LED Strips / String Lights

LED strips are the fastest way to add continuous, even illumination to any space.

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LED strips are the fastest way to add continuous, even illumination to any space. Unlike individual component LEDs that require soldering resistors and designing circuits from scratch, LED strips arrive ready to install: peel the adhesive backing, stick the strip to a clean surface, connect to a 12V DC power supply, and you have instant linear lighting. We carry flexible LED strips in two chip sizes — 3528 and 5050 — in both standard (indoor) and waterproof versions, plus cut-to-length sections when you only need a specific length rather than a full 5-meter reel.

3528 vs. 5050: which strip do you need? The numbers refer to the SMD chip dimensions in tenths of a millimeter. A 3528 chip measures 3.5×2.8mm and contains a single LED die, producing roughly 5–7 lumens per chip. A 5050 chip measures 5.0×5.0mm and contains three LED dies in one package, producing roughly 12–18 lumens per chip. In practical terms, 3528 strips deliver soft ambient lighting — perfect for under-cabinet kitchen lighting, cove lighting above crown molding, closet illumination, display case accents, and shelf backlighting where you want a gentle wash of light without glare. 5050 strips deliver significantly brighter output suitable for task-adjacent lighting, architectural accent walls, bar and restaurant under-counter illumination, signage backlighting, and any application where you need the strip to serve as a noticeable light source rather than subtle background glow.

LED density also differs between the two formats. Our 3528 strips pack 60 LEDs per meter (300 per 5m reel), providing a smooth, dot-free line of light at normal viewing distances. The higher LED count per meter means more even illumination with minimal hot-spotting between chips. Our 5050 strips use 30 LEDs per meter (150 per 5m reel) as standard, but each chip is substantially brighter than a 3528 chip, so overall brightness per meter can match or exceed the 3528 strip despite having half the chip count. The 5050 platform also supports RGB color mixing — each 5050 chip contains independent red, green, and blue dies that can be mixed to produce any color in the visible spectrum when paired with an RGB controller.

Every strip in our catalog runs on 12V DC. Connect the strip to any regulated 12V DC power supply or LED driver; we carry a range of power supplies sized from small desktop adapters for single-strip runs to higher-capacity supplies for multi-strip installations. To calculate the power supply size you need, check the wattage-per-meter rating on the product page, multiply by the total strip length in meters, and add 15–20% headroom. For example, a 5-meter run of 3528 strip drawing 4.8W/m needs 24W total, so a 30W supply provides comfortable margin. A 5-meter 5050 strip at 7.2W/m needs 36W, so a 45W supply is appropriate.

All of our strips can be cut to length at marked cut lines printed directly on the strip — typically every 3 LEDs (5cm on a 3528 60/m strip, or 10cm on a 5050 30/m strip). Cut between the copper solder pads with ordinary scissors or a craft knife. If you do not want to buy a full 5-meter reel, browse our LED strips by the section category, where you can purchase pre-cut sections in shorter lengths. To rejoin cut strips or make 90-degree turns around corners, use solderless strip connectors available in our wire, switches, and connectors category — they clip onto the exposed solder pads and make a secure electrical connection without soldering.

Waterproof vs. standard: Our standard (non-waterproof) LED strips have the LEDs and circuitry exposed on a flexible PCB with an adhesive back. They are designed for dry indoor environments: under cabinets, inside display cases, behind TV sets, along shelf edges, and inside closets. Waterproof strips add a clear silicone or epoxy coating over the LEDs and PCB, rated at IP65 or higher. Use waterproof strips anywhere moisture is a concern: outdoor landscape accent lighting, bathroom vanity backlighting, kitchen under-cabinet installations near sinks, boat and marine applications, patio and deck railing lighting, and RV exterior accents. The waterproof coating does not change the brightness or color — it simply protects the strip from splashes, humidity, and light rain. For fully submerged applications (pools, fountains), a higher IP68-rated strip with full tube encapsulation is required.

Installation tips for the best results: clean the mounting surface with isopropyl alcohol before applying the adhesive backing — grease, dust, or paint overspray will cause the strip to peel over time. For long runs, feed power from both ends (or from a midpoint) to avoid voltage drop — the LEDs at the far end of a single-end-fed run will appear noticeably dimmer on runs longer than 3 meters. Use aluminum channel extrusions to act as a heat sink and protect the strip from physical damage; the channel also accepts a frosted diffuser cover that eliminates the dot-pattern appearance of individual LEDs and produces a smooth, continuous line of light. For 90-degree corners, use a flexible strip connector rather than bending the strip sharply — bending tighter than 5cm radius can crack the copper traces on the flexible PCB.

Frequently Asked Questions

The numbers are the SMD chip dimensions. A 3528 chip (3.5×2.8mm) contains one LED die and produces moderate brightness — ideal for ambient accent lighting, cove lighting, and display cases. A 5050 chip (5.0×5.0mm) contains three LED dies and produces roughly 2–3 times the light output per chip. 5050 strips are the better choice when you need brighter illumination for task-adjacent areas, signage backlighting, or architectural accent walls. The 5050 format also supports RGB color mixing; 3528 strips are single-color only.
Yes. Every LED strip has marked cut lines printed on the flexible PCB, typically every 3 LEDs. On a 3528 strip with 60 LEDs per meter, cut lines appear every 5cm (about 2 inches). On a 5050 strip with 30 LEDs per meter, cut lines appear every 10cm (about 4 inches). Cut between the copper solder pads with scissors or a craft knife. If you only need a specific short length, check our LED strips by the section category to buy pre-cut sections without waste.
All of our LED strips run on 12V DC. Choose a power supply rated at least 15–20% above the total wattage of your strip run. Check the product page for the strip’s wattage per meter, multiply by total length, then add margin. For example: a 3-meter run of 3528 strip at 4.8W/m = 14.4W total, so a 20W 12V supply is sufficient. A 5-meter run of 5050 strip at 7.2W/m = 36W total, so a 45W supply is appropriate. Never use an unregulated AC adapter — LED strips require regulated DC output.
Non-waterproof strips have the LEDs and circuit traces exposed on the flexible PCB. They are lighter, thinner, and ideal for dry indoor environments like under cabinets, inside display cases, and behind televisions. Waterproof strips add a clear silicone or epoxy coating over the LEDs and PCB (typically rated IP65), protecting against splashes, humidity, and light rain. Use waterproof strips for outdoor installations, bathrooms, kitchens near sinks, boats, RVs, and patios. The coating does not reduce brightness or change the color of the light output.
Do not bend the strip sharply — bending tighter than a 5cm radius risks cracking the copper traces on the flexible PCB. Instead, cut the strip at the nearest cut line, then use a solderless corner connector or a short jumper wire to bridge the gap at the corner. L-shaped and T-shaped connectors are available in our wire, switches, and connectors category. For a permanent installation, solder short lengths of wire between the pads of each strip segment for the most reliable long-term connection.
This is caused by voltage drop along the thin copper traces of the flexible PCB. The longer the strip run, the more voltage is lost before reaching the far-end LEDs, making them appear dimmer. The fix is to feed power from both ends of the strip, or from a midpoint, so no LED is more than 2.5 meters from a power injection point. For runs longer than 3 meters on a single power feed, voltage drop becomes visually noticeable. Use heavier gauge wire (18–20 AWG) for the supply leads to minimize additional loss before the strip.