Yes. Most signs under about 3 kg hang fine on heavy duty adhesive strips, and every sign we ship includes hanging chain and clear cable, which needs only a picture hook or an existing rail.
The thing that decides it is weight and wall surface, not whether you own a drill.
Work out the weight first
Everything else follows from this. As a guide for an acrylic backed sign:
| Sign size | Approximate weight | No drill options |
|---|---|---|
| 60 × 30 cm | About 1.5 kg | All of them |
| 90 × 45 cm | About 3.4 kg | Adhesive at the limit, prefer a rail or stand |
| 120 × 60 cm | About 6.1 kg | Rail, stand or lean it |
A cut to shape sign weighs roughly half to two thirds of a rectangle the same size, because most of the board is not there.
The four methods
Heavy duty adhesive strips. The most common answer. Rated in pairs, so use enough pairs for the weight with margin, spread across the board rather than clustered. They need a smooth, clean, sound surface: painted plaster, tile, glass, sealed wood. They will not hold on textured wallpaper, brick, or anything dusty.
Hanging chain and clear cable. Included with every sign. Needs one picture hook, a rail, or an existing fixing. This is the standard answer in rentals and in venues that forbid drilling.
A stand. No wall contact at all. Sits on a table, a shelf, a bar or the floor. The only option that works on every surface, and the right one for events and anything that moves.
Leaning it. Against a wall on a shelf or mantel. Fine for smaller signs, and worth a small blob of removable putty at the base so it cannot walk forward.
What not to do
- ✗ Ordinary double sided foam tape. It creeps under sustained load and lets go, usually at night.
- ✗ Adhesive on freshly painted walls. Wait at least two weeks, or the paint comes off with the sign.
- ✗ Hanging by the power cable. It is not a structural cable and it will pull out of the sign.
- ✓ Plan the outlet before you fix anything. Get the sign in position, find where the cable exits, and confirm it reaches without stretching.
Under 3 kg on a smooth painted wall, adhesive strips are genuinely fine and nobody should feel they are compromising. Above that, or on any wall with texture, use the chain that came in the box. A sign that falls does not usually survive, and no fixing method is worth that risk to save twenty minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Can you hang a neon sign without drilling?
Yes. Heavy duty adhesive strips hold most signs under about 3 kg on a smooth, sound wall. Every sign also ships with hanging chain and clear cable, which needs only a picture hook or an existing rail, and a stand removes the need for any wall contact at all.
How much does a neon sign weigh?
Roughly 1.5 kg at 60 by 30 cm, 3.4 kg at 90 by 45 cm and 6.1 kg at 120 by 60 cm for an acrylic backed rectangle. A cut to shape sign is about half to two thirds of that. Ask us for the figure for your specific piece if you are near the limit of a fixing method.
Will adhesive strips damage my wall?
Not if the paint is fully cured and the wall is sound. On freshly painted walls, wait at least two weeks, because the strips are stronger than uncured paint and will take it off. On textured wallpaper or unsealed plaster, do not use adhesive at all: it will not hold and it may take the surface with it.
What is included for hanging?
Hanging chain and clear cable come with every sign, along with the mounting hardware for a drilled installation. What is not included is adhesive strips, because the right rating depends on your sign weight and your wall.
Can I hang a neon sign in a rental?
Yes, and it is one of the most common situations we supply for. Chain from an existing picture rail or hook, adhesive strips on a smooth painted wall, or a stand if you would rather not touch the walls at all.
We have made neon since 1998, and we still make it ourselves. If something here does not answer your question, ask us.
