Types of LED Strip Lights: How to Choose the Right One for Your Project

LED strip lights come in many forms, and choosing the right type is often the difference between a clean, reliable installation and a frustrating one. In this guide, we explain the main LED strip light types, the technical factors that matter, and how to match them to real projects so you can make confident, project-ready decisions.

Understand LED strip lights and the main types at a glance

What LED strip lights are in plain language

LED strip lights are flexible circuit boards populated with small LED chips and electronic components, usually supplied on a reel with an adhesive backing so you can stick light exactly where you need it. They are used for everything from under-cabinet lighting and shop displays to hotel coves and outdoor signage, because they are slim, efficient and easy to integrate into architectural details.

A typical strip includes:

• • A flexible PCB carrying copper traces and components.
  • SMD LED chips (such as 2835, 5050, 3528) mounted along the strip.
  • Cut points at regular intervals where you can safely cut the strip.
  • Pads or connectors at the ends for connecting to a power supply or controller.

Compared with rigid fixtures like panels or downlights, strip lights are especially good at creating continuous lines of light along surfaces, edges and recesses.

Overview of the main LED strip light types

Most LED strip lights fall into a handful of main families. Understanding these quickly makes all the detailed choices easier.

At a glance, the main LED strip light types are:

• • Single-color LED strips – fixed white or single-color light for simple, reliable task or accent lighting.
  • Tunable white LED strips – mix warm and cool LEDs so you can adjust colour temperature throughout the day.
  • Bandes LED RVB – red/green/blue LEDs for coloured effects and basic colour-changing scenes.
  • RGBW / RGBCCT LED strips – RGB plus dedicated white or tunable white channels for both colour and high-quality white light.
  • Addressable (pixel) LED strips – individually controllable LEDs for advanced animations and dynamic patterns.
  • Bandes LED COB – chip-on-board construction for very high LED density and smooth, dot-free light lines.
  • Rigid LED bars – strips mounted on rigid PCBs or aluminum channels for extra robustness and easy linear mounting.
  • LED neon flex strips – flexible, fully diffused strips that mimic traditional neon tubes for signage and architectural outlines.

The rest of this guide simply dives deeper into these types, explains the technical factors behind them, and shows which ones are best for specific projects.

Color and control options: single-color, RGB, RGBW and addressable strips

Colour and control capability are one of the biggest ways strip types differ. If you know whether you need fixed white, adjustable white or full colour effects, you’ve already narrowed the field dramatically.

Single-color and tunable white LED strip lights

If you primarily need functional, consistent light, single-color and tunable white strips are usually the best place to start.

Single-color strips:

• • Emit one fixed colour – usually a specific white (e.g. 3000K, 4000K, 6000K) or a single accent colour.
  • Are simple to connect: a constant voltage power supply and optionally a basic dimmer.
  • Are ideal for task lighting, general accent lighting and simple functional applications where you don’t need dynamic colour.

Tunable white strips:

• • Combine warm and cool LEDs so you can adjust CCT (colour temperature), for example from 2700K to 6500K.
  • Let you tune from cosy warm light to crisp cool light throughout the day.
  • Are excellent for offices, hospitality and residential spaces where you want to adapt ambience or support circadian-friendly schemes.

In both cases, consider CRI (Colour Rendering Index): for retail, hospitality and high-end residential, aim for CRI 90+ so colours and materials look natural.

RGB and RGBW/RGBCCT strips for coloured and white light

If you want coloured effects, RGB and RGBW/RGBCCT strips give you more creative control.

RGB strips:

• • Use red, green and blue channels that mix to create many colours.
  • Produce acceptable white light but usually with lower quality and slightly tinted whites.
  • Work well for purely decorative lighting where colour is the focus (bars, gaming rooms, themed spaces).

RGBW or RGBCCT strips:

• • Add a dedicated white channel (RGBW) or tunable white channels (RGBCCT) alongside RGB.
  • Provide both high-quality white light and full colour, making them more flexible than RGB alone.
  • Suit mixed-use spaces where you want good everyday white light with occasional colour effects (restaurants, hotels, showrooms).

For both families, you’ll need a suitable multi-channel controller and power supply. As a rule:

• Choose RVB if you mainly care about colour and can accept average white quality.
• Choose RGBW or RGBCCT if high-quality white light is important as well as colour effects.

Individually addressable LED strips and when they make sense

Individually addressable (pixel) strips have tiny control ICs on board so each LED or small group of LEDs can be controlled independently. That allows you to create chasing patterns, gradients, waves and complex animations that standard RGB/RGBW strips simply cannot match.

They make sense when:

• • You’re building signage, stage or entertainment effects, or interactive installations.
  • You need pixel-level control for dynamic content, not just static colours or simple fades.

However, addressable strips come with trade-offs:

• • More complex controllers and wiring (often a data line in addition to power).
  • Stricter power distribution planning and sometimes data signal limitations over long runs.
  • Plus élevé cost and configuration time.

If you mainly want static scenes or simple colour transitions, standard RGB/RGBW is usually enough. Choose addressable strips when you genuinely need those advanced animations and are ready to manage the extra complexity.

Other LED strip formats: COB, rigid bars and neon flex

Not all LED strips look like the familiar dotted flexible tape. Some projects benefit from alternative constructions and form factors that change both the appearance and practicality of the installation.

COB vs traditional SMD strips

COB (Chip-on-Board) strips pack many tiny LEDs very close together under a single continuous phosphor layer. Compared with standard SMD strips, they offer:

• • A continuous, dot-free line of light, especially important in shallow profiles or direct-view applications.
  • Very even illumination for backlighting and task lighting, with fewer hot spots.

Standard SMD strips:

• • Use distinct SMD packages (e.g. 2835 or 5050) spaced along the strip.
  • Produce visible points of light unless they’re diffused or viewed at a distance.
  • Are still excellent for many accent and indirect lighting applications.

In practice, COB strips are ideal when the light source is directly visible – under open shelves, in mirrors, along furniture edges – and you want a clean, continuous effect. SMD strips remain a cost-effective, versatile option for indirect or diffused lighting.

Rigid bars and neon flex: when you need more than a flexible strip

Sometimes a flexible strip is not the easiest or best mechanical solution.

Rigid LED bars:

• • Mount LEDs on rigid PCBs or aluminum channels.
  • Offer better straightness, thermal management and mechanical robustness than bare flexible tape.
  • Work well for linear task lighting, display lighting and industrial applications where you want straight lines and solid mounting.

LED neon flex strips:

• • Encapsulate LEDs in a fully diffused, flexible body that mimics traditional neon.
  • Provide continuous, dot-free lines and strong visual impact, even outdoors.
  • Are ideal for signage, building outlines and decorative contours where the strip itself is part of the visual design.

When you need perfect straightness, rigid bars beat flexible strips. When you want a strong, visible line that can bend around corners and withstand outdoor conditions, neon flex is often the best choice.

Technical factors that actually matter when choosing LED strip types

Choosing a strip type is not just about colour and format; technical parameters determine whether the installation is safe, reliable and bright enough.

Voltage, run length and power supplies

For most LED strip projects, you will choose between 5V, 12V, 24V or high-voltage strip systems. The key relationship is:

> Higher voltage usually supports longer runs and lower current, which simplifies wiring and reduces voltage drop.

Typical guidance:

• • 5V strips are mainly used for addressable pixel strips, where precise voltage and data timing are required. They tend to have shorter run lengths before voltage drop becomes an issue.
  • 12V strips are a good general-purpose choice for shorter runs (up to a few metres per feed) in residential and small commercial applications.
  • 24V strips are better for longer runs and higher power loads, common in commercial coves, long shelves and continuous lines, because current is lower for the same power.
  • High-voltage (e.g. 120V/230V) strips can drive very long runs but require extra care with safety, compliance and accessories.

Whatever voltage you choose, you must pair strips with compatible constant voltage power supplies, sized for total wattage with a comfortable margin (often 20–30%). For longer runs, consider multiple feed points or power injection to keep brightness consistent.

Brightness, LED density and wattage per meter

Brightness and visual quality are mainly driven by:

• • LED density (LEDs per meter)
  • Wattage per meter
  • LED efficiency and optics

As a simple rule:

• • Lower densities (e.g. 30–60 LEDs/m) suit decorative accents where you don’t see the strip directly.
  • Medium densities (e.g. 60–120 LEDs/m) often work for general accent and some task lighting.
  • Higher densities (e.g. 120–240+ LEDs/m or COB strips) are best for task lighting, shallow profiles and direct-view applications where you want smooth, shadow-free lines.

Higher wattage per meter usually means higher brightness, but it also means:

• • Larger or more efficient les blocs d'alimentation.
  • More attention to thermal management, especially in enclosed profiles.

When in doubt, check lumen-per-meter figures and match them to the application (for example, more lumens per meter for task surfaces than for mood lighting).

IP ratings, indoor vs outdoor use and waterproofing

Not every strip is waterproof. Indices IP tell you how well protected a strip is against dust and moisture.

In broad terms:

• • IP20 – indoor, dry environments only (inside furniture, ceilings, dry rooms).
  • IP65 – protected against light splashes; suitable for some damp areas if correctly installed.
  • IP67/IP68 – more robust sealing against immersion and harsh outdoor conditions (with caveats about connectors and terminations).

Strips for outdoor signage, facades or wet areas should typically be IP65 or above and installed with compatible sealed connectors and junctions. Neon flex and encapsulated flexible strips are often used outdoors because they combine IP protection with visual impact.

Even outdoors, consider:

• UV exposure and temperature range.
• Drainage and condensation where strips and profiles are mounted.

Colour quality: CCT and CRI

Two parameters strongly influence how spaces feel:

• • CCT (colour temperature) – measured in Kelvin:

– 2700–3000K: warm, cosy. – 3500–4000K: neutral, balanced. – 5000–6500K: cool, crisp, more “daylight” feel.

• • CRI (Colour Rendering Index) – how accurately colours appear compared to a reference light source:

– CRI ≥80 is acceptable for many basic applications. – CRI ≥90 is recommended for retail, hospitality, galleries and premium residential.

For example:

• • A retail shop with clothing and artwork usually benefits from CRI 90+ and neutral-warm CCT to make colours look inviting and accurate.
  • A workshop or laboratory might prefer 4000–5000K with high CRI for clarity and visual comfort.

Tunable white strips let you adjust CCT while still targeting high CRI for good colour rendering.

SMD chip types like 5050 and 2835: what they really tell you

Chip codes like 2835, 3528, 5050 ou 5730 refer to the approximate size of the SMD package in tenths of a millimetre (e.g. 5050 ≈ 5.0 x 5.0 mm). They give you clues about:

• • Physical size of the LED package.
  • Typical power and brightness per LED.
  • Common applications – for example, 5050 is often used for RGB, while 2835 or 3528 are common for white strips.

However, chip code alone doesn’t tell the whole story. You still need to check:

• • Lumen output per meter.
  • Wattage per meter.
  • CRI and CCT.

Treat chip codes as part of the technical picture, not the only selection criterion.

How to choose the right LED strip type for your project

When you combine type families, technical factors and specific applications, choosing the right strip becomes a structured decision, not guesswork.

Step-by-step decision checklist

Here is a simple decision checklist you can follow:

1. 1. Define the main purpose of the light.

– Task, accent, decorative, architectural, signage?

1. 1. Decide on colour/control requirements.

– Fixed white only → single-color or COB. – Adjustable white → tunable white. – Basic colour scenes → RGB or RGBW. – Advanced animations → addressable.

1. 1. Consider the environment and IP rating.

– Dry indoor → IP20 is usually fine. – Damp or outdoor → IP65+ and appropriate accessories.

1. 1. Estimate run length and layout.

– Short runs → 12V is often fine. – Long continuous lines or high power → consider 24V or multiple feed points.

1. 1. Set brightness and visual quality targets.

– Accent vs task brightness; CRI ≥90 for colour-critical areas. – Direct-view or shallow profiles → COB or high-density strips.

1. 1. Check integration details.

– Power supplies sized with margin. – Controllers matched to strip type and channels. – Use aluminum profiles and diffusers where needed for cooling and visual quality.

By walking through these steps, you can narrow down from many types to one or two good candidates for each project.

Common trade-offs and when to accept them

Every project involves compromises. Common trade-offs include:

• • Simplicity vs flexibility

– Single-color strips are simple and robust but less flexible in ambience. – RGBW/RGBCCT and addressable strips offer more flexibility but demand more planning and commissioning.

• • Upfront cost vs lifetime and quality

– Higher-CRI, COB or high-density strips cost more but can deliver better light and fewer headaches. – Cheaper strips may lead to uneven light, faster degradation or more maintenance.

• • Visual impact vs power and complexity

– Neon flex and addressable strips look spectacular but can draw more power and require heavier control gear. – Standard RGB or single-color strips use simpler power and control solutions.

It often makes sense to invest in higher-quality, more flexible strips in flagship areas (front-of-house, brand showcases) and use simpler, cost-effective types in back-of-house or low-importance zones.

Best LED strip types for common applications and environments

A scenario-based view makes type selection much easier. The table below summarizes common applications and recommended strip types.

Indoor accent and task lighting (kitchens, living rooms, offices)

For indoor spaces, the best results come from matching strip type to whether the light is accent or task-oriented:

• • Under-cabinet and worktop lighting

– Use high-CRI single-color or COB strips, often 3000–4000K, with sufficient density for smooth, shadow-minimising light. – Install in aluminum profiles with diffusers to avoid glare and protect the strip.

• • Living rooms and bedrooms

– For general accent, single-color or tunable white strips often give the most natural ambience. – For mood lighting, RGBW allows colour scenes without sacrificing everyday white.

• • Offices and meeting rooms

– Tunable white or high-quality single-color strips at around 3500–4000K work well. – Use higher densities or COB where uniformity on work surfaces is important.

If you’re planning a full kitchen or office fit-out, you may want to mix types: functional high-CRI strips for work areas and RGBW or tunable strips for accent and ambience.

Cove, architectural and feature lighting

Coves, recessed channels and feature walls often call for continuous lines of light that shape the architecture.

• • Cove lighting

– Single-color or tunable white strips on 24V are common, with densities sufficient for smooth indirect light. – RGB or RGBW strips work where you want coloured ambience in hotels, restaurants or entertainment spaces.

• • Architectural lines and reveal details

– COB strips can provide perfectly continuous light lines along walls or ceilings. – Rigid bars with diffusers are useful where perfectly straight lines and robust mounting are critical.

• • Feature walls and media zones

– RGBW/RGBCCT strips suit spaces that shift between neutral and colourful scenes. – Addressable strips shine in media walls, interactive features and showpiece installations.

Outdoor and wet-area applications

For outdoor and wet areas the primary concern is IP rating and robustness.

• • Outdoor signage and logos

– Neon flex is often the first choice because it is visually strong, flexible and typically high-IP rated. – Addressable strips inside suitable diffusers can create dynamic signage and animations.

• • Outdoor facades and contours

– High-IP flexible strips or neon flex can trace building outlines and architectural features. – Plan long runs with higher voltage (often 24V) and adequate power injection.

• • Bathrooms, spa areas and other damp spaces

– IP65 or higher strips in suitable profiles with sealed terminations. – Choose single-color or tunable white strips with CRI ≥90 where appearance matters.

In all wet-area and outdoor projects, the strip is just one part of the system. Ensure power supplies, connectors, and profiles are also rated and installed correctly.

Practical tips: identifying, cutting and controlling LED strip lights

How to identify the LED strip type you already have

If you’re upgrading or extending an existing installation, it helps to know what you’re working with. A quick identification checklist:

1. 1. Look at the number of copper pads and wires.

– Two pads/wires: usually single-color. – Four pads/wires: often RGB. – Five or more pads/wires: RGBW/RGBCCT or addressable.

1. 1. Check for a data line.

– Labels like “D”, “DI”, “DO” or “DIN/DOUT” and 3-wire connections (power, ground, data) usually indicate addressable strips.

1. 1. Read printed markings on the strip and power supply.

– Voltage (e.g. 12V, 24V) and sometimes IP rating are printed on the strip PCB or on the power supply label.

1. 1. Observe the encapsulation.

– Bare PCB: likely IP20 and for indoor use. – Encased in silicone or jacketed: higher IP rating.

If you’re still unsure after these checks, it’s safer to consult the original supplier or a professional rather than guessing.

When and how you can cut and reconnect LED strips

Most LED strips are designed to be cut at specific, marked cut points, but how and where you can cut depends on the type and encapsulation.

General guidelines:

• • Only cut at printed cut marks (often indicated by scissor icons).
  • For IP20 strips, you can usually cut with sharp scissors and then use solderless connectors or solder wires to the exposed pads.
  • For waterproof strips, cutting and reconnecting may require resealing with end caps, silicone, or heat-shrink tubing to maintain the IP rating.

Extra care is needed for:

• • Addressable strips – you must maintain the data line continuity; cutting at the wrong point or wiring incorrectly can break effects or entire segments.
  • High-voltage strips – safety is critical; modifications should follow the manufacturer’s guidance and local regulations.

If you aren’t comfortable soldering or resealing, working with pre-terminated lengths and accessories from a manufacturer or supplier can reduce risk and installation time.

Matching controllers to single-color, RGB and addressable strips

Choosing the right controller is just as important as choosing the strip itself:

• • Single-color strips

– Use constant voltage dimmers or simple on/off switching, often between the power supply and the strip. – For multiple zones or larger loads, use multi-channel dimmers or drivers.

• • RGB and RGBW/RGBCCT strips

– Need multi-channel constant voltage controllers that match the number of channels (3 for RGB, 4+ for RGBW/RGBCCT). – Controllers may support DMX, DALI, 0–10V, Zigbee, Wi-Fi or other protocols; choose based on how you want to control scenes.

• • Addressable strips

– Require pixel controllers designed for the specific IC protocol (e.g. WS2812, SK6812, etc.). – These often connect to media servers, DMX/Art-Net, or standalone effect engines.

Always check that:

• • Controller output voltage matches strip voltage.
  • Current capacities per channel are sufficient for the total load.
  • The control interface integrates with your overall control system or smart home platform.

For a deeper look at power options, you can review our LED power supply range and, for custom control and strip setups, our custom LED strip solutions.

Quick FAQ on LED strip light types and specs

How long do different types of LED strip lights typically last? Quality LED strip lights are often rated for tens of thousands of hours (e.g. 30,000–50,000+) when properly cooled and powered. Actual lifetime depends heavily on installation (thermal management, voltage, environment), so we recommend focusing on reputable manufacturers, adequate profiles and correctly sized power supplies instead of any single lifetime figure.

Are some LED strip types more energy-efficient than others? All modern strips are relatively efficient compared to older technologies, but efficiency varies by chip type, CRI and CCT. High-CRI and very warm strips may use slightly more power for the same lumen output than lower-CRI or cooler strips. Comparing lumens per watt for similar products is the best way to judge efficiency.

What does “5050” mean for LED strips? “5050” refers to an SMD package that is approximately 5.0 x 5.0 mm in size. These chips are often used for RGB and RGBW strips because they can house multiple dies. Smaller packages like 2835 or 3528 are widely used for white strips and can be very efficient, especially in high-density layouts.

Do COB strips last as long as traditional SMD strips? COB strips can offer similar lifetimes if designed and installed correctly. They often rely on good thermal management and constant voltage driving, just like SMD strips. Using aluminum profiles and avoiding excessive temperature helps both COB and SMD strips reach their rated lifetimes.

Where do LED strip lights fit in the wider LED lighting family? LED strip lights sit alongside downlights, panels, linear fixtures and modules as part of the broader LED ecosystem. Strips are uniquely suited to continuous lines, edge details and custom shapes, while panels and downlights cover broad general illumination.

Summary and key takeaways for choosing LED strip light types

Choosing the right LED strip type becomes straightforward once you think in terms of purpose, environment and technical constraints. If you know what you’re lighting, where it’s installed and how you want it to behave, you can quickly narrow down to a few suitable strip families.

Key takeaways:

• • Use single-color or COB strips for reliable task and general accent lighting, paying attention to CRI and brightness.
  • Choose tunable white when you want to adjust ambience across warm-to-cool white for offices, hotels or homes.
  • Go with RGB or RGBW/RGBCCT when you need colour and scenes, and reserve addressable strips for advanced animations and showpiece effects.
  • Let voltage, IP rating, density and chip type follow the project: long runs favour 24V; outdoor/wet areas demand suitable IP; direct-view lines often need COB or neon flex.
  • Always consider power supplies, controllers and profiles as part of the system – they are critical to safety, reliability and overall visual quality.

For complex or large projects, working directly with a manufacturer like us can simplify specification, ensure consistent performance and adapt strip designs to your exact requirements.

You can explore our LED strip light range and, if you have project-specific requirements, reach out via our contact page to discuss tailored options.