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Dual-Lit Channel Letters.
Face-lit glow and a halo behind — both at once. Dual-lit letters pack front-facing LEDs through a translucent acrylic face and back-facing LEDs that cast a wall glow simultaneously. The result is visual drama that commands attention day and night. Built for flagship retail, nightlife, and restaurants that want to stand out on a crowded strip.
- Starts at: $425 minimum
- Best for: Flagship retail, nightlife, restaurants
- Warranty: 5-year LED, 2-year fabrication
How it's built
Translucent face, deep returns, LEDs pointing both ways.
A dual-lit letter is essentially a front-lit and halo-lit letter combined into one shell. The face is translucent acrylic — it glows like a front-lit letter. The returns are deeper (.063″ aluminum, 5″ standard) to create the rear cavity. LEDs are wired in two circuits: one forward through the face, one backward toward the wall. You get twice the visual impact at a price point that's lower per inch than halo-lit alone.
3/16″ translucent acrylic
Same acrylic face as front-lit — white standard, colored acrylic or 3M vinyl overlay available for a colored face glow. Lit from inside, forward.
Plastic edge cap, 9 colors
Holds the acrylic face to the aluminum returns. Black or white standard; 9 stock colors; paint-to-match custom available.
.063″ aluminum, 5″ depth
Deeper than standard front-lit to accommodate both forward and rear LED modules. Bent, welded, and powder-coated to spec.
Front-and-back dual circuit
Two sets of UL-listed LED modules — one pointing toward the face, one pointing to the wall. Optional: white front + RGB color back for dual-color drama.
Colors & finishes
Four parts to color, plus an optional dual-color LED effect.
Color choices follow the same logic as front-lit, with one bonus: you can spec white LEDs on the face circuit and RGB color-shifting LEDs on the back circuit, so the halo changes color while the face stays white. Perfect for nightlife and entertainment.
Acrylic face — 7 standards
White and Lexan White glow even and bright at night. Colored acrylic requires matching LED color (custom quote).
Vinyl overlay — 3M media
Add a translucent vinyl over the white acrylic for a colored face. All 3M vinyl options available — translucent, blockout, day/night, or digital print.
- 3M 3630 Translucent — 37 colors, glows colored at night
- 3M 3635 Blockout — opaque, sharp graphics by day
- 3M 3635 Day/Night — one color by day, another at night
- Digital Print — full-color photographic media for logos
Return color — 5 standards + custom
Painted aluminum sidewalls. Most dual-lit customers go Gloss Black to make the halo pop against a dark background.
Trim cap — 9 stock colors
Sizes & pricing
Priced per inch of letter height.
Dual-lit letters cost more than front-lit (extra LED circuit, deeper returns) but less per inch than halo-lit alone — making them a high-impact option for customers who want everything without the full halo-lit premium.
| Spec | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Letter height | 6″ to 60″ | Most restaurant and nightlife installs run 18″–30″ for maximum dual-glow impact. |
| Return depth | 5″ standard | Deeper than standard front-lit to fit both LED circuits. |
| Rate per inch | $12.00/in (height) per letter | A 24″H letter is roughly $288 per letter, before vinyl or color options. |
| Minimum order | $425 | Typical set runs $2,200–$5,500 for a storefront word. |
Mounting
Three ways to put it on the wall.
Mounting follows the same logic as front-lit. The extra depth of dual-lit returns means flush mount is less common — stud or raceway give the wall glow room to spread.
Flush mount
Letters bolt directly to the wall. Lowest cost, but the halo spread is tighter against flat surfaces. Best on smooth stucco or metal cladding.
Stud mount
Letters held off the wall on threaded studs. Recommended for dual-lit — the standoff gap lets the rear LEDs bloom properly on the wall behind.
Raceway mount
Letters mounted to a powder-coated aluminum raceway that carries the power supply. Landlord-required in most shopping centers. $71/linear foot.
When to pick this
Best for
- Flagship retail and entertainment venues
- Nightlife — bars, clubs, entertainment districts
- Restaurants that want visual drama front and back
- Anywhere the sign needs to command attention day and night
Skip this for
- Daytime-only retail → try Front-Lit
- Pure architectural halo look → try Halo-Lit
- Historic district restrictions → try Sandblasted Cedar
Ready to design yours?
Pick your letter style, type your business name, and see the dual-glow effect rendered at dusk in seconds.