The price of an LED display can greatly vary depending on 4 big factors: the product, the quality, the solution and the supplier. Within each factor, there are several smaller sub-factors to consider. We are going to look at a bigger picture about how each factor impact the price of a LED display from a user’s viewpoint.
Product design determines all the technical specifications of an LED display, thus causing many variations on the cost. When designing an LED display, there are many important factors to consider.
Nearly 80% – 95% of the cost of an LED module are the cost of components. Choosing the right components are not only crucial in achieving the features and performance you’ve determined in the design phase, but also greatly impact the quality level and the lifespan of the product in the years to come.
The LED diodes can account for up to 50% of the total cost. The quality of diode determines the maximum level of brightness, contrast, color uniformity and refresh rate. A screen using good diodes can maintain its average brightness for up to 10 years while bad diodes can barely last for 1-2 years. Between a good diode and a standard one can have a 50% difference in price.
Driver ICs manages the brightness of the diodes. A good driver IC can prevent a flickering screen and maintaining uniformity in color and brightness. Some driver ICs come with special features such as dead pixel self-detection and color self-correction. The cost of a premium driver IC can be 100% greater than a standard one.
PCB provide a solid support for diodes, which takes up 10% of the total cost of an LED module. The most common PCB are the rigid, single layer made from R-14 fiberglass. Flexible PCB are more expensive. Aluminum are more expensive than fiberglass. The number of layers can also add up to the cost.
The cabinet is the housing that holds the LED modules, which also has a 10% weigh in the cost. Aluminum is the most popular material due to its lightweight and durability. Die-casting aluminum, which is stronger and offers better heat dissipation than regular aluminum, is preferred for outdoor use, but more expensive. Steel is less used these days because it is quite heavy and rust easily.
LED display can come with a variety of accessories and services on specific needs and requirements, which also has a great impact on the price of an LED screen.
Some accessories can affect the price of display. Screens with higher brightness needs a more powerful power supply. A more expensive control system comes with advanced features such as remote monitoring. The mounting system can be cheap using steel or expensive using aluminum or carbon fiber.
In addition to the cost of hardware, you will need installation service to set up the screen and maintenance services to keep the screen in good condition over time. Expect to pay more if those services are included in the solution.
Given that the same product design and the same quality, the price of an LED display can still vary by different suppliers or brands for the following reasons.
Brands with more advanced manufacturing capabilities may be more competitive in price. Keeping production in-house can be more cost-effective than outsourcing production.
Brands with more robust R&D capabilities can customize the design and features of LED modules based on customer’s needs, which is more likely to keep the cost within customer’s budget.
Brands that sell directly to customers may be able to offer lower prices than those that use distributors or resellers. Local resellers generally add more margin for paying their marketing and services.
With a strong reputation for quality and reliability, some brands can justify higher price points for the same product design and quality.
To get a rough cost estimate of the LED screen you want to have, enter the sizes of the screen and choose the installation environment. The results will be emailed to you immediately.