Our 8 Best Under-Cabinet Lighting Picks (2024)

Under-cabinet lighting serves two primary purposes—creating a unique ambiance and illuminating your countertop. Whether you're upgrading your bathroom, office, kitchen cabinets, safe, basement, or any other area, under-cabinet lighting can make a significant difference.

When it comes to choosing under-cabinet lighting, there are a few factors to consider, including cost, power level, installation method, and on/off method. To help you find the best lights for your home, the This Old House Reviews Team has researched the top under-cabinet lighting options available. Here are our top picks for 2024:

Best Under-Cabinet Lighting Kits: Our Top 8 Picks

Best Overall: Litever Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit
Best LED Strip Lights: WOBANE Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit
Best Battery-Powered Lights: Brilliant Evolution Under-Cabinet Lights
Most Flexible: Philips Hue Lightstrip Starter Kit
Best Rechargeable Lights: RXWLKJ Portable Under-Cabinet Light
Best Puck Lights: Cadrim Under-Cabinet Puck Lights
Best Wireless: BLS LED Closet Light
Best for Smart Homes: TORCHSTAR Smart LED Safe Lighting Kit

Best Under-Cabinet Lighting Overall

What Are People Saying About the Litever Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit?

Customers have praised the Litever Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit for its easy installation process and bright illumination. However, some reviews have raised concerns about the lights burning out after several years of use.

One customer on Amazon said, "First off, the kit was very easy to install. It came with all the necessary hardware and instructions, and I was able to get it set up in just a few minutes. The lights themselves are slim and low-profile, so they don’t take up much space, and they’re also very lightweight. Once the lights were installed, I was really pleased with the effect they had on my kitchen. The LEDs were bright and illuminated the countertop very evenly. I also appreciated the fact that the kit had a dimmer switch, which allowed me to adjust the brightness to my liking."

However, another customer mentioned, "Only lasted me around 2 years and 8 months, then they started to dim like when a fluorescent bulb gets old or is cold. I was thinking at least five years should last. Kind of a bummer, as I was expecting Litever to be a better brand-name product. And yes, I used them a lot, but I will be looking for a different, better brand than these on my next purchase. And as usual, their warranty is for two years. Bummer."

Best LED Strip Lights

What Are People Saying About the WOBANE Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit?

Customers who have purchased the WOBANE Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit have praised its energy efficiency, brightness, and ease of installation. However, some customers were disappointed that the lights weren't dimmable and didn't last as long as expected.

One satisfied customer on Amazon said, "I purchased this in 2020 and just recently (Dec 2023) placed them below my cabinets. These lights are WARM TONE and match the overhead light already in the kitchen. The adhesive is still sticky, and installation was super easy: connect each length to the next, peel, stick, and voila! Perfect for when I need to do anything at my counters or sink. Definitely recommend."

On the other hand, another customer mentioned, "Installed these in my kitchen on Jan 5, 2023, under cabinets and crossing above the stovetop, as suggested in the promo images. The adhesive provided is quite poor and could not be used, as are the cable hooks - brittle and fragile plastic. Strips provided a remarkable amount of light, were exceptionally helpful, and remained on every night. After eleven months and ten days of steaming pots and oil frying, they’ve given up and begun to short out December 15, 2023."

Best Battery-Powered Under-Cabinet Lights

What Are People Saying About the Brilliant Evolution Under-Cabinet Lights?

Customers who have used the Brilliant Evolution Under-Cabinet Lights have found them easy to install and use. They have also appreciated the lights' hue and long-lasting battery life. However, a few customers experienced issues with the lights turning on randomly or having a poor battery life.

One customer on Amazon said, "I love these lights. They’re just what I was looking for. Easy to install. I love how they add soft light to my kitchen, and I can choose which I want on and off. The remote control works well too. I’ve had them up for a couple of months, and no issues at all."

However, another customer mentioned, "These were easy to install and look great, but they go through batteries very fast. As the batteries start to go, the lights get dimmer. So they look the best for the first few times we turn them on, and then they slowly start to not give off much light. Changing the batteries is easy, though. In addition, the remote is hit or miss with working. Sometimes you have to hit the button several times before it catches the sensor and works. It is much easier to just hit the light itself to turn it on."

Most Flexible

Good for: Homeowners looking for flexible lighting that can extend around an entire room.

What Are People Saying About the Philips Hue Lightstrip Starter Kit?

Customers who have purchased the Philips Hue Lightstrip Starter Kit have praised its ease of setup and high brightness level. Many customers have also been impressed with its compatibility with various apps and the range of settings it offers. However, some reviewers have had issues with the adhesive tape and getting the light to turn on and off.

One satisfied customer on Amazon said, "Love these lights — I have several throughout my home as they are diverse and can create any mood you want anytime. Not to mention, you can schedule automations to help you prepare for bed or to get up in the morning. Or random stuff like they can flash if your team scores!"

However, another customer mentioned, "Purchased to attach to bed frame for mood, soft lighting for during the night trips to the bathroom (also purchased motion sensor to automatically come on), and just because I love colored lights in a room. Placed the LED on the bed frame close to the floor. Cleaned frame twice to make sure no oils or dust was on the wood. Attached as directed and loved the way the lights softly lit up the floor space without glaring in my eyes. By day two, much of the light strip had fallen down — so disappointed! I called the company (Philips Hue) to ask for suggestions on how to make it stick — the girl basically said there was nothing to do except buy more 3M adhesive and put it back up."

Best Rechargeable Under-Cabinet Lights

What Customers Are Saying About the RXWLKJ Portable Under-Cabinet Light?

Customers who have purchased the RXWLKJ Portable Under-Cabinet Light have expressed satisfaction with its rechargeable light bars, easy installation process, brightness, and long-lasting performance. However, some customers found that the motion sensor wasn't sensitive enough, and the light didn't always turn on when they stepped within 10 feet of it.

One customer on Amazon said, "These lights are great. I've used them in every RV I've owned. Just bought them again for my closet. I love that the light comes on automatically when I open the doors, and you can turn that function off if you want. The magnetic strip that they cling to is powerful enough so they don't come off. They are so bright, I definitely recommend this product."

On the other hand, another customer mentioned, "I have two installed in a large closet area on each side of the door, facing inward. One detects motion right away, the other I struggle to get to turn on. It doesn't seem to be a faulty unit. It seems to be that once one light is turned on, the other sensor struggles to detect motion. I like the design, and using magnets to adhere it to the wall is great since you have to take them down to charge them. Just wish the sensors worked better."

Best Puck Lights

What Are People Saying About the Cadrim Under-Cabinet Puck Lights?

Customers who have used the Cadrim Under-Cabinet Puck Lights have appreciated the inclusion of two remote controls. The installation process was easy, and the lights were found to be helpful in various scenarios. However, some customers found that the included adhesive strips weren't sufficient to secure the lights in place, and others were disappointed with the lights' brightness level.

One customer on Amazon said, "These are helpful to me. Easy to use. I put them under my kitchen cabinets. Put remotes on my nightstand. When I wake up in the middle of the night, instead of turning on all the lights, I just use the remotes, and I don't wake my husband up. I also put one in my closet so once again, I don't wake up my husband when getting clothing. Easy to use stick ones included. I cleaned the area before I used the sticky on the wall. Our Grandchildren love turning them on and using all of the different settings."

However, another customer mentioned, "They work very well and are easy to install. However, they did not stay up for long after I attached them to a dry and clean, lightly finished wood surface. An artist friend of mine gave me some very thick double-sided tape, which I used after removing the adhesive pads that came with the lights. The lights stay up now. The adhesive pads that come with the lights are inadequate. So you may need to figure out some other means of attaching them."

Best Wireless

What Are People Saying About the BLS LED Closet Light?

Customers who have used the BLS LED Closet Light have found it to be an excellent source of ample light, easy to mount and install, and impressive with its motion-sensor capability. However, some customers mentioned that their batteries ran out quickly, and others found the adhesives not as strong as expected.

One customer on Amazon said, "This light does exactly what I wanted it to do. I used the included screws to mount it to the inner door frame of my otherwise cavernously dark closet. The closet has absolutely no connection to natural light, and I finally decided to organize it and unload much of its contents. This light was a necessary precursor, and it REALLY did the trick. I love that it turns on by itself when I open the closet door (as though it were always on) and automatically shuts itself off within a couple of minutes if I close the door. I'm using rechargeable batteries for the power source, and I foresee this light lasting forever."

However, another customer mentioned, "Even with the pantry French doors open, my pantry did not illuminate as bright as it should. The space is 7 feet tall and 8 feet long. I placed two lights on the ceiling and one on each end. You need to place them so the light shines into the space and your eye does not see the light strip - it's too bright and jarring to look at head-on. I have had these in for a couple of days now, and I like them. The sensor is positioned such that the lights only turn on when there is motion inside the pantry. The reason for the less-than-stellar review is that the lights may be attached with screws or an adhesive square. The screws provided were so small they were worthless in drywall, and if you want to hang the light at a slant, the screws are not enough. The adhesive works great - however, when the batteries need to be changed or you want to fiddle with the settings, the light has to be ripped off the wall. I doubt the adhesive square will continue to work every time you put the light back on the wall."

Best for Smart Homes

What Are People Saying About the TORCHSTAR Smart LED Safe Lighting Kit?

Customers who have purchased the TORCHSTAR Smart LED Safe Lighting Kit have loved the ability to shine light from various angles and control the lights using Alexa. They have also appreciated the dimmable feature. However, some customers found it challenging to pair the lights with voice control and felt that the connection cords were shorter than expected.

One satisfied customer on Amazon said, "I have wanted under-cabinet lighting for a while, and an electrician quoted me $600 to install it. And those lights would need their own individual switches. I thought I would try these first, and I'm so glad I did! They took me 10 minutes to install (20, if you count the holes I drilled to run the lines through the cabinets for a cleaner look) and another 5 minutes to connect with Alexa. Now, I can turn on the lights and dim them just by asking Alexa to do it. They are beautiful and professional without the crazy cost!"

However, another customer mentioned, "I received the product, and it was ridiculously bright, which is great. However, the main reason I bought it was that it was supposed to hook up to the automation via Alexa. I spent over an hour trying to get this thing to pair with the corresponding application, both using the manual and automatic methods. I never could get it working. While the light on/off state is controllable with the button on the control module, that's not what I paid for."

What Do You Need To Know About Under-Cabinet Lighting?

Before investing in under-cabinet lighting, it's essential to consider how each model's specifications will impact your experience. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:

Types of Under-Cabinet Lights

Puck lights: Compact and circular in shape.
Light bars: Long and rectangular, the most common style.
LED strip lights: Highly flexible and customizable.

Control Mechanisms

Wall switch compatibility for synchronization with other kitchen lighting.
Remote controls and integrated motion sensors for convenience.

Lighting Color and Tone

Available in various colors, such as yellow, white, blue, green, red, and color combinations.
Adjustable color temperature for creating the desired ambiance.

Power Sources

Electric cords or batteries for power.
Battery-powered lights offer versatility, while electric-powered lights don't require recharging.

Voltage and Brightness

Line voltage (120 volts) or low voltage (12 volts or 24 volts).
Brightness measured in lumens, with at least 250 lumens per foot considered adequate.

Lighting Brands

Trusted brands include Brilliant Evolution, Cadrim, DAYBETTER, GE, Govee, Litever, Philips, Ultra Pro, and WOBANE.

Safety Tips for Using Under-Cabinet Lighting

While under-cabinet lighting can enhance your home, it's important to follow safety precautions. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Check for certification from recognized safety organizations.
Follow installation instructions carefully or consider hiring a professional electrician.
Turn off power before installation or maintenance.
Avoid overloading outlets.
Use outdoor-rated lighting for wet areas.
Keep flammable materials away from the lights.

Frequently Asked Questions About Under-Cabinet Lighting

How do I hide the wires from my under-cabinet lights?

You can use cable protectors to pin the power cord to the underside of your cabinet, effectively hiding the wires.

Where should I install my under-cabinet lighting?

For even lighting, measure and mark the mounting locations to ensure proper spacing. This will ensure that a consistent amount of light reaches every area of your bathroom or kitchen counter.

Can I leave LED strip lights on at night?

Yes, LED strip lights use little power and produce little heat, making them safe to leave on as night lights.

How We Selected the Best Lights

Our selection process involved thorough research and consideration of various factors. Here's how we chose the best under-cabinet lights:

Initial research: We identified under-cabinet lights with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and ratings of 4-5 stars. We read both positive and critical reviews to gather insights.
Expert insights: We gathered insights from trusted publications, independent testers, subject matter experts, and reader contributions to complement our in-house expertise.
Final product selection: We refined the list based on the latest models available, eliminating discontinued models. We compared feature sets and selected the best options for a range of buyers, budgets, and scenarios.

Why You Can Trust Us

This Old House has been providing top-notch home improvement advice for over four decades. Our team of experts has published over 1,600 reviews on home improvement products. We aim to provide accurate and well-rounded articles to help our readers make informed purchases.

Questions or Comments?

If you have any feedback or questions about this article, please reach out to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.