LED Strips & Ribbons
LED strip lights, also known as LED ribbons, are flexible strips of LEDs on adhesive-backed circuit board that deliver accent, task, and feature illumination throughout a New Zealand home. Lighting Direct NZ stocks a comprehensive range of LED strip lights for kitchens, bathrooms, lounges, hallways, and outdoor entertaining areas, plus the drivers and accessories needed for a tidy install. Whether you are detailing a kitchen splashback, a stairway, or a feature wall behind a TV unit, the right LED ribbon delivers a clean, even finish without visible hotspots or dark gaps between fittings.
How to choose the right LED strip lights for your space
Choose LED strip lights using five practical factors: location and IP rating, colour temperature in Kelvin, brightness in lumens per metre, total length required, and the matching driver. Indoor dry areas suit IP20. Kitchens with splashbacks, bathroom zones, and covered exteriors need IP65 or higher to handle moisture, humidity, and occasional water contact.
- IP rating: IP20 covers dry indoor zones. IP65 suits kitchens near sinks, bathroom zones two and three, and covered exteriors. IP67 or higher is required for direct water exposure or in-ground use.
- Colour temperature: 2700K to 3000K creates a warm glow for lounges and bedrooms. 4000K is a neutral white for kitchens and laundries. 6000K is a cool daylight tone, more common in commercial fitouts.
- Brightness: Measured in lumens per metre. Accent strips need 400 to 800 lumens. Under-cabinet task lighting needs 1000 lumens or more for usable benchtop output.
- Length: Measure the run, add 5 percent tolerance, and check the maximum continuous length before voltage drop reduces output at the far end of the strip.
- Driver: LED ribbons run on 12V or 24V DC. Match the LED driver and transformer range to the strip's voltage and total wattage with 20 percent headroom.
Types of LED strip lights and LED ribbons
LED strip lights come in several formats: single colour, tunable white, RGB, RGBW, COB, and SMD. Single colour suits standard accent and task lighting. Tunable white shifts between warm and cool tones via a controller. RGB and RGBW add full colour control for media rooms, feature walls, and outdoor entertaining areas.
- Single colour LED strips: Fixed colour temperature, simplest to specify, suited to kitchens, hallways, and shelving.
- Tunable white LED ribbons: Shift from warm to cool white via a controller, useful in spaces that serve multiple functions.
- RGB and RGBW LED strips: Full colour control, with RGBW adding a dedicated white channel for everyday use.
- COB LED strips: Chip-on-board design produces a continuous, dot-free line of light, ideal where the strip remains partially visible.
- SMD LED strips: Surface-mounted diodes spaced along the ribbon, the most common option for hidden cove and cabinet installs.
Where to use LED strip lights in a New Zealand home
LED strip lights suit kitchens under cabinets and along plinths, bathrooms behind mirrors and along vanities, lounges as cove or shelf lighting, hallways as low-level night guides, and outdoor entertaining areas for soffit and step detailing. Match the IP rating of the LED ribbon to the wettest condition each location will face.
- Kitchens: Under-cabinet task lighting at 4000K, plinth accent at 3000K, IP65 near sinks. See the full kitchen lighting range.
- Bathrooms: Mirror surrounds and vanity strips at IP65 or higher, sized to bathroom zone requirements. Browse bathroom lighting.
- Lounges and bedrooms: Cove lighting along ceilings, behind headboards, or beneath floating shelves at 2700K to 3000K.
- Hallways and stairs: Low-level strips along skirting or stair nosings for safe night-time guidance without disturbing sleep.
- Outdoor entertaining areas: Soffit, pergola, and step detailing in IP65 or IP67 to handle NZ rain and coastal humidity. See outdoor lighting.
Installation must be carried out by a licensed electrician in accordance with New Zealand wiring regulations.
LED strip lights frequently asked questions
What are LED light strips best for?
LED light strips are best suited to accent, task, and feature lighting where a discreet, continuous source of light is needed. Common applications across NZ homes include under-cabinet kitchen lighting, bathroom mirror surrounds, cove lighting in lounges, stair nosings, and pergola or soffit detailing in outdoor entertaining areas.
Can you cut LED light strips?
You can cut most LED light strips at marked intervals along the ribbon, usually every 50mm to 100mm. Look for the scissor symbol or cut line printed on the strip itself. Cutting outside these points damages the circuit, and each cut section needs its own connection back to the driver.
How do LED strips work?
LED strips work by passing low-voltage DC current through a series of LEDs on a flexible circuit board. A mains-powered driver converts 230V AC to 12V or 24V DC. Resistors along the ribbon regulate current to each LED, producing consistent brightness and colour across the run.
What are the recommended lengths for LED strip lights?
LED strip lights typically come on 5 metre reels, with maximum continuous run lengths between 5 and 10 metres before voltage drop reduces brightness at the far end. For longer runs, feed power from both ends of the strip or specify a 24V LED ribbon to maintain even output.
Where to buy LED light strips in NZ?
Lighting Direct NZ supplies LED light strips, LED ribbons, drivers, and accessories online and in-store across New Zealand. Filter the range above by IP rating, colour temperature, and length, then order for nationwide delivery to your home or job site.
