Under-cabinet lighting is the most useful light in a kitchen. Ceiling lights sit behind you, so you work in your own shadow. Lights under the upper cabinets put light right on the counter, and they make a backsplash glow. There are three main types.
THE OPTIONS
| Type | Look | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Puck lights | Round pools of light with visible scallops | Budget installs and display shelves |
| Linear LED bars | Even light in a slim fixture | Most kitchens; easy, clean result |
| LED tape in an aluminum channel | Seamless, continuous line of light | High-end look and odd cabinet lengths |
HARDWIRED OR PLUG-IN?
- Plug-in: cheaper and simpler, but cords show and it uses a counter outlet.
- Battery: fine for a closet, frustrating in a kitchen.
- Hardwired: runs off a wall switch with no visible cords. Ideal during a remodel or backsplash install when the wall is open.
GETTING THE LIGHT RIGHT
- Mount toward the front of the cabinet bottom, not against the wall. Front mounting lights the counter evenly; wall mounting creates hot spots on a shiny backsplash.
- Color temperature: 2700K–3000K matches most homes. Mixing color temperatures in one kitchen looks off.
- High CRI (90+) makes food and finishes look natural.
- Dimmable lets the strip double as a soft night light. See our note on LED dimmers.
- Add a light rail (a small trim strip on the cabinet front) to hide the fixture from view when seated.
WHAT IT COSTS
| Install | Typical DMV Cost (Average Kitchen) |
|---|---|
| Plug-in linear bars | $250 – $600 |
| Hardwired bars or tape, wall open (remodel) | $600 – $1,500 |
| Hardwired retrofit, finished walls | $900 – $2,000 |
If you're installing a new backsplash, add under-cabinet lighting at the same time. Running the wiring before tile goes up is far easier and cleaner than retrofitting later.
See our backsplash installation cost guide for the tile side of the project.
RELATED READING
HOW MANY RECESSED LIGHTS DO I NEED?
Spacing rules, distance from walls, sizes and what recessed lighting costs per light in the DMV.
BACKSPLASH INSTALLATION COST (2026)
Tile type, pattern labor, outlets and edges — and how the square footage really adds up.
KITCHEN REMODEL COST GUIDE FOR THE DMV (2026)
What a kitchen remodel actually costs in DC, Maryland, and Virginia -- broken down by scope, materials, and timeline.
Planning a project? See our Light Fixture Installation service page for scope, process and recent work.
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