SMD LED strips

An SMD LED strip is the versatile all-rounder: efficient per lumen, available in many brightness levels and suitable for almost any application, from cabinet lighting to a line of light in a warehouse. Choose SMD2835 for white light from 480 to 1,920 lumens per meter, or SMD5050 for bright white light and RGB. At 12V and 24V, and as a 230V strip up to 50 meters on a single plug, also waterproof with IP65.

When do you choose an SMD strip?

In a profile with a diffuser: the individual light dots disappear behind the diffuser and you pay less per lumen.
Indirect light: in a ceiling cove, a bulkhead or behind furniture, where the strip is out of sight. See the ceiling LED strips.
Lots of light per meter: SMD2835 with 240 LEDs per meter gives about 1,920 lumens per meter, for workshops and high ceilings.
Long runs: the 230V strips go up to 50 meters on a single plug, without a separate power supply.

Is the strip itself visible, or does it reflect in a glossy worktop? Then choose a strip without dots: see the COB LED strips.

SMD2835 or SMD5050?

The number stands for the size of the LED chip in tenths of a millimeter.

SMD2835 (2.8 × 3.5 mm): efficient and versatile, for white light. 60 LEDs per meter (4.8 W/m, about 480 lumens), 120 LEDs per meter (9.6 W/m, about 960 lumens) or 240 LEDs per meter (19.2 W/m, about 1,920 lumens).
SMD5050 (5.0 × 5.0 mm): a larger chip with three light points in one housing. Bright white light of about 1,200 lumens per meter at 14.4 W/m, and the basis for RGB and RGBW. See the RGB LED strips.

Which voltage?

12V: for short lengths, cabinets and furniture. See the 12V LED strips.
24V: the standard for fixed installations and runs of up to about 10 meters per feed. See the 24V LED strips.
230V: Basic, Pro and Ultra with 60, 120 or 180 LEDs per meter, IP65, up to 50 meters on a single plug and cuttable every meter. See the 230V LED strips.

What do you need?

A power supply for 12V and 24V: watts per meter × number of meters ÷ 0.8. Example: 5 meters at 9.6 W/m is 48 W, so at least 60 W. See the LED strip power supplies.
Connectors with the right width and number of pins: 8 mm and 2 pins for white SMD2835, 10 mm and 4 pins for RGB. See the LED strip connectors.
A dimmer or controller for brightness or color, with a remote, wall panel or app. See the dimmers and controllers.

Prefer a complete package? The LED strip sets with SMD strip include strip, power supply and connection.

Frequently asked questions about SMD LED strips

What does SMD mean?

SMD stands for Surface Mounted Device: the LEDs are soldered directly onto the surface of the circuit board, with space between them. That is why you see individual light dots without a diffuser.

What is the difference between SMD and COB?

An SMD strip has individual LEDs and is efficient per lumen. A COB strip has hundreds of chips per meter under one phosphor layer and gives an even line without dots, with higher color rendering. In a profile with a diffuser the difference largely disappears.

Can I cut an SMD strip?

Yes, at the marked cut points. The cutting interval is listed with each product; the 230V strips are cut per meter.

Are SMD strips dimmable?

Yes. 12V and 24V strips are dimmed with an LED strip dimmer or controller between the power supply and the strip, 230V strips with a suitable 230V strip dimmer.

Can an SMD strip be used outdoors?

The IP65 versions can be used in damp rooms and outdoors under a roof. See the waterproof LED strips.