If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission. Learn more about our policies and reviews.
While you may have seen these types of decorative light-up letters at many indoor and outdoor events, and probably in a stylish Pinterest board or two, knowing where to source them may not have been immediately obvious.
Below we have found a few great metal marquee letter options that are not only easy and ready to purchase on Amazon, but come in every letter of the alphabet. We have even found some that come in numbers and even have some symbols as well.
These battery-operated letters are all multipurpose in use and can be hung on any wall, displayed on any shelf, and even make a great nightlight for kids. Most of these options also have LED bulbs which means not only will they last a long time, but they will never get hot no matter how long they are left on.
Detailing Our Favorite Metal Marquee Letter of 2024
Oycbuzo Black Light-Up LED Letters — Best Overall
Another great light-up letter option is these black LED ones which provide a warm light ambiance anywhere you place them. Similar to our other options, these illuminated letters are battery-operated, have the on/off switch in the back, and come with a hole for placement on a wall or they can easily sit on a table or shelf.
Pros
- These letters are made from environmental-friendly materials and are sturdy without being heavy
Cons
- Batteries are not included
MUMUXI LED Marquee Letter Lights — Runner Up
These LED marquee letters come in any letter of the alphabet and the numbers 0-9, allowing you to create any combination of words and phrases. They produce a warm white lighting scheme and can be used as everyday home decor on the mantel or any picture window. Additionally, their soft glow helps them function easily as a great night light.
Pros
- The included LED bulb produces little to no heat even after long periods of use
Cons
- The light bulbs are not removable
Focux LED Letter Lights — Honorable Mention
Available in both letter and number combinations, these illuminated LED lights are highly versatile, portable and the perfect size to hang on the wall or display as decor. These letters are made of plastic and have a keyhole slot in the back for easy hanging, require no cables and require just two AA batteries.
Pros
- The LED lamp will never get hot
Cons
- The batteries are not included
Darice Silver Metal Marquee Letter — Contender
These light-up marquee letters have a vintage-silver galvanized finish, come in every letter of the alphabet, and are the perfect addition to any wedding or special event. These letter lights are cordless and their lightbulbs are operated by a convenient on/off switch on the back. They can also be hung on the wall or placed on a shelf for a unique, illuminated decorative touch.
Pros
- These letters make great decor items for kids and teens rooms’ and can dress up any bar or kitchen area
Cons
- Batteries are not included
CSKB LED Marquee Letter Lights — Also Consider
These marquee LED lights are available in every single letter of the alphabet and have multiple uses. Their bright, eye-catching warm white glow makes any room inviting and you are only limited to your imagination with the number of phrases and word combinations you can make. These lights can also be either hung or displayed on their own and have a long battery life.
Pros
- These lights require no cables
Cons
- These lights are not available in numbers
Buying Guide: Metal Marquee Letters
Interesting Ideas to Use Marquee Letters
A few cool ways you can style metal marquee letters are:
Retro displays
Many weddings feature retro vintage-inspired marquee letters and signs. They are a unique addition to the whole décor in a nicely lit area. It often proves to be a great and favored picture spot. The steady glow instead of chasing lights, the hues of yellow and warm lighting create a cool vibe. Retro metal marquee letters could be used to put your name, initials, titles, and much more on the display in a unique fashion.
Marquee signage
Marquee signage is another cool way of using metal marquee lights. You can put them as dessert marquee signage for weddings, bridal showers, parties, birthdays, graduations, and other celebrations to personalize the space.
You can also put the initials of the person you’re throwing a party for in large marquee letters that sit in front of the main décor table.
Marquee titles
Apart from putting initials up in a room, or an event, you can also use them to declare titles. You can display marquee-style titles such as “Mr. & Mrs.” up on the wall.
How to Select Marquee Letter Lights for an Event?
You might forget what kind of food you had at someone’s wedding, birthday, or bridal shower, but you won’t forget the kind of décor and ambiance the whole event had. Here are some tips to follow when you’re selecting décor marquee lights for an event:
Analyze and finalize
The first step to prepare for an event is to carefully analyze the space you have and the sources of light already present in the spot. Pick the best spot in the space as the central, focal point. That’s where your marquee letters will go. It could be a stage, an entrance, an outdoor table, an intimate corner of the room, etc.
Select the marquee light
This decision will mainly be determined by the area and the event or vibe you’re decorating for. For instance, if you’re getting marquee lights for the entrance, you can go for a feather or grass backdrop and put neon marquee light letters against it. Neon stands out and leaves a good impression.
For a wedding stage, you can pick large metal marquee letters with some unique quotes. Remember to always keep it short, making long sentences out of marquee letters can simply overwhelm a space.
For bedrooms, offices, or casual spots, you can personalize the space with your name’s initials, your full name, your baby’s name, or a motto you like to see every day.
DIY Metal Marquee Letters
Here are some simple steps to create a metal marquee sign and letter all by yourself:
- Gather up all the tools and material you will need in one place. You’ll need dividers, drill or driver, hammers, metal rules, gloves, safety glasses, metal sheets, round top screws, masking tape and more.
- Decide the font you want on the marquee letter and the accurate, final size you want it in. Make sure you choose a simple font that’s not too complex or curvy to transfer onto a sheet and shape. Go for a font with straight strokes. Select your letters and use a software to size them up, print and use them to cut out the metal. You can also draw them on the metal sheet yourself by using a mechanical grid approach to size the letters up.
- Next step is cutting the letterforms. Once you have transferred the letters onto the metal sheet, put it onto a work table and cut it. Make sure you’re taking all the necessary precautions when doing so. Such as wearing gloves and safety glasses, etc.
- To have better access to interior cutouts or interior of the ampersand, cut relief holes with a hole saw or spade bit. Make the folds and bends to form a big letter.
- If you’re cutting large-sized letters, it’s better to get a helper to have better control and straighter cuts.
- Cut out holes for where you want the bulbs to go in a straight line on the letter.
- For light sockets, you can use regular candelabra light sockets, porcelain light sockets, or lamp parts.
- Lay the wiring and bulb sockets through and into the holes.
How to Clean and Maintain Your Metal Marquee Letter Lights?
Here are a few tips to keep a metal letter marquee in shape for years:
- Since metal is prone to rust, you need to keep the marquee letters stored properly away from moisture.
- Clean the dust and dirt off by laying them on a clean surface flat with a cloth or duster.
- Prepare a cleaning solution by mixing dishwashing liquid or soap with warm water.
- Use a soft cloth or brush, wet it in the solution, and gently scrub the dirty surface or stains, if any.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe the surface clean.
- Do not use a pressure hose on the metal marquee as it can damage the metal if not dried properly afterward.
- Dry the metal marquee thoroughly with a dryer or simply air dry it.
Conclusion
Marquee letter decoration is one of the most attractive and trendy ways to light up a space. However, selecting the right one for the occasion can get confusing. This article suggests the top metal marquees in 2022 to help you with that.
