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Let's guess? You installed LED strips under your cabinets 2 years ago and now they're not working. If you're ready to redo the project with the best under cabinet lighting you can get, read on.
Okay, we probably guessed wrong. You may be wanting to install under cabinet LED lighting for the first time. Why wait 2 years to regret not installing long-lasting kitchen cabinet lights? Learn from others' mistakes now by reading this article and avoid being "that person" in the future. Let's dive into the best LED light strips for under cabinet lighting for your kitchen.
There are 3 types of lighting for under cabinets, LED puck lights, LED light bars, and LED strip lights. Strip lighting is the best choice when doing LED lights for kitchen cabinets for these 3 reasons.
Puck lights, due to their non-linear design, struggle to provide uniform lighting. LED light bars on the other hand are bulkier, making them more conspicuous. You'll have to buy several different lengths to match your individual cabinets, plus they can be tricky to install.
Here are some key points to consider if you want to buy the best under cabinet lighting for kitchens.
No, if you use an LED profile, and you should be! Although it's unlikely for you LED strip to encounter water in its liquid form, there are some other enemies around. Steam and oil. Both of these are common elements in the kitchen and can cause a strip to fail.
We're not saying you can't use a waterproof LED strip as lights for under your cupboards in the kitchen. We're saying that it is not necessary when your strip is housed in a profile with end caps.
The biggest mistake persons make when they install LED cabinet lights is not using a profile/channel. Learn why you should use an LED profile by reading this article. How to Install Under Cabinet Lighting.
Most LED strips are dimmable, but make sure you're buying one that is. With a dimmable strip you'll be able to set the brightness to the desired level for anytime of day. You also save electricity by dimming the lights when you don't need full brightness.
All the recommended LED strip below are dimmable.
To put it out in the shortest way possible: the same color temperature as the existing lighting in your kitchen. This is the general rule of thumb for aesthetically pleasing results.
If you have specific preferences as to color temperature you don't have to follow the above rule. Why not buy a tunable white strip? That way you can adjust the color temperature at will! See the Sunrise Series strip further on, it's TW/CCT.
If your goal is to make kitchen tasks easier, use a brighter strip light when installing under cabinet strip lighting. Please note that this is one of the biggest drawbacks of cheap LED kits off Amazon! When testing with our $2000 spectrometer we found our commercial quality strip to be 13X to 25X brighter.
For the brightest lighting under your cabinets see the King Protea LED strip further on.
The White Iris is quite possibly the best all round choice in this lineup. It's available in 3 densities, 60, 120 and 180 LEDs a meter.
Each of these strips are available in 2700, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Kelvin, ranging from ultra warm white to a cool white light! You can also choose between a 12v and 24v power rating.
Although this strip is by no means "cheap" when compared to Amazon LED strips, It is one of the best priced commercial strips you'll find. With it's superior Luminous efficiency and longer lifespan you're actually getting more bang for your buck!
[product=white-high-cri-ip20-led-strip-12v-white-iris-series]
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Using a COB is often your best choice when have granite counter tops. Granite is more reflective than other surfaces, so spotting reflection is often an issue. With a non COB strip you'll need a lot of diffusion to eliminate dotting, wasting brightness and your electricity.
Available in 24 volts with a waterproof version, we have a variant to fit your exact needs! for color temperature we have the same options as the White Iris. 2700, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Kelvin.
[product=continuous-led-lighting-strip-white-lilly-series]
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P.S. This is the strip used for our light fixtures in the "Installing Under Cabinet Lighting" video tutorial!
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If your intent is to illuminate your countertops with the brightest of light the King Protea is the strip for you! This is the best choice when you're going to use your under cupboard LED strip lights for task lighting. Stop cooking, cutting, and carving in the dark!
The King Protea is rated for 24 volts, and we offer a waterproof version. It has an LED density of 120 and is available in 3000, 4000, and 6000 Kelvin.
[product=white-high-output-ip20-led-strip-24v-king-protea-series]
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Want more than one color temperature? Use our Sunrise Series tunable white strip. Instead of one set temperature this strip can be adjusted to anything between 2700K to 6200K!
You can even use smart controllers to leverage circadian rhythm. Picture a warm white light to help your breakfast go down in the morning, and a pure white in the afternoons to keep you productive!
The Sunrise Series is available in a waterproof variant and is rated for 24v power. The only drawback to this strip is a higher cost when compared to others.
[product=white-adjustable-led-light-strip-16-32-watt-sunrise-series]
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Disco in the kitchen? Count us in! If you're want to have color as an option consider the Hibiscus.
One piece of advice, don't use and RGB strip under you cabinets. Most of the time you'll want a white light. RGB strips can do this but the white is not pure, and will annoy your eyes! That's why we recommend an RGBW, strip like the Hibiscus.
Unfortunately there is not an IP67/68 version yet. Don't worry, as we said it's not necessary for under cabinet LED strips. The Hibiscus is rated at 24V.
[product=rgbw-chip-led-white-19-2w-12v-constant-voltage-strip]
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Want all of the above rolled into one? Welcome the Strelitzia, an RGBW + CCT strip! This means it can produce colored light, and tunable white light, or even mix the two!
If you're looking for the most customizable lighting available, the Strelitzia is your strip. As a bonus there is also a waterproof option.
[product=rgb-cct-led-strip-strelitzia-series]
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Hopefully this article answered your questions about LED strips under cabinets! If it didn't please reach out to us. We'd love to help, and we respond. Here is a summary of what we covered.
Q. Which LED strip should I use for under kitchen cabinets?
A. Use a commercial LED strip. They can last up to 2X longer and lower grade strips and are 13X to 25X brighter.
Q. Are LED strip lights good for under cabinets.
A. Yes, LED strip lights will make it easier to complete everyday kitchen task, plus they will make your kitchen look fantastic! They also save you electricity.
Q. How do I choose LED lights for under kitchen cabinets?
A. Determine how bright you want the light in lumens and your ideal color temperature. Then find a strip that matches more needs. You can use this article to help you make the decision.
Q. What lights are best for under cabinet?
A. LED strip lights are best for under cabinet lighting. They are the most customizable in length and provide the evenest light. This makes them a superior choice to LED puck lights and LED light bars.
Q. How long do under cabinet LED lights last?
A. 50,000 hours and more if you use a commercial grade LED light. Avoid cheaper strips as their low grade components are prone to early failure.
Q. Should under cabinet lights be warm or cool?
A. Your under cabinet lighting should generally be the same color temperature as existing kitchen lighting. If you can't decide consider a tunable white LED strip. These allow you to adjust the color temperature to the desired output.
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