LED or LCD? Indoor or outdoor? How many nits do I need? What Pixel Pitch suits my storefront? These are the questions we receive daily from shop owners, hospitality managers and communications officers who want to add an LED screen to their business. This guide answers all of them clearly and practically.

What is a professional LED screen?

A direct-view LED screen is a modular visual solution made up of panels (cabinets) assembled together to create a surface of any size without visible frames. Each pixel is composed of a group of RGB diodes that emit their own light, allowing it to display over 16 million colors with sharpness and brightness far superior to a conventional LCD screen.

How much size do I need?

The optimal screen size depends on the distance at which the audience will be. As a general rule of thumb, you need approximately 10–15 cm of screen height for every meter of viewing distance so content is viewed comfortably.

For a storefront with customers at 3 meters, a screen 1.5–2 m wide is a good starting point. For an auditorium with attendees at 15 meters, you'll need a minimum of 3–4 meters across.

Thanks to the modular cabinet structure, LEDLEMON can manufacture the screen with the exact dimensions your space needs: neither larger than necessary nor smaller than optimal.

What Pixel Pitch do I need?

Pixel Pitch (P + number) expresses the distance in millimeters between LED diodes. The smaller the Pixel Pitch, the higher the resolution and sharpness at short distance. The rule is simple: the Pixel Pitch in millimeters should match the minimum viewing distance in meters.

  • Storefront or small room (audience at 2–4 m): P2.6 or P3.91.
  • Interior of store or restaurant (audience at 5–8 m): P3.91 or P4.
  • Outdoor close-range or façade (audience at 5–15 m): P4 to P6.
  • Roadside billboard or large format (audience at more than 15 m): P8 to P16.

How much brightness do I need?

Brightness, measured in nits (cd/m²), determines whether the screen is visible in its installation environment:

  • Indoor (without direct sunlight): 1,000–1,500 nits are sufficient for an attractive image that is not harsh on the eyes.
  • Storefront with indirect sunlight: 2,500–4,000 nits to guarantee visibility on cloudy days and with some sun.
  • Outdoor with direct sunlight: more than 5,000 nits. LEDLEMON's outdoor models reach up to 10,000 nits.

Indoor or outdoor? The IP protection rating

Outdoor screens need protection against water, dust, temperature variations and wind. IP65 rating or higher guarantees that the screen can withstand direct rain and operate in adverse weather conditions without problems. Indoor screens do not require this protection, making them more economical.

Steps to choose your LED screen

  1. Define the distance at which the audience will be → determines the Pixel Pitch.
  2. Measure the available space → defines the screen dimensions.
  3. Assess light exposure → decide the brightness level and whether you need IP65.
  4. Consult with LEDLEMON → we propose the optimal combination for your quote.

LED screens for businesses beyond retail

This guide was written with storefronts and shops in mind, but the same criteria —size, Pixel Pitch, brightness and IP65— apply to choosing LED screens for businesses in any sector. What changes is the use, not the engineering:

  • Hospitality: restaurants, bars and hotels install the screen indoors to set the mood and display the menu or offers, using the same close-range Pixel Pitch (P2.6 or P3.91) recommended for the interior of a venue; we cover this in "LED screen for restaurants."
  • Offices: in receptions, lobbies and meeting rooms, the screen displays welcome messages, indicators and corporate content; we cover this in digital signage for businesses.
  • Clinics and pharmacies: beyond the classic green cross, more and more centers are adding screens for queue numbers, notices and patient communication; we look at this in LED crosses for pharmacies and clinics.
  • Real estate agencies: the storefront with a rotating listing of properties is one of the best-performing ad formats per square meter of premises; we go into detail in LED shop window displays.

Whatever your sector, the process with LEDLEMON is the same: we measure your space, recommend the Pixel Pitch and brightness, and manufacture and install a custom-made screen.

At LEDLEMON we design and install custom screens for all types of businesses. Contact us and we will advise you without obligation to develop your business's digital project.