How to Choose LED Strip Lights: COB vs SMD, 12V vs 24V, IP Rating and Power Supply

Last updated: 8 October 2026

Quick answer: To choose LED strip lights for a Singapore home or shop, decide where the strip will go first, because that sets the IP rating: IP20 suits dry indoor spots, while IP65 or IP67 suits places that get splashed or wet. Then pick the LED type (COB reads as one continuous line of light, while the separate chips on a bare SMD strip can show as small points) and the voltage (12V or 24V, with a power supply to match), and multiply the watts per metre by the length of your run to size the power supply.

Start with where the strip will go

The place decides the IP rating, so settle it before you compare anything else. IP is a two-digit code: the first digit rates protection against dust and solid objects, the second against water. IP20 protects against fingers and larger objects but not against water, IP65 is dust-tight and protected against water jets, and IP67 is dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion in water.

A water-resistant strip only covers the strip itself: the power supply and the joins have their own ratings and need a suitable place. For where to put a strip, see our LED strip light ideas guide; for cove lighting in an HDB flat, see our HDB lighting ideas guide.

COB or SMD: how the light looks

COB gives a continuous line of light, while the individual LED chips of an SMD strip can show as separate points. An SMD strip has chips spaced along its length, so with fewer chips per metre the points can show up close. A COB (chip-on-board) strip packs the chips so closely under one continuous coating that it reads as an unbroken line. A diffuser or aluminium profile (see below) also blends the points of an SMD strip.

12V or 24V: match the strip to the length of the run

Choose 24V for longer runs and 12V for short ones, and always pair the strip with a power supply of the same voltage. Voltage drops along a strip, so the far end of a long run can look dimmer than the start. For the same wattage a 24V strip draws about half the current of a 12V strip, which is why it loses less over distance. The table compares our LED COB 480 Strip Light in both voltages.

Watts per metre times length gives your total load

Total load is the watts per metre multiplied by the length of the run, added up for every strip that shares one power supply.

Choose a power supply rated above your load

Pick a power supply with the same voltage as the strip and a rating above your total load. Leaving headroom is a common rule of thumb, and our Power Supply 12V | For Strip light and Power Supply 24V | For Strip light listings both recommend keeping the connected load at or below 80% of the supply’s rated capacity. Divide your total load by 0.8, then choose a listed rating at or above the result: 36W, 60W, 100W, 150W, 200W, 300W or 400W.

Worked example for the LED COB 480 Strip Light at the upper end of its range, 12 W/M:

A long run can dim towards the far end, so ask us how to split and feed it. For a multi-colour strip, ask us which driver to use: the Mowe 24V RGBCW-3.0 driver listing names RGB+CCT / RGBCW LED strip lights as its application and says “Installation: Indoor Use”. The power supply connects to the mains, and the strip and power supply listings say installation should be performed by a qualified electrician.

Aluminium profile and diffuser

Use an aluminium profile when you want the strip diffused, protected and neatly finished. The Aluminium LED Profile (XL-008) listing describes “High-quality aluminium for better heat dissipation”, a “Milky diffuser cover for soft, even light” and “End Caps Included”. Browse our full aluminium profile range for other models. Check your strip’s width against the profile before you order: the LED COB 480 listings state a PCB width of 8mm. Tell us the strip and profile you have in mind and we can check the fit.

Colour temperature and CRI

Choose colour temperature separately from brightness and power. 3000K is Warm White, 4000K is Cool White and 6500K is Daylight, and the LED COB 480 listings offer all three in a colour menu.

To choose between these colour temperatures for each room, see our colour temperature guide.

CRI (colour rendering index) describes how naturally a light shows colours, and the LED COB 480 and Lightinghub 2835 listings state CRI ≥80.

For what CRI means and where it matters, see our CRI guide.

Checklist before you order

Check these six things before you order.

• Place: IP20 for dry indoor spots; IP65 or IP67 where the strip can get wet.
• Type: COB for a visible continuous line; SMD with a diffuser or profile for a hidden strip.
• Voltage: the strip and power supply must match.
• Load: watts per metre times metres, divided by 0.8, then a listed power supply rating at or above that figure.
• Fit: the strip’s width against the profile, and the connectors you need for joins.
• Warranty: ask the branch about the local warranty on the strip and power supply you choose.

Send us your floor plan

For a cove or a long run, send your floor plan to our light specialist, who can assess your drawings and suggest quantities; our lighting design service page explains how to get in touch. You can see strips lit at any of our 5 showrooms across Singapore; call the branch first to check a specific model. To compare more options and find connectors for joins, browse our LED strip lights.

FAQ

What is the difference between COB and SMD LED strip lights?

SMD strips have individual LED chips spaced along the strip, so the light can look like a row of points up close. COB strips pack the chips so closely under one continuous coating that the strip reads as an unbroken line. Our LED COB 480 listings state 480 pcs per meter, while the Lighting Hub 2835 IP67 strip lists 120 LEDs/m.

Should I buy a 12V or 24V LED strip?

Choose 24V for longer runs and 12V for short ones, and use a power supply with the same voltage as the strip. For the same wattage a 24V strip draws about half the current of a 12V strip, so it loses less voltage over distance. Our LED COB 480 Strip Light is listed in both 12V and 24V.

What IP rating do I need for LED strip lights in a bathroom or outdoors?

IP20 suits dry indoor spots. For a bathroom, kitchen sink area, balcony or outdoor run, look for a water-resistant strip such as IP65 or IP67. Our Lighting Hub 2835 LED Strip Light DC24V IP67 Waterproof is listed as IP67 (Silicone Coated), while the LED COB 480 listings are IP20. Check the power supply’s rating and location separately.

How do I choose a power supply for LED strip lights?

Match the voltage to the strip, multiply its watts per metre by its length, and divide that total by 0.8 to leave headroom. Then choose a listed rating at or above that figure. For example, 5 m of LED COB 480 at up to 12 W/M is 60 W, or 75 W after dividing by 0.8, which points to the 100W size.

Do LED strip lights need an aluminium profile?

A strip can be stuck straight to a surface, but a profile adds a diffuser cover, protects the strip and helps with heat. The Aluminium LED Profile (XL-008) listing describes aluminium for better heat dissipation, a milky diffuser cover and end caps included.