Cabinet Lights | Wardrobe & LED Cupboard Lights | Toolstation (2024)

FAQs

What type of light is best for under cabinet lighting? ›

LED light bars are long strips of light that are used to give you that extra bit of light that you need under cabinets, as task lighting, etc. They're easy to install and use and some models come with a remote control for convenience. Many LED light bars are dimmable.

An excellent rated life for an LED under cabinet light is around 50,000 hours. Operated for 3 hours per day, that light could last over 45 years. Fluorescent lights usually last longer than xenon lights, but not as long as LEDs.

Benefits of Under Cabinet Lighting

Under-cabinet lighting is not required for kitchens, but you'll be missing out on amazing benefits if you decide to opt out. The more light you have in your kitchen, the brighter it will be and the better you will be able to see everything you are doing.

Hardwired under-cabinet light bars generally cost between $25 and $150 (CAD 35 and 204) or more. Plug-in under-cabinet LED light bars cost a bit less, with a typical range between $25 and $80 (CAD 35 and 109) for one 12- to 18-inch long fixture, depending on the manufacturer.

Self-adhesive, battery-powered puck lights offer the easiest installation. Peel the protective paper away from the adhesive backing and press into place.

Avoid LED lights above 3000K and/or labeled "bright white," "neutral white," "cool white," or "daylight white" as these lights will generally have a crisp, stark white color. LEDs with this light color contain a significant amount of blue light in their spectrum. Choose a bulb with a high CRI.

If you're installing your LED under cabinet lights in the kitchen, you need a colour that's between 3000K & 6000K, meaning a warm white light, a natural white light or a cool white light. That's because anything below 3000K will cast a yellowish-orange hue, which makes it hard to perceive the colours correctly.

You will need a power supply (transformer) for each run of LED. Drivers are for RGB (color changing) LED. Find the lowest profile power supply you can since it looks like you will have to hang it under the cabinets.

If you want to add some radiance to your kitchen by installing under-cabinet lighting, you can expect the project to cost between $230 and $300 per light. Factors like the total length of your cabinets, how many fixtures, and desired brightness will influence the project cost.

By far the most versatile, popular and practical choice is LED under cabinet lighting, but there are a number of other options available too, including fluorescent, xenon, and halogen. LED lighting is also the most energy efficient and long-lasting.

Do LED under cabinet lights get hot? ›

While other light bulbs can get extremely hot when you turn them on, LED lights usually only get slightly warm, if at all (they may even feel cold to the touch). It is because LEDs use less energy than other bulbs, which means they don't waste as much energy producing unnecessary heat.

For maximum light output, mount the LED tape towards the front of the cabinet with LEDs facing down. To focus light on the work surface and also light your backsplash, position the tape light an inch or two back from the front of the cabinet. This mounting position works best with dull or matte finished surfaces.

Lighting at the Front of the Cabinet

For majority of our under cabinet LED lighting projects we typically recommend placing the strips about 2 inches away from the front lip of the cabinet.

Called puck lights because they are round like hockey pucks, these lights are mounted under cabinets or inside cupboards to show off unique features.

For kitchen lighting, most consumers prefer 2700K – 3000K “warm white,” as many find the bright white intensity of 5000K to be overwhelming in the evening – when you are most likely to be using your kitchen.

' Consider implementing cooler lighting underneath kitchen cabinets for a focused task light for food preparation, but avoid using a cool-toned light as your main, ambient kitchen ceiling lighting ideas to avoid the room looking harsh or cold, especially in a space with little natural light.

You need bright daylight bulbs in rooms when you're reading or working on projects like cooking and crafting. Daylight bulbs are ideal for focused task lighting in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms.