What IP rating do I need for LED strips in a bathroom?

Australian Standard AS/NZS 3000 divides bathrooms into zones. Zone 0 (inside the bath or shower) requires IP67 minimum. Zone 1 (directly above the bath/shower to 2.25m height) requires IP44 minimum. Zone 2 (within 0.6m of the shower) requires IP44. Outside these zones, IP20 is acceptable. In practice, IP65 strips are recommended for any bathroom application as they can handle steam and humidity.

How many lumens do I need for under-cabinet LED strips?

For under-cabinet task lighting in kitchens, aim for 400–600 lumens per linear metre. A 9–14W/m LED strip at 24V typically achieves this. For purely decorative ambient lighting under cabinets, 150–300 lumens per metre is sufficient. High CRI strips (CRI 90+) are recommended for kitchen benchtops to render food colours accurately.

What is CRI and why does it matter for LED strips?

CRI (Colour Rendering Index) measures how accurately a light source renders colours compared to natural sunlight (CRI 100). Standard LED strips typically have CRI 80. High CRI strips (CRI 90+) render colours more vividly and accurately — important for retail, art galleries, kitchens and anywhere colour appearance matters. For general ambient lighting, CRI 80 is acceptable. For task lighting or display lighting, choose CRI 90 or higher.

Do I need an aluminium channel for LED strips?

Aluminium channels serve two purposes: heat dissipation (extending LED strip life) and diffusion (eliminating visible dots). For strips above 10W/m, a channel is strongly recommended as it significantly extends lifespan. For cove and architectural lighting, a channel with opal diffuser creates a smooth glow rather than visible LED dots. Channels also protect the strip from mechanical damage and make installation neater.

What is the difference between single colour and RGBW LED strips?

Single colour strips emit one fixed colour temperature (e.g. 3000K warm white) and are controlled with a simple on/off dimmer. RGB strips mix red, green and blue LEDs to create millions of colours but produce poor quality white light. RGBW strips add a dedicated white LED chip for quality white light alongside colour changing capability — ideal when you want both colour effects and good quality white light from one system.

LED Strip Light Selector — Find the Right Strip for Your Project

Type	Best For	IP
SMD (standard)	Most indoor uses	IP20
SMD + diffuser	Visible installs	IP20+
COB	Dot-free, coves	IP20
IP65 SMD	Bathrooms, damp	IP65
IP67/68 SMD	Outdoor, wet	IP67+
Neon silicone	Signage, outdoor	IP67
IP68 silicone	Pools, ponds	IP68
RGB SMD	Colour/mood	IP20+
RGBW SMD	Colour + white	IP20+
Tunable white	Flexible CCT	IP20+

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:

Type	Appearance	Best For	Notes
SMD 2835	Visible individual dots	General lighting, under cabinet	Most common, good value
SMD 5050	Visible dots, brighter	High output, RGB colour	Used for RGB/RGBW strips
COB	Smooth continuous line	Cove, architectural, display	No hot spots, premium look
Neon Silicone	Uniform glowing tube	Signage, feature edges, outdoor	Very durable, weather resistant
High Density SMD	Near-seamless at distance	Retail, hospitality	High lumen output

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.

CCT	Appearance	Best Applications
2700K	Very warm white	Bedrooms, living rooms, restaurants, hospitality
3000K	Warm white	Kitchens, bathrooms, retail, cove lighting
4000K	Neutral / cool white	Offices, kitchens, commercial spaces
5000K	Daylight	Workshops, garages, task lighting
6500K	Cool daylight	Industrial, security, display cabinets
Tunable White	Variable 2700–6500K	Human-centric lighting, healthcare, premium residential

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

W/m	Light Output	Typical Use
4–6 W/m	Low	Decorative accent, under-furniture glow
8–10 W/m	Medium	Cove lighting, feature walls, stair lighting
12–15 W/m	High	Under-cabinet task, retail display, general illumination
18–24 W/m	Very High	High-output architectural, commercial task lighting
25+ W/m	Ultra High	Industrial, signage, replacing fluorescent

IP Ratings for LED Strips

IP Rating	Protection	Use
IP20	No moisture protection	Dry indoor only — coves, under cabinets
IP44	Splash resistant	Bathrooms outside Zone 1
IP65	Water jet resistant	Bathrooms, outdoor covered areas
IP67	Temporary immersion	Outdoor exposed, near water features
IP68	Continuous submersion	Pools, fountains, underwater features

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.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SMD and COB LED strips? ▼

SMD strips have individual LED chips spaced along the strip which can create visible dots without a diffuser. COB strips use a continuous line of tiny chips with a phosphor coating, producing a smooth dot-free line of light. COB is preferred for architectural and cove lighting where a seamless look is important.

What colour temperature should I choose? ▼

2700K–3000K is warm white — ideal for living areas, bedrooms and hospitality. 4000K is neutral white, good for kitchens and retail. 5000K–6500K is cool daylight, suited to workshops and task lighting. For architectural cove lighting, 2700K or 3000K is most common.

What IP rating do I need for bathroom LED strips? ▼

Zone 0 (inside bath/shower) requires IP67 minimum. Zone 1 (above the bath to 2.25m) requires IP44 minimum. Zone 2 (within 0.6m of shower) requires IP44. In practice, IP65 strips are recommended for any bathroom as they handle steam and humidity well.

What is CRI and why does it matter? ▼

CRI (Colour Rendering Index) measures how accurately a light source renders colours compared to sunlight. CRI 80 is standard and adequate for general lighting. CRI 90+ renders colours vividly and accurately — important for kitchens, retail, art and display. Never use low-CRI strips for food display or retail as colours will appear washed out.

Do I need an aluminium channel for my LED strips? ▼

For strips above 10W/m, a channel is strongly recommended — it acts as a heatsink and significantly extends strip lifespan. An opal diffuser cover eliminates visible LED dots, creating a smooth glow. Essential for cove lighting or anywhere the strip itself is visible.

What is the difference between RGB and RGBW strips? ▼

RGB strips mix red, green and blue to create colours but produce poor quality white light. RGBW adds a dedicated white LED chip, giving you both full colour changing and good quality white light from one strip. RGBW requires a 4-channel controller and costs more but is worth it when you want both white and colour capability.

How many lumens do I need for under-cabinet strips? ▼

For task lighting under kitchen cabinets, aim for 400–600 lumens per metre — typically a 9–14W/m strip. For purely decorative ambient lighting, 150–300 lumens per metre is sufficient. Choose CRI 90+ strips for kitchen benchtops to render food colours accurately.

LED Strip Light Selector

🎨 Need the full design done?

📖 Related Guides

💡 Strip Types at a Glance

🔵 Dot-Free Options

✅ Most Reliable: Channel + Diffuser

⚠️ COB Strip — Use with Caution

✅ Neon Silicone Flex

📖 Understanding LED Strip Types

SMD Strip — The Workhorse

COB Strip — Dot-Free, But Newer

Neon Silicone Flex

Channel + Diffuser — The Dot Fix