Orders over £85 qualify for FREE SHIPPING! For UK Mainland - For general queries please call 0121 236 5012
A kitchen can look finished during the day and surprisingly flat after dark. Ceiling downlights provide general illumination, but wall units often cast shadows exactly where you chop, prepare food and read labels. That is why under cabinet LED strip has become one of the most useful parts of a well-planned kitchen lighting scheme.
The strip is only one part of the job. The result also depends on the kitchen LED profile, diffuser, driver, colour temperature, controls and fitting position. At SND Electrical, we treat under unit lighting LED strip as a small lighting system, with components that must fit and work together.
For most dry indoor kitchens, we would start with a 24V COB LED strip, an aluminium profile with a diffuser, and a correctly sized constant-voltage driver. Our 8mm COB strip comes in 3000K, 4000K and 6000K versions. COB produces a smoother line than widely spaced LED points, which helps when polished worktops or splashbacks reflect the light source.
In many homes, 3000K suits warmer finishes and evening use. Meanwhile, 4000K gives a cleaner neutral white that works well for food preparation. We normally specify 6000K only where the customer deliberately wants a cooler effect.
Under-cabinet lighting can
provide task light, accent light, or both. Task lighting should illuminate the worktop evenly. Accent lighting can sit at a lower level and create a softer line beneath cupboards, shelves or counters.
For a working kitchen, we prioritise coverage over drama. A bright strip fitted too close to the wall can light the splashback but leave the front of the worktop in shadow. In contrast, a profile mounted nearer the front of the wall unit often sends more useful light across the preparation area.
Businesses should apply the same test. In an office kitchen, café counter or retail display, longer operating hours and frequent cleaning make robust profiles and accessible drivers particularly valuable.
COB means chip on board. A dense COB strip forms a more continuous line instead of showing a row of obvious points. Our 24V, 8mm-wide IP20 COB reels fit narrow profiles and suit dry indoor task or ambient lighting.
A diffuser still matters. However, it cannot completely hide a sparse strip inside a shallow channel. Starting with COB reduces the risk of visible dots, especially above stone, glass and glossy surfaces.
Our 3000K strip produces warm white light, while 4000K gives a neutral white. We also stock a 6000K cool white version. All three are seamless 8mm COB products for compatible 24V systems.
Rather than choosing from the number alone, compare the light with the kitchen finishes. Warm white usually complements timber and warmer paint colours. Neutral white often suits white, grey or stone kitchens. Also check nearby downlights and pendants, because mixed colour temperatures can make the room feel inconsistent.
An aluminium profile hides and protects the tape, provides a clean mounting surface, helps manage heat, and holds the diffuser. SND’s range includes surface, recessed and corner profiles for kitchens, shelving, counters and commercial fit-outs.
For an existing kitchen, surface mounting usually causes the least disruption. Our A1707 measures 17mm by 7mm, so it sits discreetly beneath cupboards. The A1010 is 10mm by 10mm with an 8.5mm internal channel, which suits our 8mm COB tape. Alternatively, the A1210 accepts tape up to 12mm and offers clear or frosted covers.
A surface profile is usually the practical choice for a completed kitchen because it fixes beneath the cupboard without routing the cabinet. A recessed profile gives a more integrated line, but the joinery must allow for an accurate groove, so we prefer to plan it before the units arrive.
Corner profiles can direct light across the worktop and help conceal the source behind a cabinet lip. The trade-off is straightforward. Surface fitting reduces disruption, while recessed work can look cleaner if the cabinet design and installer allow for it from the outset.
A clear cover keeps more direct output but reveals more of the strip. A frosted or milky diffuser softens glare and the visible light line, although it absorbs some output. Therefore, we select the cover alongside the profile depth and strip type.
A black diffuser can blend into dark cabinetry while switched off. However, it reduces output more noticeably, so it is usually an aesthetic choice rather than our first option for worktop task lighting. SND’s J1616 surface profile offers milky and black diffuser choices.
Our main kitchen strip options use 24V constant voltage. Therefore, the driver must provide 24V DC and enough wattage for the total connected length. Multiply the strip wattage per metre by the number of metres, then choose a suitable driver with spare capacity in line with its instructions.
Our range includes 24V constant-voltage drivers from 30W and 60W upwards. For several separate cabinet sections, our 24V 100W ten-way plug-and-play driver supplies up to ten outputs with a combined maximum load of 100W. This can simplify runs divided by an extractor, window or tall housing.
Keep the driver accessible. A planned service void, top cupboard or suitable accessible enclosure works better than burying it permanently behind fitted furniture.
As a starting point, we usually position task lighting towards the front third of the wall unit. This reduces the shadow cast by someone standing at the worktop and spreads light over more of the usable surface.
However, reflective worktops may show the profile in the surface. A recessed detail or carefully positioned low-profile channel can reduce that effect. Corner profiles can also aim light towards the worktop, although we recommend testing the angle before fixing every length.
Map cabinet breaks before cutting. Cookers, extractors, windows and tall units can divide the run, while end caps, cable entry and connectors all need physical space.
A wall switch provides familiar control. Meanwhile, a compatible sensor can help when hands are wet or busy. Dimming is also useful because one installation can provide bright preparation light and softer evening illumination.
For a low-disruption retrofit, we stock a 5m 24V dotless COB kit in 3000K with a controller, remote and UK plug adaptor. It is cuttable at 50mm intervals and compatible with standard aluminium profiles. This can suit a dry kitchen where a plug-in arrangement is practical.
For a fixed installation, check that the control, driver and strip are compatible. A mismatched dimmer can cause flicker, unreliable operation or a limited adjustment range.
Our 8mm COB strips carry an IP20 rating for dry indoor environments. A diffuser does not automatically make them splash resistant. IP ratings grade an enclosure’s protection against dust and liquid ingress, so the strip, joints, driver and housing must all suit the location.
Keep IP20 strip and indoor drivers away from direct splashes, sink edges and places where steam or cleaning fluid can collect. Also avoid trapping joints beside hot appliances.
Any fixed mains-side work must meet the relevant electrical safety requirements. In England, Approved Document P covers the design, installation, inspection and testing of electrical work in dwellings, including when notification applies. We recommend a competent electrician for fixed connections or alterations.
Most disappointing installations come back to planning:
At SND, we match the strip, kitchen LED profile, diffuser and driver as one system. That prevents components looking suitable individually but failing to fit or perform properly together.
Before ordering an LED strip under cupboard units, confirm:
COB often gives a smoother, more continuous light line. It works particularly well inside a shallow kitchen LED profile with a frosted diffuser.
Choose 3000K for a warmer look and 4000K for neutral task lighting. Compare both with the worktop, cabinets and existing ceiling lights before deciding.
Not for every completely hidden run. However, a profile protects the strip, supports heat management, holds the diffuser and gives under cabinet LED strip a cleaner finish.
Yes, but only at its marked cutting points. Allow additional room for connections, end caps and cable entry.
Place it somewhere dry and accessible for maintenance. Do not seal it permanently behind cabinets or where heat and moisture can build up.
A plug-and-play kit can reduce installation work where a suitable socket already exists. Fixed mains wiring and new electrical connections should go to a competent electrician.
Our A1010 has an 8.5mm internal channel for narrow 8mm tape. The A1707 gives a low 7mm profile, while the A1210 accepts strips up to 12mm wide.