Can You Put LED Strip Lights Outdoors? [A Quick Guide]

LED strip lights are an extremely popular lighting option for pretty much any application in your home.

From the living room, to the bedroom, and even to the bathroom, LED lights can have a huge effect on the look and feel of a room. You can read all about the best places to put LED lights in each room in our article here.

But can you put LED strip lights outdoors?

Let’s have a look.

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Can you put LED strip lights outdoors?

Yes, you can put LED strip lights outdoors, but there are a few things you should consider before doing so, such as the IP rating of the lights, and the location you’re looking to put them in.

IP rating

Put simply, the IP (Ingress Protection) rating of a bulb or light fixture tells you the level of protection it has against water and other foreign bodies like dirt.

A higher IP rating means your lights are better protected against both water and dust. Therefore, the higher your LED strip light’s IP rating, the better suited it is to being installed outside, and the longer it will last when placed outside exposed to the elements.

To be specific, you’ll want to look for LED strip lights that have an IP rating of IP65 or higher. IP65 rated light fixtures and above are considered to be waterproof, and thus are suitable for outdoor use.

Location of the lights

The location you’re looking to install your LED strip lights in will also make a difference.

If you place them on the side wall of your home, for example, your lights are likely to have no protection against wind or rain, which is going to dramatically shorted their lifespan.

So, if possible, you should consider placing your LED strip lights in an area will some protection around it – an outside porch with a roof above it, for example.

patio with cover for outdoor LED strip lights

This will help to mitigate your LED strip lights exposure to the rain, and also to a certain extent the wind, helping to increase your lights lifespan.

VIEW OUR CAVELIGHTS RECOMMENDED LED LIGHT STRIPS HERE.

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