What color LED for under cabinet lighting?

Under-cabinet lighting has been around since the 1970’s. First as a fluorescent, then halogen, then low voltage and most recently LED.

In more modern kitchens with lighter countertops and backsplashes, I would recommend to use a cooler color LED, which is closer to what is known as 5000K. This tends to make white look whiter and crisper. Higher Kelvin bulbs are better for blues and blacks as well

Over the past three years, LED has become the new bulb of choice. LED combines the efficiency of fluorescent with the color rendition (or color temperature) of incandescent. Many customers ask questions about the importance of color temperature of LED lights. Often, this is up to the customer and the color scheme they have going on in their kitchen. Colors are measured in Kelvin temperatures from 1,000-7,000k.

Most residential kitchens use a color temperature called “warm white,” which is measured between 2,700K and 3,500K. When you go up in Kelvin temperatures to between 3,500K and 7000K, the color emitted from the bulb is cooler in color, looking similar to fluorescent lighting.

Earth tones and woods are better illuminated with a lower Kelvin temperature between 2,700-3,500K. For this reason most kitchens are better with a lower Kelvin light source.

In more modern kitchens with lighter countertops and backsplashes, I would recommend to use a cooler color LED, which is closer to what is known as 5000K. This tends to make white look whiter and crisper.

Key Takeaways

1. Determine the colors of your kitchen. when you choose under cabinet light Lower Kelvin lights work best in most kitchens, whereas the cooler, higher Kelvin bulbs work better in very modern settings.
2. Be careful, there is no regulatory authority around Kelvins, so you should look at the light yourself