What is the best brand for LED strip lights?

LED light strips are a fun and easy way to spruce up a room, adding pops of color to a media center, a wall or even under a bed, or just bringing much-needed lighting to a dark area under a cabinet. Water-resistant versions even let you add lighting in a snap to your patio, deck or garden path. And smart strips can integrate with the rest of your lighting, or simply respond to music or other sounds around the house.

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To help you figure out which LED light strip works best for your situation, we tested 10 popular models. Whether you&#;re looking for indoor or outdoor lighting, responsive smart strips or just something basic, we&#;ve found the best LED light strips available for any setting.

The best LED light strips

Govee Wi-Fi RGBIC Pro Strip Lights

The best LED light strips overall

Govee

The Govee Wi-Fi RGBIC strip lights perform brilliantly and give you longer lengths and more coverage for less money than the competition. The easy-to-use app lets you create warm ambiances and color-changing special effects for entertaining or everyday use.

From $37 at Amazon

The Govee RGBIC Pro Smart LED strip lights give you vivid, ever-changing colors, simple controls and more coverage for your money than the competition. Smart home integrations are simple and don&#;t require a hub, and they&#;re simple to mount with a secure adhesive backing. If you&#;re looking for the greatest range of color effects and want plenty of coverage for your money, look no further.

RGBIC light strips (IC stands for &#;Independent Control&#;) can display more than one color at a time, unlike RGB lights, which show only one color. That means using the Govee app you can customize different segments of the strip to show different colors, or create lighting effects that look like the lights are jumping or cascading or chasing each other, with individual diodes turning on and off or changing color rapidly for a rolling or snake-like effect. There are dozens of preset scenes to choose from, in addition to 11 music modes, making these great for a teen&#;s bedroom, a dorm room or when you&#;re hosting a party. They are a ton of fun to use.

The strips are voice reactive, so when connected to your sound system, the lights will flash and dance in time to the music.

The light strips come in 16-foot, 32-foot and 64-foot lengths, typically divided into two reels sharing a single power adapter and control box for manual use. They&#;re thin, with a light coating over the diodes, and very easy to bend for installation.

The lights are vivid and reasonably bright (they put out 820 lumens, similar to a string of 60W lightbulbs), they&#;re true to color and they can be dimmed to create ambiance when needed. They can be integrated with voice assistants (Alexa and Google Assistant) without a hub, giving you control over colors, schedules, music and much more. I had no issues with connectivity or placing the lights with the adhesive backing.

Govee light strips are also more affordable than others with similar features &#; basically, you get longer lengths and more coverage for less money. Combined with the easy-to-use Govee app and color-changing special effects for entertainment and fun, these light strips will not disappoint.

Our issues with the Govee LED strips are pretty minor given the overall solid performance and value of the system.

The most frustrating downside here (which is common to all RGBIC strips) is that because of the integrated chips that allow the multiple color effects, the Govee strips can&#;t be cut to size. This means that unless you plan to use up an entire run (the shortest length these come in is 16 feet) illuminating your media center or gaming battle station, you may end up with a lot of excess to hide away. Govee also sells an RGB version of these, which can be trimmed to length, but the color effects are more limited, and overall we prefer the RGBIC version.

Also, since Govee doesn&#;t include corner connectors like the Philips strips, you can&#;t easily make clean right angles. We ended up looping the strip under itself where we wanted to make a 90-degree turn, hoping it wouldn&#;t come away from the floor or create a dark spot at the apex of the bend.

Given the lack of corner connectors, to make right-angle bends with the Govee (and the other RGBIC strips we tested) we found it easiest to make and secure a loop, which we found more difficult (and a less efficient use of the LEDs themselves) than systems that could be cut to length.

Andrea Smith/CNN Underscored

Another issue is that while Govee makes a ton of light strip products, you can&#;t just add accessories to the system you already have. For instance, while the set we tested responds to sound, it doesn&#;t respond to on-screen colors, and you can&#;t add just a camera &#; you&#;ll have to purchase a different light strip set, the Govee Dreamview T1 Immersion Backlights. That said, the overall cost is still lower than some systems (like the Philips) that do let you add individual components, but it&#;s worth keeping in mind.

In addition to a set of LED light strips, the Dreamview package comes with an external p camera to capture the colors on the screen and automatically have the LEDs reproduce effects that correspond to the show or movie you&#;re watching, or the game you&#;re playing.

Other LED light strips we recommend

Govee Wi-Fi Outdoor Strip Lights

The best outdoor LED light strips

Govee

If you're looking to create a colorful ambiance for outdoor entertaining, Govee's affordable Wi-Fi Outdoor Strip Lights are RGBIC, so they give you a huge range of color options, they're weather-resistant and they're easy to install and configure.

Read our review

$70 $50 at Amazon

Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED TV Light Strips

The best LED light strips for TV backlighting

Sengled

Sengled's affordable RGB light strips come in easy-to-mount lengths that save you money when mounting on a TV or monitor for backlighting effects, and have plenty of smarts to provide the perfect ambiance and audio-synchronized lighting effects for most TV or gaming situations.

Read our review

$80 at Best Buy

How our recommendations compare

Govee Wi-Fi RGBIC Pro Strip Lights

The best LED light strips overall

Govee Wi-Fi Outdoor Strip Lights

The best outdoor LED light strips

Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED TV Light Strips

The best LED light strips for TV backlighting

Philips Hue LightStrip Plus

The best splurge LED light strip

What we loved

Bright colors with multiple options, plus they are flexible, easy to install and configure and give you more coverage for less money than similarly spec'd competitors.

Lots of color possibilities and installation options in an IP65-rated weather-resistant strip.

A package of precut lengths with corner connectors makes it easy to set up behind a TV or monitor without waste.

The best-looking LED light strips with the most integration options and control and sync possibilities.

What we didn't like

A lack of corner connectors makes tight bends difficult to negotiate during installation; adding accessories to an existing setup may mean buying more strips than you need.

Power brick isn't water-resistant and needs to be positioned in a weatherproof outlet for extended use.

RGB only, so they are limited in the range of effects they can produce; can't sync to color, only to sound.

The Philips strips are much more expensive than others and make the most sense if you're already invested in Hue lighting in your home.

Key specs

RGBIC; available in 16.4- and 32.8-foot lengths; syncs to audio; available in kit with camera for color sync.

RGBIC; available in 16.4- and 32.8-foot lengths; IP65 weather resistance.

RGB; kit fits 45-inch to 75-inch diagonal TVs.

Available in a variety of lengths; can sync directly to HDMI input or audio with accessory; can connect with Hue bridge for integration with other Hue lighting and smart home products.

Price

$37

$50

$80

$100

How to choose the right LED strip lights

These thin, flexible circuit boards are packed with small LED (light-emitting diode) lights that are controlled through an app and in most cases can also use your voice with a smart speaker.

We love that they can be bent, and some can be cut to size for use around a door frame, under a cabinet or anywhere else you want to add some color. Plus, they don&#;t use as much electricity as incandescent bulbs and will last for years.

Though some LED light strips display only one color at a time, others can show multiple colors or dance to the beat of music, allowing for endless combinations and hours of dazzling fun.

LED light strips can be installed just about anywhere you have a flat surface &#; under kitchen cabinets, on a back deck or patio railing or in a child&#;s bedroom &#; but it&#;s important to note that not all light strips work well in all locations. Some are for indoors only, while others are waterproof for use outside the home. Some light strips are better for entertainment use with their ability to pulse or change colors to the beat of the music.

Whether you want lights for a TV room or a cascade of color outside, here&#;s what to look for when purchasing a smart LED light strip.

Consider smart home integration

If you already own smart lights, you might want to consider strip lights from the same brand, especially if they require a hub or bridge. For instance, the Sengled and Wyze light strips we tested have Wi-Fi built in, so there&#;s no need for a hub, while the Philips Outdoor light strip does. If you don&#;t already own one, you&#;ll be adding on the cost of the hub to the cost of the strips.

Make sure the light strips work with the smart home ecosystem you use, whether that&#;s Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit. Most work with Alexa and Google, but only two that we looked at are compatible with Apple HomeKit. This is important so you can use your voice to control the light strips.

Think about location

Think about where you&#;re placing the light strips. Under a bed or inside a bookshelf, or outside on the deck? You can put them anywhere; your only limitation is the availability of a power outlet. If placing them in a bathroom, consider a water-resistant light strip in case it gets splashed or there&#;s a lot of moisture.

For outdoor use, look for one with at minimum an IP44 rating, meaning the strip can get wet and withstand jets of water. An IP65 rating, like the Govee Outdoor LED Strip Lights have, means it can be exposed to all weather conditions.

Make sure your lights have something to reflect off. If you place them facing toward you, all you&#;ll see is LED lights. Unless you intend to use them to shine down and add direct light, place them facing away from you toward a wall or the ceiling so you&#;ll get that diffused effect you&#;re looking for.

Light strips are typically held in place with double-sided adhesive on the back of the strip, but some that have a heavier silicon coating or are a bit thicker and bulkier for waterproofing work better with the included mounts and screws. Be sure you&#;re able to use screws in whatever it is you&#;re mounting to before choosing this type.

The area will need to be prepped by cleaning it and wiping it down with an alcohol pad to ensure a proper hold, so make sure you have access to the entire area. Proper prep is what will keep the light strips in place.

Think about how you&#;ll use the lighting

Are the lights being used to create ambiance or for entertainment? This will help you decide whether to buy ones that can display segment colors and sync with music. If you&#;re looking for entertainment, make sure the strips have a built-in mic to pick up the sound. For ambiance, you don&#;t need anything more than a simple strip that shows one color at a time.

Measure twice

Light strips come in all different lengths, so it&#;s important to measure the area you want to cover before you make a purchase. Some strips can be cut, while others can&#;t, so measure twice to be sure. If you&#;re putting lights on the back of a TV or PC, you&#;ll want to choose a light strip like the Sengled Wi-Fi TV strips or the Govee Immersion TV Backlights, which come in shorter lengths so there&#;s less waste if you need to cut to size. If you want to light the side of a wall or run it under a countertop, opt for the longer strip, but be sure there&#;s an outlet nearby for power.

Color and color temperature

Most of the multi-color light strips we looked at are RGB, which means they can display any combination of red, green and blue color. Typically, there are 16 million color combinations to choose from. There is no &#;true white&#; in RGB lights, but variations of white can be created.

If you&#;re looking for a truer white along with multiple colors, then get an RGBW light strip, which has a dedicated white LED alternating between the RGB diodes. These are typically a little more expensive.

Different tones of white light help create the mood in a room. Daylight white is good for home office use or anywhere you need to be focused, while warm white is perfect for creating a relaxing mood. Warm lighting is often used in the family room or bedroom where you&#;re trying to create a calming atmosphere.

Some strips can display only one color at a time, while others can be segmented, showing multiple colors at once. If you&#;re using the lighting to create a party atmosphere, you&#;ll likely want one that can show multiple colors and create fun dancing and cascading types of effects.

Brightness

The brightness of LED lights is measured in lumens. For reference, a standard 60W lightbulb gives off around 800 lumens. Most of the lights we tested give off between 1,400 and 1,800, making them extremely bright. They can be dimmed, but it&#;s important to know how bright they are and how low they can be dimmed when considering what situation to place them in. Some of the ones we tried are still way too bright for a bedroom even at the dimmest setting.

Look at the number of LEDs per strip. The more LEDs there are, the more light you&#;ll get, and the more accurate that color will be.

Color temperature describes how warm or cool a light&#;s color is. Temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) degrees. Lower numbers produce a warmer temperature, which gives off a yellowish tone, while higher is much cooler, producing a blue tone. Most strips have a range of 2,700K to 6,500K, with the higher number producing a natural daylight temperature.

How we tested

We installed and tested 10 different LED light strips in different areas and locations in and out of the home. They were installed under kitchen cabinets, under a countertop, on the back of a TV, on a back deck and along a garden walkway, to name a few.

We downloaded and connected the strips to the brand&#;s app and tested the features within the app. We looked at the user interface and judged how easy it was to set up and access preset scenes, create schedules, create music- and sound-triggered effects, set up integrations with voice assistants such as Alexa, Google and Siri and keep the app and strips connected.

We also evaluated the installation process, looking at light strip flexibility and how easy or difficult it was to bend a strip to fit the space. We also tested the special connectors some of the strips provide to create a right angle.

We tested the durability and adhesive by gently tugging on the strip a few days after installation. We tested the hold on the outdoor strips after a soaking rain.

We considered the color brightness of the strip, the length, the number of LEDs as well as the ability to cut to size and how much waste is created with unused portions.

We evaluated smart home integrations and the reactive lighting (TV and music) modes on those that offer it.

Other LED light strips we tested

$20 at Amazon

Wyze Light Strips are a very inexpensive option for adding color or accent lighting to a room, and while they are very bright at 1,800 lumens (perhaps due in part to the lack of a protective coating over the LEDs), we found them a bit thin and flimsy compared to the others. The RGB strips respond quickly to dimming and tuning, though you can display only one color at a time.

Like others we tested, they work over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (no hub required), and you can use Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands to turn the lights on and off, change the color and set the brightness level. They&#;re easy to install, they come in 16.4- and 32.8-foot lengths like much of the competition (and can be trimmed to fit, since they are RGB rather than RGBIC) and they sync to music as you&#;d expect. However, to access basic preset scenes like &#;energizing&#; and &#;movies,&#; you need to use the app. While we&#;d suggest spending a bit more if you can for a more durable strip, for the price they work as advertised, so if you&#;re looking for a basic LED light strip to add a splash of color and have power available nearby, these will suit your needs.

$48 at Amazon

The Wyze Light Strip Pro, the company&#;s RGBIC model, can display up to 16 colors per strip. It has everything the standard version has and comes in the same lengths, but it&#;s more customizable and gives you access to effects that sync with your games, movies and shows. You can also easily group multiple strips and control them all in the app, giving you endless hours of fun creating your own custom scenes for both lighting and music syncing.

The Pro strip has a protective epoxy coating over the LED lights, so they felt a lot sturdier and less flimsy than the cheaper Wyze strips, but they still don&#;t match the quality of our top picks. Color output also isn&#;t quite as true, and the app is not as user-friendly as the Govee and Philips strips.

$40 $35 at Amazon

If you&#;re looking for a bright light strip with millions of color options and don&#;t need an exceptionally long run, the 16.4-foot Kasa Smart Light Strip from TP-Link is an affordable RGBIC option that works with Alexa, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings, but you do give up a few features for the lower price tag. There&#;s no audio synchronization mode, so these won&#;t react to music or the sound from the TV, and it doesn&#;t offer any preset scenes to choose from in the app, only animated effects that add a flicker effect or light up certain areas of the strip.

It&#;s easy to install and set up, there&#;s no hub needed and you can control the lights and create your own scenes to save to a preset button. You can access those presets, along with other basic controls, in the app, using your voice or on the remote control. That said, there are no corner connectors as there are for Philips or Sengled, so you&#;ll need to make loops in order to create 90-degree bends, limiting useful length.

The upgrade version, the Kasa Smart Premium LED Light Strip (KL430), comes in lengths up to 33 feet and ups the brightness of the strip from 550 to 1,400 lumens but only comes in 6.6-foot lengths, with 3-foot extension kits costing about $25 each, so this route will get pricey pretty quickly, at which point you might want to look to Philips Hue products.

The Kasa light strips will work well in a home that already has Kasa light switches, smart plugs or other Kasa devices in the house, as it&#;s really simple to set schedules and control them all in the Kasa app.

$137 at Amazon

The outdoor version of the Philips Hue LED strip lights is a bulkier, more rectangular affair than its indoor sibling, topped with an opaque coating that helps make this light strip weatherproof (with an IP67 rating) and diffuses the light so you see one smooth strip of colorful light rather than the individual diodes. The coating creates an illusion of one vibrant light across the whole strip, and it was lovely to look at.

Unfortunately, the bulk makes the strip far less flexible, and you can&#;t cut or extend them like you can with the Philips Hue LightStrip Plus. I had a difficult time trying to bend it into a corner. It comes in 7- and 16-foot lengths, and it can&#;t be cut or daisy-chained &#; If you need to make longer runs, you need to have another power outlet available for a new strip, limiting its usefulness on patios.

With competitive price and timely delivery, Joineonlux sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

They mount with an included bracket and screw hardware system (there&#;s no adhesive option) which may limit your options if you rent or have HOA restrictions. I wanted to mount a 7-foot strip on my back deck but couldn&#;t since I live in a condo and can&#;t drill holes into the deck railing or gutter. I did place it into the ground along my garden to light up the pathway, but this can only be done if you have power nearby.

The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Outdoor Lightstrip requires a Hue hub for voice control (Alexa, Google Voice and Apple HomeKit), and that&#;s a separate cost if you don&#;t already have one. While the light strip looks and functions beautifully, if you don&#;t have nearby power or can&#;t drill holes to mount it, you&#;d be better off getting our top pick, the Govee Outdoor light strip, which also costs a whole lot less.

$100 at Amazon

Twinkly Dots are not technically light strips but rather a Christmas light-esque string of tiny LEDs that you can wrap around items like a deck rail or other curved surfaces that don&#;t have a flat surface for an adhesive strip. The individual dots, which are spaced an inch apart, can be put in place with adhesive (it comes with flat dot-shaped adhesive backings), but you don&#;t mount the connecting wire. The special effects and premade animations were plentiful.

As lovely as they look and as easy as they are to put in place, setup was incredibly difficult. The app, which was less intuitive than the others we tried, took over a dozen tries before it recognized our Dots over a local Wi-Fi connection. Once we got it set up, the lights offered lots of fun options and patterns but never got very bright and often didn&#;t show the true color. Each time I tried to choose purple, I got variations of blue instead. They&#;d be fine for a party or a kid&#;s room (teens and creative users will enjoy playing with the effects and syncing the lights to music and sound), but those looking for true, bright colors may be disappointed. Dots aren&#;t extendable or cuttable, but they do come in a variety of sizes. You can buy strings of 60, 200, or 400 LED Dots.

$60 $25 at Amazon

These RGB Wi-Fi-enabled light strips are super bright at 1,600 lumens and give you a wide variety of white light settings, but they lack some of the features that make other strip lights so fun and attractive. There&#;s no music sync mode, there are no preset scenes to choose from (though you can create your own) and the adhesive backing is not strong enough. This was the only light strip that pulled away with a slight tug once we mounted it. The strips are also the widest we tried, with a thick coating on the sides of the strip, not just over the LEDs on the front. Though meant for indoors, they looked more like the Philips strips designed for outdoor use.

The app is confusing; it doesn&#;t properly scale for larger text sizes, and we found it difficult to set schedules and create scenes.

The strips come in 6.8-feet lengths, which can be trimmed (though the cut-off sections can&#;t be reused). It can be daisy-chained, so you can buy and connect 3.4-foot extensions, but you&#;ll be spending $25 for each one. You can buy the 16-foot TP-Link Kasa light strip for a third of the price, which we recommend over this one, or step up to the Philips Hue if you want more control and synchronization options.

Photo: Stacey L. Nash for Bob Vila Photo: Stacey L. Nash for Bob Vila

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LED light strips are long circuit boards with surface-mount device light-emitting diodes (SMD LEDs) that bring illumination to any room. The strips are also known as LED tape or ribbon lights and usually have an adhesive backing for easy installation. We researched important qualities in LED strip lights and put some of the top ones through a series of tests to see how well they functioned.

Some of the best LED strip lighting options can be used for many interior design projects, including recessed lighting, television backlighting, smart-home connections, and kitchen countertop illumination with under-cabinet lighting, so we looked at these considerations as well.

We tested each of the light strips on this list to see how they performed. Each one was selected based on quality, functionality, and attractive design. In addition to evaluating how well the light strips worked, we looked at the strength of adhesives, app functionality, brightness, and installation ease. Keep reading to see which lights shone above the rest and find out some of the best LED light brands.

Photo: Stacey L. Nash for Bob Vila

How We Tested the Best LED Light Strips

First, we researched LED strip light reviews to compose a list of a variety of products to try. We tested the light strips according to an established rubric that included criteria for illumination, installation, performance, and durability. After rating the lights on a scale of 0 to 4, we calculated their rating.

Based on the design, we installed the light strips in a kitchen, office, onto a TV, or in a car. We followed manufacturer installation and operation instructions. Testing took place over a 2½-week period, with individual light strips being tested for 3 to 7 days within that period, to give us a more accurate view of the light strips&#; functionality and adhesive strength. We connected the lights to their accompanying apps and tested the features to find out their usefulness and functionality in everyday life.

According to each product&#;s features, we set lighting schedules, created lighting themes, and varied how and when the lights were used. By installing the lights in real-life situations, we were able to get an idea of how well they functioned overall as well as which individual settings worked best.

We also spoke with Dara Greaney, CEO and founder of LED Light Expert, who provided some sage advice for shoppers. &#;Strip lights are a fun DIY project, but they are not plug and play. You need to figure out how to secure them, where to power them and how to cut them if necessary.&#; With this in mind, we made sure to incorporate these ideas into our hands-on testing.

Photo: Stacey L.Nash for Bob Vila

Our Top Picks

No matter what type of LED light strip someone needs, a common goal is to find a high-quality product. To make the search easier, we tested a variety of LED light strips, and based on our testing, we chose the following options as some of the best available in terms of price, effectiveness, and reputation. Organized by type, one of these may be what you need to light up your home.

Best Overall

Govee RGB 32.8-Foot LED Strip Lights

Photo: amazon.com

Product Specs

• TV compatibility: Most TVs
• Controls: App, remote, and electrical cord on/off
• Brightness level: High
• Special features: Responds to voice and music

Pros

• Lots of length for the price; 32.8 feet is suitable for large kitchens and other rooms
• Excellent connectivity; compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home for voice control and automatic turn-on
• Can be controlled via smartphone or other smart device; app is easy to set up
• Includes support brackets for added security against falling, slipping, or misplacement

Cons

• Voice and music settings aren&#;t great
• Some users have reported manufacturing defects

The Govee 32.8-foot smart LED light strip has almost 33 feet of bright lighting with up to 16 million color options through the Govee home app. The light strip can also connect with Amazon Alexa and Google Home to provide voice control over lighting. Turn the lights on or off while walking into an area, or even control the color settings without lifting a finger.

This smart LED light strip pack comes with two flexible 16.4-foot rolls and requires 36 watts of power for optimal functionality. Use a smartphone to set a schedule for operation or enjoy the sound-responsive microphone, which prompts the LEDs to change color with music beats, hand claps, and other sounds.

In our testing, we found that this Govee light strip had an excellent balance of qualities, including adhesive strength, color options, and scheduling. We tested these lights under kitchen cabinets and found them to be bright enough for food prep tasks.

The app had excellent connectivity, great schedule options, and lighting choices based on scenes (preset colors based on seasons, moods, holidays, or occasions) or manual preferences. Govee got extra points from us for providing support clips that adhere or screw in to hold the heavier parts of the electrical cord if needed.

Get the Govee 32.8-foot LED light strips at Amazon.

Best Bang for the Buck

Nexillumi RGB 50-Foot LED Strip Lights

Photo: amazon.com

Product Specs

• TV compatibility: Most TV sizes
• Controls: App, remote, and electrical cord on/off
• Brightness level: Low
• Special features: Responds to voice and music

Pros

• Provides attractive ambient lighting; comes with 50-foot light strips
• Good adherence; no tools needed to install the light strip with double-sided tape
• App functions well; once installed, it is easy to use and customizable

Cons

• Low brightness level, even on max; may not be capable of illuminating an entire room
• Remote functioned poorly; some users have also reported poor connectivity
• Voice commands require being close to the lights; may be inconvenient for some users

Nexillumi&#;s 50-foot LED light strip uses 540-LM LED lights to add attractive accent illumination to any room. These lights are 70 watts, with 80 to 90 watts being average; that lower brightness uses less energy but still illuminates enough to improve visibility. Download the &#;illumi home&#; light app for fully customizable color selection, response to music beats, and brightness optimization. A remote is also included for folks who don&#;t wish to use smartphone or smart-home applications.

When testing these lights in the kitchen, we found that the strips aren&#;t coated with resin, which made them lighter&#;that may have helped the adhesive keep them firmly in place under the wall cabinets. While they didn&#;t create enough light for food prep tasks, they improved visibility while adding accent illumination. The app worked well, but when using the remote, it had to be pretty close to the light strip to get it to work, and sometimes it failed entirely.

Get the Nexillumi LED light strips at Amazon.

Best TV Backlighting

Pangton Villa 6.56-Foot LED Strip Lights for TV

Photo: amazon.com

Product Specs

• TV compatibility: 40 to 60 inches
• Controls: Remote only
• Brightness level: Low
• Special features: N/A

Pros

• Well designed for use as backlighting for TVs and computer monitors
• Fun color choices and lighting patterns with 16 color options
• Light levels are preprogrammed and can be adjusted to complement TV light levels using remote
• Effective adhesive backing helps ensure security against falling, slipping, and misplacing

Cons

• Adapter is not included; may need to be purchased separately if TV lacks USB port

Designed for TV backlighting, the Pangton Villa LED TV backlight comes in four strips with adhesive backing for simple application. The 540-LM lighting is a worthy selection for setting a mood behind a television while playing a favorite game or watching a movie.

There&#;s no need to worry about wattage requirements because the light strip connects directly to a television through a USB port.

If a TV does not have a USB port, plug an adapter into the power outlet. Choose from 16 colors or dim the lights with the included remote control. While these strips took our award for best TV LED light strips, remember that this light strip kit is only for televisions or computer monitors; it wasn&#;t designed for other situations.

The light strips are broken into sections with flexible connectors so they can be adapted to fit a TV&#;a feature that proved helpful during installation. The Pangton Villa LED strip lights easily adhered and never lost their grip during our testing. The remote control wasn&#;t hard to use, but the function of each button wasn&#;t always obvious.

Get the Pangton Villa LED light strips at Amazon.

Best Motion-Activated

VyanLight Motion-Sensor LED Lights

Photo: amazon.com

Product Specs

• TV compatibility: No
• Controls: Automatic
• Brightness level: Medium
• Special features: Only activates in darkness to preserve battery power

Pros

• Versatile; can safely illuminate dark entrances or conveniently light the interior of closets/wardrobes
• Sold as 3-pack to provide light for multiple spaces
• Wireless LED bars can adhere anywhere to run on 4 AAA batteries
• Magnetic mounting strip allows users to detach the unit for battery changes

Cons

• Batteries are not included with purchase

Motion-activated automatic lights can be a significant safety benefit in garages, laundry rooms, hallways, and doorways. Our tests found the VyanLight motion-sensor LED Lights, which come in a 3-pack, to be a worthy option. They use passive infrared technology (PIR) to detect motion and turn on the 10 built-in LED lights.

In our tests, these LED lights turned on within 9 feet of proximity and turned off automatically after 20 seconds without additional light or any motion, saving battery life. Plus, the lights are triggered only when the space lacks adequate light. For example, they won&#;t turn on if daylight is illuminating the area, but they will activate at night.

Though ideal for illuminating dark areas for safety, the strips&#; size&#;7.5 inches long by 1.2 inches wide&#;also makes them a good option inside wardrobes and closets as well as under cabinets, which is where we tested them. We appreciated that the lights are completely wireless and powered by four AAA batteries so we could install them anywhere. Plus, the strips are made with high-quality aluminum for durability; they seem unlikely to crack, bend, or erode over time.

We adhered the magnetic mounting strip using the adhesive backing. After installing four AAA batteries, we easily slid the light into the mounting strip. We considered it a plus that the lights simply detach for battery replacement, rather than the awkward process of removing batteries while the light is mounted. By the time testing was done 2 weeks later, the batteries were still going strong.

Get the VyanLight LED light strips at Amazon.

Best For Car

Govee RGB Smart Car LED Strip Lights

Photo: amazon.com

Product Specs

• TV compatibility: N/A
• Controls: App
• Brightness level: High
• Special features: Dual-lined design, DIY mode, smart color picking, and dynamic music mode

Pros

• DIY mode provides more than 16 million color options; brightness can also be adjusted
• Dynamic music mode allows the lighting to move rhythmically with any song
• Smart color-picking feature adjusts the colors of the lights based on a user&#;s images
• Dual-lined design creates more light than any single-lined counterparts

Cons

• Must be plugged in with a parallel double outlet
• Cord may get tangled and may be difficult to secure

While a car&#;s interior lights offer visibility at night, extra illumination can help users find dropped items while adding a bit of ambience. The Govee RGB Smart Car LED strip lights proved just the ticket in that regard. Upon testing, we appreciated the DIY mode in the Govee Home app that lets users create custom light settings to match most any accessory or illumination currently in a car. Plus, brightness is adjustable via Bluetooth connectivity.

These light strips have a dynamic music mode with a built-in microphone that can be synced with the car stereo, creating a vibrant dance of color around the interior. We found it easy to customize the lighting via the smart color-picking feature that uses an uploaded photo to create a color scheme.

The dual-line light strips can easily be mounted under the seats, wheel, dashboard, or on the flooring via adhesive and support clips. For added reliability, rubber tubing on the outside protects the LED lights from water, moisture, and abrasions. The lights plug into the vehicle&#;s parallel double outlet and have short-circuit protection for longevity.

Users must be aware that there will be cords trailing through the car with these lights. While screws and zip ties are included, most cars, including the one used for testing, had no place to attach the cords to keep them out of the way.

Get the Govee Smart Car LED light strips at Amazon.

Best For Ceiling

Daybetter Bluetooth 100-Foot LED Strip Lights

Photo: amazon.com

Product Specs

• TV compatibility: N/A
• Controls: App and remote
• Brightness level: High
• Special features: Music-sync mode and smart timers

Pros

• Dual 50-foot sets of lights work in small or large rooms, staying hidden but illuminating well
• Music-sync mode manipulates the lights to dance and move along to any song played
• Smart timer settings can be preset to turn on and off as needed
• Can be controlled via remote control as well as through Bluetooth connectivity
• Comes in multiple sizes: 200 feet, 100 feet, and 50 feet

Cons

• Only syncs with iTunes
• App can have connectivity issues
• Cord proved a bit short in testing for ceiling; had to use an extension cord

Want to make any room feel like a dance club? Consider installing the Daybetter Bluetooth LED strip lights on the ceiling. This set of two 50-foot strip lights has Bluetooth connectivity through Apollo Lighting, Daybetter&#;s app, for adjusting the six preset and five standard colorways (variable colorways are adjustable with a dial as well). The lights also include a remote control for adjusting color and brightness.

We recommend this set of Bluetooth smart light strips for rooms where music often plays, as the music-sync mode manipulates the lighting color and movement to the beat of the music. Plus, the smart timing setting allowed us to preset times to turn the lights on or off automatically. The disco downside? The lights sync only with music on iTunes.

In testing, these LED lights proved easy to install thanks to the adhesive on the back of the strips and the plug-in design. Follow installation instructions carefully, however, because dust can interfere with adherence. We were also disappointed that the electrical cord was a little short, requiring an extension cord for ceiling use, which detracted from the ambience. And we occasionally had issues with app connectivity when Bluetooth connection was up near the ceiling.

Get the Daybetter 100 feet of LED light strips at Amazon or Walmart.

Best Colorful

Tenmiro RGB 100-Foot Color-Changing LED Strip Lights

Photo: amazon.com

Product Specs

• TV compatibility: N/A
• Controls: App or remote
• Brightness level: High
• Special features: Music-sync mode, adjustable timers, dimmable

Pros

• Allows for millions of fun colorways via the brand&#;s app
• Suitable for medium to large room sizes, with dual 50-foot strips of LED lights
• Music-sync function moves the colors on the strips to the beat of any song
• Adjustable timers allow for automatic turn-on/off, a nice feature for childrens&#; bedrooms

Cons

• Must be plugged into an electrical outlet
• Music sync works with iTunes only

Bring pops of brilliant light and color to a large space with the Tenmiro RGB 100-foot color-changing LED strip lights. With two rolls of 50-foot strip lights, users can install enough lighting for a medium to large room and choose from millions of customizable colorways using the 44-key remote or the brand&#;s app.

In testing, we enjoyed the music-sync function of these 60-watt LED strip lights. They boast a built-in sensitivity-adjustable microphone that lets the color dance to the rhythm of any song (as long as it&#;s on the iTunes app, however). The Tenmiro lights can be timed for automatic on/off, and the dimmable feature sets the light level based on the chosen settings. There are also scene options (preset colors based on seasons, moods, holidays, or occasions) from which to choose, including various strobe effects.

These lights can stick to any clean, dry surface with the adhesive backing. The adhesive is strong, and in testing we appreciated that the lights held firmly, even with the weight of the Bluetooth transmitter.

Get the Tenmiro LED light strips at Amazon.

Also Consider

Daybetter Waterproof IR 32.8-Foot LED Strip Lights

Photo: amazon.com

Product Specs

• TV compatibility: Yes
• Controls: Remote control
• Brightness level: High
• Special features: Color changing, dimmable

Pros

• Coated with resin for durability and splash-resistant capabilities
• Infrared remote control with 44 keys; can adjust to 16 different light options
• Comes in multiple sizes: 65.6 feet, 50 feet, 32.8 feet, and 16.4 feet

Cons

• May not adhere well to porous or wood surfaces, especially on curves and corners
• Lights do not connect to Apollo Lighting, the Daybetter app

Those looking to add a little ambience and extra illumination to the kitchen and other splash-prone spaces might want to check out the Daybetter waterproof IR 32.8-foot LED strip lights. Though calling them truly &#;waterproof&#; is inaccurate, these LED lights are covered in resin, which makes them durable and somewhat splash-resistant.

Although these lights are advertised as being suitable for outdoor and indoor use, the instructions specify that they are not intended for humid environments or open air. Not all elements are waterproof, so we cannot recommend them for use outside or even in the bathroom (and we were naturally a bit put off by the conflicting claims). However, we did place them above our kitchen sink, and when the light strips got splashed by a mix of water and grease, they did not fail.

Linear installation was no problem, but because the protective coating on the strips makes them stiff, it was somewhat difficult to navigate curves and corners. In fact, the strips pulled away at corners, especially 90-degree angles, in our testing.

We did find the illumination and color options to be excellent. These lights include an infrared remote that can be adjusted to 16 different colors to suit many moods with the help of 44 keys.

Get the Daybetter waterproof LED light strips at Amazon or Daybetter.

ALSO TESTED

We also tested the Philips Hue Bluetooth Smart Lightstrip and the Monster 6.5-Foot Multicolor LED Light, but neither passed testing. The Philips Hue offered the brightest and highest-quality lights we tested. Unfortunately, this product had serious Bluetooth connectivity issues that made it unusable. Check out our full review here.

The Monster light strip had adhesive problems. The backing only partially came off the strip, rendering a quarter of the light strip nonsticky. When we installed the part of the light strip that did have adhesive, it fell down within 24 hours. A light strip that won&#;t stick cannot make the cut.

What to Look for When Choosing the Best LED Light Strips

There are many features to consider when shopping for the best LED strip lights, from color and size to intended use and brightness. Before shoppers purchase an LED light strip, they will want to keep the following factors in mind to ensure their choice meets or exceeds their expectations for the intended application.

Photo: Stacey L. Nash for Bob Vila

Location of Use

It&#;s essential to determine where the LED light strip will be installed before deciding which product to purchase. Some designs meet specific purposes, such as stair lighting or television backlighting. This specialization differentiates those products from standard LED light strips. For example, a product intended for backlighting a TV may come with four precut pieces and television-specific syncing options that change color to mimic the colors on the screen.

Other location considerations are water resistance for patios, dimmer compatibility for bedrooms, or motion sensing for a hall, bathroom, or stairway. Even a more generic installation of LED strip lights for ceilings or walls warrants some consideration before purchasing so buyers don&#;t end up with a specialty product that isn&#;t meant for where they intend to place it.

Length

Light strips are available in a variety of lengths, typically from 1 to 32 feet, though some strips run up to 50 feet long or more. The brightness and intended purpose usually correlate to their length. For example, LED light strips intended for television backlighting or use on stairs tend to be shorter for easier installation.

Low-brightness LED light strips can be up to 32 feet long with about 300 LED lights. High-brightness LED light strips may have the same number of LED modules, but they&#;ll usually only be about 16 feet long. However, most flexible LED strip lights can be cut using scissors to accommodate small areas. If longer LED tape is needed, pieces can often be connected to customize to the desired length.

Flexibility

Most light strips feature a flexible circuit board that can bend around corners or run over curved surfaces. Some LED light strips are so flexible that they can be bent up to 90 degrees without damaging the circuit board.

However, as the power of an LED light strip increases, the flexibility decreases, with some light strips being completely rigid in design. These inflexible products tend to be much shorter, sometimes only 1 foot long, and significantly brighter than the average light strip. They can also feature motion-sensing technology, making them ideal for lighting stairs.

Brightness 

The brightness of an LED light strip is measured in lumens and is dictated by the density of the LED lights within 1 meter.

Ideal brightness can be challenging to figure out, and some manufacturers don&#;t include this information. By taking note of the LED density, the average brightness of the light strip can be found. Average light strips come in two densities: standard density (SD) of 30 LEDs per meter (9.1 LEDs/foot) or high density (HD) of 60 LEDs per meter (18.3 LEDs/foot).

SD light strips produce an average of 540 lumens and need 27 watts of power. They can be up to 32.8 feet long. HD light strips provide an average of 1,080 lumens, need 40 watts of power, and come in a maximum length of 16.4 feet.

Photo: Stacey L.Nash for Bob Vila

Color and Color Temperature

The color of a light strip is critical to keep in mind. Some light strips come in only one color, while others can have color selections that range in the millions. The color option chosen is entirely dependent on personal preference.

Color temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin (K) and describes how warm or cool a light&#;s color appears; lower numbers indicate warmer color temperatures. The soft glow of an average incandescent light bulb is a warm temperature of 2,700K, while natural daylight is much cooler, averaging 6,500K.

We interviewed interior decorator Vivianne Chow, the owner of Viv and Tim Home in Chicago, on this subject. She shared some expert advice. &#;Make sure that the color temperature of the LED light strips matches what you currently have at home. I recommend sticking to K or K for a warm white look, instead of K, which is a little bit too cool-toned.&#;

Wattage 

Wattage is a measure of how much energy the light strip requires to function at its optimal brightness. If a light strip requires more energy than the power source is capable of providing, it won&#;t work correctly, often producing a much weaker light. LED light strips operate using batteries, power adapters plugged into wall outlets, or being hardwired directly into the home&#;s electrical system.

LED light strips with lower brightness requirements, such as a 540-lumen strip, will also have reduced wattage requirements. As brightness demands increase, power demands also rise, with a 16.4-foot SD light strip requiring 27 watts of power and a 16.4-foot HD LED light strip requiring 40 watts.

In our interview with Dara Greaney, he also mentioned that, &#;LEDs are 90 percent more efficient than incandescent and 60 percent more than CFL/fluorescent, so anytime we use LEDs we are saving money and going green.&#; LED lights are certainly something to consider for energy-conscious consumers.

Operation

In years past, LED light strips were hardwired into the electrical system to work with a light switch or plugged into a power outlet and controlled with a button. However, LED light strips have come a long way from their original design.

Light strips are available that connect to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, remotes, or mobile apps. With these controls, the brightness and color can be adjusted, the lights can be programmed to sync with music, or schedules can be set for waking up, arriving home from work, or going to sleep.

LED light strips that connect with smart-home ecosystems like Amazon Alexa or Google Home can even be controlled using voice commands, while more straightforward options with just one color may only have a remote to turn the light on or off.

FAQs

LED light strips come with many pros and a few cons. Whether you&#;re looking for LED strip lights for bedrooms, LED strip lights for kitchen cabinets, or bedroom LED light strips, the answers to these common questions may help.

Q. Are LED light strips safe?

LED light strips are safe as long as they&#;re installed and operated according to the manufacturer&#;s instructions. For example, indoor lights shouldn&#;t be installed outside, and some lights should not be installed where they can get wet.

Q. How long can you run LED light strips?

LED light strips can run for hours on end without being shut off. They get warm, but they&#;re designed to underdrive the LEDs, which means they don&#;t overheat.

Q. Do LED light strips have to be plugged in to work?

Yes, you must plug in most LED light strips. We did test one battery-operated cordless model, but it was a short 16-inch strip.

Q. Do LED strip lights work with dimmer switches?

Almost every LED strip is compatible with a dimmer switch. To make an LED light strip dimmable, you must first connect its input wire to a dimmer unit; then connect the unit to the power supply.

Q. How can I create ambient light with LED strip lights?

To create ambient light in your home with LED strip lights, the optimal locations are under or above cabinets and counters in the kitchen, behind mirrors in the bathroom, or even around large pieces of furniture like bookshelves and home entertainment units.

Q. How do you properly recycle old LED strip lights?

LED strip lights can be disposed of by taking them to a local recycling center.

Q. How long do LED strip lights last?

Most LED light strips are built to last for up to 50,000 hours of use, which is roughly 10 to 20 years of runtime.

Meet the Tester

Stacey L. Nash is a writer and product tester with a background in home and garden products. She&#;s researched and tested home products for more than 5 years. That research is coupled with the practical experience that comes from living life with four kids and a DIY husband on 12 acres that require clearing and upkeep. Now she tests and writes about home appliances, kitchen tools, lighting, cleaning products, and garden tools.

Additional research provided by Timothy Dale.

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