House & Home
Reviews

I got a custom neon sign from Yellowpop and I'm obsessed

It brought all the vibes.
By RJ Andersen  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
red neon light that says "why not" hanging on a wall
So vibey. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable
Yellowpop custom LED neon signs (opens in a new tab)
The Bottom Line
If you can afford it, Yellowpop makes gorgeous, custom neon designs that are worth the splurge.
Mashable Score 4.5
Wow Factor 5
User Friendliness 4.9
Performance 5
Bang for the Buck 3
The Good
  • Looks absolutely fantastic
  • Effortless customization options
  • Durable, lightweight, and easy to install
The Bad
  • Pretty expensive

Don’t trust anything on the internet — until Mashable tries it first. Welcome to the Hype Test, where we review viral trends and tell you what's really worth millions of likes.


I have a slight obsession with accent lighting. Overhead lights are rarely used in my household, and most of my lighting choices are made with a single question in mind, “How does it contribute to the vibe?” Obviously, this means I’ve been dreaming about having a neon sign on my wall for years, but — while I love the aesthetic of traditional neons — glass neon signs can be expensive, heavy, and breakable.

These days, there are countless LED neon signs(opens in a new tab) available, but most of the options I found in stores were either tiny or mounted on a cheap plastic stand. Nothing really reached that “statement piece” level that made me love glass neon signs — something that’s part light and part artwork — so when I saw Yellowpop’s customizable LED neon signs(opens in a new tab) on social media, I jumped at the opportunity to see if my neon dreams could become a reality. 

Yellowpop’s “Design Your Neon” option is pretty cool

I’m picky when it comes to customization options, and I really dislike it when brands claim to offer “customized” products when you only have three to four options to choose from. Straight away, I was surprised to see that Yellowpop’s customizable LED neon signs went above and beyond my expectations. If you’re looking for a text-based neon sign, Yellowpop’s neon customizer(opens in a new tab) is straightforward and easy to use, and it includes a handy preview feature where you can see your design choices in real-time (and even increase or decrease the amount of light in the virtual room).

"why not" red neon sign hanging above desk. pink and blue lights illuminating the room
The sign totally elevated my home office. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

With 30 different fonts to choose from, 13 color options, and a handful of other customization options available including the color of the tube, different backing styles, and the three main size options (although you can choose a custom size as well if you want something even bigger). Plus, Yellowpop’s website offers pricing transparency with custom neons starting at $149, so you can see the price of your design as you build it. 

Even cooler? Yellowpop also offers full customization options for anyone looking to create a sign with a logo — or your own original artwork — so you can just upload your design to Yellowpop’s website and receive a quote within 24 hours. 

Installing the sign was easier than I expected

Straight out of the box, I was impressed with my custom neon sign. It shipped pretty quickly (Yellowpop offers free shipping and returns), and the sign was huge. Obviously, I knew the size going into it — after all, I designed it myself — but the craftsmanship was still impressive. I wasn’t sure what to expect regarding weight, but I was pleased to discover it was light and flexible without seeming cheap or flimsy. 

Even better? Installation took less than three minutes. Yellowpop’s website mentions three main mounting options: hanging your sign, mounting it with the included hardware, or adhering it to the wall with 3M strips, and — given that I wanted to mount my sign on a cinderblock wall — I wasn’t sure which method would work best. Obviously, drilling into cinderblock didn’t seem worth it, hanging it from my tall ceilings was going to be a challenge, but I wasn’t sure how 3M strips would work with the slightly bumpy surface and the weight of the sign.

Surprisingly, they worked flawlessly. The sign itself is so lightweight that it only took four 3M strips to adhere it to the wall, and it’s stayed there without issue for several weeks. Plus, even though I chose the hollow-out backing style (there’s just a clear plastic strip spanning the width of the letters that made it easy to level), I was able to hide the 3M strips behind the letters.

"why not" neon sign hanging on cinderblock wall
Installing the sign with Command strips was surprisingly stable. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

The quality of Yellowpop’s LED neon signs blew me away

I’ve seen a lot of LED neon signs in stores like Walmart and Target, and — while they’re definitely more affordable than Yellowpop’s neon signs — the quality difference was surprising. Even though my design was rather large, Yellowpop did a fantastic job of finding the balance between a lightweight product that’s still durable and visually appealing.

With an optional touch dimmer (meaning you can tap to turn your light on or off instead of unplugging it from the wall), the LED neon sign was bright, colorful, and evenly lit. Even during daylight hours, it added a nice touch to my office wall. And at night, the vibes are definitely immaculate. 

Once I plugged it in, I knew I was sold on Yellowpop’s LED neon signs. It’s bright enough to illuminate the room without being obnoxious, and the durable plastic tubing is sturdy yet light enough that in the unlikely case that it does fall off the wall, I’m not worried about the sign breaking (or it breaking something else). 

The price is the only downside

Obviously, I’m already a fan of Yellowpop’s LED neon signs. I loved being able to customize my own sign, and the result is both a cool piece of wall art and a surprisingly bright accent light. Even my partner was jealous of the sign — and asked if he should purchase one for his side of our home office — but he immediately hesitated when I told him the only drawback: the price.

Even though my sign is only two words (“why not”) and I chose the medium size — the exact dimensions vary depending on your design, but mine was 35 inches x 12 inches — the sign clocked in at a hefty $425. The smallest size available would’ve been $330 for a 28-inch x 10-inch sign, and the largest preset size (roughly 57 inches x 19 inches) would’ve been a whopping $685.

Yellowpop does have pre-made designs available that are slightly cheaper — one option that was similar to my custom design in style and size was $339 — as well as collaborations with other well-known artists and designers that come with a heftier price tag. That being said, if you’re a fan of Andy Warhol, they did a partnership with The Andy Warhol Foundaiton that has some pretty rad designs like this Campbell’s Tomato Soup sign(opens in a new tab).

Is a Yellowpop custom neon sign worth it? 

Here’s the thing: There are definitely other, cheaper options to getting a neon sign for your house. You could purchase a smaller LED neon sign from Amazon(opens in a new tab) or Target, or you could save up for a glass neon — or keep your eyes peeled for a vintage glass neon sign at your local antique store — but all things considered, I’m surprised by how much I like my Yellowpop custom neon(opens in a new tab).

Is it cheap? Definitely not. However, the quality is impressive — and it’s much larger than any of the other LED neon signs I’ve found in stores and online. Plus, I view it like purchasing a piece of wall art or furniture for my home. I’m always on the hunt for a bargain, but it’s kind of nice to splurge on something that I’ve been dreaming about having since I was a kid. 

So if you’re in the same boat — or you have some cash to spare — I’d say do it. It’s a ridiculously cool light that’s worth the splurge (at least in my opinion), and I suspect it’ll be living on my wall for years to come. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, however, you might want to wait for a sale or look elsewhere. Four hundred dollars is a lot to spend on an LED neon sign, so it’s definitely more of a luxury purchase than a whim. 

More in Reviews, TikTok

How we tested

We decided to test this product after seeing Yellowpop’s custom LED neon signs go viral on TikTok. While there are several companies offering customizable LED neon signs online, we were impressed with Yellowpop’s collection — and its collaborations with The Andy Warhol Foundation as well as The Keith Haring Foundation — which is why we decided to give them a try. 

The neon customizer was incredibly easy to use, and it only took a few minutes to play around with the different design options before deciding on a sign I liked. I also really appreciated the price transparency on the design portal, but — at $425 for a “medium” size sign — it’s definitely more expensive than I initially thought it would be. 

After receiving the custom LED neon sign, however, I was impressed with the signs quality, design, and overall appearance. It was incredibly easy to install, and — after using the light daily for two weeks — I’ve had no issues with the product. 

Other factors we considered in our review include: 

  • Customization options: Yellowpop’s neon customizer had an extensive list of customization options — including font, color, size, backing style, etc. — for anyone interested in designing their own text-based neon sign. The company does offer fully customizable neon signs, however, this is done through a separate online form.

  • Installation: Unlike traditional neon signs, which are made of glass tubing, Yellowpop’s LED neon signs are made of a lightweight and durable plastic that made installation a breeze. There are three different installation methods to choose from: hanging, mounting, and adhering the sign to the wall with 3M strips. While I considered hanging the sign, I decided to use 3M strips and was surprised at well they held the sign. 

  • Brightness: While Yellowpop’s LED neon signs are accent lighting, I was still impressed with how bright and colorful the neon sign was. It offers a subtle pop of color during the day and a vibrant, glowing red in the evening. 

  • Price: After doing some research, I found other companies offering custom LED neon signs ranging from $200 to $480 (for similar styles and sizes), which places Yellowpop’s LED neon signs on the more expensive side.


More from Hype Test


Yes, SKIMS' TikTok-viral dress and bodysuits made me look snatched

Review: The Windmill AC lets me come home to a cool apartment


Recommended For You
Peacock's 'The Gentle Art Of Swedish Death Cleaning' trailer explores life, mortality, and evolution

This galactic collision made a blast brighter than 1 trillion suns

Veruca Salt's 'Seether' was the perfect 'Yellowjackets' needle drop

Best senior dating sites: Dating over 60 can actually be fun
By Leah Stodart and Miller Kern

The best dating apps and sites in April 2023

More in Life
Misfits Market: An eco-friendly grocery delivery service that's good, but could be great

Dial in your spring vacay with these awesome travel essentials

The 5 best Bluetooth trackers for travel and lost luggage

20+ Mother's Day gifts under $50 that moms actually want

The digital picture frame is the unsung hero of gift giving moments

Trending on Mashable

'Wordle' today: Here's the answer, hints for April 21

Dril and other Twitter power users begin campaign to 'Block the Blue' paid checkmarks

How to remove Snapchat's My AI from your Chat feed

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
By signing up to the Mashable newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Mashable that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!