Neon signs for bars and restaurants: where and which

Bars and restaurants are where neon has always felt at home. A sign behind the bar sets the mood, a window sign says you are open, and a line on the wall becomes the photo everyone takes. This guide covers where to put neon in a bar or restaurant, which kind of sign fits each spot, and how to deal with heat, grease and the patio.

The bar and restaurant project lists the sign, mounting and power parts together. For a bar at home, see the home bar project.

Where neon works

Behind the bar

The back bar is the classic spot. A word like “Cocktails”, “Cheers” or “Happy Hour”, or the name of the bar, above the bottles. Wall standoffs float the sign about 1 in off the wall. Check what is behind it: a mirror doubles the glow, and a shelf of bottles in front of the lower edge can hide part of the text.

Our bar neon signs include Cocktails with a martini glass, Cheers, Happy Hour, Cold Beer and Home Bar. Any of them can be changed to your colors on the free proof.

The menu or feature wall

A larger sign with the restaurant’s name, logo or a line that fits the menu. For a logo with fine detail or many colors, a neon sign on a printed backboard keeps the full artwork and still shows it when the sign is off.

The window and the door

An OPEN sign is the hardest-working sign you will own. The ready-made OPEN neon sign has red letters inside a blue border and usually hangs on two cables close to the glass. For a takeout counter or a delivery-driver area, the PICK UP light box is double-sided on a wall bracket. Our guide to OPEN signs and storefront neon has more.

Tables, host stands and counters

A tabletop neon sign in 20, 24 or 30 in stands on a clear 8 mm base: good for a host stand, a bar top or a coffee counter. Where there is no outlet nearby, the 8 x AA battery box runs a sign for about 4 to 5 hours per set, which suits an event night better than daily service.

The patio

See the patio section below.

Size and color

Measure the wall space you want to fill and keep the sign clear of shelves, TVs and light fittings. Each letter or space on the longest line needs about 2 in of width, so “Happy Hour” on two lines fits from 20 in, while a bar name of 16 letters and spaces needs at least 32 in. Above a back bar, a sign that takes up about two thirds of the clear wall width usually looks settled. Our neon sign size guide has more charts.

Warm white and golden yellow sit well with wood and candlelight in dining rooms. Pinks, blues and reds suit cocktail bars and late-night spots. Several colors in one sign cost nothing extra. A remote dimmer behind the bar lets staff lower the sign as the evening goes on.

Heat and kitchen grease

LED neon on acrylic does not like heat. Acrylic sheet makers rate their material for continuous use up to about 160 to 190°F, depending on the grade, so:

• Keep signs out of the hot air rising from ranges, fryers, pizza ovens, broilers and heat lamps.
• Do not mount a sign directly above a pass where plates sit under heat lamps.
• In an open kitchen, put the sign on a wall facing the dining room, not over the line.

Grease in the air settles on every surface, and a sign near the kitchen will need regular cleaning.

Cleaning a sign in a restaurant

1. Switch the sign off and unplug the adapter.
2. Dust it with a dry microfiber cloth.
3. For grease, dampen the cloth with warm (not hot) water and a few drops of mild dish soap. Wring it out well.
4. Wipe the board and the tube gently. Do not spray liquid onto the sign or the connections.
5. Dry it with a clean cloth before switching it on.

Do not use ammonia or alcohol glass cleaners, solvents or scouring pads. They can cloud, craze or scratch acrylic. Our cleaning and care guide covers more.

Patio and outdoor signs

For a covered patio, a porch bar or a food truck, choose the outdoor build. It is IP67 rated, with a test report. It lasts longest under a roof or awning, out of all-day rain and sun.

• Adapter dry. The plug-in adapter must stay indoors or in a covered weatherproof outlet box.
• Outdoor outlets. Use an outlet with GFCI protection and an in-use (bubble) cover that stays closed with the plug in. The electrical code requires these for most outdoor outlets; ask your electrician if you are not sure.
• Wind. On a hanging sign, use four cables so it does not swing.
• Distance. A DC extension cable of 6.5, 10 or 16 ft adds distance between the adapter and the sign. It is for indoor use, so plan the run with that in mind. Use one extension, not a chain.

Read indoor vs outdoor neon signs for what IP67 means in practice.

Glass neon box signs

Some bars want real glass neon. Our glass neon box sign is hand-bent glass neon inside an open-front, black-painted steel box. The box protects the glass and hides the transformer, and the sign can stand on a back bar or hang on a wall. The glass between letters is painted black, and the electrodes sit in black boots.

Glass neon runs on a high-voltage transformer, takes about 4 weeks to make, and is more fragile than LED neon. Custom glass neon starts at $479.99; box signs are priced by quote. When glass neon needs repair after years, it is usually the transformer or an electrode. See LED neon vs glass neon and glass neon care and repair.

Running costs and lifespan

LED neon draws about 8 to 12 W per meter of tube, and the tube is rated for 50,000 hours. A plug-in outlet timer can switch signs on at opening and off at closing. Every LED sign has a 2-year warranty with free repair.

Getting started

Pick a ready-made bar design, type your bar’s name in the neon designer, or send your logo for a free mockup. For several signs or locations, use the trade form. Standard production takes 15 to 20 days after you approve the proof, plus 3 to 5 days in transit, so plan around opening day or a menu launch.