LED Display Lighting Canada: Cases and Shelves

LED display lighting turns a shelf, a display case or a store window into a showcase: light lands on the products, colours look true and the eye goes exactly where you want it. This page is for retailers, jewellers, bakers, collectors, cabinetmakers and homeowners who want to light a display cabinet, a bar shelf, a trophy case or a shop window.

You will find the fixtures used in displays, the specs that make products look their best, installation tips and answers to the questions buyers ask most often.

Fixtures for displays and showcases

LED puck lights: small round fixtures for the top of a display case or the underside of a shelf, in fixed or adjustable gimbal versions.
Under cabinet bars: slim linear fixtures for even light along a shelf or a counter display.
Indoor LED strips: continuous lines of light for glass shelves, edges and the back of a cabinet.
COB LED strips: dot-free light, ideal where the strip is visible or reflects in glass.
LED track lighting: adjustable heads for store windows, gallery walls and exhibitions.
LED panels: the ambient light of the store, kept softer so the displays stand out.

Specs that make products shine

Colour rendering first

A high CRI shows the true colour of fabrics, food, wood and gemstones. ORTECH puck lights, in 1.5 W (120 lm) and 3 W (240 lm) versions, are rated CRI 90+, as are CANOLIGHT track lights, and the LUMENSTARLED curve LED tape reaches CRI 90. Aim for CRI 90 or more wherever customers judge colour.

Colour temperature

3000 K warms wood, bread, leather and gold, while 4000 K or 5000 K makes silver, glass and electronics look crisp. ORTECH 3CCT pucks and NEXLEDS 5CCT pucks let you choose on site, and CANOLIGHT track lights are 5CCT as well. Keep a single colour temperature across a display wall so the products look consistent.

Output and beam

Small cases need little light: the ORTECH superslim puck gives 150 lm at 2.2 W. The ORTECH 3 inch gimbal puck (3 W, 300 lm, 3000 K) can be aimed at a single object. In store windows, CANOLIGHT track lights put 1000 lm in a 30° beam (10 W) or 2000 lm in a 36° beam (20 W).

Low voltage, dimming and certification

Most pucks and strips run on 12 V or 24 V DC from a separate LED power supply or driver, sized for the total wattage of the run. Dimmable models, such as ORTECH pucks or the CANOLIGHT 24 V puck, balance the displays against the room. IP20 and IP22 strips suit dry cabinets, while moisture-proof tape like the LUMENSTARLED curve tape suits humid spots. cUL, CSA or cETL marks confirm certification.

Fixture	Example	Best for
Puck light	ORTECH 3 W puck: 240 lm, CRI 90+, 12 V DC, 3CCT, dimmable	Top of a case, under a shelf
Gimbal puck	ORTECH 3 inch gimbal puck: 3 W, 300 lm, 3000 K	Aiming at one object
COB strip	CANOLIGHT COB RGBW: 896 LED/m, 16 W/m, 24 V DC, IP20	Glass shelves, visible lines, colour effects
Curve LED tape	LUMENSTARLED: 12 V, 7.2 W/m, 72 LEDs/m, CRI 90, 3500 K, moisture-proof	Curved or humid displays
Track light	CANOLIGHT 10 W track light: 1000 lm, 30°, CRI 90+, 5CCT, TRIAC	Store windows, walls, exhibitions

Installation and design tips

Display cases and cabinets

Place pucks toward the front of the top panel so light falls on the face of the products, not into the viewer's eyes; gimbal models can be aimed at a key piece. With glass shelves, a strip along the front edge of each shelf avoids the shadow of the shelf above. Use COB strips wherever the light source shows or reflects in glass, and set any strip in a profile with a diffuser for a cleaner line: the aluminium LED profile guide explains the options.

Shelves, counters and bars

Under cabinet bars or strips under each shelf light the shelf below evenly. Behind a bar, RGB or RGBW COB strips from CANOLIGHT (630 LED/m RGB or 896 LED/m RGBW) add colour, and smart RGBCW puck lights from NEXLEDS do the same in a cabinet. CANOLIGHT 8 mm L-shaped and 5 mm mini PCB-to-PCB connectors make clean corners and joints. The guide how to choose LED strip lights compares COB and SMD, 12 V and 24 V.

Store windows and exhibitions

Track lighting adapts as the displays change. CANOLIGHT 3-wire surface track comes in 4 ft and 8 ft lengths with end caps, straight connectors and input terminals, and LUMIFARO GU10 track fixtures, from 2 to 4 lights, take the GU10 LED bulb of your choice. Keep the ambient light from panels, such as the ORTECH 2x4 backlit panel (30, 40 or 50 W, 0-10V dimmable), lower than the display light to create contrast. See LED retail store lighting for the rest of the shop.

Lightboxes and signs

Backlit lightboxes and illuminated signs follow other rules, with modules and diffusers inside a box. See LED sign lighting for those projects.

FAQ

What is the best lighting for a display case?

Low-voltage LED puck lights or strips rated CRI 90 or more, with dimming. Add a gimbal puck to highlight a single object, and choose COB strips if the light source is visible.

Puck lights or LED strips for a display cabinet?

Pucks create pools of light and strong accents; strips give an even line along shelves and glass edges. Many cabinets combine both: pucks at the top, strips along the shelves.

Which colour temperature is best for display lighting?

3000 K for wood, food, leather and gold; 4000 K or 5000 K for silver, glass and electronics. Selectable 3CCT or 5CCT pucks let you test both on site.

Do LED display lights heat up the products?

Far less than halogen lamps, and low-wattage pucks such as the 1.5 W or 3 W ORTECH models produce very little heat. Leave space around the power supply so it can dissipate its own heat.

How do I power puck lights and LED strips?

With a 12 V or 24 V DC power supply matched to the voltage of the fixtures and sized for their total wattage, plus a margin. Use a dimmable driver if you want to adjust the light level.

Ready to light your display? Compare puck and under cabinet lights for cases and shelves, then add COB strips and track heads where the products deserve the spotlight.