Best Under Cabinet Lighting for Better Lighting Conditions

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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The best under cabinet lighting improves your experience as you carry out different chores. It is sometimes uninspiring when you have to rely only on the overhead lighting to do anything. More often than not, you will have to deal with shadows that make a simple chore so time-consuming.

Investing in good cabinet lighting makes it easier to see what you are doing while also improving your decor and theme. When you set out to buy your best lights, you can choose to get either a light bar, puck lights, or string lights.

Today, the best light you can invest in your cabinets are LED lights. They consume the least energy, are cost-effective, and also don't produce heat. The following are the best cabinet lights you can buy right away.

1. Bright Evolution 6-Pack Puck Lights

Sale
Stick on Lights 6 Pack with Remote - Wireless LED Under...
  • MOUNTING TAPE, SCREWS & BATTERIES INCLUDED - Install your new...
  • WIRELESS REMOTE & SELECTABLE DIMMER – Use the wireless remote...
  • OPTIONAL AUTO-OFF TIMER & TAP LIGHT - Set the lights to turn OFF...
  • 55 LUMENS - Super bright, long lasting battery LED lights with a...
  • LONG LASTING BRIGHTNESS - Lasts 4x longer than other puck lights....

The lighting includes six elegant LED puck lights, a remote control, installation tape and screws, and batteries. It is your best under cabinet lighting for your kitchen cabinets, closets, bathrooms, bookshelves, and more.

These LED lights offer 55 lumens and 3000k warm white light. The unit comes with a remote with a dimmer, timer, and on and off buttons that work when you are 15 feet away. One remote can also work with two sets, meaning you can control up to 12 lights simultaneously.

The unit is battery-powered, so you don't need to worry about electricity consumption or installing the lights near a power source. You will need to use three AA batteries for each puck light, and the set comes with 18 batteries when you purchase the lights.

These lights are affordable and make your rooms and cabinets look elegant and classy. It is easy to replace the batteries, and the lights are also easy to install; the set comes with a 3M adhesive tape you can use to stick them on clean cabinets. Alternatively, you can also choose to use the screws for stronger installation.

Pros:

  • Easy to install
  • Ideal for brightening up your cabinets and TV back
  • Affordable
  • Battery-powered
  • Comes with a remote that allows timer, dimmer, and on/off function
  • 3000K warm white glow
  • Comes with 18 batteries for each puck light

Cons:

  • You will need backup batteries on standby

2. Wobane Under Cabinet LED Strip Lights

Sale
WOBANE Under Cabinet LED Lighting kit, 6 PCS LED Strip...
  • DIY LED light strip: 6 PCS pre-cut strips, total 9.8ft, many...
  • Super Bright & Brightness adjustable: Super bright LED cabinet...
  • RF Wireless remote control: 17-Key RF remote has timing off,...
  • Reliable kit: High quality adapter and strip light, The LED tape...
  • Easy installation: All installation accessories are included. No...

These are your best under cabinet lights when you have a nearby power source. They need DC 12V wattage to function.

A strip comes with 6 LED lights that offer 1500 lumens and 2700K warm white glow. The remote control enables functions such as dimming, setting timers, and on and off functions from a distance of 60 feet.

The lights have a memory function that does not alter the brightness level in case of a blackout. When the lights are back on, they will light up under the same brightness.

The strips are easy to install and set up. You can use the adhesive tape to stick them to your clean cabinet surfaces and then plug the adapter into your power source.

The lights are affordable, easy to install, and give new life to poorly lit rooms. You can use them in the kitchen, bookshelves, wardrobes, and more areas.

Pros:

  • Comes with a powerful remote that works 60 feet away
  • Easy to install strip lights
  • Simple plug-in to have them running
  • You can set a timer to preserve energy
  • Affordable LED fixtures
  • 2700k warm white light color for warm and elegant rooms

Cons:

  • It can only work when connected to a nearby power outlet

3. Bawoo Under Cabinet LED Light Fixtures

The set comes with 6 elegant puck lights you can install under any cabinet in your house. They are also battery-powered, so you don't need to worry about high energy consumption.

The puck lights offer 4000K natural white light. The pack comes with a remote control that allows you to adjust brightness, set a timer to preserve battery life, and turn it on or off whenever you want. Additionally, the lights have a memory function that means you do not need to adjust brightness every time you turn them on.

The lights are easy to install; they do not need to be close to a power source since they use batteries. They come with a 3M double-sided adhesive tape for fast installation once you fit the batteries. The only shortcoming with these lights; they don't come with batteries when you purchase, but it is fairly easy to find 3 AAA batteries from your local store.

Pros:

  • Affordable LED puck lights
  • Natural light quality
  • Ideal cabinet lighting for the whole house
  • Easy installation
  • Battery-powered to allow significant energy savings
  • Easy to use with the remote

Cons:

  • Batteries not included with the purchase

4. MyPlus LED Under Cabinet Lighting Bar

Sale
MYPLUS Under Cabinet Lights, 12" Under Counter Lights...
  • Touch Cabinet Lights: Touch to activate these cabinet light bar,...
  • Durable: The aluminium frame to get good heat dissipation,branded...
  • Soft light: Bright Warm white 3000K,soft for eyes. The under...
  • Easy To Installation: The Installation Just take few seconds .you...
  • Small and Simple: There is no complicated design here, only a...

This light bar needs an input voltage of AC100-240V to produce light in your spaces. It comes with a 2m power cord and offers natural, warm color temperatures of 3000K.

Made with an aluminum housing, this LED light bar does not need a remote. It has allows touch control on the frame so you can easily turn it on or off. However, lacking a remote makes it hard to set timers or brightness levels.

It is your best under cabinet lighting if you need a permanent installation. Since it uses electricity to light up, you can decide to use the screws to install it permanently under your cabinet, provided it will be within 2 meters of a power source.

It is available in two colors, black or white, and you can also decide to use the adhesive tape to install it if you want to change the positioning.

This LED lamp light is affordable, easy to install, and suitable under cabinet, in bookshelves, and TV back.

Pros:

  • Energy-efficient LED lighting bar
  • Provides a bright light for kitchen cabinets and more places
  • Can connect easily with other light bars for better task lighting
  • Low voltage lighting
  • Uses Touch control
  • Easy to install
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • No remote, thus not dimming capability
  • No timer

5. Lightbiz LED Rechargeable Under Cabinet Light Bar (Set of 3)

Lightbiz LED Closet Light with Remote, 24-LED Dimmer...
  • 【 SUPER BRIGHT 】-- 3 Packs of 24 Warm White ( 150LM ) &...
  • 【 EASY TO INSTALL 】-- Built in strong magnetic, this light...
  • 【 4 CYCLE MODES 】-- MODE 1: Night Mode ( Blue indicator light...
  • 【 DIMMER & TIMING 】-- These LED lights come with a remote...
  • 【 APPLICATION & WARRANTY 】-- Ideal for the bedroom, closet,...

These are your ideal cabinet lighting fixtures if you can't keep up with batteries or find a suitable power outlet near your cabinets. It is a set of 3 light bars that come with a USB cable for easy recharging.

The light bars have motion sensors that automatically light up when you go within 30 feet and turn off after 20 seconds of no motion detection. This lighting technology is not the only impressive feature you can look forward to; this cabinet lighting option also allows you to choose between 3 light modes.

The light bars provide day, night, and always on lighting modes for the most suitable accent lighting. Additionally, the set also comes with a remote control that lets you set specific timers and has a dimmer switch.

This under cabinet light fixture provides 150 lumens, comes with a lifetime warranty, and is easy to install. You can easily install them on any iron surface or use double-sided adhesive strips.

It is your best under cabinet lighting if you are looking for energy efficiency at an affordable price. The lights require only 2-3 hours to charge fully.

Pros:

  • The best rechargeable under cabinet light fixtures
  • Uses motion sensors to turn on and off
  • Comes with a powerful remote for dimming and setting timers
  • 3 accent lighting option to choose from
  • Easy to install
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • The button that changes between the light modes is not easily accessible

Factors to Consider for Your Best Under Cabinet Lighting

Investing in the best under cabinet lights will brighten your work areas and also improve your house theme. When buying, it would be ideal to consider the following factors.

1. The type of under cabinet lighting

The type of lighting you are comfortable with is the major factor to consider. These are the main types of under cabinet lights you can choose from;

  1. Light bars
  2. Strip lights
  3. Puck lights

a) Light bar

If you are looking for the most uniform lighting, a light bar offers just that. In most instances, this type of under cabinet lighting is enough to light up a large area.

When your area is too large, you can link up several light bars using linking cables and connectors so you can control them with one remote.

A light bar for your undercabinet lighting provides light in an unobtrusive way. It is ideal for the kitchen, wardrobe, bookshelf, and other work areas.

b) Puck lights

They are named after their puck shape. When buying, you will get a set with several puck lights that you can then install in strategic places under your cabinets.

In most cases, puck lights use batteries to eliminate the need for numerous wires. Also, they are the most dimmable option and are ideal when you want more focused light in some places.

However, because of their small sizes, pluck lights tend to leave some dark spots.

c) Strip lights

They are also called tape lights or rope lights. They come as small bulbs attached to a thin strip.

Tape lights are very easy to install; in most cases, you just need to peel the outer layer of the strip and stick the adhesive to your counters.

Compared to puck lights, rope lights provide better accent lighting without leaving any dark spots. However, because many lights are attached to the same strip, they are not very bright and will rely on brighter overhead lighting.

2. Type of bulbs

When buying your best under cabinet lighting, you can choose the following bulb options.

a) Halogen lighting

When choosing your under cabinet lights, you can choose to use halogen lights. Halogen lightbulbs emit a bright white light that you may prefer for your needs. However, they also heat up fast and not best for kitchen cabinets.

b) Xenon lighting

Xenon bulbs are very powerful and emit light that is three times brighter than halogen bulbs. For this reason, they can be less energy-efficient and too bright for home use.

c) Fluorescent lighting

Fluorescent lights are your best option if you want to choose from a wide range of colors. Under-cabinet fluorescent lighting is very affordable and saves a lot of energy.

However, fluorescent bulbs take longer to brighten, and they also contain mercury.

d) Incandescent bulbs

You can also choose incandescent bulbs for your under cabinet lighting. They produce bright, warm light and work great with dimmers.

However, they are not energy-saving and do not last as long as fluorescent and LED lights.

e) LED lighting

Light-Emitting Diode lighting is the most energy-efficient and safe cabinet lighting. The LED bulbs do not contain mercury and last longer than all other options.

They are ideal for all cabinets, including in the kitchen, where you need a low heat output for food preparation and storage.

3. Power source

For your under cabinet lighting to work, you need a way to power the lights. When buying an under cabinet lights kit, you can choose from the following sources.

a) Direct wire

If you want to install permanent under cabinet lights, you can buy direct-wire lighting. With this type, you will need a professional electrician to connect the wiring to a terminal box so you can use a single switch to control them.

b) Plug-in

These are under cabinet lights that come with a long power cord so you can plug them into your electrical system. If you choose this option, ensure the lights have a long cord and that you also have a free socket on the wall.

c) Batteries

Most under cabinet puck lights use batteries to power them. Before buying this type, ensure you can easily replace batteries when they run out of power.

4. Remote control

When buying your best under cabinet lighting, it would be best to pick one with remote control. Most models with remote control are easy to turn on and off and change settings such as brightness.

5. Size

The size of your under cabinet lighting plays a big role in how elegant your room will look. It is best to pick a type of lighting that hides well beneath your cabinets.

Specifically, if you pick a light bar, make sure it measures your installed cabinets in width. If you go with puck lights, make sure to space them properly to achieve the ideal spaced or focused lighting.

Also, it is best to install LED lights near the front of your cabinets for better light distribution.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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