Under Cabinet Lights

Brighter worktops, no more shadows while you cook, a modern finished look, and an easy DIY fit in an afternoon.

Under Cabinet Lighting · 24V · COB and SCOB Strip · IP20 Dry Areas · Runs up to 20m · 7-Year Warranty · Free UK Delivery

What is under cabinet lighting and why fit it?

Kitchen under cabinet lighting is a thin strip of LEDs fitted to the bottom of your wall cabinets, facing down onto the worktop. Overhead kitchen lights often leave the worktop in shadow, especially once you're standing in front of it working. Under counter lighting fixes this by putting light exactly where you need it, right above the chopping board, the hob, or the sink area. It also makes a kitchen feel brighter and more finished in the evening, without needing every ceiling light switched on.

Which under cabinet light is right for your kitchen?

Kitchen cabinet lighting comes in a few different types, and the right one depends on your cabinets and how you want it to look.

• FreeCut COB suits kitchens with unusual cabinet widths or detailed joinery, since you can cut it almost anywhere to fit.
• White SCOB gives a clean, bright white finish and high-CRI color accuracy, available from warm 2700K through to cool 6500K.
• Precision cut COB, cut every 8.33 mm, is useful when you want the strip to finish neatly close to the edge or corner of a cabinet.
• Long run COB, cut every 50 mm, covers up to 20 meters, good for kitchens with a lot of wall cabinets or an open plan layout.
• Coloured SCOB in pink, blue, red, or green adds a decorative accent rather than practical task lighting, often used above cabinets or inside glass fronted units.

Under cabinet lighting, under counter lighting and kitchen led tape lights all mean roughly the same thing, thin LED strip fitted below your wall cabinets. The main choice to make isn't the name, it's the cut type and voltage, since that decides how well the strip fits your actual cabinets. Browse the full COB LED strip range if you're comparing options beyond under cabinet use too.

What colour temperature should you choose?

Colour temperature changes how the light feels, not how bright it is. 2700K and 3000K give a warm, cosy glow that suits traditional kitchens. 4000K is a balanced white that works well in most modern kitchens, neither too warm nor too cold. 5000K and 6500K give a cooler, brighter white, often chosen for very modern or all white kitchens where a crisp look is wanted. If you're not sure, 4000K is the safest middle ground for most homes.

How do you fit under cabinet lighting?

Fitting it is straightforward, and most people can do it themselves in an afternoon.

1. Measure the length of each cabinet run and plan your cable route, checking whether your cabinets have gaps at the joins that need covering separately.
2. Work out the connected load, then choose a 24V driver with enough power for the total length, allowing a bit of headroom so it isn't working at full capacity. A driver hidden inside an end cabinet or in a nearby cupboard usually works well.
3. Fit a correctly sized 10mm aluminium profile under the cabinet first. This holds the strip straight, protects it, and helps it run cooler over time, especially on longer runs.
4. Cut the strip only at the marked points, then press it into the profile. Cutting between the marks will stop that section lighting up.
5. Wire the strip back to the driver, keeping runs in parallel rather than joined end to end, then test everything before you fix it in its final place.
6. Once you're happy it all works, secure the profile permanently and tidy away any visible cable.

If you're not confident with wiring, our team can talk you through it on the phone, or point you to an installer.

Need a length that doesn't match our standard cuts?

Order a full metre length and cut it yourself at the marked points, or use our Made to Measure service and we'll cut it to your exact run before it ships.

Can under cabinet lights go near a sink?

No. This range is IP20, which means it's built for dry areas only. Keep it away from sinks, splashbacks that get wet, steam from kettles, and anywhere condensation could build up. Fitting it in a dry spot under the wall cabinets, above the worktop, is exactly what it's designed for.

What mistakes do people make fitting it?

A few small mistakes cause most of the problems we hear about.

• Buying a fixed length strip for an odd sized cabinet run, then having gaps or overlap. Check the cut type before you order, or use Made to Measure.
• Skipping the aluminium profile to save money. The strip still works without one, but it runs hotter and looks less finished.
• Undersizing the driver. A driver running flat out gets hot and doesn't last as long, so leave a bit of spare capacity.
• Fitting warm white strip in an all white modern kitchen, or cool white in a traditional oak kitchen. The colour temperature should match the room, not just personal taste on its own.

Why buy from ATOM LED?

Every strip ships from our Telford warehouse with free UK delivery and a 7-year warranty, one of the longest in the UK market for this type of product. You get a genuine choice of cut types to match your cabinets exactly, from FreeCut through to 50mm, rather than being stuck with one fixed length. Our technical team can help you work out driver size, cut type and colour for your specific kitchen, shelving or fitted furniture project, on the phone, not through a script. Fittings for shelving, plinths and joinery work the same way, browse our joinery and furniture lighting range too.

Ready to buy? Call 01952 370028, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, or email sales@atomled.co.uk.

FAQs

How do you install under cabinet lighting? 

Measure your cabinet runs, fit an aluminium profile, cut the strip at the marked points, then wire it back to a 24V driver and test before fixing it permanently. See the full step-by-step guide above.

How do you install under cabinet lighting to a switch?

Yes, you can wire it through a switched fused spur, or use a switch on the driver's input side so the whole run turns on and off together. For anything permanent or hardwired into your kitchen's electrics, use a qualified electrician.

What colour temperature works best under kitchen cabinets? 

2700K to 3000K for a warm feel, 4000K for a balanced everyday white, and 5000K to 6500K for a cooler, brighter look.

Can under cabinet lights be cut to size? 

Yes, but only at the marked cut points on each product, cutting between marks will stop that section from working. If nothing fits, our Made to Measure service can cut it to your exact length.

Do LED cabinet lights need an aluminium profile? 

Yes, a correctly sized profile keeps the strip straight, protects it from damage, and helps it stay cool over time.

Are LED lights good for a kitchen? 

Yes, LED lighting uses very little power, runs cool, and lasts for years, making it one of the safest and most practical choices for a kitchen.

Are LED strip lights good for under kitchen cabinets? 

Yes, they're one of the most popular choices for under cabinet lighting because they're thin, low profile, and give even light along the whole worktop without visible bulbs or fittings.

Are these lights suitable near a sink? 

No, this range is IP20 and made for dry areas only, keep it away from sinks, splashes and steam.

Do you sell mains led under cabinet lighting? 

Not currently, this range is 24V low voltage strip lighting. Call our team and we can talk you through the closest option for your project.

How long do LED kitchen lights last? 

A good quality LED strip should easily run for 10 years or more of normal daily use, especially when fitted with an aluminium profile to help it stay cool.