Exterior Illuminated Blade

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Custom LED Blade Signs for Storefronts, Restaurants & Retail Businesses

An exterior illuminated blade sign (also called a projecting sign or hanging sign) mounts perpendicular to your building wall, extending outward so it's visible from both directions of foot and vehicle traffic. Unlike flat wall signs, blade signs create a 3D presence that announces your business to pedestrians, drivers, and neighboring stores.

At Martin Sign, we manufacture custom illuminated blade signs using commercial-grade aluminum, stainless steel, weather-sealed acrylic, and energy-efficient LED lighting. Each sign is built for all-weather outdoor exposure, with IP65-rated LEDs that last 50,000+ hours.

Business owners choose illuminated blade signs because they:

  • Increase foot traffic by up to 30% (visible from sidewalks and streets)
  • Operate 24/7 with low energy consumption (LEDs use 80% less than neon)
  • Build brand recognition with custom shapes, fonts, and colors
  • Work for restaurants, cafes, salons, hotels, bars, and retail stores

This page covers every decision you need to make: materials, lighting types, mounting methods, customization options, real project examples, and frequently asked questions.

TYPES OF EXTERIOR ILLUMINATED BLADE SIGNS

Front Lit Blade Signs

Front lit signs have LEDs positioned inside the sign cabinet, shining outward through translucent acrylic or polycarbonate faces. This is the most common and affordable illuminated blade sign option. The light is bright, uniform, and highly visible during both day and night.

Best for: Restaurants, fast food, retail stores, salons

Halo Lit (Backlit) Blade Signs

Also called reverse-lit or halo-lit, these signs use LEDs mounted behind metal lettering or shapes. Light projects outward onto the wall, creating a soft "halo" glow around dark letters. This effect looks premium and sophisticated but requires a contrasting wall color.

Best for: Boutiques, luxury brands, hotels, law firms, spas

Double Sided Illuminated Blade Signs

Both sides of the sign illuminate independently, making your message visible from two directions. Double-sided signs are ideal for corner buildings, one-way streets, or locations where foot traffic approaches from multiple angles. Each side can display the same design or different information (e.g., logo on one side, "OPEN" on the other).

Best for: Corner stores, bars, cafes on busy pedestrian streets

Acrylic Blade Signs

Acrylic (plexiglass) offers a glossy, modern look. It transmits light evenly and works well for full-color digital printing or translucent colored faces. Acrylic is lightweight, affordable, and available in dozens of colors. However, it scratches more easily than metal.

Best for: Indoor-facing exterior signs, covered walkways, lower-traffic areas

Metal Blade Signs (Aluminum or Stainless Steel)

Metal blade signs are the most durable option for harsh outdoor conditions. Aluminum is lightweight and rustproof. Stainless steel offers maximum strength and a premium brushed or polished finish. Metal signs can be laser-cut into custom shapes, with LEDs mounted behind or around the letters.

Best for: Coastal locations (salt air), high-wind areas, 24/7 exposed locations

BENEFITS OF ILLUMINATED BLADE SIGNS FOR STOREFRONTS

Benefit Why It Matters
Increased Visibility Projects outward from building, visible from both directions
24/7 Advertising LED illumination works overnight, capturing late-night traffic
Foot Traffic Growth Blade signs attract walk-in customers better than flat wall signs
Low Energy Cost LEDs run for pennies per day (typical sign uses 30-60 watts)
Weather Resistance IP65-rated LEDs and sealed enclosures survive rain, snow, dust
Long Lifespan 50,000+ hours of LED life = 10+ years of nightly use
Custom Shapes No rectangle required — match your logo or storefront architecture
Permitting Friendly Most cities allow projecting signs up to specific sizes without variance

BEST MATERIALS FOR OUTDOOR BLADE SIGNS

Aluminum (Grade 5052 or 6061)

Pros: Lightweight (easy shipping/install), rustproof, paintable, affordable
Cons: Softer than stainless steel, can dent with heavy impact

Stainless Steel (Grade 304 or 316)

Pros: Extremely strong, corrosion-resistant, premium appearance (brushed or polished)
Cons: Heavy (higher shipping cost), more expensive than aluminum

Acrylic (Plexiglass)

Pros: Glossy finish, excellent light transmission, affordable, easy to cut
Cons: Scratches easily, can yellow after 5-7 years in direct sun

LED Lighting Specifications

Color temperature: 3000K (warm white, like incandescent), 4000K (neutral white), 5000K (cool white/bluish)
Expected life: 50,000 hours minimum (run 12 hours/night = 11+ years)
Ingress Protection: Minimum IP65 for outdoor use (dust-tight + low-pressure water jets)
Voltage: 12V or 24V DC (low voltage, safe for outdoor wiring)

CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS FOR YOUR BLADE SIGN

Martin Sign builds every blade sign to your exact specifications. No templates. No minimum orders.

Option Choices
Size Any width up to 48 inches, any height up to 96 inches (larger available, contact us)
Shape Rectangle, circle, oval, custom laser-cut silhouette (your logo shape)
Material Aluminum, stainless steel, acrylic, polycarbonate, dibond
Lightning Front lit, halo lit (backlit), edge lit, non-illuminated
LED Color Warm white (3000K), neutral white (4000K), cool white (5000K), RGB color-changing
Face Color Any PMS or RGB color, translucent (glows), opaque (dark letters on lit background)
Mounting Wall mount (direct), pole mount, hanging from canopy, swing arm
Finishes Brushed, polished, matte, powder-coated, painted, vinyl-wrapped
Graphics Cut vinyl lettering, digital print on acrylic, laser-etched metal

INDUSTRIES THAT USE PROJECTING BLADE SIGNS

Restaurants & Cafes – Attract diners from the sidewalk, show "OPEN" after dark
Retail Stores – Clothing, shoes, gifts, electronics, books
Salons & Barbershops – Professional appearance, visible from street parking
Hotels & Inns – Historic or boutique properties, night visibility for travelers
Bars & Pubs – Double-sided signs visible to pedestrians from both directions
Shopping Malls – Individual store identification from common walkways
Medical Offices – Dentists, chiropractors, urgent care (night hours)
Banks & Credit Unions – Drive-by visibility, extended evening hours

REAL EXTERIOR BLADE SIGN PROJECTS

Project : Joe's Downtown Diner (Chicago, IL)

Details Specifications
Sign Type Double-sided front lit illuminated blade sign
Dimensions 18" x 48" x 4" deep
Material Aluminum body, acrylic faces
Lightning Front lit, halo lit (backlit), edge lit, non-illuminated
LED Color 4000K neutral white

Complete Sign Solutions from Martin Sign

Custom LED blade signs are just one way we help businesses stand out. We manufacture dozens of sign types at our San Francisco shop at 1455 Yosemite Ave. Below is every sign solution we offer — all fabricated in-house, shipped nationwide, with installation support.

Exterior Storefront Signs

Start with Illuminated Dimensional Channel Letters — bright LED letters perfect for restaurants, banks, and retail stores that stay open after dark. These are also called channel letters or LED business signs. They provide 24/7 visibility with front lit or halo lit options.

If you need a sign that projects outward from your building wall, explore Exterior Illuminated Blade Signs . Also called projecting signs or hanging signs, blade signs extend over the sidewalk and are visible from both directions of foot traffic. Choose from front lithalo lit (backlit) , or double-sided options.

For businesses that close before dark and want a professional daytime appearance, Non Illuminated Dimensional Letters are the answer. These solid 3D letters require no electricity, no maintenance, and last 10-20 years outdoors. Available in acrylicaluminumstainless steel, and PVC.

For premium halo lit and reverse channel letters, visit LED Dimensional Letters . These signs project a soft glow behind each letter onto your building wall — perfect for luxury retail, hotels, and corporate offices.

ADA Compliant & Accessibility Signs

Every commercial building needs ADA Compliant Signs for restrooms, stairwells, elevators, and permanent rooms. These signs feature tactile raised lettering and Grade 2 Braille as required by federal law.

Our ADA signs include restroom signs (Men, Women, All Gender, Family), room identification signs (conference rooms, offices, suites), exit and stairwell signselectrical and fire riser signs, and directional wayfinding signs. All signs are fabricated with non-glare finisheshigh color contrast, and compliant sans-serif fonts.

WHY CHOOSE MARTIN SIGN FOR CUSTOM BLADE SIGNS

24+ years manufacturing commercial signs
In-house fabrication – No third-party outsourcing. We cut, weld, paint, and assemble in our 15,000 sq ft facility.
Installation support – We provide mounting diagrams, brackets, and phone support. Nationwide installation available via partner network.
Warranty – 5-year LED warranty, 3-year sign structure warranty
Shipping – Crated and insured, nationwide delivery (typically 5-7 business days after approval)
Real people – Your project is handled by a dedicated sign specialist, not a chatbot.
Permitting assistance – We provide engineering drawings and specs for city permit applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

A blade sign (also called a projecting sign or hanging sign) mounts perpendicular to a building wall, extending outward over the sidewalk. "Illuminated" means it contains internal or external LED lighting for night visibility.

Yes, Martin Sign manufactures both single-sided and double-sided blade signs. Double-sided signs are visible from both directions of approach and typically cost 40-60% more than single-sided due to twice the materials and LEDs.

Our blade signs are weather-resistant, not fully submersible. All LED components are IP65-rated (dust-tight and protected from low-pressure water jets). The enclosure is sealed with silicone gaskets. Normal rain, snow, and humidity will not damage the sign. Do not pressure wash directly.

Quality LEDs rated at 50,000 hours. If your sign runs 12 hours per night (e.g., 6 PM to 6 AM), that equalsover 11 yearsof continuous nightly operation. LEDs gradually dim over time but rarely fail completely.

Yes. We can laser-cut aluminum or stainless steel into any custom silhouette, including your exact logo shape. Additional fees apply for custom cutting dies or CNC programming (typically150–150–300 one-time).

For most locations:Aluminum body + acrylic illuminated face. For coastal/salt air:Stainless steel + marine-grade LEDs. For budget:Aluminum + non-illuminated vinyl.

Yes. Every sign ships with a detailed mounting diagram, appropriate brackets, and hardware. We provide phone/email support during installation. For full-service installation, we partner with licensed sign installers in most major U.S. cities. Ask for a quote.

Yes – restaurants are our #1 customer type. Illuminated blade signs help late-night diners find your entrance, display "OPEN" hours, and build brand recognition from the sidewalk.

Most U.S. cities require a sign permit for any projecting sign over 6 square feet or extending more than 12 inches from the wall. We provide engineering drawings and specs you can submit with your permit application. Permit fees and requirements vary by city.

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