Buying Guide to Types of LED Strip Lights (with Images)

Do you feel lost when shopping for LED strip lights? There are so many types out there, it can make your head spin! This guide breaks down the different kinds of LED strip lights, from basic single-color to fancy RGB options. We'll show you what makes each type special, where they work best, and what to look for when buying. Whether you're sprucing up your home or planning a big project, our visual guide will help you pick the perfect LED strip without all the guesswork.

What Are LED Strip Lights?

LED strip lights are flexible circuit boards equipped with surface-mounted light-emitting diodes (SMD LEDs) and other components, designed for versatile lighting applications. These strips are typically thin and can be cut to length, allowing for easy installation in various settings. They operate on low-voltage DC power and come with adhesive backing for mounting on different surfaces. LED strip lights offer a wide range of colors and brightness levels, making them ideal for accent lighting, backlighting, and decorative purposes.

Different Types of LED Strip Lights

Single-Color LED Strips

Single-color LED strips, also known as monochrome strips, are flexible circuit boards embedded with LEDs that emit a consistent color. These strips are available in various shades, including multiple whites (warm, neutral, cool) and vibrant colors like red, green, and blue. They are designed for simplicity, requiring no additional controllers to produce the desired color.

• Applications: Single-color LED strips serve various purposes:
  • Accent Lighting: Used to highlight architectural features or create ambient lighting in homes and businesses.
  • Task Lighting: Provides clear illumination for specific areas such as kitchen counters or workstations.
  • Commercial Branding: Enhances brand visibility by matching corporate colors in retail or exhibition spaces.
  • Stage Lighting: Delivers consistent and vivid lighting for performances and events.
  • Outdoor Use: Weatherproof options are suitable for lighting patios, decks, and landscapes.
• Technical Features:
  • Available in different densities and lengths to accommodate various brightness needs and installation spaces.
  • Offered with varying IP ratings for water resistance, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments.
  • Equipped with adhesive backing for easy installation and can be cut to size at designated points.

Adjustable/Tunable White LED Strips

Adjustable or tunable white LED strips are lighting solutions that allow users to modify the color temperature of the emitted light. These strips integrate both cool and warm white LEDs, enabling a seamless transition between different white light hues, typically ranging from 2700K (warm white) to 6500K (cool white). By using a controller—either wired, wireless, or via an app—users can adjust the brightness and color temperature to suit various lighting preferences and needs.

• Applications: Tunable white LED strips are versatile and can be used in numerous settings:
  • Residential Spaces: They provide adaptable lighting for living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, enhancing comfort and ambiance by allowing users to switch between cozy warm tones and energizing cool whites.
  • Office Environments: These strips help create optimal working conditions by adjusting the light tone to match natural daylight patterns, potentially improving productivity and reducing eye strain.
  • Commercial Settings: In retail stores or showrooms, tunable white LED strips can be used to highlight products under different lighting conditions throughout the day.
  • Healthcare Facilities: They support well-being by mimicking natural light cycles, which can be beneficial in patient rooms or therapy areas.
  • Hospitality Industry: Hotels and restaurants use these strips to create dynamic atmospheres that can be tailored to different times of day or events.

RGB LED Strips

RGB LED strips are flexible lighting solutions that incorporate red, green, and blue LEDs on a single strip. By adjusting the intensity of each color, these strips can produce a vast spectrum of colors, effectively allowing for the creation of up to 16.8 million different hues. This capability is achieved through color mixing, where the red, green, and blue light combine in various proportions to form different colors.

• Applications: RGB LED strips are widely used in settings that benefit from dynamic and customizable lighting effects:
  • Entertainment Spaces: These strips are popular in home theaters, gaming rooms, and bars, where they can create vibrant atmospheres and enhance the visual experience.
  • Mood Lighting: In residential and commercial environments, RGB strips can be used to set different moods by changing colors according to the time of day or specific events.
  • Decorative Installations: They are often used in creative projects and art installations to provide eye-catching visual effects.
  • Stage and Event Lighting: RGB strips are ideal for concerts and events where dynamic lighting is required to match performances or themes.
• Technical Features:
  • Many RGB LED strips are addressable, meaning each LED can be controlled individually for more complex lighting patterns and animations.
  • They typically operate on low-voltage DC power and come with controllers that allow users to change colors and patterns via remote control or smartphone apps.
  • RGB LED strips can be cut to size at designated points, making them adaptable to various installation spaces.

RGBW and RGB+CCT LED Strips

RGBW and RGB+CCT LED strips are designed with additional white LEDs to enhance color blending and provide adjustable white lighting options. RGBW strips include a dedicated white LED, allowing for both vibrant colors and pure white light. RGB+CCT strips go further by incorporating both cool and warm white LEDs, enabling users to adjust the color temperature from warm to cool white, alongside the full spectrum of RGB colors.

• Applications:
  • Residential Lighting: These strips offer flexibility for home environments, allowing users to create colorful atmospheres or switch to functional white lighting for tasks.
  • Commercial Spaces: Useful in retail and showroom settings, they enhance product displays with dynamic lighting while maintaining options for neutral white light.
  • Offices and Workspaces: Provide adjustable lighting conditions that can mimic natural daylight, which may improve productivity and comfort.
  • Entertainment Venues: Used in bars, clubs, and theaters to create immersive experiences with the ability to transition to neutral white lighting when needed.
  • Art Installations: Enable artists to experiment with a wide range of colors and precise white tones for desired visual effects.

Pixel RGB (Addressable) LED Strips

Pixel RGB, or addressable LED strips, are advanced lighting solutions that allow for individual control of each LED on the strip. This capability is made possible by integrated circuit chips (ICs) embedded within or attached to each LED, enabling complex lighting patterns and animations. Each LED can display different colors and brightness levels simultaneously, offering a high degree of customization and control.

• Applications:
  • Creative Installations: Used in art installations and architectural projects where intricate light displays are required.
  • Stage and Event Lighting: Provide dynamic lighting effects for concerts, theater productions, and other live events.
  • Home Automation: Enhance smart home systems with customizable lighting scenes that can be programmed to change automatically.
  • Decorative Lighting: Popular in holiday displays and themed decorations due to their ability to create vibrant and animated effects.

SMD and COB LED Strips

SMD (Surface-Mounted Device):

SMD LED strips feature individual LED chips mounted on a flexible circuit board. They are known for their versatility and are available in various chip sizes, such as 2830, 3528, and 5050. SMD LEDs emit light with a narrower beam angle compared to COB LEDs, making them suitable for applications requiring focused lighting.

Applications: Commonly used for general illumination, accent lighting, and areas where directional light is needed.

COB (Chip On Board):
COB LED strips consist of multiple LED chips mounted directly onto a single substrate or circuit board. This configuration provides a continuous and uniform light output without visible hotspots. COB LEDs have a wider beam angle and produce more lumens per watt than SMD LEDs, resulting in higher efficiency.

Applications: Suitable for applications requiring intense illumination with minimal glare, such as task lighting or areas needing broad light coverage.

Specialty LED Strips

• Black PCB Strips: These LED strips have a black printed circuit board, which helps them blend into dark surfaces. This feature makes them suitable for installations where the strip should remain unobtrusive when not in use, such as in theaters or dark-themed interiors.
• Multi-Row Strips: Multi-row LED strips feature two or more rows of LEDs on a single strip, providing a larger light source and increased brightness compared to single-row strips. They are used in applications requiring high illumination levels, such as workshops, garages, or commercial spaces where substantial light output is necessary.
• Side-Emitting Strips: Side-emitting LED strips are designed to project light sideways, rather than upwards. This makes them useful for installations where the strip needs to be hidden from view, such as under shelving or along edges. They are commonly used for indirect lighting applications and in tight spaces where traditional lighting solutions do not fit.

These specialty LED strips cater to specific lighting needs and installation requirements, offering solutions that standard LED strips do not address.

Factors to Consider When Buying LED Strip Lights

Density and Brightness

LED strip density, measured in LEDs per meter, directly impacts brightness and power consumption. Higher density strips provide increased luminosity but require more power. For example, a strip with 60 LEDs/m will be significantly brighter than one with 30 LEDs/m, but it will also consume more energy.

The choice of density depends on the intended use:

• High-density strips (60+ LEDs/m): Ideal for task lighting or areas requiring intense illumination
• Medium-density strips (30-60 LEDs/m): Suitable for general ambient lighting
• Low-density strips (<30 LEDs/m): Appropriate for accent lighting or subtle visual effects

It's important to note that brightness is also influenced by the quality of the LEDs and the efficiency of the phosphor coating in white LEDs.

Voltage and Power Requirements

LED strips typically operate on either 12V or 24V DC power. The choice between these voltages affects installation flexibility and performance over longer runs:

• 12V strips: More common and compatible with a wider range of power supplies. However, they are more susceptible to voltage drop over long distances.
• 24V strips: Better suited for longer installations due to reduced voltage drop, resulting in more consistent brightness along the strip.

When selecting a power supply, it's crucial to match the voltage of the LED strip and ensure sufficient wattage. A general rule of thumb is to choose a power supply with 20% more capacity than the total wattage of the LED strip to allow for peak demands and ensure longevity.

Waterproofing and Durability

The Ingress Protection (IP) rating of LED strips indicates their resistance to water and dust. This rating is particularly important for installations in humid environments or outdoor settings:

• IP20: No water protection, suitable for dry indoor environments
• IP65: Protected against water jets, appropriate for damp indoor areas
• IP67: Can withstand temporary immersion, suitable for outdoor use
• IP68: Offers protection against continuous submersion, ideal for underwater applications

Higher IP ratings generally correspond to increased durability but may also result in reduced flexibility and higher costs. It's essential to balance protection needs with practical considerations for your specific installation.

Smart Home Integration

Modern LED strip lights often feature smart capabilities, allowing integration with home automation systems.

• Compatibility with popular voice assistants (e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit)
• Smartphone app control for remote operation and scheduling
• Color temperature adjustability for white light strips
• RGB color mixing capabilities for full-spectrum color control

When selecting smart LED strips, consider the ecosystem compatibility and the range of features that align with your automation goals. Some advanced systems offer features like music synchronization or adaptive lighting based on time of day or ambient conditions.

Installation Tips

Mounting Options

LED strip lights can be installed using adhesive backing, clips, or channels. The adhesive backing on most strips allows for easy peel-and-stick application to clean, smooth surfaces. Clips provide a more secure hold and can be useful for uneven surfaces or overhead installations. Aluminum channels offer a professional look and help diffuse light evenly.

Cutting and Connecting Strips

LED strips can be cut to size at designated cutting points, usually marked every few inches along the strip. To create custom layouts or extend the length, use connectors or solder the strips together. Solderless connectors are available for easier connections without specialized tools.

Table Summary

FAQs about Types of LED Strip Lights

What does 5050 mean for LED lights?

The term "5050" in LED lights refers to the dimensions of the LED chip. Specifically, 5050 LED chips measure 5.0mm x 5.0mm, hence the designation. These chips are notable for containing three LED diodes within a single housing, often referred to as tri-chips. 5050 LEDs are significantly brighter than their 3528 counterparts, typically producing about 10-20 lumens per LED. They're versatile and commonly used in applications requiring higher brightness, such as accent lighting, under-cabinet lighting, and outdoor illumination.

What is the difference between 2835, 3528 and 5050 LED strips?

What is the most common used LED on a LED strip?

While SMD 3528 chips were once the most common, the landscape has evolved. Currently, SMD 2835 LEDs are the most widely used in LED strips. These chips offer an excellent balance of efficiency, brightness, and cost-effectiveness. They measure 2.8mm x 3.5mm and typically produce 20-30 lumens per LED. SMD 2835 chips are popular for their versatility, suitable for various applications from home lighting to commercial spaces.

How to identify LED type?

LED types are identified by a four-digit code that represents their dimensions:

1. First Two Digits: Width of the LED package in tenths of a millimeter.
2. Last Two Digits: Length of the LED package in tenths of a millimeter.

For example:

• 3528 LED: 3.5mm wide, 2.8mm long
• 5050 LED: 5.0mm wide, 5.0mm long
• 2835 LED: 2.8mm wide, 3.5mm long

Additionally, other factors like color temperature (measured in Kelvin), luminous flux (measured in lumens), and color rendering index (CRI) can help further identify and differentiate LED types.

What is the strongest LED strip light?

The strongest LED strip lights typically use SMD 5730 or SMD 5630 LEDs. These high-power LEDs can produce up to 50-60 lumens per LED, making them significantly brighter than other types. Key features include:

• Dimensions: 5.7mm x 3.0mm
• Power consumption: 0.5W per LED
• Applications: High-bay lighting, outdoor flood lighting, and commercial spaces

However, it's important to note that "strongest" can depend on the specific application. For some uses, COB (Chip on Board) LED strips might be considered stronger due to their high density and even light distribution.

What are 3 kinds of lighting LEDs can replace?

LEDs can effectively replace various traditional lighting types:

1. Incandescent Bulbs: LEDs can replace 40W, 60W, 75W, and 100W incandescent bulbs, offering similar light output with significantly less energy consumption.
2. Fluorescent Tubes: LED tubes can replace T8, T12, and T5 fluorescent tubes, providing better energy efficiency and longer lifespan.
3. Halogen Lamps: LED alternatives for halogen lamps offer comparable brightness and color rendering, especially useful in track lighting and outdoor floodlights.

Additionally, LEDs are increasingly replacing HID (High-Intensity Discharge) lamps in street lighting and industrial applications, offering better energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs.

What are the disadvantages of LED light strips?

While LED strip lights offer numerous benefits, they do have some drawbacks:

1. Color Consistency: Over time, LEDs may experience color shifting, especially in cheaper products.
2. Heat Management: Without proper heat dissipation, LED strips can overheat, reducing lifespan and performance.
3. Voltage Drop: Longer strips may suffer from voltage drop, causing uneven brightness.
4. Initial Cost: Quality LED strips can be more expensive upfront compared to traditional lighting options.
5. Repair Difficulty: If a section fails, it can be challenging to repair without replacing the entire strip.
6. Power Supply Requirements: LED strips often need specific power supplies, adding to complexity and cost.