How to Cut LED Strips

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

Content

Cutting the LED Strip

Connect the LED strip to a quick connector

Solder the LED wires

Cutting the LED wires

Connecting the LED to a quick connector

Soldering the LED wires

LED strips are designed for easy cutting with scissors. Each end of the LED strip features a pair of copper dots. When you cut between these dots, the entire strip will continue to function as intended. At this point, you can proceed to connect the LED strip to a power source using either a quick connector or soldering. If connected properly, the whole LED strip will shine brightly.

Steps

Cutting the LED Strip

Measure the length of the LED strip you need. LED strips come in long lengths. You can cut them into sections as needed, as long as the cut is made at the indicated points for the strip to function correctly. Make sure to determine the length of the LED strip you require before making the cut.

Locate the cutting points at the copper dots on the LED strip. Find the pair of copper dots located along the back of the LED strip. These dots indicate the connection points for the LED strip segments. You will notice a broken line running between two sets of copper dots. Choose the cutting line that aligns best with the length of the LED strip you just measured.

The broken line is the only safe cutting spot for the LED strip. Cutting at any other location may cause some of the LEDs to stop working.

Cut the LED strip using scissors. Simply use scissors to cut the LED strip. Hold the strip steady and cut along the broken line. Be sure to cut directly between the copper dots. Try to make a straight cut to avoid damaging the LED bulbs.

Connect the LED strip to a quick connector

Align the quick connector with the LED strip. You can purchase quick connectors along with LED strips at electrical supply stores, which is also the simplest way to complete the circuit. The LED strip will be marked with a positive (+) and negative (-) side on the back. Align the black wire on the connector with the negative terminal and the red wire with the positive terminal of the LED strip.

Pull the plastic tab from the quick connector about 3 mm (if using a sliding quick connector). Hold the connector in one hand, and with the other, locate the small plastic tab (usually black) at the end of the connector and pull it forward to open it. Be gentle, as the connector is quite fragile.

Strip about 6 mm of adhesive from the back of the LED strip. Remove just enough adhesive to expose the copper terminals at the end of the strip. If your LED strip doesn't have this adhesive layer, simply strip the plastic around the terminals.

Use a utility knife or a box cutter to carefully cut through the plastic and strip it, revealing the terminals. Avoid cutting too deep as you might damage the LED circuit.

Slide the LED strip into the connector. Directly insert the LED strip into the quick connector so that the black wire makes contact with the positive terminal (+) and the red wire connects to the negative terminal (-) of the LED strip.

Secure the plastic tab on the quick connector. Pull the black tab towards the LED strip to secure the connection. The LED strip will stay in place when you release your grip. This method also minimizes stress on the connection point.

Connect the quick connector wires to the matching wires on the power supply. LED terminal connectors can be purchased at electrical supply stores. Insert the wires into the terminal, then tighten the screws clockwise to secure the wires. Insert the power supply wires into the opposite side of the terminal.

If the LED strip doesn't light up, double-check the connections. It's possible that the wires were connected to the wrong terminals or the strip was cut at the wrong point.

Solder the LED wires

Scrape the plastic from the end of the black LED wire. Use a utility knife or box cutter to carefully slice into the plastic just above the copper dots at the end of the LED strip. Strip enough of the plastic to expose the copper dots, then use the knife to gently scrape along the LED strip to remove any plastic debris.

Solder the alloy onto the copper terminal. Heat up the soldering iron and hold the soldering wire above the LED strip. Melt the solder directly onto the copper dots, just enough to create small pools that fully cover the copper surface.

Make a small hole at the end of the plastic cap. You can purchase plastic caps from hardware or electrical supply stores. Use a box cutter or utility knife to cut a hole at the end of the plastic cap. Make the hole just large enough to thread the wires through.

Cut the wires to the desired length and feed them through the hole you made in the plastic cap. Use black and red wires to align with the LED terminals. Measure the distance from the LED strip to the power source. Then, add approximately 1.3 cm of extra wire length and cut it.

Feed the wire through the small hole you made earlier, not the larger hole that comes with the plastic cap.

Strip the wire using a specialized tool. Strip about 1.3 cm of insulation from the wire ends. Insert the wire into the stripper tool and squeeze the handles to cut through the plastic coating.

Twist the ends of the wires and apply solder. Proceed with each wire one at a time. Twist the ends of the wire to bind all the frayed strands together. Heat the soldering iron again and melt the solder onto the bare wire. Repeat this step with the other wire.

Solder the wires to the LED light. Connect the wires to the LED light terminals as follows: the black wire to the negative terminal and the red wire to the positive terminal. Touch the soldering iron tip to the soldering alloy above the LED wire ends, allowing the metal to melt and bind the wires together. Hold the wires steady until the solder solidifies and cools.

After the solder cools, test the connection by gently pulling the wires to check for strength.

Connect the wire to the power source. Plug the other end of the wire into the power source. You may need to twist the wire ends and slide heat shrink tubing or a connector cap onto them before checking the circuit.

You can repeat these steps to solder additional wires to other LED lights.

Apply silicone to secure the connector cap at the end of the LED wire. Take another plastic connector cap and fill it halfway with silicone glue. Then, press the cap onto the other end of the LED wire. Make sure the LED wire is fully inserted into the cap.

Test the LED lights. Turn on the power source. All the LED lights should light up immediately. If the lights don't turn on, it’s possible the wires were not connected properly. Check that the wire colors match the terminals on the LED light. Additionally, ensure the wires are securely soldered to the LED light.