LED Panels
Light Box Signs
Programmable LED Signs
LED Street Light Solutions
We’re Available to Help: A lower purchase price does not always mean a lower long-term cost. Two LED signs can look similar on paper while having different service requirements, warranty terms and electricity use. Those differences become important once the sign has been operating for several years.
A ten-year comparison is a useful planning exercise, even if you expect to replace the sign sooner. It forces each quote to include more than the display itself.
Start with the complete installed price
Collect comparable numbers from each supplier, including items that may be excluded from the initial quote.
When comparing quotes, start with the complete installed price, then add electricity, routine service, replacement parts, labor, shipping and any software fees. Ask each supplier to identify what is included rather than assuming two quotes cover the same work.
For electricity, request a realistic average power figure. For maintenance, ask what inspections or service visits are expected and who pays for parts, travel and labor after the warranty ends. Include subscription costs and potential downtime separately if they matter to your operation.
Ask what is included in the quote. The display and controller are only part of the project. A foundation, mounting structure, electrical circuit, trenching, permits and installation equipment can all affect the final price.
If one supplier includes electrical work and another excludes it, their headline prices are not directly comparable. Get an itemized scope before comparing totals.
Account for electricity
Power use depends on display area, content, brightness and operating hours. Use average power consumption when available, rather than assuming the sign runs at its maximum rated wattage all day.
The calculation is straightforward: average watts ÷ 1,000 × operating hours × electricity rate per kWh.
For example, a sign averaging 500 watts for 16 hours a day uses approximately 2,920 kWh a year. At an assumed rate of $0.12 per kWh, that is about $350 annually. This is an illustration, not an estimate for any particular LED Craft model or utility tariff.
Include service and replacement parts
Ask about routine cleaning, inspections, fans or filters where fitted, and the expected cost of common replacement components. LED modules, power supplies and control electronics do not necessarily share the same service life.
Warranty wording matters here. A warranty may cover a replacement part without covering shipping, travel or the labor required to install it. Find out what happens when a problem occurs after the warranty expires, too.
Check software and connectivity fees
Some systems include their content-management software, while others may involve recurring licenses, remote-access subscriptions or cellular data charges. A small annual fee becomes more noticeable across a long ownership period. Ask for the ongoing costs in writing.
A simple 10-year example
The following figures are hypothetical and are not LED Craft quotes. They illustrate how service and repair costs can narrow the gap between two initial prices.
| Ten-year cost | Sign A: lower price, fan-cooled | Sign B: higher price, sealed |
| Purchase and install | $18,000 | $22,000 |
| Energy | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Routine service | $3,000 ($300 a year) | $800 ($80 a year) |
| Parts and labor after warranty | $2,400 | $1,200 |
| Total | $26,900 | $27,500 |
Consider two hypothetical installed quotes. Sign A costs $18,000 and Sign B costs $22,000. Both are assumed to use $3,500 of electricity over ten years. If A requires $3,000 of routine service and $2,400 of later repairs, its total is $26,900. If B requires $800 of service and $1,200 of repairs, its total is $27,500.
The initial $4,000 price difference has narrowed to $600. Change the service assumptions, the warranty or the period of ownership and the result could change again. These figures are deliberately illustrative and are not LED Craft prices or forecasts.
Do not overlook downtime
A sign that is out of service may have a business impact, particularly if it displays fuel prices or time-sensitive messages. Rather than assigning an invented dollar value, think about how critical the sign is to your operation and how quickly a supplier can provide support.
Your quote comparison checklist
- Complete installed price, including exclusions
- Average power consumption and expected operating hours
- Scheduled maintenance and service call charges
- Replacement-part availability and pricing
- Warranty coverage for parts, labor, shipping and travel
- Software, connectivity and subscription charges
- Expected response time when the display is not working
Compare the cost of ownership, not just the sticker price
The best value may be the lowest-cost sign, or it may be a more expensive model with fewer ongoing expenses. What matters is using the same assumptions for each quote and getting the important terms in writing.
