How to choose the right LED strip
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LED STRIP
How do you choose LED strip lighting when the spec sheets talk about 12V or 24V, 60 or 120 LEDs per metre, IP20 or IP67, CRI 80 or 90? By answering five questions, in order. This guide takes them one at a time, for under-cabinet as much as for the deck or the sign. At LEDCO, the rule is simple: 24V for most projects, a CRI of 90 or more in living spaces, and an aluminum profile as soon as the strip is visible.
How to choose LED strip lighting: the five questions, in order
A strip is chosen one question at a time, and the first one is not the colour. Here is the order that avoids returns:
- Voltage: 12V or 24V, depending on the length of the run and the power supply available.
- Density: the number of LEDs per metre, which decides whether you see dots or a line.
- IP rating: dry, damp or under water.
- Colour rendering: CRI 80 for a hidden cove, CRI 90 and above wherever you look at food, fabric or faces.
- Colour temperature: warm, neutral or cool white, or a CCT strip that moves from one to the other.
The sixth question, the finish, comes last: bare strip, flex neon or strip in an aluminum profile.
12V or 24V: voltage decides the length
Voltage is the first parameter because it sets the maximum length you can feed from a single point without voltage drop. A 12V strip suits short segments, around 5 metres at most; beyond that, the first LEDs shine brighter than the last. A 24V LED strip accepts longer continuous runs, which makes it the choice for corridors, coves and decks, and the one LEDCO recommends for most projects. 12V and 24V power supplies are then chosen according to the total wattage of the run. For a very long run with no power supply, there is also the 120V LED strip, which plugs in directly.
Density: 60, 120 LEDs per metre or more, the line without dots
Density determines how even the light is. A low-density strip (30 to 60 LEDs per metre) shows dots separated by dark zones: acceptable for a cove where the strip stays hidden, insufficient anywhere you see it. A dense strip (120 to 180 LEDs per metre) gives a continuous line with no grain, ideal under cabinets or in a visible profile. A profile's diffuser softens the light, but it cannot make up for too much spacing between the LEDs.
IP rating: IP20 in dry areas, IP65 and up near water
The IP rating tells you what the strip tolerates. Here are the steps that matter:
- IP20: dry interiors only, under-cabinet, cove, closet.
- IP44: splashing water, bathroom outside the splash zone, garage, sunroom.
- IP65: water jets, covered deck, outdoor kitchen, wet area.
- IP67: temporary immersion up to 1 metre for 30 minutes, pool, garden in the rain.
- IP68: continuous immersion, basin and fountain.
In Quebec, outdoor LED strips rated IP65 or higher are the rule outside. For a sauna, where heat and humidity combine, see our page on LED sauna lights. For a butcher or bakery display case, there is the 16W/m food-grade LED strip.
CRI 90 and colour temperature: a white that does not betray colours
CRI measures how faithfully a light renders colours compared with daylight (CRI 100). A CRI 80 strip is fine for general ambiance, but it can distort food, clothing and artwork. A CRI 90 and above strip renders colours markedly better: essential under kitchen cabinets, in a hair salon or a boutique.
Colour temperature, in kelvins, defines the tint of the white. 2700 to 3000K: warm, for the living room, bedroom, restaurant. 3500 to 4000K: neutral, for the kitchen, bathroom, office. 5000 to 6500K: cool, for the workshop, warehouse, garage. A CCT strip moves from 2700 to 6500K from a controller.
Bare strip, flex neon or aluminum profile: the finish
A bare strip ages faster, shows its dots and takes knocks. An aluminum profile dissipates heat, diffuses the light through its frosted cover, protects the strip and gives a clean finish; our profiles come in recessed, surface and corner versions. Flex neon LED is the other finish: a flexible sleeve that gives a continuous line with no profile and bends to follow a curve or draw a sign. Our custom Designer cuts profiles and strips to the exact dimensions of your project; the page why choose aluminum profiles goes further.
Technical tips for choosing and installing LED strip lighting
Measure the run before choosing the voltage. A short run is fine on 12V; a long continuous run calls for 24V.
Choose the density for where the strip is seen. A strip hidden in a cove forgives dots; a strip in a visible profile does not.
Go up one IP step near water or frost. An IP20 in a bathroom or an IP44 outdoors always ends up failing.
The power supply stays accessible and dry. It goes outside the wet area, somewhere ventilated, and is sized on the total wattage.
One white per room. Mixing 3000K under the cabinets and 4000K in the cove shows right away.
Choosing LED strip lighting FAQ
What should I look for in LED strip lights for a bedroom?
A warm white of 2700 to 3000K, a CRI of 90 or more, and a dimmable strip to bring the light down in the evening. Behind a headboard or in a cove, a 24V strip in a profile with a diffuser gives a soft line with no visible dots.
How long a strip can be fed from a single point?
On 12V, around 5 metres; on 24V, noticeably more. Beyond that, you feed the run from both ends or split it into several segments connected to the same power supply.
How can I tell whether a strip in an alcove will give an even line?
Three things matter: a high density, a profile with a frosted diffuser, and some distance between the strip and the lit surface. Too close to the wall and too sparse, the strip draws its dots; pull it back or go up in density.
How do I identify the type of strip I already have?
The voltage is printed on the circuit board, near the cut marks. Then count the LEDs over one metre for the density, and look at the sleeve: a bare strip is IP20, a strip under silicone is waterproof.
How do I install an LED strip?
On a clean, dry surface, preferably in a screwed-down profile, with the power supply outside the wet area. The 120V connection belongs to the electrician. For a ready-to-install fixture cut to your lengths, use the Designer or contact LEDCO.
