Best Emergency Exit Signs

Updated July 2020
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Sunco Double-Faced LED Emergency Exit Sign with Headlights
Sunco
Double-Faced LED Emergency Exit Sign with Headlights
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Bottom Line

With an extra face plate for optional double-sided use and fire-resistant plastic exterior, this energy-efficient model gets top marks for its combination of safety features and functionality.

Pros

Option to use a double-sided face is a nice benefit for users who may have people exiting a building from multiple sides. Plastic is fire-resistant. Bright headlights and the exit sign itself can run on battery backup if the power goes out. Initial assembly and setup is easy to accomplish. Unit consumes an efficient 2 watts when in operation.

Cons

For those who play music through FM radio in a business environment, this unit may interfere with their signal.

Best Bang for the Buck
Ciata Red LED Exit Sign and Emergency Light Combo
Ciata
Red LED Exit Sign and Emergency Light Combo
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Bottom Line

This battery-powered model offers up to 90 minutes of emergency illumination. With no need for wiring, installation is the simplest of any model we considered.

Pros

Simplicity of installation is a key benefit of this model. Since the unit is battery powered, all that is required is mounting the housing to the wall or ceiling. Backup battery will automatically switch to internal battery power in an emergency situation and stay lit for up to 90 minutes. Unit includes a bi-color indicator light to alert users of the battery level.

Cons

The housing is not as thick as some other units, especially around the headlights, which may crack or come off more easily than some models.

LFI Lights Hardwired Red LED Exit Sign with Emergency Lights
LFI Lights
Hardwired Red LED Exit Sign with Emergency Lights
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Bottom Line

The ease of installation and no-glare LED lighting are the primary benefits of this flame-retardant thermoplastic model.

Pros

Quick connect feature makes installation fast and easy. Thick thermoplastic housing will avoid damage in a fire to continue working through an emergency. NiCad battery backup maintains lighting during a power outage. LED lighting fixtures are designed to avoid glare, simplifying the egress procedure during an emergency situation.

Cons

Some users report these LED lights are dimmer than some bulb-lit models.

eTopLighting LED Emergency Light Exit Sign
eTopLighting
LED Emergency Light Exit Sign
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Bottom Line

This basic LED exit sign includes a battery backup for emergency situations, and is a good option for smaller rooms or businesses.

Pros

Lack of headlights on this model is not a problem in locations with a short distance from work space to doorway, where visibility is less of an issue. Battery backup ensures the sign remains illuminated during a power loss. Installation of the battery backup and the unit itself is simple. Unit includes an indicator light for tracking battery charge level.

Cons

The battery backup on this unit will lose charge quickly compared to other units.

NightBright USA Red Photoluminescent Exit Sign
NightBright USA
Red Photoluminescent Exit Sign
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Bottom Line

With no wiring or battery power, this simple, well-built exit sign is a good option for those in well-lit locations or with dependable lighting sources in an emergency.

Pros

Unit is made from metal material that is solid and durable. No wiring is required for installation. Photoluminescent sign is designed to glow in the dark. We were surprised at how visible this exit sign was in dark environments. Considering its size and brightness, visibility should not be a concern.

Cons

While the sign is easily visible in the dark, the lack of lighting means the area around the sign may not be as visible as with other LED-lit models.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

19 Models Considered
6 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
134 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

Emergency exit signs mark an unobstructed path from inside a building to a safe point outdoors. Playing an important role in the safety of people, these tend to be heavily regulated in terms of the design and placement of the sign. As a result, buying emergency exit signs requires learning about the particular codes and regulations in your area in order to be compliant with local laws. These regulations differ in some degree, but almost all of them, especially federal codes, require the sign to be clearly visible along exit routes so people can move efficiently during an emergency event when visibility is obscured by darkness or smoke.

Other Products We Considered
The BestReviews editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks. These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5.
FREELICHT
Exit Signs with Emergency Lights
FREELICHT
Exit Signs 4-Pack with Emergency Lights
Kickfire Classics
Photo-Luminescent Exit Sign
Hykolity
Ultra-Slim LED Exit Sign
Jessup Manufacturing Company
UL-Listed 50' Glo Brite Exit Sign
The team that worked on this review
  • Melinda
    Melinda
    Web Producer
×

Sunco

Double-Faced LED Emergency Exit Sign with Headlights

Sunco

Double-Faced LED Emergency Exit Sign with Headlights

With an extra face plate for optional double-sided use and fire-resistant plastic exterior, this energy-efficient model gets top marks for its combination of safety features and functionality.
$41
×

LFI Lights

Hardwired Red LED Exit Sign with Emergency Lights

LFI Lights

Hardwired Red LED Exit Sign with Emergency Lights

The ease of installation and no-glare LED lighting are the primary benefits of this flame-retardant thermoplastic model.

$34
×

Ciata

Red LED Exit Sign and Emergency Light Combo

Ciata

Red LED Exit Sign and Emergency Light Combo

This battery-powered model offers up to 90 minutes of emergency illumination. With no need for wiring, installation is the simplest of any model we considered.
$31
×

eTopLighting

LED Emergency Light Exit Sign

eTopLighting

LED Emergency Light Exit Sign

This basic LED exit sign includes a battery backup for emergency situations, and is a good option for smaller rooms or businesses.
$21
×

NightBright USA

Red Photoluminescent Exit Sign

NightBright USA

Red Photoluminescent Exit Sign

With no wiring or battery power, this simple, well-built exit sign is a good option for those in well-lit locations or with dependable lighting sources in an emergency.
$48

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