Waterproof LED Strip Lights: Safe Solution for Swimming Pools

Joyce Alva.UpdatedSeptember 29, 2025|12 mins Read

Why Not All LED Strips Are the Same

Although many LED strips look identical from the outside - a slim profile with embedded LEDs - what lies beneath their casing makes a massive difference in performance and safety. Factors such as waterproofing technology, voltage design, thermal management, and material durability distinguish a standard LED strip from one capable of working safely underwater.

Regular indoor strips might thrive in a dry environment, but once exposed to heavy moisture or submersion, they quickly fail, leading to flickering, short circuits, or complete breakdown. Worse, using non-specialized strips underwater - especially in a pool - can create serious safety hazards, including risks of electrical shock.

This makes specialization not just a matter of product quality, but a matter of safety and reliability. For environments like swimming pools, fountains, aquariums, and ponds, dedicated waterproof and underwater-rated LED strip lights are essential.

Different Types of LED Strip Lights

To fully understand why waterproof and underwater LED strips are unique, let's first explore the broader categories of LED strip lights and their specific applications.

1. Indoor LED Strip Lights

Indoor LED strips are the most common type and are designed for enclosed, dry environments. They typically operate on low voltage (12V or 24V DC), are easy to install with adhesive backings, and provide flexible lighting solutions for cove lighting in ceilings, accent lighting for furniture, under-cabinet illumination in kitchens, shelf or display lighting in retail, ambient or decorative effects in homes and commercial spaces.

These LED strips are highly versatile, but their IP ratings usually fall between IP20 and IP40, which offer little to no protection against water or dust. They are strictly not suitable for wet or outdoor conditions.

2. Outdoor LED Strip Lights

Outdoor LED strips take durability up a notch. They are built to handle exposure to rain, snow, UV radiation, dust, and temperature fluctuations. Their casings are often made from durable silicone or polyurethane materials, offering higher IP ratings - commonly IP65 or IP67.

Typical applications include: building facade outlines, garden and landscape lighting, decks, patios, and pathways, signage, or architectural accents. While outdoor LED strips are weatherproof, they are still not intended for continuous submersion. Using them underwater will eventually compromise their sealing and electrical systems.

3. Underwater LED Strip Lights

Underwater LED strips represent the pinnacle of protection and performance. These strips are engineered to survive full submersion for long durations, often with IP68 ratings or higher.

To achieve this, manufacturers use robust sealing technologies such as full silicone extrusion, epoxy resin encapsulation, or TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) casing. End caps and connection points are completely sealed to prevent water ingress.

These strips are commonly applied in: swimming pools and spas, water fountains and waterfalls, aquariums and fish tanks, garden ponds and artificial lakes. Unlike outdoor strips, underwater strips must also resist chemicals like chlorine or saltwater, as well as endure water pressure and UV exposure.

Why Underwater LED Strip Lighting Matters

Among all categories, underwater LED strip lights are the most technologically advanced and safety-critical. They need to withstand not just the presence of water, but also the demanding conditions that come with aquatic environments, such as: constant water pressure at different depths, chlorine and salt in pools or ponds, UV radiation in outdoor installations, and frequent temperature changes (from hot spa water to cold pools).

Without these capabilities, regular strips would not only fail but also potentially cause electrical hazards. Imagine installing a standard strip in a swimming pool - over time, water would seep into the casing, corrode the circuitry, and pose a shock risk to swimmers.

This is why investing in true underwater-rated LED strip lights is not optional, it's essential for both safety and durability.

Key Features of Underwater LED Strip Lights

To ensure consistent performance and safety, underwater LED strips must include several critical features:

IP68 Waterproof Rating: Guarantees safe, long-term submersion.
Low Voltage Operation (12V/24V DC): Minimizes risk of electrical hazards.
Chemical Resistance: Protects against chlorine, salt, and cleaning agents in pools and fountains.
UV & Weather Resistance: Ensures long lifespan even under direct sunlight.
Durable Encapsulation: Silicone, TPU, or polyurethane materials provide flexibility while preventing cracks or leaks.
Uniform Light Output: Advanced diffusion avoids hotspots and guarantees smooth, consistent glow underwater.

These specifications distinguish underwater LED strips from ordinary lighting, ensuring they can truly deliver beauty and safety under demanding conditions.

Where Can Waterproof and Underwater LED Strip Lights Be Used?

The adaptability of underwater LED strip lights opens up creative possibilities in both residential and commercial environments. Let's look at some key applications:

Swimming Pools: Installed along walls, floors, or steps, underwater strips improve visibility, safety, and create mesmerizing lighting effects at night.
Spas & Hot Tubs: Soft glows or dynamic color changes enhance the relaxation experience.
Fountains & Water Features: Underwater strips can highlight water movement, making jets and cascades visually stunning.
Aquariums & Fish Tanks: Provide illumination for aquatic plants and enhance the beauty of fish, while offering safe low-voltage operation.
Garden Ponds: Create magical nightscapes in landscaped gardens.
Waterfalls: Smooth lighting enhances the movement of falling water, amplifying the natural effect.

In each of these scenarios, aesthetic enhancement meets practical safety, making waterproof strips a win-win solution.

Underwater LED Strip Lights VS Regular LED Strip Lights

To highlight the importance of using specialized strips, let's directly compare underwater strips with standard ones:

Safety & Waterproofing

Underwater: IP68+, long-term immersion safe.

Regular: IP20–IP65, not designed for submersion.

Material Quality

Underwater: Silicone, TPU, or PU for durability.

Regular: PVC/plastic, which deteriorates in moisture or UV.

Electrical Systems

Underwater: Operates at safe low voltage, minimizing risks.

Regular: May use higher voltage, unsafe for wet areas.

Light Performance

Underwater: Uniform, glare-free glow, ideal for aesthetics.

Regular: Can show dimming, discoloration, or visible LED dots when wet.

Installation & Reliability

Underwater: Requires watertight connections and accessories but offers long-term reliability.

Regular: Easier installation, but unsafe for aquatic use.

Meet the COLORS Lighting AW Series LED Neon Strip Lights: Tailored for Underwater Excellence

When it comes to specialized underwater lighting, COLORS Lighting AW Series LED neon strip lights stand out as a solution designed specifically for pools and aquatic projects.

The AW series LED neon strip lights can be installed in pool walls, bottoms, or steps, enhancing both safety and ambiance. Its 24V - 5m/R length setup makes it easy to plan layouts for pools of any size, while the 5-year warranty provides peace of mind for long-term underwater use. In short, the AW Series LED neon strip lights are engineered not just to function underwater, but to excel.

Super Protection

AW Series LED neon strip lights have IP68 long-term immersion and high-pressure waterproof performance, and they can withstand IP69 anti-high-pressure and high-temperature water impact.

Featuring high-density TPU material and a fully enclosed structure, this design ensures superior durability and protection. The end caps are fully encapsulated through TPU injection molding, while the wiring points are securely glue-sealed to prevent water ingress. Combined with a waterproof junction box solution, the entire setup offers excellent waterproof performance and long-term reliability in demanding environments.

IP68 & IP69 Protection: Designed for long-term immersion and resistance to high-pressure water impacts.
Chemical Resistance: Performs flawlessly in environments with chlorine (≤10ppm) or saltwater (NaCl <4%).
Safe Junction Systems: Waterproof junction boxes and glue-sealed wiring prevent leaks and ensure operational safety.

Super Durable

Anti-Breakage PCBs Are More Durable: With an innovative 2-in-1 built-in anti-tensile PC line and backplane design, the anti-breakage PCB is more durable.

Durability Upgrades: Anti-breakage PCB design with reinforced soldering withstands installation stresses.
Visual Quality: Dual-chip LEDs ensure no dark areas, delivering smooth, vivid light.

Conclusion

So, are there safe waterproof LED strip lights solutions for swimming pools? Yes, but only if you choose the right ones. Basic waterproofing is insufficient for submerged applications. Instead, you need LED strips that can resist water pressure, chemicals, UV rays, and fluctuating temperatures - all while maintaining safe low-voltage operation.

That's where specialized solutions like COLORS Lighting's AW Series LED neon strip lights make all the difference. With superior protection, advanced materials, and reliable design, they are the perfect choice for transforming your swimming pool into a safe, visually stunning environment.

About COLORS Lighting

COLORS Lighting, the LED linear lighting solutions provider, specialises in the research, development, and manufacturing of high-quality lighting products, which have been certified by all major national markets and are exported to more than 100 countries and regions worldwide.

Our product portfolio covers Neon Strips, LED Strips, Infinite Lights, Linear Lights, Track lights, and Downlights. COLORS Lighting provides integrated and professional lighting solutions for residential, hotel, office, commercial, and outdoor spaces.

We have a professional lighting design team, key projects to provide pre-design planning, mid-term selection simulation, post-installation and commissioning of professional support. For key projects, we can cooperate with designers and engineers to deepen the pre-sale product application program.

Welcome to contact us and tell us which products you prefer, or let us know what type of LED lighting solution you need. Let us help your lighting project!