Overview
Whether you are using LED strip lights all through the year or for holiday decorations, there are many advantages you get to enjoy when you invest in them. Any person who has experienced strip lights will tell you how beautiful they are when they are on. Some people may prefer bright lighting, while others prefer soft lighting in their homes. This will depend on whether you are looking for ambience or clarity.
The Herd Journal by Xiaoji Lu supports that LED strips lighting system provide great and ambient lighting in both outdoor and indoor spaces.
Investing in colorful and long-lasting lighting is an easier way to enjoy clarity and ambience when relaxing at home or hosting a party. Strip lights are easy and simple to install and they immediately improve the mood in your home. Strip lights can make your kitchen look beautiful, lighten up the stairway, and illuminate your office space.
What is a LED Strip Light?
An LED strip light is a flexible form of lighting using light emitting diodes. Strip lights come in a wide range of settings making it ideal for both outdoor and indoor spaces. LED strip lights come as a roll of lights, which can be cut into different sizes to suit specific locations. Strip lights have different brightness, color, and operation levels to suit individual preferences. It becomes easy to create the illumination and ambience you want using this rolling lights.
The functionality and design of most strip lights make it a suitable lighting for homes and office spaces. The strips lights are flexible and can be cut, adjusted, or fixed in multiples to create the appearance that you want. Strip lights can be installed on uneven and curved surfaces, as you only need to peel the back layer and stick it on the desired surface.
The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health by Rongpeng Zhang explains that in all environments, lighting has a great influence on the occupants. The study further explains that the effects of lighting go beyond vision and may affect psychological and physiological functions. The right color temperature and illuminance may improve overall health.
How we picked
Before we settled on the best LED strip lights, we examined each light based on durability, performance, ease of use, brightness, customer reviews, and connectivity.
We examined the length of the strip lights to see whether they were adjustable or not. Some people would prefer music and lighting mode, so we factored in such special features and IP ratings.
Our list contains many products and we could not perform our tests on all of them. We based our top picks on other similar brands and models that received high ratings in our tests and from different customers.
Top Picks: Best LED Strip Lights
- Best for Multi-color and music-synced room lighting: Govee LED Strip Lights RGBIC
- Best for Versatile indoor mood lighting with voice control: Philips Hue Indoor 6-Foot Smart LED Light Strip Plus Base Kit
- Best for Advanced smart home enthusiasts looking for high-tech integration: Nanoleaf Lightstrip
- Best for Home, Kitchen, TV, and Party Lighting: WYZE Light Strip Pro
- Best for Dynamic Effects, Music Sync Feature: GE CYNC Light Strip
- Best for Bedroom, Kitchen, Home Decoration: Tenmiro 65.6ft LED Strip Lights
Our Top Selections: Best LED Strip Lights
01
Product Highlights
- Best For: Multi-color and music-synced room lighting
- Price: $22.99 (Deal Price)
- Features: RGBIC Color Effect, DIY Colored Lighting, Smart Color Picking, Easy Installation, Music Sync Capability
More to Know
- Light Source Type: LED
- Color Temperature: Multicolor
- Special Feature: Color Changing
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth
- Wattage: 18 watts
Pros and Cons
- Displays multiple colors at once.
- Can be controlled via the Govee Home app.
- Music sync function enhances party atmospheres.
- Easy installation with adhesives and additional mounting accessories.
- Uncuttable strips which might limit customization.
- Does not support voice assistants like Alexa.
Bottom Line
The Govee LED Strip Lights RGBIC offers an engaging way to light up any indoor space with 16.4 feet of vibrant, color-changing lights. With innovative RGBIC technology, the strips can display multiple colors simultaneously, enhancing the mood and ambiance for occasions like Father’s Day and parties.
What The Review Are Saying: User Cates Family Review
Really nice looking and adheres to wall well
These lights work really well and look great. They have the 3M tape backing them in addition to reinforcements for corners. The remote is pretty basic, just three buttons: on/off, steady color (but several color options), or moving lights. It also comes with a little adhesive backing to stick the remote to your nightstand for control. We tried a cheaper brand first and it they all fell down after 12 hours; that was a very sad morning. Don’t go too cheap on LEDs. These were a good value – and the 65.5 feet did cover the whole room.
02
02
Best for Versatile indoor mood lighting with voice control
Philips Hue Indoor 6-Foot Smart LED Light Strip Plus Base Kit
Product Highlights
- Best For: Versatile indoor mood lighting with voice control
- Price: Details not provided; typically higher priced due to brand and features
- Features: Color-Changing Single Color Effect, Voice Control, Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit
More to Know
- Light Source Type: LED
- Color Temperature: White to multicolor
- Special Feature: Color changing, adjustable, dimmable
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee
- Wattage: 10 watts
Pros and Cons
- Supports voice commands via multiple platforms.
- Easy to set up and install in various locations.
- Offers millions of colors and adjustable settings.
- Requires additional purchase of a Hue Bridge for full functionality.
- Higher price point compared to other brands.
Bottom Line
Philips Hue offers a reliable and user-friendly lighting solution with its 6-foot LED light strip. This smart light strip integrates seamlessly with various home automation systems and can be controlled through the Hue app or voice commands, providing both convenience and customization.
What The Review Are Saying: User lin kai Review
Very Good Product!
The light was crafted from high-quality materials, making it durable and reliable. Installing it was a breeze, and the setup process was notably simpler compared to another light I purchased previously. However, it’s worth noting that it can only be connected by one user via Bluetooth. If multiple people wish to control it, you’ll need to purchase a separate control unit.
03
03
Best for Advanced smart home enthusiasts looking for high-tech integration
Nanoleaf Essentials Matter Bluetooth & Thread Smart LED Lightstrip
Product Highlights
- Best For: Advanced smart home enthusiasts looking for high-tech integration
- Price: Details not provided; likely mid-range
- Features: Matter-enabled, 16M+ RGBW Colors, Color-Changing Animations, App & Voice Control
More to Know
- Light Source Type: LED
- Color Temperature: Multicolor, RGBW
- Special Feature: Dimmable, Color Changing
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Wattage: 57.5 watts
Pros and Cons
- Matter-enabled for broader smart home compatibility.
- Extensive color and brightness options.
- Customizable color animations and schedules.
- Higher complexity may not suit all users.
- Limited customer reviews suggest potential niche appeal.
Bottom Line
Nanoleaf’s LED Lightstrip stands out with its Matter compatibility and extensive color options. It allows for extensive customization through the app, making it ideal for tech-savvy users looking to enhance home decor with modern, automated lighting.
What The Review Are Saying: User CrazyCarl Review
Makes undercounter lights GREAT!
These are an easy install for my under-counter lighting needs. They are bright at full-on cold, and can be controlled very easily from a smartphone for any color and level of brightness. Use as highlight lighting or just for ambient lighting at night. Really pleased with this strip lighting!
04
Product Highlights
- Best For: Home, Kitchen, TV, and Party Lighting
- Price: Available at the WYZE Store
- Features: Multi-Color Segment Control, Sync to Music, Voice Control, Trimmable Design
More to Know
- Light Source Type: LED
- Color Temperature: 2700 Kelvin
- Special Feature: Dimmable, Timer, Adjustable, Color Changing
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Wattage: 48 watts
Pros and Cons
- Advanced lighting effects with multi-color display
- Sync lights with music using a built-in microphone
- Voice control through smart home assistants
- Flexible and customizable length
- Requires a stable internet connection for app control
- Limited to indoor use
Bottom Line
The WYZE Light Strip Pro is a versatile indoor lighting solution that offers multi-color segment control with up to 16 million RGB colors, syncs to music, and can be controlled via app, voice commands through Alexa or Google, and even through manual controls. Its trimmable design and protective coating make it suitable for a variety of indoor environments.
What The Review Are Saying: User Bill Kline Review
We absolutely love these
Super easy set up, I put these under my desk and in moments we were enjoying a light show. Super fun for the kids at night when we have the music sync on and have a dance party and totally praticle all day as it gives the nice ambient light I was looking for in the room. I use the sun match feature most days and really find that it works well with filling the area with very comfortable light. I look forward to getting at least one more if not a few for different areas in the house.
05
Product Highlights
- Best For: Dynamic Effects, Music Sync Feature
- Price: $36.00
- Features: Energy Efficient, Color Changing
More to Know
- Light Source Type: LED
- Color Temperature: 4000 Kelvin
- Special Feature: Energy Efficient, Color Changing With Music Sync
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Wattage: 24 watts
Pros and Cons
- Vibrant Colors and Customization
- Syncs with music to create dynamic lighting effects
- Easy installation with remote control and voice control feature
- Designed for indoor use, which limits versatility for outdoor applications
- As with many smart light strips, long-term durability and adhesive strength can be issues
Bottom Line
The GE CYNC Dynamic Effects Smart Light Strip, powered by Savant, offers millions of vibrant colors and customizable settings via the Cync app. It features music sync, enhancing parties or gaming sessions with interactive lighting. Ideal for indoor use, it installs easily and discreetly, perfect for bedroom or holiday decor. The strip is cut-to-size and extendable up to 32 feet, controllable remotely through a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection, and supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Home for hands-free operation.
What The Review Are Saying: User Jules Review
Nice
I can’t help myself. I love everything that lights up this rope lighting is extremely nice and that I could work it from my phone is fabulous. I am 55 and totally useless when it comes to downloading apps and working any part of my phone that isn’t actually my phone but I hooked this up all by myself. I must say I’m proud but that actually means it’s easy highly recommend would buy again.
06
Product Highlights
- Best For: Bedroom, Kitchen, Home Decoration
- Price: $9.99 ($0.15 / Foot)
- Features: Remote Control, Color Changing, Adjustable, Linkable, Energy Saving, Dimmable, Motion Sensor
More to Know
- Light Source Type: LED
- Color Temperature: Multicolor
- Special Feature: Remote Control, Color Changing, Adjustable, Linkable, Energy Saving, Dimmable, Motion Sensor Connectivity Technology: NA
- Wattage: 36 Watt-hours
Pros and Cons
- Affordable price
- Easy installation
- Customizable length and color
- Energy-saving
- Not water-resistant
- Requires corded power source
Bottom Line
The Tenmiro 65.6ft LED Strip Lights transform any room with vibrant, customizable lighting. Perfect for bedrooms, kitchens, and home decoration, this #1 Best Seller in LED Strip Lights offers an easy installation process and adjustable length for a tailored fit. With millions of colors and 8 lighting modes, these energy-saving lights create the perfect ambiance for any occasion.
What The Review Are Saying: User Lulu Review
BEST LED LIGHTS EVER!
Like the headline says, these are the best led lights! It comes with 2 rolls of 50ft led lights and the remote. I live in a studio apartment and let me say. The 50ft of led lights covered more than half of my walls. The colors are so vibrant ad bright! I love switching the colors to fit the vibe. The adhesive is great! I was able,to stick, peel and stick again and it was still strong! 10/10 recommendation!
Key Features to Consider When Choosing the Best LED Strip Lights
Operation and connectivity
Strip lights are not manufactured in the same way. Some strip lights have a remote control that allows the user to maneuver easily through the settings, while others are basic and just come with an on and off switch. If you are a person that loves convenience, and would want to install an app in your smartphone to control the LED lights, you should go for the ones with Wi-Fi connectivity or Bluetooth. Using Alexa or google to operate your strip lights may require you to buy Wi-Fi enable LED strip lights.
Location
Before you go purchasing strip lights, you should have an idea on where you are going to install them. Do you want your strip lights behind your doors or TV, along the stairs, on the walls of your bedroom, or under your kitchen cabinets? Strip lights on the walls of your bedroom may provide ambient lighting for reading before bed. Flexible and easy to bend lights are ideal to install along the stairs. If you want your strip lights to cover the entire wall, go for the lengthy lights or those that can be extended. Strip lights that are placed behind the TV should be shorter. Select adhesive and waterproof strip lights if you want to place them in your garden. Keep in mind that location is an important aspect to consider
Brightness
LED strip lights come in varying brightness. To have sufficient lighting illuminating your bedroom or kitchen cabinets, go for strips lights of 500 lumens per square foot. A brightness of 200 lumens per foot will provide a perfect mood lighting for the office or room. Other brightness specifications that you could check are LED density per foot, which is normally indicated on the label. The higher the LEDs, the more the illumination.
Size
The size of the space where you want to install your strip lights should be a factor to put into consideration. If you have a large outdoor or indoor area that you want to work on, choose long LED strip lights so that they are enough to cover the area. Ensure you pick expandable strip lights or those that can be cut so that it may be easy to work with.
Color
Strip lights come in varying color temperatures to suit individual preferences. If you do not like colorful strip lights, you can buy white whites with temperatures of 2000 – 6000 kelvins. Higher temperatures create a cooler atmosphere, while lower temperatures create a warmer environment. Some people prefer strip lights with many colors to create a rainbow effect. This may be ideal for parties.
Extra Features
Strip lights used for entertainment should have an inbuilt mic to support the music. You should also consider strip lights with multiple color modes. Some strip lights also have motion sensors, allowing them to turn on automatically. Wi-Fi enabled strip lights are ideal for individuals who are looking for home integration. There are many other extra features to look out for when buying strip lights and all these will depend on your preference.
How Do LED Strip Lights Work?
LED strip lights refers to tiny LED lights placed on a strip of some length. Each light on the strip has an integrated circuit that allows you to control in when you switch it on or off.
The integrated circuit has major input to control the LED colors to provide the desired lighting in indoor and outdoor spaces. Depending on the type of strip light you want to install, the display will have different brightness levels, color temperature, or pattern.
You will need to connect the strip light to a power source so that it can light up when you switch it on. The voltage required by the LED lights will depend on the length of the strip. While LED strip lights are fantastic for illuminating indoor spaces and adding ambiance, outdoor activities like running also require specialized lighting solutions. For the best options, check out our comprehensive guide on the Best Running Lights to ensure safety and visibility during your outdoor runs.
Benefits of LED Strip Lights
LED strip lights save energy
Unlike other incandescent bulbs on the market, LED lights consume 75% less energy. This makes LED lights an effective and energy saving solution for continued use. LED lights may produce a fleck of light, but it will be brighter than other bulbs.
Many features and flexible choices
When it comes to strip lights, you imagination will be your only limitation. LED lights come in different colors and with different amazing features to help you light up different spaces in your home or office. This makes this lighting option ideal for anyone.
Strip lights have a long lifespan
LED strip lights will operate for 40,000 to 50,000 hours, which is equivalent to six years of service. After using the light for such a long time, you may notice that they begin to dim. This will mean that the strip lights have reached the end of their lifespan.
Strip lights are easy to use
LED strip lights are high quality lights that are easy to install. Some come with different adjustable features like remote control, motion sensors, and Wi-Fi connectivity to make it easier to operate. This gives the user freedom of choice in deciding what they want.
Conclusion
In this era of technology and modernity, many people now prefer LED lights to make their homes and office spaces look beautiful. This is because LED lights have upgraded over the years and they have many advantages.
LED strip lights are an environmentally-friendly, economical, and convenient way to provide ambient lighting both indoors and outdoors. They are among the most efficient light sources today offering a lifespan of approximately six hours of continued use.
Most manufacturers recommend that you properly maintain the lights so they can last long. LED strip lights come with various features allowing you to choose what you are comfortable with.
Most strips lights are flexible are easy to install. All you have to do is find the space that you want to install the lights and begin the process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Can I Install LED Strip Lights Myself?
Q. Do LED Strip Lights Cause Any Harm to the Eyes?
Q. How Long Do LED Strip Lights Last?
Sources
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