renée as Renee. This is a limitation of the preview tool, not necessarily of the sign.
If your name carries an accent and you want it kept, do not order through the customizer. Send it through the quote form instead, with the name typed exactly as it should appear, and we will tell you whether that character can be bent in your chosen font before anything is made.
Font choice matters more than usual
For a name, the font is doing most of the work, since there is no phrase to carry the meaning. Script fonts are the popular choice and they photograph beautifully, but the connected strokes mean a long name gets wide quickly. A cleaner upright font fits more name into the same width and reads better from across a room.
Pick the width first, from the wall or the furniture the sign sits above, and let the font and the line count follow. People who start from a font they like and then try to make the name fit the wall usually end up with something either too small to bend well or wider than the space allows. Send us the name and the wall measurement and we will draw it both ways.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a custom name neon sign be?
For a single first name in script, 60 to 90 cm wide covers most rooms. Shorter names sit at the lower end, longer ones at the upper end or on two lines. Choose the width from the wall or the furniture below it first, then let the font follow.
What is the smallest a neon letter can be?
About 5 cm, roughly 2 inches, tall. That is a manufacturing limit rather than a readability one: a 2 inch letter is legible from around 20 feet, which is further than most rooms. In a script font the capital ends up two to three times that height.
Can a neon sign have a name with an accent, like José?
The online customizer strips accent marks, so José previews as Jose. If the accent matters, order through the quote form instead and type the name exactly as it should read. We will confirm whether that character can be bent in your chosen font before anything is built.
Should a long name go on two lines?
Usually, beyond about nine letters. Two lines suit a full name or a name with a date, and they fit a wall that is taller than it is wide. What does not work is splitting a single word across two lines, which always reads as an error.
Does a longer name cost more?
Not directly by letter count. Price follows the overall size of the sign, so a longer name costs more only because it usually needs to be wider. Fitting the same name onto two lines instead of one can change the price in either direction depending on the resulting dimensions.
We have made neon since 1998, and we still make it ourselves. If something here does not answer your question, ask us.
