Have you ever seen these “digital posters” in malls, bubble tea shops, or office buildings? They’re 10 times brighter than traditional paper posters, play animations and promotional videos, and even show real-time food delivery orders—that’s the LED poster screen.
But did you know? A 1-meter-wide LED poster screen can cost 3,000 yuan or 10,000 yuan. What’s the difference?
Today, an insider breaks down the 8 “price-influencing factors” of LED poster screens to help you avoid overpaying or buying the wrong one!
A LED poster screen is a digital display made from LED light beads. Unlike static paper posters, it shows dynamic content—pictures, videos, real-time data (weather, inventory), and lets you update content remotely (no more climbing ladders to paste posters!).
Its biggest advantages:
Eye-catching: Dynamic visuals get 3x more attention than static posters.
Flexible: Swap promotions in 10 minutes—no printing delays.
Long-lasting: Lasts 5–10 years (way cheaper than reprinting paper posters).
II. 8 Factors That Influence LED Poster Screen Prices
The price gap between cheap and expensive LED poster screens comes down to these 8 details:
1. Pixel Pitch: Clarity = Cost
Pixel pitch (distance between LED beads, e.g., P2.5 = 2.5mm) determines how clear your screen is. Smaller pitch = denser LEDs = sharper images = higher cost.
A poster LED screen displaying advertisements for the cold beverage industry
An LED display screen showcasing an ice cream advertisement
A poster LED display undergoing testing in a factory production workshop
P2.5–P3: Great for close viewing (e.g., tea shop counters, 1-meter distance). Smartphone-like clarity. Price: ~8,000–12,000 RMB/sqm.
P4–P5: Good for medium viewing (e.g., mall entrances, 3–5 meters). Clear but not ultra-detailed. Price: ~4,000–6,000 RMB/sqm.
P6–P8: For long viewing (e.g., outdoor plazas, 10 meters). Legible for large text. Price: ~2,000–3,000 RMB/sqm.
Example: A 1m × 0.5m screen costs 4,000–6,000 RMB for P2.5 but only 2,000–3,000 RMB for P5. The extra money buys “clarity” you’ll only notice if you’re close.
2. Size: Match It to Viewing Distance (Don’t Buy Too Big!)
LED poster screen size isn’t about “bigger is better”—it’s about “fitting where viewers stand”:
Small (0.4×0.6m): Cash registers, close viewing (1 meter). Price: ~1,500–3,000 RMB.
Medium (1×0.5m): Mall aisles, medium viewing (3–5 meters). Price: ~3,000–6,000 RMB.
Large (2×1m): Outdoor plazas, long viewing (10 meters). Price: ~8,000–15,000 RMB.
Note: A 2-meter screen at a cash register is overkill—it’ll be too glaring for customers standing 1 meter away!
3. Brightness: Indoor vs. Outdoor Needs 3x More Nits
Brightness (measured in nits) is how well your screen fights light. More nits = more visible = higher cost:
Indoor: 500–1,000 nits (tea shops, offices). Cheap—no need to fight sunlight.
Outdoor: 3,000–5,000 nits (malls, plazas). Must resist direct sunlight—so pricier.
Pitfall: Using an indoor screen outdoors? It’ll look “blacked out” in the sun. You’ll end up paying double to replace it with an outdoor model.
4. Indoor vs. Outdoor Design: Waterproofing Doubles the Price
Indoor screens: No waterproofing, plastic/thin aluminum frames. Cheap. Outdoor screens: IP65 waterproof (resists rain), dustproof, thick steel/aluminum frames. Costs 50%–100% more than indoor models.
Rule: Never use indoor screens outdoors—water will burn out LEDs. Repairs cost more than buying a new outdoor screen!
5. Features: Animation vs. Interactivity = Price Jump
Basic LED poster screens only play videos. Add features, and the price goes up:
Touchscreen: Let customers tap to order (e.g., 奶茶 shops). +20%–30% cost.
Real-time data: Connect to ERP (inventory) or weather APIs. +30%–50% cost.
High refresh rate: Smooth videos (3840Hz vs. 1920Hz). +15%–25% cost.
Example: A basic 1m screen costs 3,000 RMB. A touchscreen? 4,000 RMB. A real-time data screen? 4,500 RMB.
6. Brand & Quality: Cheap = Short Lifespan
Top brands (e.g., XVisual) use quality components:
Imported LED chips (Samsung, Epistar).
High-temperature IC drivers (no overheating).
100,000-hour lifespan (8 hours/day = 34 years!).
2-year on-site warranty.
Price: ~6,000–12,000 RMB/sqm.
Small brands/white labels:
Cheap domestic chips.
50,000-hour lifespan (8 hours/day = 17 years).
Self-shipping for repairs (no on-site help).
Price: ~2,000–4,000 RMB/sqm.
Math: A top brand screen lasts twice as long as a cheap one. It’s cheaper long-term.
7. Materials: Frames & LEDs Hide Costs
Hardware adds up faster than you think:
Frames: Steel (~200 RMB/sqm) is cheap but heavy. Aluminum (~400 RMB/sqm) is light and rust-proof. Magnesium alloy (~800 RMB/sqm) is ultra-light but expensive.
LED Chips: Imported (~1.5 RMB/unit) vs. domestic (~0.5 RMB/unit). A 1sqm screen uses 1,000 LEDs—imported chips add 1,000 RMB.
PCB Boards: Double-layer (stable, ~100 RMB/board) vs. single-layer (prone to failure, ~50 RMB/board).
Example: A 1sqm screen with imported LEDs and an aluminum frame costs 1,200 RMB more than one with domestic LEDs and a steel frame.
8. Control System: Real-Time Content = Higher Cost
Asynchronous control: Store content on a USB drive (fixed videos). Cheap (~500–1,000 RMB). Synchronous control: Stream real-time content (live broadcasts, inventory updates). Pricier (~1,500–3,000 RMB).
Use case: Small shops = asynchronous (cost-effective). Exhibitions = synchronous (needs real-time content).
III. Common Questions About LED Poster Screens
1. Is a smaller pixel pitch always better?
No. For a mall entrance (5-meter viewing), a P5 screen is clear enough. A P2.5 screen is 3x more expensive—but customers won’t notice the difference.
2. Can indoor screens be used outdoors?
Absolutely not! Water and dust will burn out LEDs and power supplies. Repairs cost more than buying a new outdoor screen.
3. What’s the lifespan?
Typically 50,000–100,000 hours. At 8 hours/day, that’s 17–34 years! Key: Clean dust regularly—dust blocks heat and shortens lifespan.
4. How to choose the size?
Use this formula: Size = Viewing distance × 0.1–0.2.
Last Word: A LED poster screen’s price is the sum of clarity, features, and durability. Choose right, and it’ll be a “customer magnet” for years. Choose wrong, and it’ll be a space-wasting paperweight.
Next time you shop, ask: “What problem do I need this screen to solve?”—the answer will save you money!
