12v Flexible Strips in 3528 Size

12V 3528 LED strips are the most popular choice for ambient accent lighting, under-cabinet illumination, and decorative cove lighting.

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12V 3528 LED strips are the most popular choice for ambient accent lighting, under-cabinet illumination, and decorative cove lighting. The 3528 refers to the SMD chip size — 3.5×2.8mm — a single-die LED that produces a soft, even glow ideal for applications where you want light to enhance a space without creating glare or harsh shadows. We carry 3528 strips in two formats: standard (non-waterproof) for indoor installations and waterproof (IP65) for outdoor, bathroom, kitchen, and marine applications.

Our 3528 strips feature 60 LEDs per meter (300 LEDs per 5-meter reel), providing closely spaced illumination that eliminates the dot-pattern appearance of individual LEDs at normal viewing distances. At 60 LEDs/m, the light output blends into a smooth, continuous line — especially when installed inside an aluminum channel with a frosted diffuser cover. Total power consumption is approximately 4.8W per meter (24W for a full 5m reel), making 3528 strips one of the most energy-efficient linear lighting options available. A compact 30W 12V power supply is sufficient for a full reel.

The 3528 chip produces roughly 5–7 lumens per LED, which translates to approximately 300–420 lumens per meter of strip. This is a moderate light level — bright enough to illuminate under-cabinet work surfaces, line the inside of a display case, accent crown molding in a living room, or light the interior of a closet, but not so bright that it overwhelms the space. If you need significantly more light output for task lighting or signage backlighting, step up to our 5050 LED strips, which produce 2–3 times the lumens per chip. The 3528 format is single-color only (no RGB) — choose warm white for a soft incandescent-like glow, cool white for a crisp modern look, or any of our single colors (red, green, blue, yellow) for decorative accent use.

Every 3528 strip in our catalog runs on 12V DC and can be cut to length at marked cut lines every 3 LEDs (every 5cm or approximately 2 inches). This fine cut increment gives you precise length control with minimal waste. Cut between the copper solder pads with ordinary scissors. To reconnect cut segments, rejoin sections around corners, or extend a run, use solderless 2-pin strip connectors or solder short jumper wires between the pads. Both standard and waterproof versions use the same 8mm-wide flexible PCB, so connectors are interchangeable between them. Browse our wire, switches, and connectors category for compatible connectors, extension cables, and DC barrel jacks.

Common 3528 strip projects include under-cabinet kitchen lighting (mount the strip at the front edge of the cabinet underside, angled slightly toward the backsplash for even counter illumination), display case accent lighting (run a strip along the top or bottom edge of each shelf), cove lighting behind crown molding or a soffit (face the strip upward to bounce light off the ceiling), closet lighting (motion-sensor switch plus a strip on the door-frame header), and van or RV interior lighting (waterproof version for humidity resistance, powered from the vehicle’s 12V battery). For staircase accent lighting, cut individual 3-LED sections and mount one under the lip of each tread — our strips by the section category lets you buy exactly the number of short sections you need.

Standard vs. waterproof: The standard 3528 strip is an exposed flexible PCB with 3M adhesive backing — thin, lightweight, and easy to install in any dry indoor location. The waterproof 3528 strip adds a clear silicone or epoxy coating over the LEDs and circuitry, rated at IP65 for protection against splashes, humidity, and light rain. Use waterproof strips for outdoor landscape accents along pathways and garden borders, bathroom vanity backlighting, kitchen installations near sinks and stoves, boat and marine cabin lighting, patio deck railing, and any environment where moisture exposure is possible. The waterproof coating does not change brightness, color, or cut-line spacing — it simply adds environmental protection.

Installation best practices for 3528 strips: clean the mounting surface thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol before applying the adhesive — any grease, dust, or paint overspray will weaken the bond and cause peeling. For runs longer than 3 meters from a single power feed point, inject power from both ends or from a midpoint to prevent visible voltage drop (dimming at the far end). Aluminum LED channel extrusions serve double duty as heat sinks and physical protectors — the strip sits inside the channel, and a snap-on frosted diffuser cover transforms the individual LED dots into a smooth, continuous line of light. For best thermal performance and longest strip lifespan, always mount on a surface that can dissipate heat: aluminum channels, metal shelving, or clean, flat wood or MDF.

Frequently Asked Questions

A single 3528 chip produces roughly 5–7 lumens, while a single 5050 chip produces roughly 12–18 lumens (2–3 times brighter per chip). However, 3528 strips typically have 60 LEDs per meter compared to 30 LEDs per meter on 5050 strips, so the per-meter brightness difference is less dramatic than the per-chip difference. For soft ambient and accent lighting, 3528 strips are ideal. For brighter task-adjacent lighting, signage backlighting, or RGB color mixing, choose 5050 strips.
3528 strips with 60 LEDs per meter can be cut every 3 LEDs, which works out to every 5cm (approximately 2 inches). Cut lines are clearly marked on the strip between the copper solder pads. Cut with ordinary scissors or a craft knife. Each cut segment is independently functional — just connect it to a 12V power supply and it lights up. This fine cut increment makes 3528 strips excellent for precise-length installations where every centimeter counts.
A 3528 strip at 60 LEDs per meter draws approximately 4.8W per meter. Multiply by your total strip length, then add 15–20% headroom. For a full 5-meter reel: 5 × 4.8W = 24W, so a 30W 12V power supply is sufficient. For a 2-meter run: 2 × 4.8W = 9.6W, so a 12W supply works. Always use a regulated 12V DC power supply — never an unregulated AC adapter, which can output higher-than-rated voltage and damage the strip.
Yes. Use a 12V PWM (pulse-width modulation) LED dimmer inline between the power supply and the strip. PWM dimmers switch the power on and off thousands of times per second at varying duty cycles, producing smooth dimming from full brightness down to near-zero without color shift. Do not use a standard household TRIAC dimmer (designed for AC incandescent bulbs) — it will not work with 12V DC LED strips and may damage the power supply.
It depends on the location. If the strip is mounted under an upper cabinet far from the sink, a standard non-waterproof strip is fine. If it’s near a sink, stove, or anywhere splashes are likely, use the waterproof version for protection against moisture. The waterproof coating adds minimal thickness and does not reduce brightness — it simply provides insurance against accidental water exposure. When in doubt, waterproof is the safer choice for kitchens.
You can connect strips end to end using solderless strip connectors or by soldering jumper wires between the pads, but do not exceed 5 meters (one full reel) in a single daisy-chain run from one power feed. Beyond 5 meters, voltage drop causes visible dimming at the far end. For longer installations, run a separate power feed wire from the supply to each 5-meter segment, or inject power at multiple points along the run. This keeps brightness consistent across the entire installation.