How Much Does Digital Signage Cost? Digital Signage Price Guide for 2023

From superior versatility to dynamic messaging to more integrated communication, the advantages associated with digital signage are numerous.  Understanding the fundamental digital signage costs is critical to making the right purchase decision.

In fact, the worldwide digital sign market is expected to expand to $31.7 billion by 2025 with a CAGR of 8%. Plus, in terms of shipments, growth is anticipated to reach 6.45 million units by 2025. 

Although this robust activity demonstrates the well-known value of digital signs, companies still want to know about the cost of digital signage. Since we’re talking about modern technology tools, the cost factor includes hardware, installation, software, tech support, and more. 

Some companies might wonder about the average cost of digital signage, but averages can be deceiving. A better way to look at it is based on your signage needs and the different options available.

In this article, we’ll break down digital signage cost categories one by one. This will help you make more informed investment decisions to maximize value. 

Elements that impact digital signage price

Some buyers have a misconception about what digital signage actually is. They believe digital signs are nothing more than large TVs or computer monitors. The reality is that digital signs are a specialized type of technology. They are designed for a specific purpose, which is, to improve communication for an organization or brand.

It is tempting to use free software to power digital signs. However, if the software is difficult to use or understand, it might end up consuming valuable IT resources.  Also, free software often comes with fewer features which can impact how well the configuration can be set to meet your needs.

Remember, a poor-quality display may make images and text appear blurred or fuzzy. Screens can have a lot of glare. This can affect the readability of the screen. Instead of focusing only on low cost, it’s better to choose the package that gives you the most value while fitting within your budget.

Now let’s look at each category associated with digital signage cost and what you need to consider in terms of price, performance, and other factors.

1. Digital signage display screen

Obviously, the digital signage display screen is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to digital sign pricing. What should you consider when looking at digital displays and digital signage display prices?

Consumer vs. Commercial Displays

A household smart TV model will be less expensive compared to a commercial-grade display. Still, there are some things to keep in mind when comparing consumer vs. commercial products.

Your signage will likely see heavy use, and commercial models are designed to be more durable. Plus, commercial displays come with longer warranties. Warranties are important since they are a hedge to cover unforeseen equipment failure repair costs.

Finally, commercial displays usually have more processing power, which is important for more advanced messaging. This can impact how well your signage gets the message across, especially if you plan to use a lot of video imaging.

Screen Size

Where the screen will be placed as well as potential viewing angles are important. The display size depends largely on the screen location. You want it large enough to ensure visibility, but the display should also blend in well with the surroundings. For high-impact signage, you may even opt for a full wall-sized screen.

Digital Signage Display Price: Options to Consider

• TCL 65″ 6-Series 4K Roku Smart TV – This model offers superior 4K Ultra HD picture clarity combined with Dolby Vision HDR (High Dynamic Range) for crisp, clear images largely thanks to mini-LED and Quantum light technology. Price = $1,299.
• Sony X950G 65” TV: 4K Ultra HD Smart LED – Provides a superior contrast ratio thanks to its full-array local-dimming backlight for deeper blacks. Plus, 120 Hz refresh rate delivers superior motion dynamics. Price = $1,499.
• Samsung QET Series 75″ (Commercial Grade) – Features eye-catching UHD resolution Crystal Display with ultra slim design. Includes MagicINFO Lite digital signage software. This display has a 3-year onsite warranty. It is built to operate 16 hours a day and 7 days a week. Price = $2,250.

More Advanced Options

The type of digital signage you implement will depend on your needs and objectives. Features such as touch screens and full-wall-sized displays are available. These designs come at a higher cost. If a high impact is what you want, then it might be worth looking into one of these more unique options. 

There are many variables that go into video wall configuration. A general starting price range for a 2×2 video wall made up of 49” LCD monitors is about $19,000.

2. Digital Signage Media Player

All digital signage requires a digital signage media player to stream content. Memory, processing speed, and different features come with each player. This is important to consider when deciding on a media player as all these factors can be impacted by your signage. Are low-cost digital signage media players worth it? It depends. Remember, the cost can influence performance. Media players are essentially computers designed for digital displays. 

The player might be built into the unit, on more advanced display screens. Also, like displays, commercial-grade players are built for long play times and come with extended warranties.

Here are two worthy options that illustrate digital signage player price concepts:

Digital Signage Player Price

• NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV Pro 4K – This HDR Streaming Media Player features High-Performance Dolby Vision, 3GB RAM, 2x USB. Price = $199.99
• AOPEN CHROMEBOX Commercial 2 – Carries Intel Celeron 3865U, 4GB DDR4, 32GB SSD, and a 3 Years Limited Product Warranty. Price = $327

As you can see, the extra $127 for the AOPEN gives you quite a boost in performance, but the NVIDIA is no slouch, especially for the money. You should take into account the total number of digital signage displays you want/have. 

Digital Signage Software Pricing: Players with Bundled Software is the Way to Go!

Some players come pre-loaded with free digital signage software. This can reduce the cost of purchasing each component separately. Digital signage software bundles make it easier to get your digital signage displays up and running. 

The Mini-PC as a Player

A mini-computer can be mounted near or on the back of your digital sign display. Two advantages of mini-PCs are their versatility and customizable. Some mini-PCs are very small and noiseless. So, if your needs are more complex, such as with advanced messaging, multimedia, or marketing integration, you may want to consider this alternative. These units can run from basic $100 models to powerful mini-PCs like the MSI MPG Trident 3, which retails at $1,399.

3. Digital Signage Cabling & Display Mounts

It’s difficult to quantify display mount costs as it depends largely on where the signage will be placed. For example, for displays mounted higher up on the wall, an angled mount will be needed. In other cases, requirements maybe include movable mounts with hinged arms.

In every case, it makes sense to go with high quality. Plus, you’ll want to choose a mount that is as low profile as possible. In conclusion, the signage should get attention, not a big, bulky mount. 

Digital Signage Price for Cabling & Mounts

Digital signage mounts can cost anywhere from $50 to $350+. Meanwhile, digital signage cabling should use high-grade cables, which are more durable and improve transmission speed. A 4K Displayport to HDMI Cable costs about $13 for 6 feet of cable.

4. Installation of Digital Signage Cost

Labor costs may vary widely by region and provider. Plus, there’s a huge difference between installing a simple 55’ wall-mounted display vs. an entire wall-sized screen. A simple single-screen installation will cost around $200. For larger projects, the price can vary significantly so it pays to get two or three price estimates. Also, make sure your installer has digital sign installation experience since factors such as wiring, mounting, and screen angles should be considered. 

5. Digital Signage Pricing for Software Licensing

Depending on your signage needs, you have two licensing options:

1. Cloud-based software license fee – payable monthly
2. Non-cloud installable software – one-time fee

There are several advantages to cloud-based software. Maintenance and updates are included in the cost, which is a huge benefit. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is another name for cloud-based software. Installing dynamic digital signage software on your own requires some tech expertise, plus you have to do all the troubleshooting on your own.  In both cases, there may be some IT training involved. For SaaS options, training will be minimal since backend upkeep is done by the provider. If you purchase and install the software yourself, you will have to manage in-house training as well.

6. Provisioning & Installation Cost of Digital Signage

Provisioning is the process of connecting and configuring your displays and players so that they can be used for digital signage purposes. This process requires specific expertise in the digital signage field. So unless you have the right tech staff, you’ll probably want to outsource this job. 

Cost issues such as Internet access and networking all come into play at this level. A ballpark figure for provisioning costs may be $250-$350 per display in addition to any broadband access costs. Other issues to consider here are networking and IT requirements. This will vary depending on what content you intend to stream and how it will be integrated with your communications systems. Finally, the ADA signage requirements should be kept in mind as regulations continue to become more stringent as time goes on.

7. Content Creation Cost of Signage

This might be the most variable cost of signage factor of all since it totally depends on the digital signage content you plan to transmit on your digital signs. For example, static text vs. fully interactive touchscreen content will have a huge price difference. Content creation costs should be included in the monthly budget for your overall digital signage campaign costs. Start-up and installation costs are not included or part of your content costs.

Hidden Digital Signage Costs

Graphic design, video creation, and other software-supported content (e.g. bus, train, and plane schedules) all have different use cases and costs. If you use stock photos, you’ll need to consider the cost of stock license purchase. If you create your own images, you’ll need to pay the photographer, models, etc. Video footage will be even more expensive.

The content you choose on your information screens must make sense and align precisely with your brand and the message you want to transmit. For example, wayfinding on a college campus shouldn’t get mixed up with menu choices for lunch. The reality is that an entire content creation team, calendar, and strategy should be deployed to get the most out of your signage. This implies weighing the costs of having the work done in-house, by freelancers, or through a professionally managed service/agency. 

IT Support & Maintenance

Every digital system will require maintenance and troubleshooting from time to time. Consequently, capable and experienced in-house IT teams might be able to handle this on their own. If not, it makes sense to outsource it. The advantage of outsourcing is that digital signage specialists know exactly how to approach a problem. They can fix issues faster, and in most cases, have a lower overall cost.

Depreciation

For digital church sign costs, digital menu board costs, or any other organization’s digital signage costs, it makes sense to consider depreciation. Depreciation is an accounting method of allocating the cost of a tangible or physical asset over its useful life or life expectancy. This method helps you cushion the economic impact of buying digital signs as well as taking into account the normal wear and tear of the hardware.

Depreciating digital signage assets helps companies earn revenue from an asset. You can do this while expending a portion of the signage cost each year the signs are in use. Especially for larger projects, if depreciation isn’t taken into account, it can significantly affect profits. Businesses can depreciate long-term assets for both tax and accounting purposes. For example, you can take a tax deduction for the cost of your signage fleet, thus reducing your taxable income. 

Digital Signage Cost Breakdown

As a review, these are the items that you need to consider to get your signage project off the ground:

• Display screens
• Media Player
• Display mounts & cables
• Installation
• Provisioning
• Purchased software

How Much Does Digital Signage Cost by Category

Here’s a graphic representation of the costs (your costs may vary from this example depending on factors such as display size, hardware quality, labor costs, etc.):

Ongoing Digital Sign Costs

These items are monthly or as-needed costs to keep your signs up and running:

• Cloud-based Software Licensing (SaaS)
• Content Creation
• IT Support & Maintenance

Tips to keep Digital Signage Costs Down

Leveraging Dynamic Content

Making sure the right content goes out at the right time to the right audience improves message impact and conversions. Methods to improve content dynamics will improve the content ROI.

Professionally Curated Content Feeds

Content curation finds and selects high-quality, relevant content for a specific industry or topic. One can pay to purchase these services, which will likely result in the conservation of in-house resources and time.

Independent VLANs to Reduce IT Expenses

VLANs can keep network applications separate. Whether they are in the same physical network or not. Therefore, avoiding the need for multiple sets of cabling and networking devices to be deployed.

Technology Lifecycle & Obsolescence

Hardware doesn’t last forever. Moreover, software updates are important. This is because it will eventually become outdated if it’s not. This means you need to plan ahead for replacement. 

Optimize Technology Refresh Costs

The key here is to plan for this from the moment you install the technology, or even sooner. For instance, when purchasing, it makes sense to standardize (buy all the same model) if possible. This allows you to better predict the product lifecycle. Also, you might plan for a phased approach to refresh your hardware, perhaps starting with media players and then later video displays in a stepwise fashion. As a rule of thumb, major pieces of technology usually last between 3-5 years. In addition, this varies depending on hours per week of use and environmental factors (outdoor vs. indoor, etc.).

Are the Digital Signage Prices Worth It?

It’s plain to see that digital signs are a business investment. However, the question remains: will your return on investment (ROI) be worth it? Our world increasingly uses visual methods of communication. The value of having signage that appropriately transmits your organization’s message has become more important than ever. Plus, digital signage offers a wide range of advantages, such as:

• Ability to adapt message & content quickly
• Can craft signage to match special events, seasons, or promotions
• Capability to integrate signage with the organization’s digital messaging campaign
• Respond to health and security alerts faster
• Modify messaging in real time
• Ensuring that messages are current and relevant
• Ability to stand out from the competition

In the end, each business must decide for itself if the advantages are worth the cost. In addition, with the right amount of planning, nearly any organization can find a digital sign solution that fits their needs and budget.