Kitchen worktop lighting

Three numbers to remember

• 500 lux on the worktop for chopping and reading a recipe — our “detailed task” benchmark in lux per room.
• 420 lm per metre minimum: for a 3.0 × 0.6 m worktop, 500 lx × 1.8 m² × factor 1.4 (close source) ≈ 1,260 lm, i.e. 420 lm/m of cabinet run.
• 4000 K and CRI (colour rendering index) ≥ 80 (90 if you can) to judge food without a colour cast — see colour temperature and CRI.

Three mains-powered bars compared

Lumens per metre = stated flux ÷ length (manufacturer data, checked 23/10/2026). All bars exceed 420 lm/m; the choice is mostly colour, mounting and length.

Product	Power	Stated flux	Flux/m (calc.)	Colour	Daisy-chain
DA LIGHT swivel bar 56 cm Check price on Amazon UK	230 V, switch	560 lm	1,000 lm/m	3000 / 4000 / 6000 K	Yes, linkable
SEBSON kitchen bar 60 cm Check price on Amazon UK	230 V, plug + switch	715 lm (11 W)	1,192 lm/m	3000 K	One bar per socket
Oktaplex Riga 28 cm Check price on Amazon UK	230 V	370 lm (4 W)	1,321 lm/m	4000 K	Yes, extendable

Pick: DA LIGHT — 1,000 lm/m (more than double the target), three whites including 4000 K, swivel head toward the splashback, linkable bars on one plug.

No socket under the cabinets?

A rechargeable bar (e.g. OUILA 60 cm on the French site) suits backup use; if the maker does not publish lumens, do not rely on it as the main worktop light.

Bar or LED strip?

A bar screws in and plugs in — about 15 minutes. Strip in an aluminium profile gives a continuous line but needs a sized 24 V driver. See under-cabinet LED strip.

Placement

• As far forward on the wall unit as possible so light hits the board, not only the splashback.
• One bar per cabinet run, leaving 2–3 cm at each end for end caps.
• Nothing over the sink without the right IP rating.

General kitchen lighting: kitchen room guide (when published). More zones on the French zones hub.