Comparing LED Strip Lights to Rope Lights

LED Strip Lights are often confused with, or compared to, LED Rope Lights.

If you’re wondering which to buy – you’re in the right place. Here at LEDSAVE, we’re experts in all things LED-related. In this article I’ll cover the main differences between the two, and which you should choose depending on the space you’re lighting.

Rope Lights vs LED Strip Lights

While they might seem somewhat similar, there are actually many considerable differences between Rope Lights and LED Strip Lights. To make the right choice when looking to buy either option, you must consider some of the following aspects. 

Voltage

The first main difference between Rope Lights and LED Strip Lights is their voltage. Typically, LED Strip Lights come in either 12-volt or 24-volt variants, with the former being ideal for shorter distances, and the latter being more suited for installation purposes where you need to cover an area of several metres. 

Installing a 12-volt LED Strip Light to cover a wide area will often result in dim lighting and sometimes even flickering. 

Rope Lights, on the other hand, have much higher voltage requirements, with most models being rated for 120 volts. This means that they can be run through considerable distances without having to worry about them losing brightness or flickering. 

On paper, that would make Rope Lights much better suited for installation across longer distances; however, if you pair a 24-volt LED Strip Light with a high-quality LED Driver like those you can find in our store, you should be able to get very similar results. 

Brightness

Voltage can be a little deceiving, as you might be tempted to think that, since LED Rope Lights have a higher rating, they should also be brighter. However, this is not the case. Although LED Strip Lights typically require 10–20% of the voltage that Rope Lights do, they’re also considerably brighter. In most cases, Rope Lights are meant for aesthetic purposes, such as Christmas decorations, since they don’t produce enough lumens to make them suitable for lighting a dark area. LED Strip Lights, on the other hand, can handle that job very well, as they pack a huge punch in a small package. 

Beam Angle

Another very important thing to consider when trying to decide between these two lighting solutions is the beam angle of each one. Normally, LED Strip Lights have a light beam angle that ranges between 120–180 degrees. This will greatly depend on whether you’re looking at a COB or a SMD LED Strip Light.

On the other hand, Rope Lights can almost always produce a 360-degree beam angle thanks to their tubular design, lighting everything around them equally. 

Ease Of Installation

Here’s where LED Strip Lights start taking the lead considerably. 

Installing Rope Lights is usually a chore, as you’ll have to plan where you want them to be and come up with different solutions for the many obstacles you’re likely to find in the process. If you just want to set them on the floor to decorate your garden or another area, then placing them where you want them is all you need to do. 

However, if you’re planning on installing Rope Lights on a wall or a ceiling, you’ll need special mounting clips that can hold their weight, which can be very inconvenient, especially if you’re living in a rental property that does not allow modifications. 

LED Strip Lights, on the other hand, are extremely easy to install, as they come equipped with a 3M adhesive backing that is ideal for mounting on almost every flat surface you can think of. 

Flexibility

Another important aspect that correlates strongly with ease of installation is the flexibility of each lighting solution. Rope Lights are typically very rigid due to their tube casing, which might have some give, but can’t really be wrapped around a 90- degree corner without it sagging or not sticking completely to the wall in the way you want it to. 

LED Strip Lights, on the other hand, can be installed almost anywhere, as they’re very thin and can bend around almost every corner, crevice, and piece of furniture, no matter the angle. 

So, if you’re not planning on bending your lighting solution too much or installing it somewhere that requires it to wrap around a certain angle, Rope Lights won’t give you too much of an issue. But if you’re planning on running a light across different corners of your home, then LED Strip Lights are the way to go. 

Which One Should You Choose?

At the end of the day which lighting solution you choose will greatly depend on where you need to install it, the length you’re planning to run it through, the beam angle you’re looking for, and, of course, whether you need a simple decorative light source or an actual solution to light a dark space. 

If you have any questions regarding our products, please do not hesitate to email us at enquiries@ledsave.co.uk, or give us a ring at 01652 638840. We’re open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Please check out our contact page for more information.