Non-Illuminated Channel Letters: A Dimensional Sign Without the Wiring
Not every sign has to glow. Non-illuminated channel letters have the same shape as lit ones, with sides and a face, but there are no LED modules inside. In daylight they read as solid 3D letters with real depth and shadow.
They suit businesses that work mostly in daylight, buildings with good exterior lighting, and plazas where the landlord does not require lit signs.
- Free site visit & measurement
- Design included
- 2-year warranty
- Own workshop in Calgary
How Non-Illuminated Letters Look
Each letter is a separate object on the wall, a few inches deep. Sunlight falls on the face and the sides, and the letter casts its own shadow, so the name looks like part of the facade. A printed sign cannot do that.
The faces and sides can be one colour or two: for example, white faces with black returns, or everything in your brand colour. At night the letters are only as visible as the light around them, from the building, the parking lot or the street.
Why Choose Letters Without Lighting
No electrical work
Without LEDs there is no power supply and no wiring to bring through the wall to each letter.
No running cost
The sign uses no electricity, and there is no lighting to wear out over the years.
Depth by day
Real 3D letters cast shadows and look solid when seen from an angle.
A simpler install
Fewer connections on site usually means less time on the wall.
When Letters Without Lighting Make Sense
- Your business is open mainly during the day
- The wall is already lit by exterior lights or the parking lot
- The landlord’s sign criteria allow non-illuminated signs
- There is no easy way to bring power to the sign location
- You want a quieter look, for example on an office building
If your customers find you after dark, especially in a Calgary winter, lit letters are worth it: front-lit letters are the brightest, and halo-lit letters give a softer glow on the wall. For a reception wall inside, see interior logo signs.
How They Are Made and Mounted
Bodies
As with our lit letters, the bodies are aluminum or high-strength outdoor plastic, chosen for the size of the letters and the place they go. See what channel letters are made of.
Finish
The letters are painted in your colours. Faces and returns can match or contrast.
Mounting
Non-illuminated letters can go directly on the wall or on a backer panel. Mounted on spacers a little off the wall, they throw a longer shadow.
Checked before installation
Every letter is checked against the approved layout in our Calgary workshop before it comes to site.
Price and What Affects It
Non-illuminated letters are calculated for each project. The number of letters and their height matter most; the finish and the mounting come next. Installation is quoted separately (about CAD $100 per hour plus GST as a guide).
- Number and height of letters
- Body material and paint colours
- Mounting method
- Height and access for installation
The channel letter calculator prices illuminated letters only; for non-illuminated letters, send us your logo and sizes and we calculate the price. See also the guide how much channel letters cost in Calgary.
Not sure if you need lighting?
Send a photo of the building by day and at night. We will tell you whether non-illuminated letters will be readable when your customers arrive.
Permits, Timeline and Warranty
A sign without lighting can still need a development permit, depending on the sign and the building. We handle all the sign permit paperwork: we prepare the drawings, specifications and documents and submit the application on your behalf. If you prefer to apply yourself, you get the complete package from us, ready to submit.
After the free site visit and your approval of the design, the letters are made in about two weeks. Our team installs them, and the sign carries a 2-year warranty on the sign structure, materials and installation.
Non-Illuminated Letter Questions
Only as much as the light around them allows. If the wall is lit by exterior lights, the letters stay readable; if it is dark, a lit sign is the better choice.
No. There is no lighting inside, so the sign needs no power connection.
Yes. The letters are painted, and the faces and sides can be the same colour or different ones.
Many exterior signs in Calgary need a development permit whether they are lit or not. We handle all the sign permit paperwork: we prepare the drawings, specifications and documents and submit the application on your behalf. If you prefer to apply yourself, you get the complete package from us, ready to submit.
There are no LEDs, power supplies or wiring to pay for. The exact price depends on the letters and the mounting and is calculated for your sign.