What Are LED Neon Signs? | 6 Key Differences from Glass Tubes

2026.01.22

1. What is neon LED (tube)?

What is neon LED (tube)?

Simply put, LED neon signs (tubes) are "devices that use LEDs to express light similar to neon."

Some of you might wonder, " Why use LEDs instead of traditional glass tube neon?"

The reasons are: ① lower cost, ② safety, and ③ easy installation.

The range of people who can enjoy them has expanded to include businesses that were hesitant to install them due to safety concerns and individuals who wanted to decorate their homes, and they have become mainstream in recent years.

(*The history will be explained later in the section below.)

(*There are various terms such as neon signs, neon lights, neon billboards, and neon LEDs, but here we will refer to them as LED neon signs and glass tube neon.)

1-1 How does it work?

The structure of an LED neon sign is "an LED strip embedded inside a silicon tube."

The light from the LEDs passes through the tube, creating an effect similar to glass tube neon.

The structure of an LED neon sign is an LED strip embedded inside a silicon tube

1-2 LED Neon Sign Highlights

Expresses light similar to traditional neon
Safe and unbreakable silicone tube
Reduced production and electricity costs
Brightness can be adjusted with a dimmer
Easy installation without construction, such as wall mounting or ceiling hanging

Also, LED neon signs are handcrafted by artisans.

LED neon signs are also handcrafted by artisans

2. Differences and Comparison with Glass Tube LED

The differences between LED neon signs and glass tube neon are shown in the table below.

Differences between glass tube neon signs and LED neon signs

Both LED neon signs and glass tube neon have their advantages, and we recommend using them differently depending on the application! (Neon Park mainly deals with LED, though ^^;)

3. History: Reasons for the increase in LED neon signs

3-1 Birth

It is said that French chemist Georges Claude invented it and first exhibited it at the Paris International Exposition in 1912. In the 1920s, Thomas Young, a sign maker in the United States, came up with the idea of shaping glass tubes into letters. He obtained permission from Georges Claude's company and founded a venture company, designing most of the neon signs in Las Vegas, which was a rural town at the time. This had a major impact on the city's landscape.

Invented by French chemist Georges Claude

Designed most of the neon signs in Las Vegas

3-2 Japan

In Japan, they also came to be used mainly in entertainment districts, pachinko parlors, izakayas, etc., and especially in Kabukicho, Dotonbori, Nakasu, and Susukino, many red neon signs can be seen. Recently, they are also being expressed in a way that matches modern store designs, such as in cafes and apparel stores, and using white colors.

Many red neon signs can be seen especially in entertainment districts

3-3 Enactment of the Fire Prevention Ordinance

Regulations for glass tube neon became stricter due to the Fire Prevention Ordinance. (See figure) As it operates at a high voltage of 6000v-15000v, there are regulations to prevent malfunctions in equipment and transformers to avoid fires, which also limited installation locations.

Enactment of the Fire Prevention Ordinance

*Figure: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Ordinances Database

3-4 Birth of LED Neon Signs

Glass tube neon faced challenges such as restrictions on installation locations due to the Fire Prevention Ordinance, the need to submit notifications to fire departments, and the effort required to consult with qualified individuals (specialized electrical construction license holders). In addition, the number of artisans who custom-make them according to advertisers' requests has been decreasing.

In contrast to glass tube neon, LED neon signs were a new solution, offering easy installation and a long lifespan. The ability to express a wide range of colors, waterproof processing, and above all, reduced production costs and electricity bills matched the needs of advertisers.

4. Design Expressions of LED Neon Signs

4-1 Design

LED neon signs can express a wide variety of text, illustrations, logos, and guide signs using flexible tubes. For example, as shown in the image, combining illustrations and text can further expand the range of expression.

Neon signs that expand the range of expression by combining illustrations and text

4-2 Text size

The minimum customizable text size varies for English, Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Additionally, as shown in the figure, there are two ways to express text: simply expressing the text (left side of the figure) and expressing outlined text using two tubes (right side of the figure).

4-3 Color variations

A variety of colors are available, and you can choose considering both when the light is on and off. It captivates people as art and advertising both day and night. It also serves as indirect lighting.

Lit colors

5. Applicable situations

For business use, it can be used in cafes, bars, restaurants, gyms, nail salons, beauty salons, eateries, flower shops, pet shops, restroom signs, etc. It's also portable, so some businesses bring their store's neon signs to event booths.

Business neon signs

For personal use, it is popular for interiors (living rooms, entrances, bedrooms, pets), events (weddings, proposals, birthday parties, Christmas, Halloween), and gifts (housewarming, Valentine's Day).

*For design ideas, click here → Reference Neon

*If you want to try designing it yourself, click here → Design Customizer

6. LED Neon Signs are recommended for these people!

Neon light captivates people with a different glow than regular LED signs.

We have customers who say, "I've always wanted to install one" or "I wanted to use it to attract customers." When we ask about their goals, they often mention:

I want an easy-to-install, stylish interior decoration.
I want to create an eye-catching sign from a distance.
I want to attract customers by creating a photo-worthy spot.
I want to incorporate various neon lights while keeping costs down.
I want to use it for surprises like birthdays or proposals.
I want to use it for wedding decorations.
I want to give a unique gift.

...Everyone has different goals.

If you fit any of the above descriptions, or if you want to create a safe and easy-to-install neon sign while keeping costs down, then an LED neon sign is highly recommended!

That concludes the introduction to LED neon signs.

If this article piqued your interest, please feel free to contact us. We can provide an estimate with just an image and size!

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