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What’s the Difference Between Rope Lights and LED Strip Lights?

What’s the Difference Between Rope Lights and LED Strip Lights?

Bradley Pudney |

When it comes to lighting design—whether for home, commercial, or event use—two common options are rope lights and LED strip lights

While they may seem similar at a glance, their differences in flexibility, brightness, and installation methods can significantly impact your lighting projects. 

In this article, we’ll break down what sets them apart so you can make an informed decision.

What Are Rope Lights?

green LED rope Light next to a red rope light.

Rope lights are a type of lighting encased in a flexible PVC tube, forming a continuous strand. The tube can house small incandescent bulbs that still shine good quality lighting to any location placed as long as it does not interfere with its lighting mechanisms. 

Pros of Rope Lights

  • Flexibility: One of the standout features of rope lights is their remarkable flexibility. The lights are encased in a durable PVC housing that allows them to be bent, twisted, and shaped to follow almost any contour. This makes rope lights particularly well-suited for outlining curved surfaces, such as arches, staircases, or intricate architectural details.

  • Durability: The protective tube encasing rope lights makes them highly durable and reliable for long-term use in controlled indoor environments. The sturdy exterior helps ensure the lights remain functional for years, reducing the risk of damage from minor impacts or environmental wear and tear. If properly installed and maintained, rope lights can offer consistent performance, even in more demanding conditions.
  • Soft Glow: Another characteristic that distinguishes rope lights is the soft, diffused glow they produce. The light is distributed evenly throughout the PVC tube, creating a gentle, ambient illumination that’s easy on the eyes. This makes rope lights an excellent choice for mood lighting or decorative purposes where you want a subtle, elegant lighting effect rather than bright, direct illumination.

Cons of Rope Lights

  • Brightness: One of the main limitations of traditional rope lights is their relatively low brightness compared to other lighting variations, especially the modern ones. While rope lights provide a soft, ambient glow, they typically lack the intensity needed for tasks that require strong illumination. For example, if you're lighting up a workspace, kitchen, or outdoor area where high visibility is essential, rope lights may fall short. Their gentle glow is more suited to accent or decorative lighting rather than being the primary light source for larger areas.
  • Limited Color Range: Another drawback of rope lights, particularly the traditional incandescent versions, is their limited color range. Most rope lights are available in standard colors like warm white, cool white, or basic primary colors, offering little room for customization. 
  • Energy Inefficiency: Non-LED rope lights are known for being less energy-efficient, which can be a significant disadvantage in long-term use. Incandescent rope lights consume more power while producing less light compared to their LED counterparts, leading to higher electricity bills. In settings where lights are used for extended periods—such as in commercial spaces, holiday displays, or outdoor installations—this inefficiency can add up, making traditional rope lights a less eco-friendly and cost-effective option.

What Are LED Strip Lights?

Infographic about LED strip lights.

LED strip lights consist of surface-mounted LEDs on a flat, flexible circuit board. They are available in various lengths, brightness levels, and colors. They are commonly used for under-cabinet lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting.

Pros of LED Strip Lights

  • Brightness: One of the most notable advantages of LED strip lights is their exceptional brightness. Unlike rope lights, which emit a softer glow, LED strip lights are capable of producing a much more intense light output. Many models offer high-lumen options, allowing them to serve as task lighting for detailed work or even to brightly illuminate entire rooms. Whether you need under-cabinet lighting in a kitchen or bright ambient lighting in a living space, LED strip lights provide the versatility to meet your needs.
  • Energy Efficiency: When it comes to power consumption, LED strip lights are incredibly efficient. They use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent lighting, yet they produce a much higher light output. This makes them a highly eco-friendly option that can lower your energy consumption and, in turn, reduce your electricity bills. Over time, the savings on utility costs can offset the initial investment in high-quality LED strip lights.
  • Customization: One of the most appealing aspects of LED strip lights is their remarkable level of customization. These lights offer adjustable brightness, allowing you to dim or brighten the lighting as needed for different occasions or tasks. This makes them ideal for dynamic lighting setups, where you can change the color and intensity to match the mood or setting. Modern LED strip lights also often integrate with smart lighting systems, enabling control via smartphone apps, voice commands, or automated schedules, offering unmatched convenience and flexibility.

Cons of LED Strip Lights

  • Installation: Despite their many advantages, LED strip lights come with some installation challenges. The flat, adhesive-backed design requires a smooth, clean surface for proper attachment. This can limit their use in irregular or uneven spaces, which makes them less flexible than rope lights for certain applications. While installation is generally straightforward, more complex setups may require additional tools or accessories, such as aluminum channels or diffusers, to achieve a polished finish.
  • Durability: While LED strip lights are durable in most conditions, they can be more vulnerable to damage in high-traffic areas or environments prone to wear and tear. The exposed surface of the strip, especially if not enclosed in protective casing, can be susceptible to accidental bumps, knicks, or water exposure.
  • Cost: Another potential downside of LED strip lights is their higher upfront cost compared to more traditional lighting options like rope lights. While cheaper models are available, higher-quality LED strip lights with advanced features, such as smart control and high-lumen output, can be a more significant initial investment. 

Verdict: LED Strip Light vs. Rope Light

LED COB strip

LED STRIP LIGHTS WIN!

When comparing rope lights and LED strip lights, the right choice depends on your project needs. Rope lights are flexible, durable, and ideal for creating soft, ambient lighting on curved surfaces, but they lack brightness and energy efficiency, especially non-LED versions. In contrast, LED strip lights offer superior brightness, customization, and energy efficiency, making them perfect for both functional and decorative use. Although installation can be trickier and the upfront cost is higher, their versatility and long-term savings make them the better option for most lighting applications.

Ultimately, if you want flexibility and a gentle glow, rope lights are a great choice. But for projects requiring high brightness, energy efficiency, and a modern, customizable look, LED strip lights outperform in almost every category, making them the preferred option for both practical and decorative lighting applications.

FAQ

Let’s check out some of the most common questions people ask about these two kinds of lights:

Is there an LED rope light?

Yes, many modern rope lights use LED technology. These LED rope lights are more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan than traditional incandescent rope lights.

What are some good brands of each light type?

For rope lights, reputable brands include Brilliant Evolution and Huizhen. For LED strip lights, top brands include Philips Hue and the W4S line.

Which of these are good for the outdoors?

Both outdoor rope lights and outdoor LED strip lights are available for outdoor use. Look for waterproof LED strip lights with an IP65 or higher rating for outdoor durability. Similarly, ensure your outdoor rope lights have sufficient waterproofing to withstand the elements.

Bradley Pudney

Content Creator

Lighting can make or break a space, and I'm here to make sure it doesn’t break yours, hopefully. From choosing the right LED profiles to finally understanding what “IP65” actually means, I aim to create guides that strip away the fluff and get straight to the solutions.

No nonsense. No jargon-filled nightmares. Just useful lighting advice delivered with a straight face. Because good lighting shouldn’t be complicated – it should just work.