Why Under Cabinet Lighting?
Under cabinet lighting is one of the most useful and convenient lighting applications on the market today. As the name suggests, under cabinet lighting refers to light fixtures that are installed most commonly underneath upper wall kitchen cabinets, illuminating the space directly below. These hidden fixtures are able to blend in seamlessly without looking obtrusive or clashing with existing decor. They’re used predominantly in kitchen areas where additional light is useful for reading recipes and preparing food. An under cabinet system will not only improve the brightness and overall look and feel of your space; it’s also one of the easiest ways to increase the resale value of your home.
Modern LED under cabinet lights have revolutionized kitchen lighting, offering superior energy efficiency and longer lifespans compared to outdated fluorescent or halogen systems. Whether you choose hardwired under cabinet lighting for a permanent installation or plug in under cabinet lighting for flexibility, LED technology provides consistent, high-quality illumination for years to come.
Under cabinet light fixtures work beyond the kitchen as functional lighting in other areas too. These versatile LED under cabinet lights provide flawless under cabinet task lighting in workrooms, laundry rooms, home offices, and anywhere additional illumination is needed. As accent lighting, they can add depth, dimension and visual interest to a variety of spaces, or highlight architectural features like a tray or cove ceiling. And they can even showcase objects inside a glass cabinet or display case. At PROLIGHTING, we’ve seen this flexible lighting solution used under, above and inside cabinetry, below countertops, and in toe kick areas.
Whether you’re updating old fixtures or installing a whole new system, PROLIGHTING has everything you need for LED under cabinet lighting. From traditional linear fixtures and puck lights, to light bars and tape systems – we have hundreds of LED options to choose from. If you’re new to the idea or just want to know more about under cabinet lighting, we’ve put together this guide to help you understand everything we have to offer.
Choosing A Fixture
Traditional Linear:
Low-profile traditional LED linear fixtures are the most popular choice for illuminating high-functioning areas like countertops, sinks, and stoves. Traditional LED linear fixtures brighten the dark caves and shadows that cabinets create and bathe your workspace in bright light. They emit light evenly across the length of the fixture, creating a smooth, uniform light distribution. They’re offered in lengths from 8″ all the way up to 40″ and are highly efficient, long-lasting, and offer low operating costs and minimal heat. At PROLIGHTING, the traditional LED linear fixtures we carry offer tremendous light output and quality to match, and they’re fairly easy to install.
Most traditional LED linear fixtures have two installation options; plug-in or hardwire. Plug-in installation (or plug and play) is the most basic, and a smart choice if you don’t have electrical knowledge and don’t want to hire a professional. Going the plug-in route is also great for DIYers wanting a quick update as opposed to a full remodel. Plug in under cabinet lighting offers quick, DIY-friendly installation but requires available electrical outlets. For a cleaner look without visible cords, hardwired under cabinet lighting provides a permanent, professional solution that frees up valuable outlet space.
Hardwire installation refers to fixtures that are self-contained, meaning that all of the components needed to operate the light are contained within the unit itself. The fixture will require a separate 120V power feed from the wall, but can be linked (daisy-chained) end-to-end in jumps, once the first connection is established. Hardwire installation for traditional LED linear fixtures is a bit more complicated and should be left up to electricians and professionals who are familiar with these systems. Hardwired under cabinet lighting creates a clean, cord-free appearance that’s ideal for new construction or kitchen remodels. This line voltage under cabinet lighting approach allows fixtures to be daisy-chained together for seamless runs along extended cabinet lengths.
For traditional LED linear fixtures, we carry well-known brands including RAB, Lotus, and NSL. We offer two separate categories for line voltage and low voltage options. Line voltage means that the fixture is running on the line voltage of the home without a driver, which is 120 volts. Table lamps, most ceiling fixtures, and chandeliers, are line voltage – basically plug and play. Low voltage typically uses 12 or 24 volts and requires a driver to lower the line voltage from 120 volts. It is often used in recessed, track, pendant, landscape, and display lighting applications. Low voltage is most useful when trying to deliver light to a tight, harder-to-reach area.
Selecting a dimmable style will give you even more versatility. You’ll be able to create dramatic lighting for parties and gatherings, or soft night lighting for those late-night trips to the fridge. Many models are also CCT tunable, like our best-selling NSL LED Task Star Pro and RAB KNOOK LED Under Cabinet. The color change feature allows you to adjust the color temperature – typically between 2700K, 3000K, and 4000K, in order to create the perfect atmosphere.
Puck Lights:
LED Puck lights have long been a favorite among designers and contractors for under cabinet lighting. These compact LED puck lights typically measure 1-4 inches in diameter and deliver impressive light output despite their low voltage operation. Under cabinet puck lights are available in both 12V puck lights (low voltage) and 120V line voltage options to suit any installation requirement. Puck lights are perfect for lighting countertops, glass-front cabinets, and open shelving. They can be surface mounted or recessed depending on your desired look. In terms of lighting effect, puck lights create a more directed, focused look similar to spotlights. So, depending on your preference, the resulting dramatic beam of light that puck lights give off may not be what you’re looking for.
LED puck lights have become the preferred choice for under cabinet lighting because they offer comparable performance to traditional linear fixtures at half the cost and a fraction of the energy consumption. Dimmable puck lights add even more versatility, allowing you to adjust brightness levels for different tasks and times of day. Low voltage puck lights operating on 12V systems require a power supply to convert the line voltage. This low voltage under cabinet lighting approach offers safety benefits and greater flexibility in placement. Keep in mind that concealing the power supply may require strategic placement under or inside cabinetry for a clean installation. Some LED puck lights can actually be battery operated, eliminating the need to run wires and simplifying installation even more.
At PROLIGHTING, we carry a large assortment of LED puck light fixtures from brands like American Lighting, DALS, Lotus, and Nora Lighting – with prices starting at just $13. We have a variety of finishes and color temperatures available, and styles including mini pucks, square pucks, ultra-slim, and RGB (color changing) and white tunable. Use them to draw attention to the best features of your kitchen – like custom granite countertops or a subway tile backsplash. For even more flexibility, many of our LED pucks are dimmer compatible, like our Lotus Ultra Slim LED Puck shown above ( driver sold separately). This option is great for light layering and creating custom light schemes when combined with other fixtures like pendants and recessed downlights. PRO tip: space your puck fixtures 1-2 feet apart for best results.
Light Bars:
Light bars and hard strips are another solution for under cabinet and task lighting. Integrated LED light bars have a rigid exterior and come in lengths ranging from 6 to 48 inches. Like traditional linear fixtures and puck lights, LED light bars are also available in hardwire and plug-in configurations. LED light bars have a lower profile than traditional under cabinet fixtures, but a higher one than LED tape lighting – making them the perfect go-between. They generally deliver more light than tape and are also a bit easier to keep clean. For those looking to make the switch to LED, our high-efficiency, low maintenance LED light bars are a great alternative to outdated halogen and fluorescent under cabinet systems known for giving off lots of heat.
These ultra-compact LED light bars are simple to install and navigate tight corners with ease. Linkable light bars connect end-to-end for longer runs, making them ideal for functional under cabinet lighting in display shelving, glass cabinetry, bookcases, and other applications. Similar to tape lighting, the desired look is for the fixture to be hidden so only the illumination is seen. And like traditional linear fixtures, LED light bars are linkable – letting you daisy-chain multiple bars together for longer runs and customization in tricky layouts, including L-shaped and cabinets of varying lengths and heights. As with all under cabinet applications, careful planning is needed for best results.
Tape Light:
LED tape light systems (also called LED strip lighting or flexible LED tape) have the ability to create functional detail lighting that’s perfect for under cabinet lighting applications. It can also be used to highlight objects on display like crystal and china, and make it easier to access things tucked away deep in cabinets and drawers. LED tape systems typically come in 16 foot reels and are extremely versatile – designed to make turns around corners and mount to the underside of virtually any surface. One advantage to LED tape lighting is flexibility: it can be cut to custom lengths, connected for longer runs, and used in a variety of applications including cove and tray ceilings, above cabinets, below counters and toe-kicks, and inside other recessed ‘slot’ spaces.
Tape light can be installed under islands and bars to add depth and define edges. Positioned near the floor, toe kick lighting gives the illusion of floating cabinetry. LED tape light offers unmatched versatility for custom under cabinet lighting projects. This flexible LED tape can navigate corners, curves, and irregular spaces that rigid fixtures cannot accommodate.
LED tape light can be surface-mounted using adhesive backing or installed in aluminum channels for added protection and a professional appearance. Most LED tape lighting is also dimmable, so you can match the intensity of the light to the occasion. LED tape lighting systems do take a bit more advance planning. Depending on your application, you may need various accessories and components. PRO tip: consider utilizing extrusions (channel guides) with a lens for added protection of the tape. More information about LED tape lighting and its uses can be found on our blog.
Color Selection
When selecting LED under cabinet lighting, choosing the correct color temperature and CRI ensures optimal performance for your kitchen. For kitchen applications, we recommend a color temperature between 3000K and 4000K. Most homeowners prefer 3000K for a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Light below 3000K will cast a warm, yellowish hue that makes color perception a bit difficult if you’re using the area for food preparation. Unless you’re lighting an industrial area where ‘daylight’ color is necessary, we recommend staying below 4000K. Most likely the rest of the lighting in your home is 2700K or 3000K and installing something too ‘cool’ for the kitchen will likely give you an unappealing color mismatch.
CRI is a bit trickier to understand because it is not immediately visible. CRI is a score ranging from 0-100 which measures how accurately objects appear under a light. The higher the score, the closer the accuracy to how the object would look under natural daylight. So what is sufficient? For non-color critical tasks, a minimum CRI of 85 is adequate for LED under cabinet lights. For enhanced color accuracy in kitchens, we recommend a CRI rating of 90+ for the best results. Both color temperature and CRI information is provided either in the product description or on the specification sheet.
In Summary
Installation depends on you – your knowledge and experience, timeline and budget. If you have electrical know-how or prefer plug-in options, you may be able to tackle your LED under cabinet lighting project on your own. On the other hand, hardwired lighting requires more planning and skill, but it offers many more design options. Feel free to contact our team anytime for help with product selection, for a quote, or to design a lighting layout. We’ll assist you in finding the right LED under cabinet system for your project.
Ready to upgrade? Browse our full collection of under cabinet lighting fixtures featuring hardwired, plug-in, and linkable options from top brands like American Lighting, RAB, DALS, and Lotus.
Last Updated December 2025
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