In addition to color, the two other factors that affect how light is displayed are:
- Color Temperature or CCT:
CCT is Correlated with Color Temperature and is important when it comes to lighting because it can affect the mood and feel of a space.
Warm white light is often used in households because it is inviting and cozy. Cool white light, on the other hand, can be used for task-based lighting because it is more energizing.
2700-2900K- Warm white light that is similar to the light from a traditional incandescent bulb. It has a yellowish tint.
3000-3500K- A neutral white light that is perfect for general home use. It has a slightly warm appearance.
4000-5000K- A cool white light that is great for task lightings such as in the kitchen or office. It has a blueish tint.
The Kelvin scale is a measure of the color temperature of a light source. White LED lights range in color temperature from warm (2700K) to cool (6500K).
The table below shows the recommended uses for different Kelvin ratings:
2700K-3000K: Warm white, used for general illumination and creating a cozy atmosphere.
4000K-4500K: Neutral white, used for general illumination and creating an inviting atmosphere.
5000K-5500K: Bright white, used for general illumination and creating a professional atmosphere.
6000K-6500K: Cool white, used for general illumination and creating a sterile atmosphere.
LED Light Strip CCT |
Recommended Application |
2700K – 3000K |
living rooms, bedrooms, waiting areas, lobbies |
3500K – 4100K |
kitchens, hallways, staircases, elevators |
5000K – 6000K |
garages, bathrooms, offices, industrial spaces |
- Color Rendering Index or CRI:
The Color Rendering Index (CRI) of an LED light strip helps you distinguish between similar-looking colors like navy blue and black under natural sunlight.
The CRI is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 being the best.
The higher the CRI, the better you’ll be able to see each individual color and the more accurate the color will be.
Additionally, the CRI is used to determine the hue, vividness, and color harmony of the light produced by your LED light strip.
Therefore, if you are looking for LED light strips for domestic use, a CRI rating of 80 or above should be sufficient.
However, if you are looking for LED light strips for a commercial or industrial space, you will need to find ones with a CRI rating higher than 90.
When choosing an LED light strip, it is important to consider the CRI to make sure that the light is going to be helpful in seeing the colors you want to see.
What is the Brightness Do You Want Your LED Strip Light to Be?
The brightness of an LED is usually measured in lumens, with a higher number indicating a brighter light.
However, it’s important to note that different manufacturers’ products will produce different results despite having the same lumen rating.
This is why it’s often best to read customer reviews before making a purchase!
To determine the brightness of a LED light strip, you can check its Lumen information. LED lights use Lumens instead of Watts to measure their brightness.
The greater the Lumen rating of a LED light tape, the brighter it is.
Lumen rating combined with LED density and pitch gives an accurate representation of LED light strip brightness.
Though you can choose to make your space as bright as you want, here is a table relaying recommended lumens for specific lighting tasks:
In addition to the brightness, you should also think about how wide of an area the light will need to cover.
If you are only lighting up a small space, then a lower lumen rating may be just fine. However, if you are looking to brighten up a large room then you will need to go with a higher number.
Lighting Task |
Recommended Lumens |
Accent Lighting (staircase, pool) |
150-250 lm/ft |
Nearby Task Lighting (lamps, under-cabinet) |
175-550 lm/ft |
Distant Task Lighting (ceiling) |
350-1200 lm/ft |
Indirect Lighting (backlights) |
375-1200 lm/ft |
Signage (hoardings) |
500-1200 lm/ft |
What is the Life Expectancy?
LEDs are designed to last a lot longer than traditional light bulbs, with some models boasting a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours!
This means that you won’t need to replace them nearly as often, which will save you both time and money in the long run.
Are There Any Special Features?
Nowadays, there are all sorts of different features that can be found on LED light strips.
One popular option is the ability to change the color of the light via remote control or smartphone app.
This allows you to easily adjust the mood of a room without having to go through the hassle of replacing physical bulbs!
What Is The Size Of The LED Light Strip You Need?
When purchasing an LED light strip, you need to consider the size.
Some LED light strips are very long, while others are just a few feet long.
If you need a light strip that is longer than 5 feet, you may want to consider buying two shorter strips instead of one long strip.
This will give you more flexibility when installing the light strip.
With that in mind, the size of the LED light strip you need will depend on the specific lighting needs of your project.
If you need a longer light strip, you can easily connect multiple LED tapes together using LED light strip connectors.
Our team at MSH can also help you customize LED light strips to be the perfect length for your needs.
For example, our Ultra Slim 2835 LED Strip is perfect for indirect room lighting. With a width of 5mm only, the tape light is able to fit into tight spaces and is easily camouflaged.
How many LEDs per meter should you look for in an LED light strip?
If you want a strip with more LEDs, you can choose a higher LED density.
Be sure to check the product specifications to make sure the strip can support the number of LEDs you want.
Our light strips come in densities of 30, 60, and 120 LEDs/meter.
To check the LED pitch, you will need to measure the distance between two adjacent LEDs on the strip.
If the distance is too large, it will lead to dark spots and visible hotspots. This will also affect the overall brightness of the ribbon light.
How Much Power Should Your LED Strip Light Consume?
To calculate the power consumption of an LED strip light, you will need to know the wattage of the strip and the length of the strip.
For example, if you have a 5-meter-long LED strip that uses 9 watts per meter, the total power consumption for the strip will be 45 watts.
What kinds of connectors of LED Strips Light:
When purchasing an LED light strip, you also need to consider the type of connector it has.
Some light strips have a connector that plugs into an outlet, while others have a connector that plugs into a USB port.
Make sure you choose a light strip with a connector that is compatible with your devices.