SMD LED Strip Technology

How SMD flexible LED strips are built, how emitter type and LED density shape the light, and how to specify power, voltage, colour quality and IP rating for your project.

Overview

What is an SMD LED strip?

An SMD (Surface Mounted Device) LED strip is a flexible printed circuit (FPC) populated with individually packaged LEDs, current-limiting resistors or driver ICs, and copper tracks that carry power along its length. Each LED package contains a tiny blue LED chip set in a reflective cup and covered with phosphor, which converts the blue light into white at the chosen colour temperature.

SMD strip is the most versatile and widely used form of LED tape. By changing the emitter package, the number of LEDs per metre, the strip width and the power rating, the same basic construction covers everything from soft accent lighting to high-output general illumination. Our PF5000 series white SMD strips are available with 2835, 2110 and 3014 side-view emitters, from 60 to 350 LEDs/m, in 12V and 24V versions, with colour temperatures from 1800K to 6500K and CRI 80, 90 or 95.

High efficacy and the widest choice of output, from 4.8W/m to 24W/m
Choice of emitter packages for standard, narrow and side-view strips
Colour temperatures from 1800K to 6500K with CRI up to 95
Tight colour matching with small-step SDCM binning
IP20, IP62, IP65, IP67 and IP68 options for indoor and outdoor use

SMD range at a glance

Emitters: 2835, 2110, 3014 side view
LED density: 60 – 350 LEDs/m
Strip width: 4 – 15mm
Voltage: 12V and 24V
CCT: 1800K – 6500K
CRI: 80, 90, 95
Power: 4.8W/m – 24W/m
IP rating: IP20 – IP68
Reel length: 5m, 15m ultra-long

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The technology

How an SMD strip is built

Each SMD LED is a self-contained package: a blue LED chip is bonded inside a white reflective cup on a small lead frame, then filled with phosphor-loaded silicone. Because every LED is tested and sorted (binned) by colour and brightness before assembly, SMD strip offers excellent efficacy and consistent colour.

The LEDs are soldered onto the FPC in short series groups, each with its own resistor or constant-current IC. Every group is a self-contained circuit, which is why the strip can be cut between groups at the marked cut points. The copper thickness of the FPC carries current along the strip and spreads heat away from the LEDs.

The spacing between LEDs, or LED density, determines how the light looks. Low densities show distinct points of light; higher densities give a more continuous line and more output per metre.

Simplified illustrations: a single SMD LED package (left) and how LED spacing changes with density (right).

Emitter types

Choosing the LED package

The LED package sets the size of the strip, how much light each LED produces and which direction the light leaves the strip.

Characteristic	2835	2110	3014 side view
Package size	2.8 x 3.5mm	2.1 x 1.0mm	3.0 x 1.4mm
Light direction	Top emitting	Top emitting	Edge emitting, parallel to the mounting surface
Our densities	60, 120, 128, 140 and 240 LEDs/m	120, 196 and 350 LEDs/m	60, 120 and 156 LEDs/m
Strip widths	5, 8, 10, 12 and 15mm	4mm	6 and 10mm
Power	4.8W/m to 24W/m	9.6W/m	7.2 and 12W/m
Best for	General, cove, linear and high-output lighting	Miniature profiles, shelves and showcases	Edge-lit panels, signage, shelf and glass edges

Benefits

Advantages of SMD LED strips

Why SMD remains the first choice for most linear lighting projects.

High efficacy

Mature, high-efficiency LED packages deliver more lumens per watt, with high-efficiency 2835 versions for lower running costs and less heat.

Widest choice

Densities from 60 to 350 LEDs/m and power from 4.8W/m to 24W/m let you match output exactly to the application, from accent to task lighting.

Consistent colour

Pre-binned LEDs with small-step SDCM give close colour matching along the strip and between reels, with CRI 80, 90 or 95 options.

Good thermal performance

Heat is spread across separate LED packages and the copper FPC, helping to keep LEDs cool for long life and stable output.

Long runs

24V versions reduce voltage drop, and our ultra-long strip with on-board constant current runs 15 metres from a single feed with even brightness.

Indoor and outdoor

Available uncoated for dry interiors or with silicone coating and sleeving from IP62 to IP68 for damp, wet and outdoor locations.

Specifying

How to choose the right SMD strip

Five decisions cover most projects. Our engineers are happy to help with any of them.

1. LED density

Use lower densities where the strip is hidden and light is bounced off a surface. Choose 120 LEDs/m or more for shallow or diffused profiles. If the line must be completely dot-free, see COB and SOB strip.

2. Power per metre

Higher power gives more light but more heat. Above around 10W/m, mount the strip on an aluminium profile to keep the LEDs cool and maintain lifetime.

3. Voltage and run length

24V halves the current compared with 12V for the same power, reducing voltage drop and allowing longer runs. For very long runs, use constant-current ultra-long strip or feed power at both ends.

4. Colour quality

Choose a colour temperature from 1800K to 6500K. Specify CRI 90+ for retail, hospitality and display lighting, and small-step SDCM where several runs will be seen together.

5. IP rating

IP20 suits dry interiors. IP62 and IP65 protect against dust and splashes, IP67 suits wet locations and IP68 is sealed for immersion and outdoor use.

Need a hand?

Tell us about your application, run lengths and profile, and we will recommend the right strip, driver and connectors.

Ask an Engineer

60–350

LEDs per metre

CRI 95

Highest colour rendering

15m

Single-feed ultra-long run

IP68

Highest protection rating

Where SMD strips excel

SMD strip is the workhorse of linear lighting, used across commercial, residential and OEM applications.

Coves & indirect lighting

Concealed ceiling coves, pelmets and uplighting where the light is bounced off surfaces.

General & task lighting

High-output strip in aluminium profiles for offices, corridors and workspaces.

Retail & display

Shelves, showcases and cabinets using narrow strip and high-CRI options.

Signage & edge lighting

Side-view strip to edge-light acrylic and glass panels, letters and light boxes.

Kitchens & furniture

Under-cabinet, plinth and wardrobe lighting in compact profiles.

Luminaire OEMs

Linear light sources for batten, panel and pendant luminaires.

FAQ

SMD LED strip questions

The number describes the size of the LED package in tenths of a millimetre. A 2835 LED is 2.8mm x 3.5mm, a 2110 LED is 2.1mm x 1.0mm and a 3014 LED is 3.0mm x 1.4mm. Package size affects light output, heat handling and how narrow the strip can be.

Lower densities such as 60 LEDs/m suit indirect lighting where the strip is hidden and the light is bounced. Higher densities such as 120 to 240 LEDs/m give a more even line, more output and fewer visible dots in shallow or diffused profiles. For a completely dot-free line, consider COB or SOB strip.

24V strip carries half the current of 12V for the same power, so voltage drop is lower and longer runs stay evenly bright. 12V is useful for shorter runs or where a 12V supply is already available. For very long runs, our 24V ultra-long strip uses on-board constant current to run 15 metres from a single feed.

CRI (Colour Rendering Index) measures how naturally a light source shows colours, with 90+ recommended for retail, hospitality and display lighting. SDCM (Standard Deviation of Colour Matching) measures how closely LEDs match in colour; a smaller step, such as 3-step, means better consistency between LEDs and between reels.

IP20 is uncoated and suits dry indoor locations. IP62 and IP65 add a silicone coating or sleeve for protection against dust and splashes. IP67 and IP68 are sealed for wet and outdoor locations, with IP68 suitable for immersion. We offer IP20, IP62, IP65, IP67 and IP68 versions.

SMD LED Strip Technology