Can I Cut My LED Strip Lights?

LED Strip Lights are one of the most versatile types of lighting available and this is not just because they are flexible. LED Strip Lights can also be cut to custom lengths, which means they can be potentially made to meet the requirements of any installation.

While it is possible to get your lights cut by a professional, the process is so simple that you can also do it yourself. If for example you find that your strip light is slightly too long for the area in which you plan to install it, you can chop a section off the end to make it fit. Alternatively, if you have a large, single strip of led lights, but you would prefer two separate pieces, you can cut the strip in half.

LED Strip Lights can be cut at 5 or 10cm intervals (depending on the number of LEDs per metre) all along their length. The “cutting points” are clearly marked with a straight line and a diagram of a pair of scissors. To separate your strip lights, cut along this line using a pair of scissors or craft knife. Always make sure the tool you are using is sharp, as a blunt tool could potentially cause damage to the circuit board.

Due to their design, LED Strip Lights will continue to work even after they have been cut. This is because their circuit is completely closed at each cutting point. If you are removing a section from the end of your strip light, always make sure you are removing it at the end away from the connector.

If you are cutting you strip lights into two parts and plan to use them as two separate installations, you will also have to do a bit of soldering. At each cutting point there should be a series of solder points (circular metal discs), 2 in the case of single colour lights and 4 in the case of colour changing RGB. To attach a new length of 2 core or 4 core cable, you will need to solder the wires to their corresponding solder points (which should be clearly marked for this purpose).

Soldering isn’t a difficult task, but obviously requires the requisite tools, which most people don’t own. Asking an electrician to do the soldering on your behalf will also work out to be fairly expensive as you are of course paying for their time. The cheapest, and safest option is to ask your retailer to prepare everything beforehand.

It is also possible to buy “solderless connections,” which allow you to connect to your LED Driver or to another LED Strip Light without the need for any soldering.