A 3D signboard is a flat base panel with raised letters mounted on top of it, rather than letters printed flat onto the surface. The raised letters cast a shadow, catch light from the side, and read as a built object instead of a printed sheet — which is why almost every shopfront in a Malaysian mall uses one. Ours start at RM1,080 for a complete sign; a 4 × 2 ft ACP panel with a line of PVC letters comes to RM1,124 including mounting.
What "3D signage" actually means
The term covers any sign where the lettering stands proud of the background. In Malaysia it almost always means one of two builds:
- Flat-cut letters — solid letters cut from a sheet of PVC foam and glued to the panel. Matte, no lighting, the affordable option.
- Box-up letters — hollow metal letters, formed with a return (the side wall) and a separate face. Being hollow, they can take an LED module inside, which is where illuminated signage comes from.
A printed board with a drop-shadow effect in the artwork is not a 3D sign. It is a flat board. If a quote seems far below the numbers here, check which one you are being sold.
The letter types, compared
| Letter type | Build | Can be lit? | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 / 15 / 25 mm PVC foam | Flat-cut solid letters | No | Offices, clinics, budget shopfronts |
| EG steel box-up | Hollow electro-galvanised steel | Yes | Sheltered shopfronts, the value lit option |
| Aluminium box-up | Hollow aluminium | Yes | The Malaysian shopfront standard |
| Stainless steel box-up | Hollow stainless | Yes | Premium retail, hotels, exposed outdoor |
The three PVC thicknesses are about depth of shadow, not strength. 10 mm reads as a subtle relief; 25 mm throws a hard shadow and looks substantial from across a car park.
Between the metals, the real difference is corrosion. EG steel is the value choice for a sheltered position, aluminium is the all-round shopfront default, and stainless is what you want if the sign is fully exposed to rain or near the coast.
Front-lit or backlit halo?
These are two different fabrications, not a setting.
- Front-lit — the letter has a translucent acrylic face, and the LED inside shines out through it. The letter itself glows. This is the classic bright shopfront sign, readable from far down the street.
- Backlit halo — the face is solid, and the LED throws light backwards onto the wall behind. You see a glowing outline around a dark letter. Softer, more expensive-looking, much less legible at distance.
Choose front-lit if the job of the sign is to be found. Choose halo if it is to be admired — a reception wall, a hotel lobby, a boutique.
There is also unlit box-up: the same metal shell with no module fitted. You get the depth and the material without the wiring or the electricity bill.
What a 3D signboard costs
Every figure below is from our live pricing engine.
| Configuration | Price |
|---|---|
| ACP panel board, 4 × 2 ft, board only | RM750 |
| PP hollow board, 4 × 2 ft, board only | RM700 |
| 4 × 2 ft ACP + one line of 10 mm PVC letters (20 cm tall) + mounting | RM1,124 |
| 10 × 3 ft ACP + aluminium box-up front-lit, outdoor LED (30 cm tall) | RM3,432 |
| Entry price for a complete 3D signboard | from RM1,080 |
Three things add up to the total, and it is worth knowing which is which:
- The base panel, priced by size — ACP panel at RM750 for 4 × 2 ft, or the lighter PP hollow board at RM700.
- Each line of lettering, priced on the run: the width of the line and the height of the letters together. Taller letters over a longer run cost more, which is why a 30 cm-tall line across a 2.4 m shopfront in lit aluminium is RM1,632 on its own.
- A flat RM300 mounting fee per sign, charged once no matter how many lines you have.
Ordering two identical signs means two sets of letters and two mounting fees — the lettering is fabricated per sign, so it does not amortise the way a printed board does.
For flat printed boards instead, the numbers are an order of magnitude lower: a 4 × 2 ft ACP board is RM96.15. See how much a signboard costs in Malaysia for that comparison.
How a 3D signboard is assembled
- The base panel is cut and finished to your size — ACP for a rigid weatherproof face, PP hollow board where weight matters.
- Each letter is fabricated separately. PVC letters are routed from sheet; box-up letters have their returns formed and welded, then a face fitted.
- Lit letters are wired — module inside each letter, cabling routed out the back of the panel to a driver.
- The letters are set out and bonded to the panel with studs and adhesive, working to a printed template so the spacing is right.
- The finished sign ships as one piece and is fixed to your wall or fascia.
That per-letter fabrication is the whole cost story. A printed board is one pass through a machine; a 3D sign is dozens of separately made parts positioned by hand.
Before you order, check the licence
A shopfront sign in Malaysia needs an advertisement licence from your local council, and the rules bite hardest on exactly this kind of sign. Most councils require the business name in Bahasa Malaysia, at least as large as any other language, and several — DBKL among them — also require Jawi script.
Get this wrong on a printed board and you reprint a sheet. Get it wrong on a 3D sign and you re-fabricate every letter. Confirm the wording with your council before the letters are cut. Full details in our signboard licence guide, and sizing guidance in standard signboard sizes.
FAQ
What is a 3D signboard?
A base panel with raised letters mounted on its face, rather than letters printed flat onto the surface. The letters are either flat-cut from PVC foam or built as hollow metal box-up letters that can hold an LED.
How much does a 3D signboard cost in Malaysia?
From RM1,080 for a complete sign at Tandaku. A 4 × 2 ft ACP panel with one line of 10 mm PVC letters is RM1,124 including the RM300 mounting fee; a 10 × 3 ft board with front-lit aluminium box-up letters is RM3,432.
What are the types of 3D signage?
Flat-cut PVC foam letters in 10, 15 and 25 mm, and box-up letters in EG steel, aluminium or stainless steel. Box-up letters can be unlit, front-lit, or backlit as a halo.
What is the difference between front-lit and backlit letters?
A front-lit letter has a translucent acrylic face that the LED shines through, so the letter itself glows and stays readable at distance. A backlit halo letter has a solid face and throws light onto the wall behind, giving a glowing outline — more decorative, less legible far away.
Which is better, aluminium or stainless steel box-up letters?
Aluminium is the Malaysian shopfront standard and the right default. Choose stainless steel where the sign is fully exposed to rain or sits near the coast, and EG steel as the value option for a sheltered position.
Do I need a licence for a 3D signboard?
Yes — the same advertisement licence any shopfront sign needs, from your local council. Because the wording rules (Bahasa Malaysia prominence, and Jawi in some councils) apply to the fabricated letters, confirm the text with the council before anything is cut.
Can a 3D signboard be used outdoors?
Yes, that is its primary use. Choose the letter material for the exposure: EG steel when sheltered, aluminium for a normal shopfront, stainless where it takes rain directly. Specify outdoor-grade LED for any lit sign.
Configure a 3D signboard — pick your board size, type each line of lettering, choose the letter type and lighting, and the price updates as you go.