How Do I Determine How Many LED Lights I Need for Under Cabinet Lighting?

Selecting Placement

• Determine where your LED lighting would be most beneficial. Your light is meant to bring focus to certain areas but can be overdone if you are not careful. Balance is important in achieving the proper display. For example, if you covered all-under cabinet spaces, above windows and splash boards, your kitchen would turn into a runway effect instead of an inviting scene. Take some time, turn off the lights and imagine, then make a sketch.
  
  

Measure And Remeasure

• Measure the length of your areas where you have determined the light placement should be installed. Remeasure to assure that you will be purchasing the correct amount of LED strips. Just like wallpaper, you want to purchase your strips from the same run. Sections are sold in different strengths of light; 3000K for warm white, 4000K for standard white and 6000K for day light. You will want to choose the same amount of wattage strips for one room.
  
  

Right Number of Lights

• A 12-inch strip contains 18 LED lights and you will not want any gaps in your strips. Since the illumination is going to offer 120 degree of light, it is not necessary to run completely to the edge of the cabinet. A 3- to 6-inch stopping point from the edge is usually sufficient. Strips can be cut but the cut but has to be an end piece. If you have a 72-inch cabinet length and subtract 3 inches off each end, you would need six strips, removing 3 inches from two end pieces. Calculating the number of LED lights from your strips would bring your total light count to 99 for this area.