lettersunlimited.com

Letters Unlimited ships its custom lettering pre-spaced and pre-masked with transfer tape, which means the whole word or number set installs as one piece instead of letter by letter. The process is: clean the surface, remove the paper backing, position the lettering, press it down, then peel off the transfer tape. This works on walls, windows, storefronts, vehicles, and other smooth surfaces, indoors or outdoors. The steps below cover the full sequence, what to check at each stage, and where installations usually go wrong.

What you need before you start

• Your Letters Unlimited order, which arrives pre-spaced (letters already aligned and held in position) and pre-masked with transfer tape over the face of the vinyl.
• A clean, dry, smooth surface. Vinyl needs good contact to bond, so dust, grease, and texture all work against you.
• A squeegee or a stiff plastic card, plus a pin or needle for releasing air bubbles.
• Masking tape if you want to dry-fit the position before committing.

The company cuts its lettering from 3M vinyl — standard orders use 3M Scotchcal Graphic Film Series 50 (3.5 mil, rated 5–10 years outdoor life depending on location and color), and premium orders use Avery 900 Super Cast (2 mil, rated 9–12 years). Both are intended for indoor and outdoor use, so the surface, not the material, is usually the limiting factor.

Step-by-step installation

1. Clean the surface

Wipe the area with a mild cleaner or isopropyl alcohol and let it dry completely. On painted walls, fresh paint should be fully cured first — outgassing from new paint can lift vinyl. On vehicles and glass, remove any wax or road film.

2. Dry-fit the lettering

Hold the piece in place, or tape it lightly at the top edge, and step back to check alignment, height, and spacing against your reference point. Because the letters are pre-spaced, you are positioning one unit, not individual characters — but that also means a crooked start stays crooked. This is the cheapest moment to fix it.

3. Remove the paper backing

Lay the piece face-down and peel the backing paper away from the transfer tape. The vinyl letters should stay stuck to the transfer tape. If a letter clings to the backing instead, lay the backing back down, press over that letter with your squeegee, and peel again more slowly at a shallow angle.

4. Position and press

Place the exposed vinyl against the surface, working from one edge to avoid trapping air. Once it is where you want it, squeegee firmly across the whole piece in overlapping strokes, pressing especially over the edges of each letter. Work from the center outward to push air toward the edges.

5. Peel off the transfer tape

Slowly peel the transfer tape back at a low angle, close to the surface. The vinyl should stay behind. If a letter starts to lift with the tape, press it back down with your finger or the squeegee and continue peeling. For large pieces, peel in sections rather than pulling the whole sheet at once.

6. Finish and inspect

Prick any remaining air bubbles with a pin and press them flat. Run your squeegee over the lettering once more, paying attention to edges, which are where peeling starts.

Common problems and how to avoid them

What to know about ordering and cost

Every lettering project is custom-quoted, so there is no fixed price list — you supply the project details and Letters Unlimited quotes it individually. Setup charges apply to non-basic orders, including any design work done on their end, quoted per project starting at $35 plus shipping. If your project is straightforward text in a standard font and color, ask whether it falls under basic orders before you assume a setup charge applies.

Letters Unlimited quotes every lettering project individually, so there is no fixed price list to browse. To get a quote, you describe your project in detail — the text or numbers you need, size, quantity, color, font, and intended surface — and the company prices it from those specifications. Setup charges apply to any non-basic order, including design work done on their end, and those charges are quoted per project starting at $35, plus shipping.

What the quote covers

Because pricing is custom, the accuracy of your quote depends almost entirely on how completely you describe the job. The site states plainly that customers are responsible for providing all project details.

What to include in your request

Prepare these details before you ask for a quote, since missing information is the most common reason a quote comes back incomplete or has to be revised:

• Exact text or numbers — spelling, capitalization, and punctuation as they should appear
• Size — letter height and overall dimensions
• Quantity — how many pieces or sets
• Color and font — chosen from the available range
• Surface and placement — wall, window, storefront, commercial vehicle, and whether it's indoor or outdoor
• Vinyl type — standard or premium (see below)
• Whether you need design work — this triggers the setup charge

Choosing a vinyl type before you're quoted

The vinyl you pick affects both the quote and how long the lettering lasts, so decide this before requesting pricing.

Standard Vinyl — 3M Scotchcal Graphic Film Series 50

• High performance intermediate film, 3.5 mil
• 5 to 10 year outdoor life, depending on location and color
• Suited to almost all general applications
• Note: some colors may be substituted with equal or better quality due to 3M supply issues

Premium Vinyl — Avery 900 Super Cast

• High performance cast film, 2 mil
• 9 to 12 year outdoor life, depending on location and color

If your signage faces direct sun, extreme weather, or you want the longest service life, premium is the more defensible choice. For general indoor or sheltered use, standard vinyl covers most jobs.

How the ordering process works

1. Submit your project details through the site's quick quote request or by contacting customer service.
2. Receive an individual quote covering your lettering plus any applicable setup charge and shipping.
3. Approve the quote and place your order.
4. Receive pre-spaced, pre-masked lettering — each piece arrives as a single unit with transfer tape already applied, cut to your specifications from high-performance 3M vinyl.

Installation, once your order arrives

The pre-spaced, pre-masked format is what makes installation straightforward:

1. Remove the paper backing.
2. Position the lettering as a single piece.
3. Peel off the transfer tape, leaving the vinyl securely in place.

Because the lettering is pre-spaced, you position the whole line at once rather than aligning individual characters — the main reason this format is easier to apply straight than loose letters.

Common snags to avoid

• Skipping details to get a faster answer. A vague request usually produces a vague quote, and you'll be asked to resubmit.
• Forgetting the setup charge. If your order involves design work or is otherwise non-basic, budget for at least $35 plus shipping on top of the lettering price.
• Assuming a color is guaranteed. Standard vinyl colors may be substituted with equal or better quality because of 3M supply issues.
• Ordering standard vinyl for a long-term outdoor installation. Check the 5–10 year versus 9–12 year outdoor life figures against how long you need the signage to last.

Letters Unlimited has been producing custom vinyl lettering and signage since 1984, covering storefronts, businesses, commercial vehicles, and both indoor and outdoor applications.

Letters Unlimited does not publish fixed prices for custom vinyl lettering. Every project is quoted individually, and the quote depends on the details you provide. The one published cost signal is a setup charge: any non-basic order, including design work done on the company's end, carries a setup fee starting at $35, plus shipping. That means the practical answer is: you get a price only after submitting your project specifications, and you should expect at least $35 in setup costs on top of the quoted product price unless your order qualifies as basic.

Why There Is No Standard Price List

Custom vinyl lettering is made to your exact specifications, so the variables change from order to order. According to the site, Letters Unlimited creates computer-cut, self-adhesive, pre-spaced lettering and numbers to your specifications, with a choice of colors and fonts. Because each job is cut individually, the company states plainly that "all lettering projects are custom and will be individually quoted."

This is a quote-based model, not a catalog model. You are not buying a stocked item with a shelf price; you are buying a cut-to-order product.

What Goes Into Your Quote

The site does not itemize a rate card, but it does identify the inputs that shape a project. Expect your quote to reflect:

• The text and numbers themselves — how much lettering you need.
• Size and layout — dimensions of the finished piece.
• Color and font selection — chosen from the available range.
• Vinyl type — standard versus premium material (see below).
• Project type — lettering, striping, letter sheets, decals, banners, magnetic signs, yard signs, or street signs.
• Design work — if the company has to prepare or adjust artwork for you, that falls under setup charges.
• Shipping — added on top of the quoted price.

The site is explicit that customers are responsible for providing all project details. Incomplete details mean the quote cannot be finalized.

The Setup Charge: The One Published Number

Two things are worth reading carefully here. First, $35 is a starting figure, not a flat fee — the site says setup charges "will be quoted per project, starting at $35." Second, the charge is tied to whether your order is "basic." The site does not define what counts as basic, so if your project is simple and requires no design work, it is worth asking directly whether the setup fee applies to you.

Vinyl Choice Affects Durability, and Likely Your Quote

The site lists two material tiers, which is useful context when you compare quotes or decide what to order:

Standard Vinyl — 3M Scotchcal Graphic Film Series 50

• High performance intermediate, 3.5 mil vinyl film
• 5 to 10 year outdoor life, depending on location and color
• Suited to almost all general applications
• Note: some colors may be substituted with equal or better quality due to 3M supply issues

Premium Vinyl — Avery 900 Super Cast

• High performance 2 mil cast film
• 9 to 12 year outdoor life, depending on conditions

The site does not publish a price difference between these two, so treat material choice as a question to raise when you request your quote — especially if the lettering will be outdoors year-round.

How to Get an Accurate Quote

1. Gather your project details first. Text content, approximate size, intended surface (wall, window, vehicle, sign), indoor or outdoor use, and any design files you already have.
2. Request a quote. The site offers a "Get a Quick Quote" path for this purpose.
3. State whether you need design help. This is the clearest trigger for the setup charge, so flagging it up front avoids surprises.
4. Confirm the setup fee and shipping in the returned quote, since both sit outside the base product price.
5. Ask about material tier if outdoor lifespan matters for your application.

Common Points of Confusion

• "Lowest prices" is a positioning claim, not a price. The site describes itself as affordable and low-price, but no rates are published. Do not assume a number.
• The $35 is a floor, not a total. It starts at $35 and is quoted per project.
• Shipping is separate. It is listed alongside the setup charge, not included in it.
• Basic vs. non-basic is undefined on the page. If your order is straightforward, ask whether the setup charge applies before assuming it does or does not.

The bottom line: budget for a custom quote rather than a listed price, expect a setup charge of at least $35 plus shipping on non-basic orders, and supply complete project details to get a firm number.

Letters Unlimited offers two vinyl films, and the choice comes down to how long the lettering must survive outdoors and how much surface complexity it has to conform to. Standard vinyl is 3M Scotchcal Graphic Film Series 50, a 3.5 mil intermediate film rated for roughly 5–10 years of outdoor life. Premium vinyl is Avery 900 Super Cast, a 2 mil cast film rated for roughly 9–12 years. For most flat indoor and general-purpose jobs, standard vinyl is sufficient; for long-term exterior work, curved or riveted surfaces, or maximum color stability, premium is the safer pick.

The two films side by side

Both are high-performance films, and both are computer-cut, self-adhesive, and pre-spaced with transfer tape before shipping.

What the numbers actually mean

Thickness (3.5 mil vs. 2 mil). The premium film is thinner, which matters most on surfaces that aren't perfectly flat. A thinner cast film drapes over curves, rivets, and compound bends with less risk of lifting or tenting. A thicker intermediate film is stiffer and better suited to flat panels, walls, and windows.

Film construction (intermediate vs. cast). Cast film is poured rather than calendared, so it has less built-in stress and tends to hold its dimensions and adhesion longer. That is the main reason the premium option carries the longer outdoor rating.

Outdoor life (5–10 vs. 9–12 years). Letters Unlimited notes that actual life depends on location and color — sun exposure, climate, and how dark or light the chosen color is all shift the real-world number. Treat the ranges as relative guidance, not a warranty.

Which one fits your project

Choose standard vinyl if:

• The lettering goes on a flat, smooth surface — storefront glass, an interior wall, a flat sign panel.
• The application is indoors, or outdoors in a moderate climate where 5–10 years is acceptable.
• You want the lower-cost option for a general-purpose job.

Choose premium vinyl if:

• The surface is curved, riveted, or irregular — vehicle bodies and trailers are the classic case.
• The lettering must stay put for a decade or more outdoors.
• You want the thinnest possible film for the cleanest edge on a complex surface.

One practical note from the product page: because of 3M supply issues, some standard colors may be substituted with an equal or better quality film. If an exact color match is critical, confirm the substitution before ordering.

Pricing and ordering context

All lettering projects are custom and quoted individually, so there is no flat per-square-foot rate to compare. Customers are responsible for supplying full project details. Setup charges apply to any non-basic order, including design work done on Letters Unlimited's end; these are quoted per project and start at $35, plus shipping. Because the quote is project-specific, the standard-vs-premium decision is best made before you request pricing — tell them which film you want so the quote reflects it.

Installation is the same for both films

The application process does not change with the film:

1. Remove the paper backing.
2. Position the lettering as a single pre-spaced piece.
3. Peel off the transfer tape, leaving the vinyl adhered to the surface.

The difference shows up later: on a curved or riveted surface, the stiffer standard film is more likely to lift at the edges over time, while the cast premium film conforms and stays down.

Letters Unlimited is a custom vinyl lettering and signage company that has been in business since 1984. It produces computer-cut, self-adhesive, pre-spaced vinyl lettering and numbers made to customer specifications, along with related signage products such as striping, decals, banners, and signs. It is a fit if you need custom lettering or signage for a storefront, business, commercial vehicle, wall, or window, and you can supply your own project details for a quote. It is not a self-service instant-purchase tool: all lettering projects are custom and individually quoted.

What Letters Unlimited makes

The core product is custom vinyl lettering and numbers, cut to exact specifications with clean, precise cut lines. Each piece is pre-masked with transfer tape, so it installs as a single pre-spaced unit rather than letter by letter.

The product range also includes:

• Vinyl striping
• Letter sheets and number sheets
• Decals
• Sign banners
• Magnetic signs
• Yard signs
• Street signs

Materials and durability

Two vinyl options are described on the site:

The standard vinyl is described as suitable for almost all general applications. The site notes that some colors may be substituted with equal or better quality due to 3M supply issues. Both options are intended for indoor and outdoor use.

How installation works

Installation is designed to be simple and requires no special equipment beyond the vinyl itself:

1. Remove the paper backing.
2. Position the lettering as a single piece.
3. Peel off the transfer tape, leaving the vinyl adhered to the surface.

Because the lettering arrives pre-spaced and pre-masked, you position the whole word or number set at once instead of aligning individual characters.

Pricing and ordering

Pricing is not listed on the page. Every lettering project is custom and quoted individually, and customers are responsible for providing all project details. Setup charges apply to any non-basic order, including design work done by Letters Unlimited. These charges are quoted per project, starting at $35, plus shipping.

Where it is commonly used

The vinyl is intended for surfaces including walls, windows, storefronts, businesses, and commercial vehicles, indoors or outdoors. If your project involves a flat, smooth surface and you want pre-spaced lettering you can apply yourself, this is the relevant use case. If you need a fully installed sign or a service that handles application on site, that is outside what the page describes.