Indoor vs Outdoor LED Strip Lights: What Must Be Different?
Indoor vs outdoor LED strip lights differ mainly in how well the strip, and everything connected to it, resists moisture and the elements. An indoor strip can be a low-protection IP20 product because it never meets water, while an outdoor strip needs a sealed, higher IP rating along with connections, end seals, and a driver that all suit exposure to rain, humidity, and temperature swings. The key point is that going outdoors is a whole-system change, not just a different strip.
Here is what actually has to change when a run moves outside.
The core difference: protection from moisture
Indoors, a strip in a dry location faces no water, so an IP20 product is usually appropriate. Outdoors, the strip meets rain, dew, humidity, and washdown, so it needs a sealed construction rated for wet locations, commonly IP67. The IP rating is the shorthand for this protection, and choosing the right one is covered in depth in our IP ratings guide. Confirm the exact rating on the product page rather than assuming, since protection is set per product. Because the difference is really about exposure, the decision starts with an honest look at where the strip will actually sit and what it will face over a full year, not just on a dry afternoon.
