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LED light strips are a great option if you’re looking for an affordable way to transform your living space, turn a drab deck into the perfect entertainment spot, or even light up your closet. While many options are relatively easy to self-install, trickier wiring to a light switch could require more expertise. "It's my recommendation that you use a qualified electrician for the installation," says David Walter, master electrician and CEO of Electrician Mentor. With installation in mind, we examined dozens of LED light strips from all the top manufacturers, looking at important factors like brightness and LED density, style and type of LEDs, features, and control methods to find the best option for various scenarios. Based on our research, the Govee Smart Wi-Fi RGBWW LED Strip Light is our top overall recommendation because of its tightly packed LEDs, use of both colored and white LEDs, and easy integration into many smart home systems. Here are the best LED light strips for your home, deck, and car. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Jump to Review Best Budget: Jump to Review Best Splurge: Jump to Review Best Outdoor: Jump to Review Best for TVs: Jump to Review Best for Bedrooms: Jump to Review Best for Closets: Jump to Review Best for Car Interiors: Jump to Review In This Article Our Picks What to Look For FAQ Why Trust The Spruce What We Like Bright and colorful White and warm-white LEDs Lots of control options Built-in microphone What We Don't Like Can’t set white or warm-white with voice controls Finicky LED color settings when using white LEDs Govee is well known for feature-packed LED lighting at affordable prices. The Govee Smart Wi-Fi RGBWW LED Strip Lights is our top pick overall for the best LED light strip because it has all the features needed to work just about anywhere in your home. These strips are bright enough to use in the kitchen or living room, but the built-in dimmer and RGB (red, green, and blue) lighting effect options make them a decent choice for bedrooms. These light strips come in a 9.8-foot length and put out more than enough brightness for mood lighting while being right on the edge for functional lighting. That means you’ll probably still have to rely on your traditional lighting in some situations, but you might be surprised at how little you reach for the light switch. Aside from the great value, the best thing about Govee Smart Wi-Fi RGBWW LED Strip Lights is the flexibility you get with RGBWW LEDs. Strips with this configuration include alternating RGB, white, and warm-white LEDs. So if you’re looking for some colorful mood lighting, the RGB LEDs do the heavy lifting, but if you want more natural, warm light, the white LEDs switch on. These strips also offer versatile controls, including Wi-Fi connectivity, a smartphone app, and the option to control them with your Amazon Echo or Google Home speaker. Smart home integration also allows you to set the strips to come on or switch color at specific times of the day or based on other triggers. The white and warm white LEDs can be difficult to manipulate using smart home voice controls, but you can always fall back on using the app if you experience any issues. Price at time of publish: $40 Length: 9.8 feet︱Lumens/Foot: Not listed | LEDs/Foot: 22 | Controls: Remote, app, Google Home, Alexa︱Voltage: 24 volts︱Power Source: Wall outlet (adapter included) What We Like Uses bright, colorful 5050 LEDs Great price for basic functionality What We Don't Like Built-in tape doesn’t adhere well No lumen rating No app or smart home control TJOY LED Strip Lights provide the best value if you’re working on a tight budget. When you look at the cost per foot for these strip lights, many of our top recommendations are as much as 10 times more expensive. The stripped-down TJOY lights are a little light on features, such as app control, but you can’t beat the value. These strips use super bright 5050 LEDs, come with a power adapter, and include a remote that lets you set a specific color or access a handful of programs like flashing or gradually changing colors. You can’t control the strips with a phone app or your smart home speaker, and TJOY doesn’t provide some key information, like exactly how bright the strips are, but you have to expect some cut corners to get a value this good. Price at time of publish: $17 Length: 50 feet (25 feet x 2 pieces) | Lumens/Foot: Not listed | LEDs/Foot: Not listed | Controls: Remote control︱Voltage: 12 volts︱Power Source: Wall outlet (power adapter included) What We Like Quick and easy setup Bluetooth app control Plug in additional strips without cutting or splicing Works with smart home systems What We Don't Like Multiple versions on the market that aren’t compatible Cutting and splicing is difficult The Philips Hue Bluetooth Gradient Lightstrip is expensive, but it’s well worth the splurge if you have room in your budget and don’t want to deal with any hassles. These strips are easy to install, and they have plug-and-play electrical connectors that allow you to attach additional strips. You can technically cut and splice just like any other LED strip, but there’s no need. The base kit starts at 6 feet, and then you can add additional strips in 3-foot increments. These strips are a little dim to replace all the lights in your living room or bedroom, but they can get close when set to a bright white color temperature. You can also set a wide variety of colors, and the gradient feature allows you to set two colors at once that gradually meet in the middle. The only downside of this product is that Philips sells two different versions that aren’t compatible. When you buy the base kit, check whether you have version three or version four, and then buy expansion strips that match that same version. Price at time of publish: $180 Length: 6 feet | Lumens/Foot: 266-300 | LEDs/Foot: Not listed | Controls: Google Home, Apple Homekit, app, Bluetooth︱Voltage: 120 volts︱Power Source: Wall outlet (power adapter) What We Like Waterproof Bright Even light distribution What We Don't Like Doesn’t include a power adapter No built-in controls Included tape doesn’t stick to all surfaces Installing LED light strips outside isn’t that different from installing them inside, but you need to worry about the elements. HighLights Outdoor LED Strip Lights have an IP67 water-resistance rating, the second-highest rating for protection against liquids. That means these light strips are perfectly safe to use in the rain. You can even submerge them in water to a depth of up to 1 meter. These lights are bright enough to provide a comfortable lighting level at night, with about 165 to 195 lumens per foot. The package includes a 16.4-foot reel of LED lights, and you can cut that to size or splice in more if necessary. If you do so, it’s important to seal up the tube that encases the light strip, or it will no longer be waterproof. This kit doesn’t come with built-in controls or a power supply either, which means you need to buy, wire, and install one yourself or consult with a professional installer. Price at time of publish: $50 Length: 16.4 feet︱Lumens/Foot: 165-195 | LEDs/Foot: 3-3.6 | Controls: None︱Voltage: 12 volts︱Power Source: Wiring required; no power adapter included The 8 Best Outdoor Light Bulbs of 2023 What We Like Easy installation Works for any size television Bright and colorful Dimming function What We Don't Like No app control No option to buy just additional strips to expand your project If you want to add some accent lights to the back of your TV, a Pre-Cut LED Light Strip kit from HitLights takes all the guesswork out of the process. The kit includes four pre-cut strips, four flexible connectors with clips, and a power source. There’s no need to do any measuring, cutting, or splicing, as all you have to do is snap the pre-cut strips together with the connectors. One of HitLights’ pre-cut light strip kits is all you need for smaller and medium-sized televisions, but you can easily connect a second kit if you have a larger TV. These kits are also perfect for shelf and cabinet lighting, and anywhere you need short light strips that can be snapped together quickly by flexible connectors. The kit includes a remote, but there’s no option for app control or integration with your smart home. Price at time of publish: $27 Length: 4 feet (1 foot x 4 pieces)︱Lumens/Foot: Not listed | LEDs/Foot: 12 | Controls: Remote︱Voltage: 12 volts︱Power Source: Wall outlet (power adapter) What We Like Bright Colorful Separate white LEDs What We Don't Like Requires a base station Finicky setup The Sengled Smart Zigbee Multicolor Light Strip is an excellent lighting choice for bedrooms and other rooms where you’d like to have multicolor mood lighting with the option for true white lighting as well. These are RGBW light strips, which means they have color-changing LEDs to provide colorful mood lighting and dedicated white LEDs for white light. Pure RGB lights have trouble producing white light that isn’t noticeably shifted to one part of the spectrum, so the dedicated white LEDs in RGBW strips address that problem. Unlike many other light strips, the Sengled Smart Zigbee Multicolor Light Strip requires a base station if you want to connect it to your smart home. That does result in a mark against this light strip since it represents an extra expense, but it also comes with a hidden benefit. If you want to add LED light strips to a bedroom that’s a little far away from your wireless router, where a standard light strip wouldn’t be able to connect, you can place the base station somewhere between the two and not have to worry about how weak the Wi-Fi network is in your bedroom. Price at time of publish: $40 Length: 6 feet | Lumens/Foot: 250 | LEDs/Foot: Not listed | Controls: App, Alexa, Google Home, requires a base station︱Voltage: 100-240 volts︱Power Source: Wall outlet (adapter included) The 9 Best Bedroom String Lights of 2023 What We Like Battery-powered (rechargeable) Motion sensor Choice of warm or cool white What We Don't Like Battery doesn’t stand up to heavy use Included adhesive velcro may damage surfaces Sensky’s Motion Activated LED Strip Lights are perfect for closets and other applications where you don’t have easy access to a power outlet. You can pull off and charge the rechargeable battery unit that supplies power to these light strips whenever it runs down. The battery unit has a switch you can use to turn the lights on manually or set it to auto, and the light will turn on whenever it detects motion. These lights are great for closets because you don’t need to worry about wiring them to a power source, and they switch on automatically whenever you open the closet. They’re also great for use in cabinets and other similar spaces for the same reason. The battery tends to drain quickly when used in high traffic areas, but it has a standard Micro USB connection that allows you to connect to a USB power bank to extend the time between charges. Price at time of publish: $16 Length: 6 feet︱Lumens/Foot: Not listed | LEDs/Foot: 10 | Controls: Motion, switch︱Voltage: 5 volts︱Power Source: Battery (lithium, rechargeable) What We Like Easy installation High density RGBIC LEDs Built-in microphone for music sync What We Don't Like Limited ability to connect multiple kits together Govee doesn’t disclose lumens Govee’s Smart Car LED Strip Lights include four high-density light strips that use RGBIC LEDs, which means you can set separate colors for each strip or even each LED. Each strip in this kit can be placed under the dash or seats of your car, and they’re powered by a 12-volt barrel connector that you can plug into your cigarette lighter socket. They can be switched on and off manually or controlled via Bluetooth by an app on your phone. Each of the nearly foot-long light strips has 18 LEDs. Govee doesn’t disclose the lumen output of the strip, which would be a concern, but that high density is sure to impress in a small enclosed area like a car. Thanks to a built-in microphone, the lights can even pulse and change in time with your music. The only real issue is that you can’t string together multiple strips if you have a larger vehicle. If you need more lights, you need to plug a second kit into a different cigarette lighter or accessory socket, or solder directly into your car’s electrical system. Price at time of publish: $17 Length: 3.92 feet (0.98 feet x 4 pieces)︱Lumens/Foot: Not listed | LEDs/Foot: 18 | Controls: Physical switch, app control, microphone︱Voltage: 12 volts︱Power Source: Cigarette lighter adapter, or connect directly into vehicle wiring The Best Color-Changing LED Bulbs to Add a Rainbow of Colors to Your Home Final Verdict The Govee Smart Wi-Fi RGBWW LED Strip Light is a feature-packed, flexible option that’s well-suited for use in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and a variety of other spaces. They integrate well into smart home systems, and you can control as many additional strips with the same Govee app as you need. If you have more room in the budget and want a light strip that’s as gorgeous as it is easy to install, you can’t beat the Philips Hue Bluetooth Gradient Lightstrip. Measure your wall, shelf, cabinet, television, or wherever you plan on installing the LED strip and try to find a product that matches your project as closely as possible. While many LED strips can be cut and spliced, it’s faster, easier, and safer to use the correct length from the start. If you want to be able to add more lights to the end of your strip later on, consider a product that allows that. Some LED light strips and tube lights have connectors specifically meant to expand in the future. You can splice others to increase the length but check first to see if the included power supply can handle additional strips. When considering the brightness of an LED light strip, the important figure to look for is lumens per foot. Unlike a traditional light bulb, where you can just look at the bulb's lumens to see how bright it will be, the overall brightness of an LED light strip depends on both the brightness of the individual LEDs and how closely packed they are on the strip. “When shopping for LED light strips, definitely look at LEDs per foot,” says Walter. “Basically, you want the highest. And in my opinion, it pays to invest in this aspect even if it costs more money because you'll have a higher quality result.” Different applications call for different levels of brightness as well. Bedrooms and living rooms call for about 250 to 500 lumens per foot, while cabinet and closet lighting strips can go as low as 175 lumens. If your LED light strips are meant solely for mood lighting, 100 lumens might even do the trick. When selecting a brightness, brighter is typically better. There’s clearly no reason to buy a 500+ lumens per foot strip just for mood lighting, but what if you change your mind and want something brighter in the future? If you end up with a light strip that’s too bright, you can always install a dimmer, and some even have a dim function built right in. There are many ways to operate an LED light strip after installation, so it’s good to give that some thought ahead of time. The most common options include strips with a physical switch, strips that operate via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, motion-controlled strips, and physically wiring your LED light strips to a wall switch or dimmer. Stick with wireless strips if you’re looking for the simplest do-it-yourself option. Look for an LED light strip with a phone app or one that works with your smart home. Several of our recommendations work with Amazon Echo and Google Home, and some even work with Apple HomeKit. FAQ How long do LED light strips last? You may have heard that LED light strips can last up to 50,000 hours, and that’s technically true. The main issue is that LEDs slowly lose brightness over time. After running for 50,000 hours, LEDs are typically about 70 percent as bright as they were originally. In practice, LED light strips usually don’t last quite that long. The adhesive may fail and need patching, and the power supply may fail before the actual LEDs. Most LED light strips offer a one- or two-year warranty. What’s the best way to install LED light strips? Most LED light strips come with an adhesive or double-sided tape already applied, so that’s the easiest installation method. However,Dan Belanger, master electrician and co-owner of 4Wire Electrical,cautions staying away from lower-quality “LED ‘tape’ because it never sticks properly and will come loose eventually.” For the best installation experience, you can use LED light strip clips or look for strips that use 3M double-sided tape. If you’re installing a light strip that uses an inferior adhesive, you may consider applying 3M tape right on top of the existing adhesive. Then you can use the 3M tape to adhere your light strips to the mounting surface. Can LED light strips be hardwired to a light switch? You can hardwire LED light strips to a light switch, but it usually isn’t necessary. Most LED light strips run on 12 or 24 volts and use a power adapter that you plug into your wall outlet. “I suggest finding something either 12V or 24V, which is considered extra-low voltage,” says Belanger. To wire that kind of LED light strip to a light switch, you need to obtain a separate transformer and wire the transformer to the light switch. In that case, you’re usually better off consulting with a professional electrician,“ says David Walter, master electrician and CEO of Electrician Mentor. “That way you'll ensure the job is done right.” This article was written by Jeremy Laukkonen, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. He’s had firsthand installing and using LED strip lights in his own home and has over a decade of experience reviewing electronics for outlets like Lifewire and Digital Trends, in addition to The Spruce. To evaluate and choose the best LED light strips, Laukkonen looked at factors like LED density, lumens, strip length, ease of modification, controls, and connectivity. Other factors, like IP67 certification, were given heavy consideration for specific categories, like the best outdoor LED light strips and the best LED strip lights for your car. To gain a deeper understanding of LED light strips, what to look for, and insight into home installation, Laukkonen spoke with David Walter, master electrician and CEO of Electrician Mentor, and Dan Belanger, master electrician and co-owner of 4Wire Electrical. Using their expert insights, he looked for low-voltage LED light strips that had the right brightness, LED density, features, and connectivity for various rooms and settings. What to Look for in LED Light Strips
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FAQs
What is the most popular brand of LED strip lights? ›
- Philips Hue Bluetooth Smart Lightstrip. Best strip lights overall. ...
- Tenmiro LED Lights. Best on a budget. ...
- TP-Link Tapo Smart LED light strip. Best smart strip lights. ...
- Sengled Smart LED Strip Lights. ...
- Sylvania LED 32.9ft Outdoor strip.
Determining LED Strip Brightness
A good quality LED strip should provide at least 450 lumens per foot (1500 lumens per meter), which provides approximately the same amount of light output per foot as a traditional T8 fluorescent lamp. (E.g. 4-ft T8 fluorescent = 4-ft of LED strip = 1800 lumens).
The best night light colors for sleep are red and amber, as they are warm and soothing colors that promote a good night's sleep. It's thought that colors close to red on the light spectrum stimulate melatonin production. Red light has a lower color temperature than regular sunlight, making it ideal for sleep.
How do I choose bright LED strips? ›When buying LED strip lights, it is important to look at the number of LEDs per length. For brighter output and higher light quality, you should look for the strip lights that have the highest number of LEDs per Foot (Meter, Yard, etc).
What LED light strips don't attract bugs? ›LED lights that emit warm-colored illumination, such as yellow strip lights, yellow malibu light bulbs for landscape applications, or gold-tint filament bulbs, are great for creating an area that is less likely to attract bugs.
Do LED strips go on ceiling or wall? ›A popular place to install LED strip lights is on the ceiling, as the lights provide a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing downlight into the room. Also, it is a simple way to layer lighting.
What color makes you happy? ›Yellow is usually the color of happy, joyful emotions.
What color light is most relaxing? ›Red light. Red light is by far the best calming light color for sleep. Choosing a red light as a nightlight ensures that you don't disrupt your circadian rhythm. So switching to a red light a few hours before going to bed will surely help you fall asleep easier.
What colors are calming for sleep? ›The best colors for sleep are blue, yellow, green, silver, orange, pink, and white. These colors reduce stress and soothe the nervous system. Try to stick with neutral or pastel shades for a soft, welcoming atmosphere.
What is the most popular LED color? ›The most popular colors available for LED are Warm White,, Neutral and Cool White. Take a look at the color temperature. Warm white is a more comfortable white color that is mostly used in living and residential areas.
How many years do LED strip lights last? ›
Longevity. LEDs have an unbelievably long expected life-span, compared to both incandescent and fluorescent lights. With an average life-expectancy of some 50,000 hours, LED strip lights will still be burning bright in 17 years' time, long after their traditional counterparts will have expired.
What size LED lights should I get for my room? ›Let's recap how to gauge how much light you need for a space. Multiply your room square footage by the footcandle requirement. For example, a 100-square foot living room, which needs 20 foot candles, will need 2,000 lumens. A 100-square foot dining room, which needs 40 foot-candles, will need 4,000 lumens.
What LED light color makes you look attractive? ›Studies reveal that red is the most attractive colour to both men and women but, curiously, the two genders are attracted to the same colour for different reasons. Women are attracted to men wearing red because, according to one study, it sends signals of status and dominance.
Should I use bright white or daylight? ›If you want task lighting in the living room, a bright white bulb is the best option for most settings. Ambient lights are often soft white, while daylight bulbs are nice to use in darker spaces where sunlight doesn't enter often. Table lamps play a critical role in your overall scheme.
What color LED lights do bugs hate? ›Bugs can see Ultraviolet (UV), blue and green. That is why they are attracted to white or bluish lights such as mercury vapor, white incandescent, and white fluorescent. On the other hand, yellowish, pinkish, or orange are the least attractive to the bugs.
What color LED light kills bugs? ›Previous research has suggested that some insects die from blue light exposure as it triggers the production of reactive oxygen species, which damage important cellular structure and molecules.
What color LED lights keep spiders away? ›While the color green attracts spiders, it keeps bugs away. Other bugs tend to gravitate toward bright colors, like yellow, white, or orange. So while green attracts spiders, it repels their food sources. The color that spiders tend to hate is light blue.
Do LED strips waste a lot of electricity? ›Installed as your light source, LED strip lights guzzle less electricity to produce the same light output. The potential savings are very significant – LEDs draw up to 85% less electricity than conventional incandescent lighting, and around 18% less electricity than CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps).
Do bugs live under LED light strips? ›Because LED lights are cooler than other types of lightbulbs (meaning they don't get as warm), bugs aren't as attracted to them in general.
How can I make my LED strips look good in my house? ›See clearly with a vanity mirror
Placing the LED light strip around the mirror will look more attractive, and most light strips have strong adhesive at the back so that you can directly attach them to the mirror. The daylight glow will make sure you always look your best.
What is the difference between cheap and expensive LED strips? ›
They're both energy efficient; the SIRS-E High Quality RGB LED Strip consumes 41 Watts as opposed to our other product, the Low Cost RGB LED stripversion which consumes 39 Watts. That is only a 2 Watt difference, but the High Quality 5050-LED-RGB strip is about 1.75Xs brighter.
How can you tell if an LED light is good quality? ›Light output (Lumens)
The best way to identify a suitable LED lamp replacement for an existing lamp is to look for the amount of light the lamp produces (measured in lumens or lm). Package information that says that the light output was actually tested for this performance is a good sign of a quality product.
LEDs use between 25- and 80-percent less energy than incandescent lights. According to the DOE, the annual energy cost of a 60 W incandescent light is $4.80, but the comparable cost of a 12 W LED, providing the same light as a 60 W incandescent light, is $1.00.
What colors make you angry? ›Colors close to the red spectrum are warmer colors, including red, orange, and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility. Whereas blue colors like purple and green are known for evoking feelings of calm, sadness, or indifference.
What color is jealousy? ›“Red” “Red” was indicated among the top three colors for anger, followed by jealousy, fear, and envy, respectively (Figure 2).
What color makes you sad? ›Grey is the quintessential sad color, but dark and muted cool colors like blue, green or neutrals like brown or beige can have a similar effect on feelings and emotions depending on how they're used. In Western cultures black is often considered the color of mourning, whereas in some East Asian countries it's white.
What color is best for anxiety? ›Green – Quiet and restful, green is a soothing color that can invite harmony and diffuse anxiety. Blue – A highly peaceful color, blue can be especially helpful for stress management because it can encourage a powerful sense of calm. Purple – In many cultures, shades of violet represent strength, wisdom and peace.
What color light helps with anxiety? ›Blue light therapy is the most effective for anxiety and other mood disorders. This treatment aims to correct both physiological and psychological imbalances. When the body is stressed, blue light can effectively calm it. Blue light has the most energy of any color in the electromagnetic spectrum.
What color keeps you awake? ›Blue light has the strongest impact. Exposure to blue light (and white light, which contains blue light) during the sensitive period can make it difficult for you to fall asleep and stay asleep. Exposure to white light during the day can have positive effects, including boosting alertness and mood.
What's the difference between 5050 and 3528 LED? ›The 3528 typically contains a single 20 mA LED chip (approximately 0.06 Watts) and a 5050 typically contains three 20 mA LED chips (approximately 0.2 Watts). Therefore, a single 5050 LED package has the capacity of 3x 3528 LEDs.
Is Govee a good brand for LED lights? ›
This Product is wayyyy better than I expected these lights are so bright so many lighting options the adhesive is strong and set up was easy I don't think i will purchase any other brand.
Which is better 12v or 24v LED strip? ›The 24v strip suffers less voltage drop than the 12v type. While the usual length-limit for a 12v strip would be 5m (powered from one end), a 24v can be run further, maybe 7m powered from one end. So if you need longer runs, you would choose the 24v type.