How much does a shop sign cost in 2026? The honest South Wales pricing guide.

Why we wrote this guide

Every week we get an email asking "how much for a shop sign?" and have to spend ten minutes explaining that the question doesn't have a single answer. So we wrote down all the answers, with real 2026 prices we'd quote a real client today, in one place. No "it depends" hand-waving.

This guide covers the four most-asked-for shop sign types in South Wales: fascia signs, illuminated tray signs, built-up illuminated letters, and projecting signs. For each, we'll give you the price range you should expect, what pushes the cost up or down, and the questions to ask any sign-maker before signing off.

1. Flat fascia signs

Range: £480 – £1,400+VAT, installed.

The classic high-street shop sign — a flat aluminium or dibond panel that fits across the top of your shop front, with vinyl-cut or printed graphics on it.

What drives the price:

• Width. A 2-metre fascia is around £480; a 5-metre is closer to £900.
• Material. Foamex (cheapest, indoor or short-term) → composite dibond (most common, 5–7 years exterior) → solid aluminium (most expensive, premium feel).
• Graphics. Vinyl-cut single colour is cheap; full-colour digital print with a UV laminate is dearer.
• Install access. Ground-floor install on a hoist is one cost; first-floor install with traffic management is another.

2. Illuminated tray signs

Range: £1,200 – £3,200+VAT, installed.

The "step up" from a flat fascia: a folded aluminium tray (typically 75–100mm deep) with push-through acrylic letters lit from inside by LED modules. Looks premium, lasts 10+ years, runs about £15 a year in electricity.

3. Built-up illuminated letters

Range: £1,600 – £4,800+VAT, installed.

Each letter is fabricated separately — a 3D box with an illuminated face (front-lit), illuminated halo behind (halo-lit), or both. The premium choice for premium brands.

4. Projecting (blade) signs

Range: £380 – £1,800+VAT, installed.

The double-sided sign that sticks out from the wall at right angles — visible from both directions of foot traffic. Heritage versions (gold-leaf on hand-painted timber) at the top of the range; aluminium contemporary versions at the bottom.

Hidden costs to ask about

Three things every quote should make explicit:

• Planning / Advertisement Consent. Most high-street signs don't need it but conservation areas and listed buildings usually do. Ask whether the quote includes the application — typically £180+VAT plus the council fee.
• Power supply. Illuminated signs need a fused spur from your shop's electrics. If your unit doesn't have one in the right place, that's an electrician on the day — typically £150–£280.
• Installation height. Anything over 4m might need a hoist or scaffold tower, which adds £180–£600 depending on access and traffic management.

What we'd actually quote

If you sent us a photo of your shop front today and said "make me look smart for under £1,500", we'd quote you a 3-metre powder-coated aluminium tray with a push-through acrylic logo, LED-lit, installed in two weeks. That's our standard "looks like you mean it" package — and it's what we recommend to most independent retailers, salons and cafés in South Wales.

How to get a real quote

Send us a photo of the shop front or use the project form. We come back with a written quote once the size, finish and installation details are clear.

Got a sign in mind? Send photos and rough sizes. Get it priced →