Walk into any lighting store — or scroll through any LED catalog — and you will see hundreds of different lights. Bulbs, tubes, panels, strips, spotlights, floodlights, neon… They all share one thing in common: every single one is powered by an DIRIGÉ.
But how do you choose? The easiest way is to understand that LED lights are grouped in three ways: by package (how the chip is made), by color (what light it emits), and by fixture (how it is built into a product).
01 LED Types by Package & Form Factor
Le package is how the LED chip is physically built and mounted. It affects size, brightness, heat, and where the LED can be used.
Standard LED
The classic round or flat-top LED with two metal legs, inserted through a PCB and soldered underneath. Tiny, reliable, and used mainly as indicator lights in remotes and devices.
Surface-Mount LED
Soldered directly onto the PCB — no wire legs. Slim, flat, and highly efficient. SMD LEDs (5050, 2835, 3030) power the vast majority of LED strip lights.
Chip-on-Board LED
Many chips mounted densely on one substrate to form a single light source. No “dots” or pixelation — just a clean, continuous beam, ideal for premium strips.
Chip-Scale Package
The package is nearly the same size as the chip itself. Extremely compact and efficient, used where space is tight — phones, wearables, compact modules.
High-Power LED
Designed to run at 1W or more with hundreds of milliamps. Very bright but generates heat, so it needs dedicated heat sinks — common in spotlights and floodlights.
The Two You Will See Most Often
In the strip light world, the two packages you will meet again and again are CMS et ÉPI.
- Bandes CMS — individual visible dots, great value, available in single-color, RGB, and addressable versions
- Bandes COB — seamless dot-free light, higher density, smoother and more premium look
See the difference for yourself: Bandes LED CMS et COB LED strips. Or read our guide to SMD LEDs.
02 LED Types by Color & Wavelength
LEDs can also be classified by the light they emit:
Single Color
One fixed wavelength — red, blue, green, yellow. Used in indicators, signage, traffic signals, and single-color strip lighting.
White LED
LEDs do not emit white naturally. White is made by adding a yellow phosphor to a blue chip, or by mixing RGB. Available in warm to cool CCT.
Color-Changing
Red, green, and blue chips packaged together. By mixing the three, an RGB LED produces about 16 million hues — perfect for effects lighting.
Digital Control
Each LED can be controlled individually to show patterns, animations, and effects via protocols like DMX512 or SPI. The foundation of dynamic signage and stage lighting.
Ultraviolet
Emits light in the UV spectrum, used for sterilization, curing, and material testing.
Infrared
Emits light beyond visible range (780nm–1mm), used in remote controls, sensors, and thermal imaging.
Color Is More Than Looks
The color of light changes how a space feels. Warm white (2700K–3000K) relaxes; cool white (4000K–6500K) energizes; RGB creates entertainment.
To pick the right tone, see our color temperature guide, or explore Bandes LED RGBW for full color control.
03 LED Types by Fixture Design
Finally, LEDs are built into finished fixtures. Here is the landscape of LED fixtures you will encounter:
Retrofit
Direct replacements for incandescent bulbs with standard bases (E26/E27, GU10). Screw in and go.
Linear
Energy-efficient replacements for fluorescent tubes in T5/T8/T12 sizes — about 50% more efficient.
Downlights
Installed into ceilings or walls, concealed behind a trim. Can or canless, ideal for ambient and task light.
Ceiling Panels
Ultra-slim, flat panels for suspended, recessed, or surface mounting. Clean, modern office lighting.
Tape Lights
Flexible PCBs with tiny chips, cuttable and bendable. The most versatile LED product — our specialty.
Directional
Focused beams for retail, galleries, and architectural highlights. Narrow to wide beam angles.
Wide Beam
High-output outdoor lighting with IP65/IP66 weatherproofing for parking lots and exteriors.
High Ceiling
10,000–60,000 lumens for ceilings above 15 feet — warehouses, gyms, factories.
Outdoor Roads
3,000–30,000+ lumens with precision optics for roads and highways.
Exterior Walls
Directional security lighting mounted on building exteriors, replacing HID fixtures.
Outdoor Accent
Bollards, wall washers, and post-top lights that add depth to gardens and paths.
Flexible Neon
Silicone/PVC LED tubes that mimic classic neon — bendable, cuttable, low voltage, and waterproof.
Two Categories That Matter Most for Projects
If you are planning a home or architectural lighting project, two fixture types deliver the most flexibility:
- Bandes lumineuses LED — cuttable, bendable, installs almost anywhere
- LED neon flex — makes custom glowing shapes and signs easy
Both are core KayTai products. Compare our Bandes lumineuses LED range and explore aluminum profiles to install them cleanly.
04 Focus: LED Strip Lights — The Most Versatile Type
Of all LED fixture types, none matches the versatility of the LED strip light. Hundreds of tiny chips on a flexible PCB, cuttable at marked lines, bendable around corners, and installable with peel-and-stick tape.
Why Strips Won
- Cut to fit — trim exactly to your run length
- Bend around corners — flexible PCB follows any line
- Many variants — single-color, tunable white, RGB, RGBW, addressable, COB, side-view
- Easy install — 3M adhesive backing or aluminum profiles
- Endless uses — under cabinets, coves, mirrors, stairs, signage, automotive
Start your project with our Guide d'achat de bandes LED, then browse the single-color, tunable white, ÉPI, et bendable ranges.
Beyond Basic Strips
Neon flex takes the strip concept further — a LED strip inside a flexible silicone tube that glows like classic neon. Perfect for signage, logos, and creative shapes.
Read our guide to Éclairage à bande LED to understand which type fits your project best, and ask our team for samples before you commit.
05 How to Choose the Right LED Type
Follow these three questions to narrow down any LED decision:
Our engineers help customers worldwide make these choices every day. Tell us your space and we will recommend the right LED strip ou profile.
06 LED Types FAQ
T1What is the difference between SMD and COB LED strips?
SMD strips have individual visible dots and are great value; COB strips pack chips densely for a seamless, dot-free, premium glow. Read our Bandes COB or the SMD guide.
T2What does RGBW mean?
RGBW adds a dedicated white chip to the red, green, and blue chips, so you get vibrant colors plus a true, clean white. Great for both effects and everyday lighting.
T3Which LED type is best for outdoor use?
Choose waterproof LED strips with an IP65–IP68 rating, or weatherproof fixtures like floodlights and wall packs. Check our guide to waterproof options for details.
T4Are LED neon flex lights the same as LED strips?
Neon flex is an LED strip enclosed in a flexible silicone or PVC tube, giving a smooth neon glow. It is bendable, cuttable, waterproof, and ideal for signs and creative shapes.
Not Sure Which LED Type You Need?
Send us your application and requirements — we will recommend the right product and send samples.
