LED Strip Lights: Complete Installation Guide

Why LED Strip Lights?

LED strip lights are the most versatile lighting product you can buy. They can go anywhere: under cabinets, behind TVs, along staircases, inside closets, under beds, around mirrors, and across ceilings. A single 16-foot roll can transform a room for under $30.

What You'll Need

• LED strip lights (choose your type — more on this below)
• LED power supply (12V or 24V, matched to your strips)
• LED controller (for RGB/RGBW strips)
• Soldering iron or strip connectors
• Wire strippers
• Mounting clips or channel
• Measuring tape

Step 1: Choose Your Strip Type

Strip Type	Use Case	Price Range
Single Color (White)	Under-cabinet, closets	$8–$15/16ft
Tunable White	Living spaces (adjustable warmth)	$15–$30/16ft
RGB	Accent/mood lighting	$12–$25/16ft
RGBW	Best color + true white	$20–$40/16ft
COB (Chip on Board)	Dot-free, smooth light	$25–$50/16ft

### Density Matters

• 30 LEDs/meter — Accent lighting, dotty appearance
• 60 LEDs/meter — Good balance of brightness and cost
• 120 LEDs/meter — Smooth, bright, professional-looking

Step 2: Plan Your Layout

Measure every surface where you want strips. Add 10% for waste and mistakes. Consider:

• Where will the power supply go? It needs to be near an outlet.
• Where will you cut? LED strips can only be cut at marked points (usually every 3 LEDs).
• How will you handle corners? Use flexible connectors or solder short wire jumps.

Step 3: Prepare the Surface

The adhesive backing on LED strips sticks best to clean, smooth surfaces.

1. Clean the mounting surface with isopropyl alcohol
2. Let it dry completely
3. For rough or textured surfaces, use aluminum channels — they also act as heatsinks

Step 4: Mount and Connect

1. Start at the power supply end
2. Peel and stick, pressing firmly every few inches
3. At corners, use 90-degree connectors or solder short wire bridges
4. Connect to the power supply/controller

Step 5: Power Supply Sizing

Critical step. An undersized power supply will cause dimming, flickering, or failure.

Calculate total wattage:

• Check your strip's watts-per-meter rating
• Multiply by total meters
• Add 20% headroom

Example: 5 meters of strip rated at 14.4W/m = 72W. Add 20% = 86.4W minimum power supply (round up to 100W).

Pro Tips

1. Use aluminum channels for kitchen installations — they dissipate heat, protect strips, and create a clean finished look
2. Run strips in parallel, not series for runs over 5 meters to prevent voltage drop
3. Test everything before mounting — it's much easier to troubleshoot on the floor than behind a cabinet
4. Use 24V strips for longer runs — they experience less voltage drop than 12V

FAQ

Can I cut LED strips to any length?
Only at the marked cut points (shown by scissors icons or copper pads). Cutting elsewhere will damage the strip.

How long do LED strips last?
Quality strips are rated for 30,000–50,000 hours. At 8 hours per day, that's 10–17 years.

Can LED strips be dimmed?
Yes, with a compatible PWM dimmer. Most controllers include dimming functionality.