The best LED strip for a job depends on where it goes: a free-cut COB strip for anything on show, an IP65 strip near water, an adjustable white or colour changing strip where you want to change the mood, and a slim strip where space is tight.
This guide explains the main types of strip, matches each one to a job, and covers brightness, power, profiles and control. Every strip mentioned is from our 24V range of LED strip lights. Fitting the strip is simple, but any mains wiring must be done by a qualified electrician.
How to choose LED strip lights
Work through these five points for each run.
- How it looks. If you will see the strip or its reflection, choose COB for a line with no visible LED dots. Inside a profile with a diffuser, SMD works well.
- How it fits. Measure each run. Free-cut strips cut anywhere, others at marked points.
- Where it goes. IP20 strips are for dry areas. Near water you need an IP rated strip approved for the bathroom zone.
- Light colour. Fixed white, dual white, adjustable white (CCT) or full colour (RGBCCT).
- Power and control. Every strip needs a matching driver, plus a receiver or smart driver to dim it or change colour.
Types of LED strip
COB and SMD strip
COB stands for chip on board. The LED chips sit so close together that the light blends into one even line. Polar X has 512 LEDs per metre and Polar RGBCCT has 840, for a smooth, diffused line of light.
SMD stands for surface mounted device. The LEDs are individual components spaced along the strip, so you see points of light when it is bare. Strips such as Primo 2, Viva 3 and Sigma 2 look their best in a profile with a diffuser. Read COB vs SMD LED strip compared.
Free-cut strip
Free-cut strips in our X range, such as Polar X, Razor X and Primo X, can be cut anywhere along their length. An extra driver connection cable, sold separately, lets you use the cut-off lengths too.
Other strips cut at marked points. Neutron cuts every 25mm, Ion 5 and Sigma 2 every 50mm, and Primo 2 every 100mm. See every free-cut option in our free-cut LED strips range.
IP65 waterproof strip
Polar X IP65 is a waterproof, free-cut COB strip in natural white (4000K), approved for bathroom Zone 1 and Zone 2. If you cut it, reseal the cut end or fit an end cap to keep the IP65 rating. For plinths, Viva 3 is rated IP54, which gives limited protection against dust and protection against sprays from any angle. Our bathroom zones and IP ratings guide explains which rating each zone needs.
Tunable white (CCT) and dual white strip
CCT strips move between warm and cool white. Polar X Pro is a free-cut COB strip that runs from 2700K to 6500K. Ion 5 is just 5mm wide and runs from 2700K to 6000K, and Polar Pro is a COB CCT strip that cuts every 31mm.
If you only need to choose once, a dual white strip such as Polar X Duo gives natural white (4000K) or warm white (2700K) in one strip, set on site with the Duo Flexible Strip Adaptor. Read how dual white LED strips work.
Colour changing RGB and RGBCCT strip
RGB strip mixes red, green and blue. RGBCCT adds adjustable white, and all our colour changing strips are RGBCCT. Polar RGBCCT is a COB strip with a colour rendering index above 90, and Flux has 24 preset colours and 11 shades of white, is rated IP54 and cuts every 142.5mm. See our colour changing LED strips.
Which strip for which job
Use this as a starting point, then check each product page for lengths and colours. Every strip here is in our LED strip lights range.
| Job | Best strip type | Example Sensio strip | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under kitchen cabinets | Free-cut COB | Polar X, or Polar X Pro for adjustable white | No visible dots on the worktop, and runs up to 25m without fading |
| Handleless kitchens and routed channels | Slim, edge-lit COB | Razor X 2mm or Razor X 4mm | Push-fits into a saw cut or routed groove with no adhesive, and Razor X 2mm pairs with the Edge profile |
| Plinths and kickboards | IP54 or bendable strip | Viva 3 or Sigma 2 | Viva 3 is protected against sprays, and Sigma 2 bends around 90 degree corners without corner cables |
| Shelves and display cabinets | Slim strip in a profile | Neutron or Ion 5 | Neutron is 3.5mm wide and fits the Nano-Lines and Micro-Lines profiles, and Ion 5 adds adjustable white in a 5mm width |
| Wardrobes | Economical SMD or free-cut COB | Primo 2 or Polar X | Primo 2 cuts every 100mm so the whole reel can be used, and a door sensor switches the light on as you open the door |
| Bathrooms and showers | IP65 waterproof | Polar X IP65 | Approved for Zone 1 and Zone 2, not Zone 0 inside the bath or shower |
| Media walls and feature walls | RGBCCT colour changing | Polar RGBCCT or Flux | Any colour or shade of white from one strip, dimmed with a receiver or smart driver |
| Coves and ceilings | Long-run COB, often CCT | Polar X Pro | Runs up to 25m without fading, so long coves stay bright |
Planning a kitchen? Our guide to the best LED strip lights for a kitchen picks a strip for each part of the room, and where to place LED strips in a kitchen has layout ideas.
For other rooms, see our plinth and kickboard lighting guide, LED lighting ideas for bedrooms and wardrobes and media wall lighting ideas.
Brightness, light colour and CRI
Brightness is shown in lumens per metre (lm/m). Polar X gives 600 lm/m from 6 W/m, Razor X gives 508 lm/m, and Primo X gives 440 lm/m from 3.6 W/m. Choose a brighter strip for task lighting, and dim it for a softer evening light.
Light colour is measured in kelvin (K). Warm white (3000K) feels soft and suits bedrooms and traditional kitchens. Natural white (4000K) is clear without feeling cold, so it is popular for worktops. Polar X also comes in cool white (6500K). Our colour temperature chart shows the difference side by side.
CRI, or colour rendering index, tells you how naturally colours look under the light, on a scale up to 100. Polar RGBCCT has a CRI above 90, and each product page lists its own specification. Read CRI explained.
Power, drivers and run lengths
Our home and furniture strips run at 24V, which allows longer runs without fading. 12V versions of Polar X, Polar X Pro and Primo are made for leisure vehicles. Our guide to 12V or 24V LED strip lights explains the difference.
Every strip needs a 24V driver with the matching pin type: 2-pin for single colour, 4-pin for CCT and 6-pin for RGBCCT. To size it, multiply the strip's watts per metre by the length, then choose a driver rated above the total. For example, 4m of Polar X at 6 W/m is 24W, so it needs a 30W driver. Use our LED driver size guide and calculator, then choose from our 24V LED drivers.
Polar X, Polar X Pro and Polar X Duo run up to 25m without fading, and each product page lists its own maximum run. To fit, follow how to cut, connect, fit and wire LED strip lights and watch how to connect LED strip lights. For larger projects, our TrueFIT service cuts and solders strip to your exact lengths. Connecting the driver to the mains is a job for a qualified electrician.
Profiles and diffusers
A profile is an aluminium channel that hides and protects the strip, and a diffuser spreads the light. COB looks smooth without one, while SMD usually needs a diffuser for an even line.
Fino mounts on the surface and Linia fits flush. For a recessed finish, the Zella profile takes strips 8mm wide or more, and the Edge profile is designed for Razor X. Viva 3, Ion 5 and Flux are all compatible with our Universal Profile range.
New to profiles? Start with what an LED profile is, then read how to choose an LED profile and diffuser, or browse all LED profiles.
Control
Single colour strips such as Polar X dim with a Sensio single colour receiver or smart driver. CCT strips such as Polar X Pro and Ion 5 work with the Sensio CCT Receiver and Remote Control, or a Titan Smart Kinetic CCT driver. RGBCCT strips work with the Sensio RGB CCT Receiver and Universal Remote Control, or the Titan Smart RGBCCT driver.
For wardrobes and larders, a door sensor such as Link-S turns the light on when the door opens. See every remote, app and wireless switch in our lighting sensors and controls.
FAQs
What are the best LED strip lights for a kitchen?
For under wall cabinets, a free-cut COB strip such as Polar X gives a continuous line of light with no visible dots. Razor X suits handleless kitchens and routed channels, and Viva 3 or Sigma 2 suit plinths.
Can you cut LED strip lights?
Yes. Free-cut strips such as Polar X and Razor X can be cut anywhere, and other strips cut at marked points. See where to cut every Sensio LED strip.
Are COB LED strips better?
Where the strip is on show or reflects in a worktop, yes, because COB gives one smooth line with no visible dots. Inside a profile with a diffuser, an SMD strip is a practical, economical choice.
What is LED tape?
LED tape is another name for LED strip: a thin, flexible circuit board with LEDs along it and an adhesive backing. Browse our LED strip lights.
Do LED strip lights need a driver?
Yes. Our home and furniture strips run at 24V, so they need a 24V driver with the matching pin type, sized above the total wattage of the strip. Connecting the driver to the mains must be done by a qualified electrician.
Are LED strip lights safe in a bathroom?
Yes, if the strip has the right IP rating for the zone. Polar X IP65 is approved for Zone 1 and Zone 2, and the Titan IP44 driver can sit in Zone 2. IP20 strips such as Polar X are for dry areas only, and all bathroom electrical work must be done by a qualified electrician.
Still not sure? Contact our technical team with your plans, or see our video guides. Every Sensio product is backed by our 7 year guarantee.
