With installation in mind, we examined dozens of LED light strips from all the top manufacturers, looking at important factors like brightness and LED density, style and type of LEDs, features, and control methods to find the best option for various scenarios. Based on our research, the Govee Smart Wi-Fi RGBWW LED Strip Light is our top overall recommendation because of its tightly packed LEDs, use of both colored and white LEDs, and easy integration into many smart home systems. Here are the best LED light strips for your home, deck, and car. These light strips come in a 9.8-foot length and put out more than enough brightness for mood lighting while being right on the edge for functional lighting. That means you’ll probably still have to rely on your traditional lighting in some situations, but you might be surprised at how little you reach for the light switch. Aside from the great value, the best thing about Govee Smart Wi-Fi RGBWW LED Strip Lights is the flexibility you get with RGBWW LEDs. Strips with this configuration include alternating RGB, white, and warm-white LEDs. So if you’re looking for some colorful mood lighting, the RGB LEDs do the heavy lifting, but if you want more natural, warm light, the white LEDs switch on. Price at time of publish: $40 These strips use super bright 5050 LEDs, come with a power adapter, and include a remote that lets you set a specific color or access a handful of programs like flashing or gradually changing colors. You can’t control the strips with a phone app or your smart home speaker, and TJOY doesn’t provide some key information, like exactly how bright the strips are, but you have to expect some cut corners to get a value this good. Price at time of publish: $17 These strips are a little dim to replace all the lights in your living room or bedroom, but they can get close when set to a bright white color temperature. You can also set a wide variety of colors, and the gradient feature allows you to set two colors at once that gradually meet in the middle. The only downside of this product is that Philips sells two different versions that aren’t compatible. When you buy the base kit, check whether you have version three or version four, and then buy expansion strips that match that same version. Price at time of publish: $180 These lights are bright enough to provide a comfortable lighting level at night, with about 165 to 195 lumens per foot. The package includes a 16.4-foot reel of LED lights, and you can cut that to size or splice in more if necessary. If you do so, it’s important to seal up the tube that encases the light strip, or it will no longer be waterproof. This kit doesn’t come with built-in controls or a power supply either, which means you need to buy, wire, and install one yourself or consult with a professional installer. Price at time of publish: $50 One of HitLights’ pre-cut light strip kits is all you need for smaller and medium-sized televisions, but you can easily connect a second kit if you have a larger TV. These kits are also perfect for shelf and cabinet lighting, and anywhere you need short light strips that can be snapped together quickly by flexible connectors. The kit includes a remote, but there’s no option for app control or integration with your smart home. Price at time of publish: $27 Unlike many other light strips, the Sengled Smart Zigbee Multicolor Light Strip requires a base station if you want to connect it to your smart home. That does result in a mark against this light strip since it represents an extra expense, but it also comes with a hidden benefit. If you want to add LED light strips to a bedroom that’s a little far away from your wireless router, where a standard light strip wouldn’t be able to connect, you can place the base station somewhere between the two and not have to worry about how weak the Wi-Fi network is in your bedroom. Price at time of publish: $40 These lights are great for closets because you don’t need to worry about wiring them to a power source, and they switch on automatically whenever you open the closet. They’re also great for use in cabinets and other similar spaces for the same reason. The battery tends to drain quickly when used in high traffic areas, but it has a standard Micro USB connection that allows you to connect to a USB power bank to extend the time between charges. Price at time of publish: $16 Each of the nearly foot-long light strips has 18 LEDs. Govee doesn’t disclose the lumen output of the strip, which would be a concern, but that high density is sure to impress in a small enclosed area like a car. Thanks to a built-in microphone, the lights can even pulse and change in time with your music. The only real issue is that you can’t string together multiple strips if you have a larger vehicle. If you need more lights, you need to plug a second kit into a different cigarette lighter or accessory socket, or solder directly into your car’s electrical system. Price at time of publish: $17

Brightness

When considering the brightness of an LED light strip, the important figure to look for is lumens per foot. Unlike a traditional light bulb, where you can just look at the bulb’s lumens to see how bright it will be, the overall brightness of an LED light strip depends on both the brightness of the individual LEDs and how closely packed they are on the strip. “When shopping for LED light strips, definitely look at LEDs per foot,” says Walter. “Basically, you want the highest. And in my opinion, it pays to invest in this aspect even if it costs more money because you’ll have a higher quality result.” Different applications call for different levels of brightness as well. Bedrooms and living rooms call for about 250 to 500 lumens per foot, while cabinet and closet lighting strips can go as low as 175 lumens. If your LED light strips are meant solely for mood lighting, 100 lumens might even do the trick. When selecting a brightness, brighter is typically better. There’s clearly no reason to buy a 500+ lumens per foot strip just for mood lighting, but what if you change your mind and want something brighter in the future? If you end up with a light strip that’s too bright, you can always install a dimmer, and some even have a dim function built right in.

Operation

There are many ways to operate an LED light strip after installation, so it’s good to give that some thought ahead of time. The most common options include strips with a physical switch, strips that operate via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, motion-controlled strips, and physically wiring your LED light strips to a wall switch or dimmer.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Jeremy Laukkonen, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. He’s had firsthand installing and using LED strip lights in his own home and has over a decade of experience reviewing electronics for outlets like Lifewire and Digital Trends, in addition to The Spruce. For the best installation experience, you can use LED light strip clips or look for strips that use 3M double-sided tape. If you’re installing a light strip that uses an inferior adhesive, you may consider applying 3M tape right on top of the existing adhesive. Then you can use the 3M tape to adhere your light strips to the mounting surface. To wire that kind of LED light strip to a light switch, you need to obtain a separate transformer and wire the transformer to the light switch. In that case, you’re usually better off consulting with a professional electrician,“ says Walter. “That way you’ll ensure the job is done right.” To evaluate and choose the best LED light strips, Jeremy looked at factors like LED density, lumens, strip length, ease of modification, controls, and connectivity. Other factors, like IP67 certification, were given heavy consideration for specific categories, like the best outdoor LED light strips and the best LED strip lights for your car. To gain a deeper understanding of LED light strips, what to look for, and insight on home installation, Jeremy spoke with David Walter, master electrician and CEO of Electrician Mentor, and Dan Belanger, master electrician and co-owner of 4Wire Electrical. Using their expert insights, he looked for low-voltage LED light strips that had the right brightness, LED density, features, and connectivity for various rooms and settings.