7 Best Under Cabinet Lighting Options, According to Testing

A light bar or strip is one of the best under-cabinet lighting options. It puts down a wide, uniform bank of light, perfect for lighting a workspace or kitchen countertop. This versatile LED light bar is easy to adhere to cabinetry and has adjustable light levels.

The Wobane Lighting Kit sheds warm white light and has a remote control that allows you to adjust the lighting from the other side of a room. In addition to brightness settings, the remote allows you to set the lights to a timer and turn on strobe, pulse and nightlight modes. 

Our product team loved how easy these lights were to set up and use. They were also impressed by the remote control’s reach and range. It could catch signals through other objects (such as a large table) and from different angles. Our testers even walked far down the hallway of the building and could still get the remote to work.

“For shoppers looking for a no-frills LED strip light at an affordable price, this is the product for you,” says Associate Product Tester Dylan Fischer.

If you love the idea of an under-cabinet light but are on a tight budget, the 18-inch GE light bar kit is less than $20. This plug-in LED unit turns on with a button, and its slim profile won’t create an eyesore underneath your cabinets or shelves. Screws are already in place with this fixture, making it super easy to install. No measuring is required—just align the fixture where you want it and use a screwdriver to insert the two screws.

“This GE fixture is light and bright! With a sleek, no-frills design, it’s either on or off and very intuitive. We love this fixture,” says Sheri Kaz, Associate Product Tester.

The surprisingly bright light provides a clean, effective task light to supplement overhead lighting. Plus, it’s an excellent value as our product testers found that the low price was not reflected in its quality.

Kitchens are workspaces and gathering areas, and kitchen lighting should address both needs. The Philips Smart LED Light Strip covers both functions. Its hands-free operation means you’ll never fumble with a light switch again while working with wet or greasy hands.

Connect the lights to your Wi-Fi and use any voice assistant (Alexa, Google, Apple Home Kit and more) to activate or adjust them as needed. Do you lack a smart speaker? Then, use the Hue app to control the lights from your smartphone. 

The user-friendly app has a range of color options and brightness settings. You can save settings that you like and want to use regularly. You can also set timers and lighting routines that turn lights on or off, flash or change color. Our team of product testers found the app very responsive and were able to flip through effects quickly and seamlessly.

Fischer, says, “These are easy-to-use LED lights that let you change to any color imaginable via an app. The price is a bit steep, but you pay for great quality.”

For those looking for a traditional, hardwired under-cabinet light, the GETINLIGHT Swivel Lights are our favorite. They’re available in six sizes and can be hardwired or plugged in.

“This light feels like an old-school fixture with its thicker profile,” says Kaz. “That said, the swivel and personal preference adjustments are great options.”

If you’re wondering about dimming capabilities, this lighting kit offers high and low brightness options for all three color temperatures. Additionally, several bars can be connected to cover the length of any cabinet space. Our product testers recommend this lighting option for cabinets with a lip, as the thicker profile may be visible otherwise. 

Another popular style of under-cabinet light is puck lighting—it resembles hockey pucks. These Brilliant Evolution LED Puck Lights are easy to install—simply peel and stick, and they’re ready to go. Each puck has three LEDs and takes batteries, so you can hang them inside a wardrobe, closet or shed. While they may not be bright enough for task lighting, they are perfect for adding additional light to dim spaces or as a nightlight. They come with furniture-safe adhesives and are motion-activated.

These dimmable puck lights have different color temperature options, which change with a simple press—our product testers love this feature. There’s also a remote control, which our testing team used to try out the 15-minute timer. It worked as intended, even after fiddling with additional settings. That impressed our testers, too.

If you don’t want to mess with changing out batteries, these BLACK+DECKER light bars plug into a standard outlet and can be controlled from your phone. Our testers loved that these lights can be controlled via a button, motion sensor and voice command. However, they did note that they only pair with the Amazon Alexa app. The Alexa app can control brightness, color temperature and night mode. If you don’t want to use Alexa, you can still adjust the brightness and color temperature on the included remote.

“You will need to be mindful and do some planning for mounting these,” says Dylan Fischer, Associate Product Tester. “That said, the cord management is adjustable and very forgiving.”

Plus, the kit includes extra adhesive clip-ons for cord management, and the cord lengths provided vary. You can switch out different-length cords after the lights are hung in case a mistake is made.

If you love the idea of wireless under-cabinet lighting but hate the thought of chucking used batteries into a landfill, these rechargeable Lepotec lights are the answer. Charge the batteries with the USB adapter, and this two-pack of LED lights will light up your countertop (or the inside of dark closets and cupboards; the uses are endless!). They also provide hands-free operation and a motion-activated night light.

Our test team recommends these warm and pleasant lights for ambiance more than task lighting. Their motion sensor capabilities make them ideal for night use, such as under a nightstand or bedframe to find slippers at night. This lighting kit comes with magnetic adhesive strips for mounting, so you can put them virtually anywhere. 

“There are several considerations when buying under-cabinet lighting,” says McCoy. First, determine if the lighting is to help create task lighting or ambiance. This will help determine lighting placement, bulb type and fixture style.”

To ensure you choose the best under-cabinet lighting option for your space, take the time to consider a few factors before purchasing. Apart from aesthetics and taking measurements, we recommend checking safety ratings and energy efficiency standards so that you can rest assured that your new lighting system is up to code.

Think about how comfortable you are with different types of installation. If you’re not an experienced DIY-er, consider going with a model that’s simple to install, like peel-and-stick lights. Plug-and-play models are also relatively straightforward to install; you simply plug them into a standard power outlet.

If you have the electrical experience and want to create a sleek, seamless look, think about choosing a model that can be hardwired into your home’s power supply. Some under cabinet lights use batteries, which eliminates wiring, but then requires periodic replacement.

Also, keep in mind how much light you need. Go with the highest lumen output to provide as much light as possible. For those choosing under-cabinet lighting for aesthetics—or those using it as a night light—lumens are less of a priority.

In addition to having our Family Handyman product testing team evaluate each of the lights recommended here, we also consulted in-house expert Alex Rennie, who spent more than five years as a residential and commercial carpenter in NYC.

Gary McCoy, Lowe’s lighting expert and store manager with decades of experience in the home improvement industry, gave us tips on what to look for when shopping for under-cabinet lighting.

We researched hundreds of under-cabinet lighting options, considering the different types, cost and desired look. Then, we spoke to a home expert to clarify what makes under-cabinet lighting a good bargain (or worthy of a splurge). After reading user reviews, we sent our top lighting picks to the Family Handyman product testing team to see how real people interact with under-cabinet lighting.

During testing, our experts installed and used each lighting kit. If the kit came with a remote control or Wi-Fi compatibility, our testers used it over a period of time to note how it performed. Our testers also assessed the brightness of each lighting option to recommend the best use cases. 

Yes, under-cabinet lights can add value to your home. When installed correctly, it’s a sophisticated look that adds a high-end feel to a kitchen. The soft glow can also draw the eye to an impressive backsplash, making a room feel taller and more spacious.

Considering its relatively low cost, under-cabinet lighting is a small investment with a significant return for yourself or future owners. It’s important to note that professionally installed fixtures or lighting without wires or cords adds more value than quickly mounted tape lights plugged into a visible outlet.

Similarly, McCoy advises that the number of lights needed will depend on the size and layout of your space.

“The amount of cabinet lights needed for a space depends on the amount of real estate available underneath a cabinet area and how much light is desired,” he says. “Different types of under-cabinet lights all vary in brightness and length. Generally, rope lights are sold in 12-, 24- and 120-volt variants to help give a variety as to how bright the light will be.”