LED Strip Light Selector

LED Strip Light Guide — Types, Wattage, CRI & IP Ratings Explained

With dozens of LED strip types on the market, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. This guide breaks down every key specification so you can confidently select the best strip for your project — whether it's under-cabinet kitchen lighting, architectural cove work, outdoor garden features or pool surrounds.

SMD vs COB — Which Strip Type?

The two main LED strip technologies have very different visual characteristics:

Colour Temperature Guide

Colour temperature (measured in Kelvin) determines whether light appears warm and cosy or cool and crisp. Choosing the right CCT is as important as choosing the right wattage.

Understanding CRI

CRI (Colour Rendering Index) measures how accurately colours appear under the light source compared to natural sunlight. It ranges from 0–100, with 100 being perfect.

• CRI 80 — standard, adequate for general ambient lighting
• CRI 90+ — high CRI, colours appear vivid and accurate — recommended for kitchens, retail, art and anywhere colour appearance matters
• CRI 95+ — museum quality, used in art galleries, jewellery display, medical lighting

Never use low-CRI strips for food display, retail, or artwork — colours will look washed out and unnatural. High-CRI strips cost slightly more but the difference in light quality is immediately visible.

Wattage Per Metre Guide

IP Ratings for LED Strips

Do You Need an Aluminium Channel?

Aluminium extrusion channels serve two functions: heat management and light diffusion. For strips above 10W/m, a channel is strongly recommended — it acts as a heatsink, keeping LED junction temperatures lower and dramatically extending strip lifespan. A strip running hot without a channel may last 10,000–20,000 hours; the same strip in a channel can last 50,000+ hours.

Opal diffuser covers on channels eliminate the visible LED dot pattern, creating a smooth, even glow. This is essential for cove lighting, shelf edge lighting, or anywhere the strip itself is visible to occupants.

Colour Changing — RGB vs RGBW vs Tunable White

• Single colour — simplest, best light quality, lowest cost. Use when you just want white light.
• RGB — full colour changing but poor white light quality. Good for entertainment and feature lighting where colour effects are the point.
• RGBW — adds a dedicated white chip to RGB. Best of both — good colour changing plus quality white. More expensive and requires a compatible 4-channel controller.
• Tunable White (CCT) — adjusts between warm and cool white. No colour changing, but perfect for human-centric lighting that follows the natural daylight cycle.

Choosing LED Strip by Application — Room-by-Room Guide

Kitchen — Under-Cabinet and Cove Lighting

Kitchen LED strip installations have two distinct zones: task lighting under wall cabinets (illuminating the benchtop) and decorative cove or pelmet lighting above upper cabinets. These have very different requirements.

For under-cabinet task lighting, brightness is the priority. Choose a strip with at least 12W/m, CRI 90+ (so food and surfaces look their natural colour), and a colour temperature of 3000K–4000K. IP20 is adequate as the strip is protected under the cabinet, but IP44 is worth considering near the sink. Mount in an aluminium channel with an opal diffuser to avoid visible hotspots on the benchtop — a bare strip mounted under a cabinet will create an uneven, patchy pattern.

For cove lighting above cabinets, the goal is a soft wash of light on the ceiling. Use COB strip or high-density SMD in a channel with opal diffuser — the seamless glow suits the architectural intent. 2700K–3000K is most common for a warm, welcoming kitchen ambience. 8–12W/m is sufficient for cove as it doesn't need to provide task illumination.

Bathroom — Zone Compliance and Moisture Protection

Bathrooms are governed by specific zone requirements under AS/NZS 3000. Understanding the zones is essential for safe LED strip selection:

Zone 0 is inside the bath or shower — IP67 minimum is required here, and voltage must be extra-low voltage (12V or 24V DC). Standard mains voltage lighting is not permitted in Zone 0. Zone 1 is directly above the bath or shower to a height of 2.25m — IP44 minimum. Zone 2 is within 0.6m horizontally of the shower or bath, from floor to 2.25m — IP44 minimum is generally applied. Outside these zones, normal indoor fittings are permitted.

In practice, for any bathroom LED strip installation, IP65 is the sensible minimum choice — it handles steam, condensation, and the inevitable splash without requiring precise zone mapping. For shower niches or in-shower features, use IP67 or IP68. Choose warm white (2700K–3000K) for a relaxing atmosphere, and ensure the driver is located outside the wet zones.

Outdoor Garden and Landscape Lighting

Outdoor LED strip must withstand UV exposure, temperature cycling, moisture, and in some locations insects and wildlife. IP65 is the minimum for any outdoor application; IP67 is recommended for garden beds, ground-level paths, and any location that may be submerged during heavy rain. For pond edges, fountains, or water features, IP68 is essential.

Colour temperature for outdoor landscape lighting depends on the planting. For green foliage, 3000K or 4000K renders greens well and adds vibrancy. For stone, gravel, or architectural elements, 2700K provides a warm, elegant tone. Avoid 6500K cool daylight outdoors — it looks clinical and harsh against natural materials.

Neon silicone strip is excellent for defined garden edges, step lighting, and feature outlines where the strip itself is visible. Its flexible, one-piece construction is far more durable than conventional strip in outdoor environments, with no exposed solder points or circuit board to corrode.

Always check voltage drop on outdoor runs — cable runs to remote garden areas are often 15–30m or more. Use the Garden