Neon Lights vs LED Lights - Ultimate Distinction Comparison

You are in two minds about neon lights which can add personal style with unique custom-made lights or LED lights which are more durable, energy-efficient, and lower maintenance costs. In this comprehensive blog post, let’s explore the key differences between neon lights vs LED lights together and you no longer have to struggle to find the best fit for your needs and budgets as well.

Understanding Neon Lights & LED Lights: A Quick Look

A quick look at these outstanding characteristics between neon lights vs LED lights can give you a basic overview of what differentiates them.

Overview of Neon Lights

Neon lights are made from tubes heated and bent, which contain gas mixtures inside and can produce light when having electrical pass through.

Features

Some special features define what are neon lights:

• Lighting effect: Provide a 360-degree and warm glow light source, which allows someone to view the sign perfectly from almost any angle and create aesthetic vibes.
• Lighting purposes: Suit many purposes such as colorful signages, advertisement signboards, and personalized decorative neon lights at weddings, birthdays, or other events.
• Materials: Be created with glass tubing, a bit wider, taller, and heavier than LED signs due to the materials required to provide power and mount the finished neon tubing.
• Technology: Can not be mass-produced by machines, each glass tube is hand-heated and bent to match individual preferences, then filled with a purified gas mixture that glows brightly when ionized by high voltage. 
• Color: The color is determined by the gas in the tube. The gas mixture may be a combination of these types of gas: rare neon gas (reddish-orange color), helium (pink color), argon (blue color), and krypton (green color).

How do neon lights work?

Neon light tubes produce illumination after undergoing 4 steps:

• Ionization of electrons: After providing enough voltage, electrons separate successfully from atoms of the gas mixture. Then they are separated and ionized.
• The attraction of charged atoms: The positively charged atoms are attracted and move toward the negative terminal and vice versa, the electrons transfer to the positive terminal. 
• Energy transfer: Basically, atoms in the glass tubes move around and hit each other can cause energy transfer.
• Release of energy: This is also creating a light process. Depending on the energy released and other additional elements, the light produced may come in different colors.

Pros and Cons of Neon Lights

Let’s discover outstanding advantages as well as disadvantages of Neon lights:

Pros	Cons
Provide 360-degree illumination Easily attraction attention Suitable for decoration A variety of color options for your neon lights and signs	Heavier, taller, and wider than LED lights Less bright than LED lights High cost

Overview of LED Lights

LED lights stand for lighting-emitting diode light, using the light-emitting diodes to generate light, and are more power-efficient than other types of light.

Features

LED lights are becoming more and more popular these days and can be found in various devices such as calculators, remotes or lamp designs. Some outstanding features of LED lights are:

• Design: LED lights come in a wide range of colors and designs. Mixing color and RGB ranges can create up to millions of shades of color options for LED lights.

• Easy to use: LED lights are covered with plastic tubes that are safer to use, especially when having a high risk of injuries.

• Durable: LED lights are famous for their durability and longevity, which can last over a decade.

• Lighting purposes: LED lights emit direct illumination, suitable for many purposes such as working, studying, decorations,  business, and industrial lighting.

How do LED lights work?

The way LED lights work also differentiates them from neon lights. LED lights make use of semiconductors, specifically N-Type and P-Type. More clearly, the N-Type semiconductor is negatively charged due to electrons, while the P-Type has positively charged holes.

When LED lights are connected to power and electricity goes through, the N-Type semiconductor’s extra electrons move from the negative side toward the positive P-Type's holes. The light is emitted.

Pros and Cons of LED lights

Every type of light has both strengths and drawbacks, LED lights are no exception:

Pros	Cons
Long lifespan Energy efficiency and eco-friendliness Smaller and lighter than other lights Better light quality	LED flicker Significantly influenced by the surrounding temperature Emit optical radiation on the eyes and skin Voltage sensitivity

15 Differences Between Neon Lights & LED Lights

Don't know how to begin to pick the lighting solution for your specific needs since neon lights vs LED lights may have a lot in common. Don't worry! There are actually distinct serving purposes and key differences that set them apart. 

Category	Neon Lights	LED Lights	Winner
Functionality	Add a nostalgic mood to spaces	Suitable for many lighting needs in homes, offices, and commercial space	LED lights
Design and Style	Associated with a certain retro or vintage aesthetic	Suitable for modern spaces and comes in a wide range of styles	Neon lights
Lighting Brightness & Effect	Less bright Create a 360-degree illumination	Much brighter Provide a directed light source	LED lights
Compatibility with dimmer	Not compatible with dimmer	Designed to work well with dimmer	LED lights
Popularity and Applications	Less popular and gradually replaced by other economical options Commonly used for signs and decoration	One of the most popular lights in the market Used for many lighting purposes: homes, offices, businesses, and industrial	LED lights
Longevity	Between 8 and 15 years	Over a decade	LED lights
Energy Efficiency	With the same period and size, a neon light consumes around 20 watts of electricity	LED light will generally consume just 1.2 watts	LED lights
Environmental Friendliness	Contain potentially hazardous materials	Easy to reuse and recycle	LED lights
Price	More expensive	Lower price	LED lights
Customizability	Add personal styles by unique shape or  intricate designs	Have the ability to update your message, text, or graphics	Both
Color Options	Restricted color options, depending on the gas mixture inside neon tubes such as bright red light (neon gas) and pale blue light (argon gas)	Available up to millions of shades of colors	LED lights
Installation and Flexibility	More flexible and suitable for creative, decorative installations, including intricate designs and bends	Lighter and easier to install and are commonly used for general lighting purposes	Both
Maintenance	Higher maintenance cost	Lower maintenance cost	LED lights
Safety	Contain potential risk due to materials	Safer	LED lights

Based on the criteria listed above, neon lights versus LED lights, which will win the debate on “Which one is better?”

Functionality

Winner: LED lights

Neon lights are the perfect choice for decoration, signs, and artistic displays because their warm glowing lighting can add a nostalgic mood to spaces.

LED lights, on the other hand, are a popular and ideal lighting option for many lighting needs in homes, offices, and commercial spaces due to their consistent brightness.

Design and Style

Winner: Neon lights

Neon lights have long been popular for business signs, especially in restaurants and pubs, due to their eye-catching effect and ability to stand out. They add a nostalgic, retro vibe, create excitement, and allow for personalized designs.

By contrast, LED lights are more suitable for modern spaces, adding a look of luxury, and come in a wide range of styles.

Read more: In addition to neon and LED lights, you can also use fairy lights to decor your space.

Lighting Brightness & Effect

Winner: LED lights

Brightness is a factor that is most easily distinguishable and visible by the naked eye between neon lights vs LED lights. Neon lights emit a warm, vibrant glow and flickering effect, bringing a retro atmosphere and creating decorative lighting effects. They also provide 360-degree illumination, allowing perfect view from almost any angle.

LED lights are much brighter than their neon counterparts. They produce directional light sources, suitable for a head-on view while covering spaces with a cool white illumination, and focused tasks.

Compatibility with dimmer

Winner: LED lights

Neon lights' color is already set by gas inside the tube when they are produced and cannot be changed. Therefore, neon lights are not compatible with dimmers and are not able to adjust brightness.

LED lights, on the other hand,  are designed to work well with dimmers to change color or brightness in several different ways to create a "fading" or "flashing" effect, matching a particular theme or mood.

Popularity and Applications

Winner: LED lights

In the battle of popularity and application between neon lights vs LED lights, LED lights ate and left no crumbs. Neon signs are less popular and gradually replaced by other economical options.

Whereas, LEDs are dominating the market thanks to many advantages, such as excellent versatility, durability, and energy efficiency. They are also a perfect choice for diverse applications, including decorative lighting and outdoor advertising. Additionally, LED lights are used for many lighting purposes in homes, offices, businesses, and industries while neon lights are commonly used for signs and decoration.

Longevity

Winner: LED lights

The lifespan of both types of light can be impacted by environmental conditions, the frequency of maintenance, and the quality of the materials used. Neon lights are suspected hence the lifespan is affected by the fragile glass tubes, contributing to a high risk of breakage. LED lights are famous for their durability and longevity, and they also are sensitive to heat and excessive heat can affect their performance and longevity.

But in comparison between LED neon lights vs LED lights, LED neon signs typically last longer. While the lifespan of neon lights can last up to 50 hours or more, LED lights usually last for approximately 25,000 hours.

Energy Efficiency

Winner: LED lights

In terms of neon lights vs LED lights' power consumption, LED lights completely win this battle. Neon lights consume up to 10 times much more power than their LED counterparts. With the same period and size, a neon light consumes around 20 watts of electricity while an LED light will generally consume just 1.2 watts.

For instance, if both neon lights and LED lights work 12 hours per day, they will consume from 15.33 to 17.52 kWh and 3.5 kWh of electricity per year, respectively.

Environmental Friendliness

Winner: LED lights

Neon lights contain potentially hazardous materials, such as toxic gasses, glass tubes, and mercury, dangerous to the environment if they break or leak and can’t be reused or recycled.

By contrast, LED lights are easy to reuse and recycle. Moreover, by using less energy, LEDs are a much more eco-friendly option. It sounds silly to doubt the environmental safety of LED lights.

Price

Winner: LED lights

Due to production procedures, neon lights are more expensive compared to LED lights, which can be mass-produced and have more acceptable prices. However, depending on factors such as the size, material, complexity, and manufacturer, the price of neon lights vs LED lights can be varied significantly.

Considering your budget - one of the most important factors, guess that you can wisely determine which one to invest.

Customizability

Winner: Both

We can see that both neon lights vs LED lights can be customizable but in different ways. While neon lights allow you to turn your creative ideas into unique shapes or intricate designs and add personal styles, some types of LED lights can update your message, text, or graphics.

Color Options

Winner: LED lights

Neon lights emit iconic bright illumination but offer fewer color options than LEDs. Their color depends on the gas mixture inside the tubes, like bright red from neon gas and pale blue from argon gas. However, neon lights made with LED lights encased in flexible plastic tubing, called LED neon lights, can be customized to display a wide range of colors.

Comparably, LED lights offer a diverse array of color options, available up to millions of shades by mixing color and RGB options.

Installation and Flexibility

Winner: Both

The installation process and flexibility of neon lights vs LED lights differ significantly. Although neon lights' intricate designs and bends are a bit heavier than LED counterparts, they are more flexible and suitable for creative, decorative installations.

LED lights, on the other hand, are lighter and easier to install and are commonly used for general lighting purposes.

Maintenance

Winner: LED lights

When it comes to neon lights vs LED lights maintenance cost, LED lights win this battle again without any doubt.

If you choose neon lights, you need to know that the high maintenance fee may cost you an arm and a leg because tubes need to be refilled periodically by a professional. Moreover, neon bulbs are made of glass that can break easily, causing damage, and require a lot of pennies to replace.

The incredible durability of LED lights means they require significantly less maintenance and are more long-lasting than their neon counterparts.

Safety

Winner: LED lights

Although both neon lights vs LED lights can be safe to use when used properly and in appropriate conditions, LEDs seem to be safer in certain respects compared to neon lights. With lower heat emission, LEDs are generally cooler and cause no harm at all for children or pets to touch accidentally when in use.

In contrast, neon lights are made from glass tubes and contain a gas mixture (including hazardous gasses such as toxic gasses, glass tubes, and mercury). If the neon lights break, they can pose health risks to users.

After discovering about neon lights vs led lights pros and cons, neon lights vs led lights differences, guess that you have already empowered your thought about neon lights vs led lights which is better. If not, let’s take a quick look at the overview below:

Neon lights	LED lights
You should choose neon lights if you find that: Want to create nostalgic charm and retro appeal Attract customers by bright crackling light signages and advertisements that are eye-catching and iconic	If you meet these needs, you should choose LED lights: Minimize cost thanks to durability, energy efficiency, long lifespan, and low maintenance cost Great versatility, easily moving or repositioning Dimmable, having the ability to adjust brightness

Besides, due to their popularity, LED lights are also in comparison with other types of light. Read more if any can meet your needs:

• LED lights vs CFL lights
• LED light vs Halogen lights
• Xenon Lights vs Led Lights

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the choice between neon lights vs LED lights ultimately depends on your specific lighting needs, design preferences, and lifestyle considerations. Hope this comprehensive article from us can help you find out your destiny lighting option and achieve both functionality and preferences.

FAQs

Why don’t we use neon lights anymore?

Due to neon lights’ drawbacks such as high maintenance cost, high power consumption, and some safety concerns, LED lights have gradually replaced neon lights.

What is the difference between LED neon lights and LED strip lights?

Thanks to high brightness levels, LED neon lights can catch the eyes from a far distance and are more suitable for outdoor lighting purposes such as signage and display, compared to LED strip lights. By contrast, LED strip lights are commonly used to create an ambient or ancient atmosphere for indoor spaces.

Can I replace neon with LED?

Compared to Neon, LEDs obviously have more advantages such as lower maintenance cost, less energy consumption, and brighter illumination. You should consider the pros and cons between these two types and opt for the most appropriate one for your needs.

Which is better between neon vs LED signs?

In terms of quality, energy efficiency, low heat generation, and durability, LED signs are better. In terms of nostalgic effect and customization, neon signs are more effective.