You have picked out the perfect cabinets, chosen a stunning backsplash, and installed the countertops of your dreams. Yet, something feels missing. The kitchen looks great during the day, but as soon as the sun sets, shadows creep over your workspaces, making the room feel smaller and functional tasks harder.

This is where under cabinet lighting comes in. It is the unsung hero of kitchen design, providing crucial task lighting while adding a layer of ambiance. However, homeowners are often stuck at a crossroads between two distinct options: puck lights and strip lights. Both illuminate your space, but they do it in very different ways. This guide breaks down the pros, cons, and best uses for each to help you decide which is right for your home.

Overview of Under Cabinet Lighting Options

Before diving into the debate, it helps to understand exactly what these fixtures are. While technology has advanced, the form factors remain distinct.

What puck lights are

Puck lights get their name from their shape—they look like hockey pucks. These are small, round, individual fixtures that are mounted at intervals under your upper cabinets. Traditionally, they used halogen or xenon bulbs, which ran very hot, but modern versions are almost exclusively LED. They act like miniature spotlights, casting a focused beam downwards.

What strip lights are

Strip lights (often called tape lights or linear lights) are flexible circuit boards populated with tiny LED emitters. They come on a roll with an adhesive backing, allowing them to be cut to length and stuck directly onto the cabinet or placed inside a metal channel/diffuser. Instead of individual beams, they provide a continuous line of light.

Common Kitchen Lighting Challenges

Why bother with either? Because overhead lighting rarely does the job alone.

Uneven countertop lighting

Most kitchens rely on recessed ceiling cans or a central pendant. While these light up the floor, they often leave the countertops—the place where you actually work—in the dark.

Dark corners and work zones

Corners in L-shaped or U-shaped kitchens are notorious for being "dead zones" where light doesn't reach. This makes tasks like reading a recipe book or checking the doneness of food difficult. 

Further reading：How to Brighten Dark Rooms Without Windows

Limited installation space

Underneath a cabinet, vertical space is precious. You want a lighting solution that is hidden from view when you are standing or sitting at a dining table. bulky fixtures can peek out, ruining the clean lines of your kitchen.

Puck Lights: Pros and Cons

Puck lights are the traditional choice and offer a specific aesthetic that many homeowners love.

Focused light and decorative appeal

The biggest advantage of puck lights is the drama they create. Because they are individual spotlights, they cast cones of light onto your backsplash. This creates a "scalloped" effect—arcs of light and shadow—that can make a textured backsplash (like subway tile or stone) look incredible. They add depth and mood to the kitchen in the evening.

Potential shadowing issues

The downside of that drama is functionality. Because the light is concentrated in pools, you get bright spots directly under the puck and dimmer areas in between. If you are chopping vegetables in between two puck lights, you might find yourself working in a shadow.

Best use cases

Puck lights are excellent for glass-fronted cabinets to highlight display items. They are also great for rental units or specific "stations," like a coffee bar, where you don't need the entire counter lit up evenly.

Strip Lights: Pros and Cons

Strip lights have surged in popularity with the rise of LED technology, offering a modern, streamlined solution.

Even, continuous illumination

The main selling point of strip lights is consistency. There are no dark spots. The light runs the entire length of the cabinet, bathing the countertop in a uniform, shadow-free wash of light. For serious cooks, this is the superior option for food preparation.

Installation considerations

While peel-and-stick tape sounds easy, professional-looking strip lighting often requires an aluminum channel with a diffuser lens. Without the diffuser, you might see "dots" of light reflected in polished granite or quartz countertops, which can look cheap. 

Best use cases

Strip lights are ideal for modern, minimalist kitchens and for anyone who cooks frequently. They are also the best choice if you have highly reflective countertops, as a diffused strip won't create the harsh glare spots that puck lights might.

Comparing Puck Lights and Strip Lights

Let's look at how they stack up in a direct comparison.

Light distribution

Puck lights provide accent lighting; they draw the eye to specific areas. Strip lights provide task lighting; they are functional tools. If your priority is showcasing your backsplash, go with pucks. If your priority is seeing your cutting board clearly, go with strips.

Installation difficulty

Battery-operated puck lights are the easiest to install—just stick them up. However, wired puck lights are actually more difficult to install than strips because you have to run wires to each individual puck and daisy-chain them. Strip lights only require one power connection at one end, making the wiring management much cleaner.

Cost and energy efficiency

Both options use efficient LEDs, so energy costs are negligible. However, regarding upfront hardware costs, strip lights are generally more cost-effective. You can buy a 16-foot roll of high-quality LED tape for the price of a 3-pack of high-end puck lights, covering much more surface area.

Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

Whichever route you choose, avoid these common installation errors.

Mixing incompatible systems

Don't try to mix pucks and strips on the same circuit unless they are from the same manufacturer and rated for the same voltage (usually 12V or 24V). Mixing them can lead to one set being dimmer than the other or flickering issues.

Incorrect spacing or placement

With puck lights, spacing is critical. Placing them too far apart creates large dark gaps. A good rule of thumb is one puck every 8 to 12 inches. For strip lights, mount them near the front edge of the cabinet (behind the face frame), not against the back wall. This pushes the light toward the center of the counter rather than just lighting up the backsplash.

Ignoring power source requirements

Both systems usually require a driver (transformer) to convert your home's 120V power to low voltage. Plan where this box will hide. Is there room inside a cabinet? Or on top of the cabinets? Failing to plan for the "brick" can leave you with an ugly power supply sitting on your counter.

Buying and Usage Considerations

Final thoughts before you head to the hardware store.

Kitchen size and layout

For a small galley kitchen, strip lights create a clean, elongating line. If you have a large kitchen with distinct zones (a wet bar, a baking station), you might mix the two: strips for the work zones and pucks for the bar area.

Desired brightness and style

Always check the lumens. For task lighting, you want about 250-400 lumens per foot. Also, consider a dimmer. Under cabinet lights are often used as nightlights in the evening, so being able to dim them is a must-have feature.

Long-term maintenance and upgrades

Consider longevity. If an LED puck light fails, you usually have to replace the whole fixture. If a section of strip light fails, it can sometimes be cut out and re-soldered, or the whole strip is easily peeled off and replaced. 

Further reading：How Long Do LED Lights Really Last?

Ultimately, the choice between puck and strip lights comes down to form versus function. If you crave the dramatic ambiance of scalloped light, choose pucks. If you need a high-performance workspace with sleek lines, strip lights are the winner.