12v Flexible Strips - By the Section (5cm)

LED strips by the section let you buy exactly the length of LED strip you need — no waste, no leftover reel sitting in a drawer.

Read full description & FAQ ↓

1 Item

LED strips by the section let you buy exactly the length of LED strip you need — no waste, no leftover reel sitting in a drawer. Instead of purchasing a full 5-meter reel and cutting off the excess, select a pre-cut section in the precise length your project requires. Every section is cut at the factory-marked cut points on the strip, so solder pads are cleanly exposed at both ends for easy connection. This is the most economical way to light a single shelf, a short under-cabinet run, a staircase tread, or a display accent — buy one section, connect 12V DC, and you are done.

We stock pre-cut sections from our 3528 strip line here. Our single-color 5050 strips are also sold by the 5cm section, on the 5050 strip pages. The 3528 sections are cut at 5cm intervals (every 3 LEDs), the same increment as our 5050 strips. This fine granularity means you can match your section length to the exact measurement of your mounting surface with minimal overshoot. For example, a 60cm under-shelf run requires 12 sections (36 LEDs) of 3528 strip — no excess strip hanging over the edge, no exposed cut end to hide.

Sections are ideal for projects that require multiple short, discrete runs of light rather than one continuous strip: staircase tread lighting (one 15–30cm section per tread, wired in parallel back to a central power supply), individual shelf accents in a bookcase or curio cabinet, shadow-box and picture-frame backlighting, PC case interior lighting (a short section behind the motherboard tray or along the bottom of the case), model railroad building interiors (a tiny 5cm section lights an entire HO-scale storefront), and prototype or test runs where you want to evaluate the color temperature, brightness, and beam angle before committing to a full reel.

Every section runs on 12V DC, just like the full-reel versions. Connect to any 12V power supply using solderless strip connectors, a soldered wire pair, or a DC barrel jack adapter. Power consumption scales linearly with section length: one 5cm 3528 section (3 LEDs) draws about 20mA, or 0.24W; a 30cm 3528 run (6 sections, 18 LEDs) draws approximately 1.44W; a 1-meter 3528 run (20 sections, 60 LEDs) draws approximately 4.8W; and 30cm of 5050 strip (18 LEDs) draws approximately 4.32W. Even a small 12W 12V adapter can power multiple short sections simultaneously, making these ideal for small projects where a large power supply would be overkill.

For staircase installations, the most common approach is to wire all tread sections in parallel to a single power supply, with each section connected via a pair of thin 22–24 AWG wires routed behind the tread riser or through a small drilled channel. A motion sensor or occupancy switch at the top and bottom of the stairs triggers all sections simultaneously. At approximately 0.7–1.4W per tread, even a 15-step staircase draws only 11–22W total — a compact 36W power supply handles the entire installation with headroom to spare.

Connecting sections is straightforward. Each section has exposed copper solder pads at both ends (positive and negative). For solder-free installation, clip a 2-pin solderless strip connector onto each end — the connector grips the pads and makes a secure electrical contact. For a permanent, vibration-proof connection, tin the solder pads and solder wires directly to them. Browse our wire, switches, and connectors category for 2-pin strip connectors, DC barrel jack pigtails, inline rocker switches, and hookup wire in various gauges.

If you find that you need a longer run than a single section, you can always purchase a full 5-meter reel from our 3528 strip or 5050 strip categories and cut to length yourself. Sections are simply a convenience for small, defined-length projects where buying a full reel would be wasteful. Whether you buy a section or a reel, you get the same high-quality flexible LED strip, the same adhesive backing, and the same color and brightness specifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sections are available in various lengths starting from the minimum cut increment of the strip: 5cm (3 LEDs) for 3528 strips. Our single-color 5050 strips are also sold by the 5cm section (3 LEDs), on the 5050 strip pages. Check the individual product listings for the specific section lengths we stock. Each section is a standard strip segment cut at the factory-marked cut lines, with solder pads cleanly exposed at both ends for easy connection.
Yes. Use a 2-pin solderless strip connector to clip two sections together, or solder jumper wires between the pads. The result is electrically identical to a continuous strip. However, if you need more than about 1 meter of continuous strip, it is usually more cost-effective to buy a full reel and cut to length. Sections are designed for short, discrete runs where buying a full reel would leave most of the strip unused.
Short sections draw very little power. A 30cm 3528 section draws about 1.44W; 30cm of 5050 strip draws about 4.32W. Even the smallest 12V DC wall adapter (12W) can power multiple short sections. Multiply the power-per-meter rating on the product page by the section length in meters to calculate wattage. For example, a 50cm 3528 section: 4.8W/m × 0.5m = 2.4W. A small 12W 12V adapter is more than sufficient.
Check the individual product listings in this category for waterproof availability. If a specific waterproof section length is not stocked, you can purchase a full reel of our waterproof 3528 or waterproof 5050 strip and cut to length. When cutting a waterproof strip, seal the exposed cut end with clear silicone sealant to maintain the IP65 waterproof rating.
Mount one section under the lip of each stair tread. A 15–30cm section per tread provides a soft wash of light across the riser below. Wire all sections in parallel back to a single 12V power supply, using thin 22–24 AWG wire routed through a channel behind the risers or through small holes drilled at each tread. Add a motion sensor or occupancy switch at the top and bottom of the stairs to trigger the lights automatically. A 15-step staircase at approximately 0.7–1.4W per tread draws only 11–22W total, so a compact 36W power supply is sufficient.
On a per-LED basis, a full 5-meter reel is more cost-effective than buying individual sections. However, if you only need 30–100cm of strip, buying a section avoids paying for 4+ meters of unused strip. Sections are the economical choice when your project needs a defined short length. If you need more than about 1–2 meters total, compare the section price to the full reel price — the reel may be the better value, and you can always save the leftover strip for future projects.