Written by Timothy Dale and Stacey L Nash | Updated 9:09 PM, November 23, 2021

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The LED strip is a long circuit board with a surface mount device light emitting diode (SMD LED) that can provide light to any room. These light bars are also called LED tape or ribbon lights, and usually come with an adhesive backing for easy installation.

Some of the best LED strip lighting options can be used in many different interior design projects, including recessed lighting, TV backlighting, or kitchen countertop lighting with under cabinet lights.

We tested each of the light strips in this list to understand their performance. Each model is selected based on quality, functionality and attractive design. In addition to evaluating the work effect of the light strip, we also examined the strength of the adhesive, application functionality, brightness, and ease of installation. Read on to learn which lights are brighter than others and find out some of the best LED light brands.

When buying the best LED light bar, there are many characteristics to consider, from color and size to intended use and brightness. Before purchasing an LED strip, please consider the following factors in mind to ensure that your choice meets or exceeds your expectations for the intended application.

Before deciding which product to use, you must first determine the installation location of the LED strip. Some designs meet specific purposes, such as staircase lighting or TV backlighting. Because of this specialization, they are different from general LED strips. For example, a product for TV backlighting might come with four pre-cuts and TV-specific synchronization options that can change colors to mimic the colors on the screen.

Other location considerations are the waterproofness of the terrace; the dimmer compatibility of the bedroom; or the motion sensing for halls, bathrooms or stairs. Even if you install a more general LED light bar on the ceiling or wall, you need to think about it before you buy it so that you won't get a special product that doesn't fit where you plan to put it.

The lamp comes with a variety of lengths to choose from, usually 1 to 32 feet. Brightness and intended use are usually related to their length. For example, LED strips used for TV backlighting or used on stairs are often short to facilitate installation.

The low-brightness LED strip can be up to 32 feet long and has about 300 LED lights. High-brightness LED strips may have the same number of LED modules, but they are usually only about 16 feet long. However, most flexible LED strips can be cut with scissors to fit a small area. If longer LED tape is needed, parts can usually be connected to customize the required length.

Most light strips have a flexible circuit board that can be bent at corners or run on curved surfaces. Some LED strips are very flexible and can be bent 90 degrees without damaging the circuit board.

However, as the power of LED strips increases, flexibility will decrease. Some strips are completely rigid in design. These inflexible products are often much shorter, sometimes only 1 foot long, and are much brighter than ordinary light strips. They also have motion sensing technology, which is very suitable for lighting stairs.

The brightness of the LED strip is measured in lumens per meter or LM, and is determined by the density of the LED lights within 1 meter.

Brightness may be difficult to figure out, and some manufacturers do not include this information. By paying attention to the LED density, the average brightness of the light strip can be found. The average lamp comes with two densities: standard density (SD) of 30 LEDs per meter (9.1 LEDs/ft) or high density (HD) of 60 LEDs per meter (18.3 LEDs/ft).

The average power of a standard density (SD) strip is 540 LM, which requires 27 watts of power. They can be up to 32.8 feet long. High-density (HD) strips provide an average of 1,080 LM and require 40 watts of power, with a maximum length of 16.4 feet.

It is important to remember the color of the light strip. Some light strips have only one color, while other light strips can be selected from millions of colors. The color option you choose depends entirely on your personal preferences.

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) degrees, which describes the degree of warmth or coldness of the color of the light, with a lower number indicating a warmer color temperature. The soft glow temperature of an ordinary incandescent bulb is 2,700K, while the natural light temperature is much lower, with an average of 6,500K.

Wattage is a measure of the energy required for a light strip to work at its optimal brightness. If the energy required by the light strip exceeds the energy that the power supply can provide, it will not work properly and will usually produce weaker light. The LED light bar runs on batteries, a power adapter plugged into a wall socket, or directly hard-wired to the home's electrical system.

LED strips with lower brightness requirements, such as 540-LM strips, will also reduce wattage requirements. As the brightness demand increases, so does the power demand. The 16.4 foot standard density light strip requires 27 watts of power, while the 16.4 foot high density LED light strip requires 40 watts.

In the past few years, LED strips have been hardwired into electrical systems to work with light switches or plugged into power outlets and controlled by buttons. However, LED strips have come a long way from their original design.

Provide light strips that connect to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, remote control or mobile phone applications. Through these controls, you can adjust the brightness and color; you can program the lights to synchronize with the music; or you can set a schedule for getting up, going home from get off work, or going to bed.

LED strips connected to smart home ecosystems such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home can even be controlled using voice commands, and a more direct option with only one color might have only a remote control to turn the lights on or off.

No matter what type of LED strips you need, a common goal is to find high-quality products. In order to facilitate the search, we have tested various LED strips, and according to our test, according to the above-mentioned purchase factors, price, effect and reputation, we have selected the following options as some of the best available options. Organized by type, one of which may be what you need to light up your home.

The Govee 32.8-foot smart LED strip has nearly 33 feet of bright 1,080-LM lighting, and offers up to 16 million color choices through the Govee home app. The light strip can also be connected with Amazon Alexa and Google Home to provide voice control of the lighting. Turn lights on or off when walking into an area, and control color settings without even lifting your finger.

It has two flexible 16.4 foot rolls and requires 40 watts of power for optimal function. Use your smartphone to set the operating schedule, or enjoy the voice response microphone, which will prompt the LED to change color with the music beat, clapping and other sounds.

In our tests, we found that this Govee light strip balances everything from bonding strength to color selection and timing. We tested these lights under a kitchen cabinet and we found that they are bright enough to be used as task lighting. The app has excellent connectivity, excellent scheduling options, and lighting options based on scenes or manual preferences. Govee provides additional support clips, which can be glued or screwed in to secure the heavier part of the wire if needed.

Nexillumi’s 50-foot music sync LED light strip uses 540 lumens of LED lights to create the perfect room or entertainment center accent. Includes two flexible 25-foot light strips, as well as several straight and L-shaped connectors so that light strips can be cut and applied anywhere.

The lower brightness of these LEDs means that only 27 watts of power are required for optimal light output. Download the Ehome Light app for fully customizable color selection, response to music beats, and brightness optimization. For those who are uncomfortable with smartphone apps, a remote control with the same functions is also included.

We tested these lights in the kitchen. Nexillumi's strips are uncoated, but this makes them lighter, which helps the adhesive hold the strips under the upper cabinet. Although they do not emit much light, they are sufficient to provide accent lighting and improve visibility. The application works well, but the remote control is not the best. We found that the remote control must be very close to work, and sometimes it doesn't work at all.

Designed specifically for TV backlighting. The Pangton Villa LED TV backlight with remote control has four tapes with adhesive backing for easy application. The 540-LM lighting is perfect for creating an atmosphere behind the TV when playing your favorite game or curling up to watch a horror movie.

No need to worry about the wattage requirement, because the light strip is directly connected to the TV through the USB port. If the TV does not have a USB port, plug the adapter into a power outlet. Choose from 16 different colors, or dim the lights with the included remote control. However, please keep in mind that this light strip kit is only suitable for TV or computer monitors and may not be suitable for other situations.

The Pangton Villa LED strips adhere easily and never lose their grip during our testing. They provide dim accent lighting, making them our best choice for TV LED strips because they are perfect for providing backlighting for TVs. The remote control is not difficult to use, although the role of each button is a bit speculative. The light strips are divided into sections with flexible connectors, so they can be adapted to the TV. We found this feature to be helpful during the installation process.

The Cotanic LED motion sensor light strip is not as flexible as most other light strips. It provides a 10-foot area where the motion sensor can detect motion and automatically turn on the LED light bar. After 18 seconds of inactivity within 10 feet, the light strip turns off. The high-density light strip can be installed or removed from its magnetic holder for easy charging via the USB port, no wires required.

The ultra-thin design is very suitable for dark corridors or a set of stairs, which can provide lighting in the darkest time without affecting the feet. The anti-glare diffuser makes it an ideal night guide, preventing the user from blindness when it is automatically activated.

This kind of lamp is a difficult problem in our test. We tested it in the office and installed it on a small cabinet above the table. For the first few days, the motion sensor does not work. It has three settings-on, off and automatic. No matter how much we walk, slap or wave, when it is set to automatic, it will not turn on... until the test is about 5 days. Suddenly, the motion sensor started working, and it performed so well the following week.

Despite the sensor problem, the design of this lamp is one of our favorites. It is fixed by the adhesive magnetic bracket. Pop the lamp out of the holder to charge it, it can be attached to any magnetic surface. We like bright lights and will use them instead of desk lamps to save space.

We also tested the Philips Hue Bluetooth Smart Strip and the Monster 6.5-foot multicolor LED light, but none of them passed the test. Philips provides the brightest and highest quality lights we have tested. Unfortunately, this product has serious Bluetooth connection problems and cannot be used. Check out our full review here.

The Monster lamp has adhesion problems. First, the backing will only partially fall off, making a quarter of the light strips non-sticky. No matter how hard we try, we cannot get rid of the rest of one part. Finally, we installed the remaining light strips, but it collapsed within 24 hours. We even tried to use another support clip of the light strip to support the rest of the light strip, but the light still dropped. Poor adhesive makes these lamps unusable.

Govee manufactures high-quality and reliable light strips. Govee smart LED strip has become our first choice because of its simple control, convenient connection, and millions of colors to choose from. Although the others on our list work well, this is our favorite.

We tested the light strips according to established standards, including standards for lighting, installation, performance and durability. After rating the lamps on a scale of 0 to 4, we calculated their ratings.

According to the design, the light strip is installed on the kitchen or TV. Follow the manufacturer's installation and operating instructions. The test was carried out for 2½ weeks, allowing us to more accurately understand the function and bonding strength of the light strip. We connected these lights to the apps that came with them and tested these functions, not only to understand their usefulness, but also to understand their functions in daily life.

According to the characteristics of each product, we set the lighting schedule, create lighting themes, and change the way and time of lighting. By installing these lights in real life, we can understand their overall operation and which individual settings work best.

LED strips have many advantages and some disadvantages. If you are still not sure whether they are right for you, the answers to some of the most common questions below may be helpful. Keep in mind that there are many different types, styles, strip lengths and even weights to consider, depending on whether you are looking for LED strips for bedrooms, kitchen cabinets or closets. Certain situations—such as slow internet speed or home settings—can also affect the performance of the lamp.

As long as it is installed and operated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, the LED strip is safe. For example, indoor lights should not be installed outdoors, and some lights should not be installed in places prone to moisture.

The LED strip can run continuously for several hours without being turned off. They will get hot, but they are designed to reduce the driving force of the LED, which means they will not overheat.

Yes, you must plug in the LED light bar to work. We did test a battery-powered cordless model, but it was a short 16-inch bar.

Bob Vila has been an American handyman since 1979. As the host of the beloved groundbreaking TV series, including "The Old House" and "Bob Villa's House", he is popular and has become synonymous with "do it yourself" home improvement.

Throughout his decades-long professional career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair and live better every day-a tradition that continues to this day, providing professional and easy-to-use home advice. The Bob Vila team distilled the information they need to know into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101, etc. Then, these family and garden experts thoroughly research, review, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.

Timothy Dale is a freelance writer specializing in home repair and construction. While completing a degree in English Literature and Psychology, he worked in the plumbing industry during his university years, and then held a project management position for 10 years. During his tenure as a project manager, Mr. Dale worked in residential plumbing and carpentry, and spent a year in the commercial and industrial fields.

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