The 5 Best Under-Cabinet Lights (2023 Review)

Under-cabinet lighting serves two primary purposes—creating a unique ambiance and illuminating your countertop.

To help you wade through the options, the This Old House Reviews team researched and reviewed the best under-cabinet lights on Amazon.

Here are our top recommendations.

In This Guide: Top 5 | Buyer’s Guide | FAQs | Why Trust This Old House

Top 5 Under-Cabinet Lights

• Most Coverage: Litever Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit
• Best Strip Lights: WOBANE Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit
• Best Battery-Powered: Brilliant Evolution Under-Cabinet Lights
• Best Motion Sensor: RXWLKJ Portable Under-Cabinet Light
• Best Remote Control: Cadrim Under-Cabinet Puck Lights

Most Coverage: Litever Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit

Pros and Cons

✔ Includes a dimmer to adjust the brightness between 0% and 100%
✔ Offers two installation options: plug-in or hardwired
✔ Comes with extension cords to reach far-away outlets

✘ Hardwiring requires a certified electrician
✘ Not compatible with pre-existing dimmer switches

What Customers Are Saying

Customers who enjoyed their purchase said the lights were easy to install and provided bright illumination. However, several negative reviews mentioned longevity concerns, stating that the lights didn’t last for multiple years.

Best Strip Lights: WOBANE Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit

Pros and Cons

✔ Kit includes four 20-inch strips with a combined length of 6.6 feet
✔ Adheres quickly to most surfaces with the included mounting strips
✔ Also affixes to furniture, TVs, ceilings, and other areas that you want subtle lighting

✘ Electric power source limits the installation location
✘ Does not come with a remote control

What Customers Are Saying

Customers praised this product’s energy efficiency, brightness, and ease of installation. Many customers agreed that the lights were a fun way to add a subtle glow to their space. On the other hand, some users were disappointed that they weren’t dimmable.

Best Battery-Powered: Brilliant Evolution Under-Cabinet Lights

Pros and Cons

✔ Included remotes to control brightness and timer settings
✔ Runs for up to 100 hours at 100% brightness before needing new batteries
✔ Features low-profile design, as the frame is only 1.25 inches thick

✘ Each puck runs off three AA batteries
✘ Only gives off 55 lumens per light

What Customers Are Saying

Happy customers thought that these lights were easy to install and use. They also liked the lights’ hue and long-lasting battery life. Some customers were unsatisfied with their purchase because the lights occasionally turned on randomly.

Best Motion Sensor: RXWLKJ Portable Under-Cabinet Light

Pros and Cons

✔ Features on, off, and motion-sensing modes
✔ Shuts off after 20 seconds of no movement to save energy
✔ Detects movement at a wide 120-degree angle

✘ Recharging takes several hours
✘ Not compatible with screw-in installation installation

What Customers Are Saying

Most reviewers were satisfied with their purchase, as the light was easy to install, bright, and long-lasting. Some customers felt like the motion sensor wasn’t sensitive enough, as the light didn’t always turn on when they stepped within 10 feet of it.

Best Remote Control: Cadrim Under-Cabinet Puck Lights

Pros and Cons

✔ Adjust brightness levels manually or via remote control
✔ Includes 10-, 30-, 60-, and 120-minute timers
✔ Puck features easy-release mechanism for convenient battery replacement

✘ Remote control only handles four brightness levels
✘ Each puck runs off three AAA batteries

What Customers Are Saying

Customers liked how this pack of lights came with two remote controls instead of one or none. Although customers found the adhesive installation process quick and simple, some said the included tape strips failed to secure the lights in place.

Buyer’s Guide

Before you invest in under-cabinet lighting, it’s important to consider how each model’s specifications impact user experience. To make an informed purchase, we recommend considering the following factors.

Design

There are various types of under-cabinet lighting, with the most popular being pucks, light bars, and strips:

• A puck light features a compact circular form factor closely resembling a hockey puck.
• The light bar design features a long, rectangular form factor and is the most common style on the market.
• LED strip lights are highly flexible and customizable to suit a wide range of tastes and settings.

Power Source

In general, under-cabinet lights draw power from electrical cords or batteries.

Battery-powered models offer simple, versatile installation. Although most of these lights use disposable alkaline batteries, some models have rechargeable batteries. Electric-powered lights have limited mobility because they rely on a nearby outlet. However, they don’t need battery recharges or replacements.

Control

If you want to sync your under-cabinet lights with the rest of your kitchen lighting, look for a model that works with a wall switch.

You can also find lights with remote controls and integrated motion sensors.

Voltage and Brightness

Most under-cabinet lighting has either line voltage (120 volts) or low voltage (12 volts or 24 volts). Low voltage allows you to operate smaller lights and gives off less heat.

The brightness level of under-cabinet lights is typically measured in lumens. Light fixtures that produce at least 250 lumens per foot should provide ample light.

Color

LED under-cabinet lighting can be found in various colors. While white lights and yellow lights are the most common, you can also purchase blue lights, red lights, green lights and color combinations like white/blue.

You can also adjust the color temperature to adjust the ambiance of your kitchen or workspace.

Brands

Some of the most trusted brands for under-cabinet lights include:

• Brilliant Evolution
• Cadrim
• DAYBETTER
• GE
• Govee
• Litever
• Phillips
• Ultra Pro
• WOBANE

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The best way to hide a power cord is to pin it to the underside of your cabinet using a cable protector.

Where should I install my under-cabinet lighting?

In most cases, installing under-cabinet lighting requires very little time and effort. It may be worth measuring and marking the mounting locations for your lights so that they are spaced out evenly. This ensures that a consistent amount of light reaches every area of your counter.

Can I leave LED strip lights on at night?

Yes. LED light strips use little power and produce little heat, so you can use them as night lights in case you get up in the middle of the night to get a snack or use the bathroom.

Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.