
For RVers, lighting goes beyond functionality. In fact, it is about creating an atmosphere while minimizing energy usage. The best LED strip lights offer an ideal solution, providing efficient, customizable lighting options that last. In this guide, we compare LED strip lights for RVs, assessing each option based on ease of installation, brightness, and durability to find the best fit for your lighting needs.
LED Strip Lights Comparison Table
To help you choose the best lighting for your RV, we’ve compared top LED strip lights across essential features like brightness, durability, installation ease, and price.
Feature | Opt7AURA RV LED Aluminum Underglow Lighting Kit | HitLights Premium Luma5 LED Light Strip | Lepro 300 LEDs SMD 2835 LED Tape Light |
---|---|---|---|
Image | ![]() | ||
Price Range | $159.99 | $45 | $19.99 |
Price per Foot | $11.42 (14 ft bar) | $2.74 (16.4ft roll) | $ 1.22 (16.4 ft roll) |
12 V Compatibility (RV Power Requirement) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Brightness & Color | High brightness, RGB | High brightness, RGB | High brightness/white light |
Water Proof | IP65 water-resistant | IP67 waterproof | IP20; not waterproof |
Installation | Plug-and-play, adhesive | Cuttable, plug-and-play, adhesive or mounting clips | Double-sided tape, easily secured |
Special Features | Remote control, multiple modes | Weather-resistant | Dimmer included, strong 3M tape |
Warranty/Return Policy | Free one-year warranty | 6 years | One-year warranty |
1. OPT7 Aura RV LED Aluminum Underglow Lighting Kit: Top Overall Pick for Customization and RGB Lighting
Image Source: OPT7 Aura LED Strip Light Kit
Price:
Features
- Brightness & Color
- A great mix of vibrant RGB colors that use micro LEDs.
- Customizable lighting for interiors or sheltered outdoor areas, creating any ambiance you like.
- High-quality illumination.
- Durability
- Aluminum body filled with dense silicone makes for sturdy bars that don’t get damaged by road debris. Its IP65-rated water-resistant coating protects the strip from light rain.
- Installation
- Light aluminum bars are easy to arrange. The OPT7 Aura RV LED Strip Light Kit is agreat option for installing under RVs.
- Special Features
- Comes with remote control, offering various modes like door-assist entry, sound sync, strobe, fade, and color change.
- Pros
- User-friendly setup and a wide range of color options.
- Durable for both indoor and partially outdoor use.
- Cons
- Higher price than simpler models.
- Not fully waterproof for exposed outdoor use.
2. HitLights Premium Luma5 LED Light Strip, Single Color (UL-Listed) 16.4 Feet – High Density Waterproof [IP-67]: Top Choice for Outdoor Use
Price:
Features
- Suitable for outdoors and indoors:
- Suitable for RV exteriors and interiors.
- The LED strip has 600 LEDs for every 16.4 ft roll length.
- High brightness:
- Equipped with surface-mounted diodes (SMDs) on a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) for intense illumination.
- Offers both cool white and warm white options.
- Energy-efficient:
- Maintains low power consumption, conserving energy for longer-lasting use.
- Flexible silicone coating:
- Encased in a clear, flexible silicone layer that molds to various shapes, providing durability and moisture protection.
- Customizable length:
- Can be cut to fit specific needs, but the silicone must be resealed with caulk to maintain waterproof capabilities if trimmed.
Pros- Durable and waterproof with an IP67 waterproof rating and strong adhesive, making it reliable for outdoor use.
- High brightness that offers great illumination, making it suitable for well-lit exteriors.
- Flexible length that can be cut and adjusted as per requirements.
- Customization for single-color versions is limited.
- The adhesive may not stick well to certain surfaces like untreated wood, potentially requiring additional support.
- Quick-connect couplings can loosen easily, making soldering necessary for a more secure connection.
3. Lepro LED Strip Light White, 16.4ft Dimmable Vanity Lights, 6000K Super Bright LED Tape Lights: Top Budget Pick
Price:
Features:
- Brightness & Color:
- Equipped with 300 high-brightness 2835 LEDs, it offers a daylight white color temperature of 6000K.
- Dimmable:
- Includes a dimmer for adjusting brightness levels from 10% to 100%, allowing flexible ambiance settings.
- Adhesive Quality:
- It uses professional-grade 3M adhesive for secure mounting on smooth surfaces.
- Energy Efficiency:
- This operates at 12V, ensuring low heat output and energy-saving performance. The dimmer facility enables energy savings as well.
- Ease of Installation:
- It offers a very easy-to-use plug-and-play setup. Accompanied with a strong adhesive backing, the product enables easy installation on clean, dust-free surfaces.
- Safety:
- It has a low voltage operation (12V) with excellent heat dissipation, making it safe to touch.
- Budget-friendly and efficient, providing excellent brightness for interior RV lighting.
- Strong adhesive backing to withstand vibrations and movement during travel.
- Easy to install in tight spaces, with flexible use across different interior areas.
- The adhesive backing on the LED strip may not adhere well to certain surfaces, such as glass or uneven textures. Users have reported that the adhesive sometimes peels off with the backing, requiring alternative mounting solutions like Velcro or stronger adhesive tabs.
- This strip light is not waterproof, so it’s best suited for interior RV use and may not work well in areas prone to moisture.
- Some users have reported remote compatibility Issues, where the remote control may not function properly with the included power source. Additionally, some reported that the lights would turn on but not respond to remote commands.
How We Compare and Determine the Best LED Strip Lights for RVs
When selecting the top LED strip lights for RVs, we focused on parameters like features, durability, and compatibility of the product for your RV. Here is all that we considered:
- Brightness: To ensure optimal illumination for both indoor and outdoor settings, we considered options that are adjustable and offer good lighting.
- Durability: Water resistance and robust construction were important parameters in our choice, as the LED strip lights need to withstand all RV travel conditions.
- Installation Ease: Plug-and-play options with adhesive or mounting options were taken into consideration by us. Ease of installation ranked high for us.
- Value for Money: LED strip lights that had an economical cost per foot, total price, and energy efficiency scored well for us.
- 12V Compatibility: Strip lights that were compatible with the battery-operated power supply in RVs were considered by our team. The products we chose ensured compatibility with RV power systems for easy and safe integration without the need for additional converters.
- IP Rating: We considered the IP (Ingress Protection) rating for LED strip lighting, especially for RV and outdoor use. The IP rating is the level of protection an LED strip offers against dust and water, which is crucial for durability and safety in various environments. With IP20 being best for indoor use, IP65+ offers outdoor durability against dust and water exposure.
- Adhesive Quality: We evaluated each product’s adhesive strength to ensure it would withstand the movement and vibrations of RV travel, as well as changing temperatures and humidity levels. Strong adhesive quality for long-term use was kept in mind.
Illuminate Your Next Adventure With the Right LED Strip Lights
Picking the best LED strip light is an essential upgrade for any RVer. Whether you’re looking to add ambiance indoors, durable lighting outdoors, or vibrant, customizable RGB options, our top LED strip light recommendations will help you find the perfect lighting solution for your RVing needs.
For more tips on outfitting your RV with essential lighting, check out our guide on RV LED Lights: What You Need to Know to illuminate your journey and make the most of RV living!