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LED light strips are long circuit boards with surface-mount device light-emitting diodes (SMD LEDs) that can be stuck almost anywhere you want extra illumination. They’re commonly used as recessed lights, television backlighting, or under-cabinet lighting, and many pair with smart-home connections for convenient, customizable operation.
To see which LED lighting strips are worth their prices and installation times, we put 10 popular options through a series of hands-on tests and sought advice from multiple experts. After testing each of the following lights, we rated them based on their ease of use, the attractiveness of their colors and modes, and the added value of their special features.
Based on our test results, we granted the Govee RGB 32.8-Foot LED Strip Lights the award for Best Overall. They are simple to install and operate, bright enough for task lighting, and very reasonably priced. Keep reading to see why we like each of the following options and to get additional information on how to choose the best LED light strips for your walls and ceilings or car and closet.
- BEST OVERALL: Govee RGB 32.8-Foot LED Strip Lights
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Nexillumi RGB 50-Foot LED Strip Lights
↓ Jump to Review - BEST TV BACKLIGHTING: Pangton Villa 6.56-Foot LED Strip Lights for TV
↓ Jump to Review - BEST MOTION-ACTIVATED: VyanLight Motion-Sensor LED Lights
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR CAR: Govee RGB Smart Car LED Strip Lights
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR CEILING: Daybetter Bluetooth 100-Foot LED Strip Lights
↓ Jump to Review - BEST COLORFUL: Tenmiro RGB 100-Foot Color-Changing LED Strip Lights
↓ Jump to Review - ALSO CONSIDER: Daybetter Waterproof IR 32.8-Foot LED Strip Lights
↓ Jump to Review
Our Top Picks
No matter where you’re aiming to add an LED light strip, you want to be sure the strip you select is high quality. Based on our tests for installation, ease of use, and effectiveness, the following products are some of the best LED light strips you can buy.
Best Overall
Govee RGB 32.8-Foot LED Strip Lights
What We Like
- Length is suitable for large rooms
- Controllable via Amazon Alexa and Google Home, remote, and app
- Includes support brackets for installation
What We Don’t Like
- Voice and music settings aren’t great
Product Specs
- Controls: App, remote, and electrical cord on/off
- Brightness level: High
- Special features: Responds to voice and music
The Govee 32.8-foot smart LED lights offer an incredible 16 million color options through the Govee home app. It also connects with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, enabling voice control for hands-free operation. You can turn the lights on or off as you enter a room or adjust the color settings without getting up.
These smart LED strip lights come as two flexible 16.4-foot rolls that require 36 watts of power for optimal functionality. With the app, you can set daily schedules or activate the sound-responsive microphone, which prompts the LEDs to change color alongside music, hand claps, and other sounds.
We were impressed by how well these programmable LED lights connected to the app for choosing scheduling and lighting options, including manual preferences or preset colors based on seasons, moods, holidays, or special occasions. What really put this Govee LED light strip over the top was the inclusion of adhesive or screw-on support clips that help support heavier sections of the electrical cord for a neat and secure setup.
What our tester says: “This Govee strip balances all the key features you need in an LED light strip: adhesive strength, color options, and scheduling. We love having them under our kitchen cabinets since they stay put without falling and are bright enough for food prep.”—Stacey L. Nash, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Govee 32.8-foot LED light strips at Amazon or Walmart.
Best Bang for the Buck
Nexillumi RGB 50-Foot LED Strip Lights
What We Like
- Inexpensive way to add attractive ambient lighting
- Good adherence; no tools needed
- App is easy to use and customizable
What We Don’t Like
- Low brightness level, even on max
- Remote doesn’t work well
- Voice commands require you to be close to the lights
Product Specs
- Controls: App, remote, and electrical cord on/off
- Brightness level: Low
- Special features: Responds to voice and music
Nexillumi’s 50-foot LED light strip uses 540-lumen LED lights to add attractive accent illumination to any room. At 70 watts, it uses less energy than typical strips, which average between 80 and 90 watts, yet it still delivers a nice amount of attractive ambient light. You can fully customize color selection, music responsiveness, and brightness through the “illumi Home” app or use the included remote if you’d rather not pair the lights with your phone or a smart-home speaker. We found you have to be quite close to the light strip to get the remote to work, however (and it sometimes didn’t work at all), so we recommend using the app with this budget-friendly lighting pick.
When testing these lights in our kitchen, we realized these strips aren’t coated with resin, which made them lighter and helped them stay in place under our cabinets. Unfortunately, they really don’t offer enough brightness for food prep, so we moved them under some shelving and found they add a nice ambient glow.
Get the Nexillumi LED light strips at Amazon or Walmart.
Best TV Backlighting
Pangton Villa 6.56-Foot LED Strip Lights for TV
What We Like
- Designed specifically as LED lights for TV or computer monitor
- Fun color choices and lighting patterns
- Adhesive backing provides secure attachment
What We Don’t Like
- Must purchase adaptor if no USB port on TV
Product Specs
- Controls: Remote only
- Brightness level: Low
- Special features: N/A
This Pangton Villa light kit is specifically designed for backlighting TVs and computer monitors, and our tests proved just how important that design is for such a purpose. The product comes as four adhesive-backed strips attached to one another via flexible connectors that adjust to fit any TV or monitor between 40 and 60 inches (there’s a larger size for 65- to 75-inch screens). Since light strips aren’t generally flexible enough to make effective 90-degree angles, the connectors make a big difference in creating precise, clean corners. Once we fit and attached the strip set to our TV, it didn’t budge at all during our tests.
In addition to making sure you choose the right size kit for your screen, you’ll also want to check your TV or monitor’s ports to ensure compatibility. This kit connects directly via USB, but if your screen doesn’t have a USB port, you’ll need to buy a separate adapter for a power outlet. Once connected, you can choose from 16 colors or dim the lights using the included remote control. Though the lights were always responsive to the remote during our tests, it took us a minute to learn what each button did, so be patient as you scroll through each option.
Get the Pangton Villa LED light strips at Amazon.
Best Motion-Activated
VyanLight Motion-Sensor LED Lights
What We Like
- Great LED shop light or light for dark entrances or closets
- No electricity required; powered by 4 AAA batteries
- Magnetic mounting strip make changing batteries easy
What We Don’t Like
- One color and brightness option only
Product Specs
- Controls: Automatic
- Brightness level: Medium
- Special features: Only activates in darkness to preserve battery power
Motion-activated automatic lights make entering dark spaces safer and less scary (at any age). Though these bar-style lights aren’t the same flexible, color-changing LED strip lights as the rest of the options on our list, we found them to be a worthy addition for their ease of use and reliable performance.
The VyanLight motion-sensor LED lights attach to virtually any surface via an adhesive-backed magnetic mounting strip. Simply install four AAA batteries, stick the strip to the wall, and slide the light into the strip. When the time comes to replace the batteries, it’s easy to detach the light rather than having to take the whole strip down. In the meantime, you can trust them to turn on any time you’re within 9 feet of them and off after about 20 seconds. That is, unless it’s already light in the area, as their daylight sensors keep them off during the day to protect battery life.
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. Since these are battery-powered strip LED lights that are completely wireless, you can install them virtually anywhere. Plus, the strips are made with high-quality aluminum for durability; they seem unlikely to crack, bend, or erode over time.
What our tester says: “We’ve had battery-operated wireless LED strip lights like this before, and taking them down to put in new batteries isn’t always easy. Being able to simply detach these lights from their magnetic mounting strips is so much better.”—Stacey L. Nash, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the VyanLight LED light strips at Amazon or Walmart.
Best For Car
Govee RGB Smart Car LED Strip Lights
What We Like
- More than 16 million color options plus adjustable brightness
- Dynamic music mode moves lights to match any song
- Dual-lined design creates more light than single-lined options
What We Don’t Like
- Must be plugged in with a parallel double outlet
- Cord is difficult to secure
Product Specs
- Controls: App only
- Brightness level: High
- Special features: Dual-lined design, DIY mode, smart color picking, and dynamic music mode
Extra illumination in a car’s interior can increase safety, visibility, and ambience, and these dual-line light strips from Govee are designed to deliver on all those fronts. They have rubber tubing that protects against water, moisture, and abrasions, so you can run them under seats, along the dashboard, or against the flooring. They’re easy to install by simply plugging them into your vehicle’s parallel double outlet and have short-circuit protection for longevity.
While screws and zip ties are included, most cars don’t have good places to attach the cords to keep them out of the way. During testing, we had cords trailing through our car that were easy to catch and tangle. So long as we steered clear of them, however, we loved using the Govee app’s DIY mode to create custom light settings to match our car’s accessories and inhabitant’s moods. When driving in dark areas, we appreciated being able to dim the lights using Bluetooth connectivity.
We also liked the light’s dynamic music mode, which uses a built-in microphone to sync the lights to the stereo to create vibrant dancing colors around the interior. The lights also have a smart color-picking feature that customizes them to an uploaded photo to create a totally custom color scheme.
Get the Govee smart car LED light strips at Amazon.
Best For Ceiling
Daybetter Bluetooth 100-Foot LED Strip Lights
What We Like
- Dual light sets fit both small or large rooms
- Music-sync mode can match any song
- App offers preset smart timer settings
- Available in other sizes
What We Don’t Like
- Only syncs with iTunes
- May need an extension cord for high ceilings
Product Specs
- Controls: App and remote
- Brightness level: High
- Special features: Music-sync mode and smart timers
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 also adjustable with a dial). The lights also include a remote control for adjusting color and brightness.
We recommend this set of Bluetooth smart light strips in rooms where you like to play music, as the music-sync mode manipulates the lighting color and movement to the beat of the music. Plus, the smart timing setting lets you 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. However, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to install LED strip lights because dust can interfere with adherence. Also, be aware that you may need an extension cord since the electrical cord isn’t super long, which was the case for us and detracted from the ambience. We occasionally had issues with app connectivity when the Bluetooth connection was up near the ceiling.
Get the Daybetter Bluetooth LED light strips at Amazon or Walmart.
Best Colorful
Tenmiro RGB 100-Foot Color-Changing LED Strip Lights
What We Like
- Millions of fun colorways via the brand’s app
- Suitable for medium to large room sizes
- Music-sync function moves to the beat of any song
- Adjustable timer is nice for childrens’ bedrooms
What We Don’t Like
- Must be plugged into an electrical outlet
- Music sync works with iTunes only
Product Specs
- Controls: App and remote
- Brightness level: High
- Special features: Music-sync mode, adjustable timers, dimmable
Bring pops of brilliant light and color to almost any size 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 causes color to dance to the rhythm of any song (as long as it’s on the iTunes app). You can set a timer on these lights for automatic on/off, and the dimmable feature sets the light level based on the chosen settings. There are also scene options, including preset colors based on seasons, moods, holidays, or occasions, and modes that use various strobe effects.
The adhesive backing of these lights allows them to stick to any clean, dry surface. 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
What We Like
- Coated with resin for splash resistance
- 44-key remote with 16 different light options
- Comes in several sizes
What We Don’t Like
- May not adhere well to porous or wood surfaces
- Lights do not connect to the Daybetter app
Product Specs
- Controls: Remote control
- Brightness level: High
- Special features: Color changing, dimmable
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 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 indoor or outdoor LED strip lights, 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.
Be aware that the protective coating on these strips makes them stiff. We had a hard time getting them to follow curves, and they pulled away from 90-degree corners we tried to attach them to during testing. If you’re looking for a water-resistant option for linear installation, however, these are great.
What our tester says: “The illumination and color options on these lights are excellent. They don’t connect to the Daybetter app, but we like the simple yet comprehensive 44-key remote. There are also only 16 color options instead of millions, yet we never struggle to find one to match the mood.”—Stacey L. Nash, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Daybetter waterproof LED light strips at Amazon or Daybetter.
ALSO TESTED
Unfortunately, the following two LED light strips we tested didn’t make our list:
- The Philips Hue Bluetooth Smart Lightstrip was one of the brightest and highest-quality lights we tested. Unfortunately, it had serious Bluetooth connectivity issues that made it unusable. Check out our full review here.
- The protective backing on the Monster 6.5-Foot Multicolor LED Light would only partially come off, making it impossible for us to attach about a quarter of the strip. Since the part we did attach fell down within 24 hours, this light strip didn’t make the cut.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best LED Light Strips
To test the best LED light strips, we installed them in appropriate places, including our kitchen, office, TV, and car. 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.”
Then, over the following 2½ weeks, we used the light strips via remote and app to test their features and functionality. We set lighting schedules, created lighting themes, and used the lights in real-life situations. We rated each set according to installation, illumination, and durability criteria. After rating the lights on a scale of 0 to 4, we calculated their scores and assigned the worthy options awards.
What to Look for When Choosing 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.
Location of Use
It’s essential to determine where the LED light strip will be installed before deciding which product to purchase. Some designs are for 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 include water resistance for patios, dimmer compatibility for bedrooms, or motion sensing for a hall, bathroom, or stairway.
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, check to see if you can connect pieces to create 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
As with LED light bulbs, 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, you can determine the average brightness of the light strip. Most 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.
Color and Color Temperature
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 in various types of light bulbs 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 2700K or 3000K for a warm white look instead of 5000K, which is a little bit too cool-toned.”
Wattage
Wattage measures how much energy the light strip requires to function at its optimal brightness. If a light strip requires more energy than the power source can provide, it won’t work correctly, causing the light produced to be weak. LED light strips generally operate using batteries or power adapters plugged into wall outlets, but some options can be 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, or remotes. With these controls, you can adjust brightness and color, program the lights to sync with music, or set schedules for waking up, arriving home from work, or going to sleep.
LED light strips that connect with smart-home devices 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.
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.
LED light strips can run for hours on end without being shut off. They get warm, but they’re designed to underdrive the LEDs, meaning they don’t put out much heat. This makes them nice ambient or task lighting but not ideal as LED grow lights.
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. However, this non-electric option would be a reliable light during a power outage.
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 and then connect the unit to the power supply.
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.
LED strip lights can be disposed of by taking them to a local recycling center.
LED lights are built to last, with most LED light strips lasting 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.
