Choosing the Right Brightness for Your Location

Not every LED sign needs maximum brightness. Choosing the right brightness level for your environment ensures your message is always visible without overspending or overpowering your audience.


Storefronts and Downtown Areas

If your sign is installed in a pedestrian-heavy area or on a building storefront, a brightness range of 7,000–8,500 nits is usually perfect.

  • Bright enough to cut through daylight glare.

  • Not so intense that it blinds people walking close by.

  • Works well for retail shops, restaurants, and churches with lots of foot traffic.

Tip: Pair with auto-dimming to ensure your sign looks great day and night.


Highways and Open Roads

Signs placed along highways or in wide-open areas face different challenges. They need to be legible from hundreds of feet away and often in direct sunlight.

  • Here, 8,500–10,000 nits ensures maximum visibility.

  • This level cuts through harsh sun and competes with surrounding distractions.

  • Perfect for gas stations, billboards, and any sign intended for long-distance viewing.


Indoor vs. Outdoor

  • Indoor LED displays only need 1,000–2,000 nits, since they’re not competing with sunlight.

  • Outdoor LED displays require at least 7,000 nits to remain daylight-readable.

This is why indoor displays can’t simply be repurposed outdoors — they’ll disappear under direct light.


North, East, West, and South Facing Signs

The orientation of your sign makes a huge difference:

  • North-facing: Often shaded, so lower brightness (around 7,000 nits) is sufficient.

  • East or West-facing: Moderate exposure — 8,500 nits provides a strong balance.

  • South-facing: All-day direct sun — this is where 10,000 nits earns its keep.


The Bottom Line

Brightness is not about buying “the biggest number.” It’s about choosing the level that matches your location, your audience, and your goals. The right choice ensures your content looks clear, professional, and visible at all times.


Our One Price Guarantee

At LED Sign City, every customer receives our One Price Guarantee:

  • Best price upfront — no haggling or games.

  • Transparent pricing — everything except tax.

  • No shipping charges.

We’ll recommend the right brightness level for your exact location so your sign performs beautifully — without overpaying for brightness you don’t need.

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