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We selected the best waterproof LED strip lights by looking at the following features — length, color options, waterproof ratings, brightness, installation kits, and controls. The models we reviewed ranged from slightly more than 12” in total length to as much as 48” in a kit. We also focused on brands that offered complete installation kits as these models are going to be easier for beginner installers. Likewise, we prioritized brands that featured complete installation kits and controls. And finally, all of the options in our guide feature at least an IP65 rating. If you are looking for other smart products to simplify your tasks at home, check out our best smart home devices guide.
Because of the above, we selected the HitLights Pre-cut 12-inch/48-inch RGB LED Strips Kit as our Top Pick. One of the biggest draws was that this kit comes with everything you need to properly install these lights. The IP65 rating makes them safe for both outdoor and indoor use. And you’ll like the wireless remote that works up to 66 feet away from the lights to control the nine preset colors and can cycle through 20 animation modes.
For most people, unless you’re an A/V installation pro, you want a product that’s easy to install and doesn’t require an extensive amount of troubleshooting to work. This is why we selected the Highlights Pre-cut 12-inch/48-inch RGB Flexible LED Strips Kit. This complete kit makes it easy for anyone to add ambiance to their interior or exterior with minimal work.
You’ll like that this flexible led light kit comes with a DC power supply adapter plug, four LED light strips with 3M adhesive backing for easy installation, an IP65 waterproof rating, additional four-pin connectors, as well as a wireless remote that works up to 66 feet away from the light source and gives you the ability to manually cycle through the nine colors or opt for one of the 20 dynamic modes to create a beautiful light show, even when compared to the best garage lighting.
One of the biggest complaints about flexible LED light strip kits is that determining the right power source can be difficult. We think you’ll like the Nexillumi Waterproof IP65 USB LED Strip Lights because they feature a truly plug and play design that simply relies on UBS power. However, this is the shortest led strip lighting kit option with only 13.2 feet of LED light strips.
But we think that you’ll also like that these can be controlled via Bluetooth. This comes in handy since these are RGB-based lights — meaning that with the right controller, you can display up to 16 million colors. But you’ll also like that you can remotely control the brightness as well as cycle through 20 preset lighting controls. To take advantage of this feature, you’ll need to download the HappyLighting app which is both Apple and Android compatible. Just keep in mind the temperature of these lights isn’t as appealing as the best warm white LED strip lights. Alongside mounting these lights on your wall, be sure to also consider installing the best smoke and carbon monoxide detector to be prepared for any dangerous situations.
If you’re looking for an easier way to make your car stand out that doesn’t require spending all day at a garage, aftermarket RGB LED lighting is a great start. We picked the Henlight Car LED Strip Lights Interior Kit as our Best Budget choice because of the modest amount, you can turn your car into something worthy of a gear head’s dream. The Henlight also offers a long service life that reaches up to 50,000 hours.
You’ll like that these IP65 rated lights easily install through your car’s lighter and give you the freedom to choose between 16 preset colors and 20 animations with the built-in remote control that’s included in the led kit. But best of all, the waterproof rating means that you can also install these lights on your bumper or anywhere else on the exterior of your car with no issues. If these lights aren’t right for your space, then you should also take a look at the best led strip lights to find what’s right for you.
If you think you might want to create a large scale LED layout, then you need to think about how easily you can connect your LED light strips to a power source. We’ve selected the Senyergiant IP65 Waterproof 32.8-Foot RGB LED Light Strip as our Best Value because the included controller in this installation kit can support parallel and series connections, giving you more choices with how you connect your LED light strips to your power source. WIth these options, you can either daisy chain your light strips (series) or connect up to two LED strips to one controller (parallel). And this is possible because this product ships as two LED light strip reels of 16.4 feet each. If you prefer to have lights that aren’t colored, take a look at the best warm white LED strip lights instead.
We like that this selection comes with a complete installation kit with labeled indicators where the strips can safely be cut. You’ll also like that it includes a power adapter, IR remote and the IR controller. And the IP65 rating makes it ideal for use outside where light water exposure is possible from precipitation. Which means they can also be used as the best landscaping lighting. The only downside is the adhesive LED tape.
LED light strips are a popular aftermarket upgrade for home and car owners because of the easy installation process. We narrowed down the selection process by looking at length, color options, waterproof ratings, brightness, installation kits, and controls.
For length, we noted that waterproof LED light strip options could vary widely from as little as slightly more than a foot in total length to as much as four feet. However, we did note that waterproof LED light strip kits that were designed for the home tended to offer a longer total length than models designed for car installation.
All of the models in our guide feature a range of colors and are sold as RGB LED lighting kits. This is ideal because if you have the right equipment, you’ll have more control over the hue output of your lights. Preset lighting colors ranged from 16 to 20 hues, but if you have the right lighting controls, you can achieve the 16 million color output often promoted with these LED light strip kits. But it’s important to note that you’ll need to purchase a separate controller to do so. All of the models in our list either came with remotes or recommended using their proprietary Bluetooth-based controller app — which isn’t fine-tuned enough to support a 16 million color variation output.
While there are higher waterproof ratings available on the market, all of the waterproof LED lighting kits on our list are IP65-rated. That means that these models are best for general outdoor installation where they might occasionally come into contact with water or moisture. If you need an LED light strip kit that’s designed for consistent water exposure or is safe for submersion, look for models that are IP68 or higher.
All of the models in our list are complete kits, meaning that they come with a power plug, connectors, and the light strips. This is especially ideal for first-time DIYers or those who don’t want to hassle with wiring — especially for the car installation kits. Except for our Best Value selection, the rest of the kits rank poorer on customization (as you can’t easily cut the strips to create customized strip lengths). However, we still think these are great options for beginners who aren’t experienced with installing LED light strips.
You can check out our Top Picks and other popular options on Amazon.com. Whatever product you choose, make sure you pay attention to customer reviews. Some options will also offer a 30-day money back guarantee.
