🖥️ Under-Cabinet Planner
Under-Cabinet Lighting Calculator
Design a complete under-cabinet lighting system for any kitchen. Place cabinets on the floor plan, choose strip type and mounting position, and get lux at counter, power supply sizing, and hotspot warnings.
Kitchen lighting mood
1
Build your kitchen layout
Clear all
Drag cabinet sections into the kitchen. Select a placed section to resize ↘ or rotate ↺. Sections with ⚡ get lighting — sink, range, fridge get no lighting strip.
DRAG IN
Base cabinet⚡ Lit
Sink baseNo light
Range/stoveNo light
Corner base⚡ Lit
Island⚡ Lit
Open shelf⚡ Lit
Fridge/freezeNo light
Micro/OTRNo light
Gap/breakNo light
Wall—
Drag cabinet sections into the kitchen layout
Empty kitchen
Drag sections here from the palette
Strip lighting (⚡ lit sections)
No lighting (sink/range/fridge)
2
Fixture type & preferences
Mounting position — cross-section
No kitchen drawn above? Enter total run length manually:
ft total lit run
Lighting totals
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Total lit run
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Total lumens
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Total watts
Task lighting (lux at counter)
– lux
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Backsplash effect
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Power supply planning
– A
Total current
– W
Driver size (80% rule)
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Power feeds needed
– ft
Max run per feed
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Fixture & installation guidance
Dot-free & uniformity
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Colour temperature
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Kitchen lighting layers
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Colour temperature guide for countertops
CCT affects how food looks and how the kitchen feels. Under-cabinet is the closest direct light to your food — choose carefully.
2200K
Ultra warm2700K
Warm white3000K
Soft white3500K
Neutral warm4000K+
Cool white
Ultra warm2700K
Warm white3000K
Soft white3500K
Neutral warm4000K+
Cool white
Aluminium channel and profile guide
The channel manages heat, holds the diffuser, and determines whether the strip is visible. It is not optional for quality installations.
Surface mount channel
Flat aluminium extrusion with milky diffuser. Most common. Sits flush on cabinet underside. Easy DIY install.
Best for: most kitchens, DIY
Recessed / flush channel
Routed into a slot in the cabinet. Strip completely hidden. Very clean look. Requires routed cabinet or custom woodwork.
Best for: bespoke kitchens, luxury finish
Corner / 45° channel
Mounts at 45° where cabinet meets wall. Throws light down AND along backsplash. Dramatic architectural effect.
Best for: backsplash highlight
Wide / deep channel
Wider profile increases diffusion distance, reducing dot pattern on standard SMD strip without switching to COB.
Best for: SMD with dot-pattern risk
Milky vs opal diffuser
Milky: −12% output, reduces dots. Opal: −18% output, frosted look. Both require 90+ LED/m minimum.
Milky for task; Opal for aesthetics
No channel (bare strip)
Strip taped direct to wood. No heat sink, no diffuser. Dot pattern visible. Lifespan drops from 50k to 3k hrs.
Avoid: any permanent install
Common under-cabinet lighting mistakes
These are the most complained-about failures in kitchen renovations — avoid them before buying
Rear mounting — Rear-mounting casts a shadow directly in front of you while cooking. Front mount 1–2 inches from the cabinet face. This is the single most common installation error.
LED dot pattern — 60 LED/m SMD strip without a diffuser shows individual dots. Use 120+ LED/m with a milky diffuser, or COB strip which eliminates this entirely.
12V on long runs — 12V drops brightness after 8–10ft. Use 24V DC for runs over 10ft. Brightness fade on long runs ruins the effect completely.
4000K colour temperature — Makes food look grey and unappetising. 2700–3000K is standard for kitchens. Under-cabinet is the closest light to your food — it matters most here.
No dimmer — At full brightness (500+ lm/ft), under-cabinet lights are too bright for evening use. A trailing-edge LED-compatible dimmer lets you dial from prep-bright to warm ambient glow.
No aluminium channel — Bare strip taped to wood drops lifespan from 50,000 to ~3,000 hours due to heat buildup. Channel acts as heatsink, holds the diffuser, and looks professional.