How to Calculate the Right LED Driver for Your 12V or 24V Setup

Choosing the right LED driver is one of the most important parts of a reliable LED strip lighting install — especially for trade professionals working with 12V or 24V setups. In this guide, we’ll walk through the basic maths, explain why headroom matters, and help you avoid common power mistakes on site.

Why LED Drivers Matter

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LED drivers regulate the power going into your strips. Without the correct driver, you risk flickering, overheating, or reduced lifespan — all of which lead to client callbacks or rework. For most installations using LED tape, you’ll need a constant voltage driver rated for 12V or 24V, depending on your strip.

How to Calculate LED Driver Size

• Check the voltage of your LED strip — this is usually 12V or 24V
• Find the power consumption per metre (e.g. 9.6W/m)
• Multiply by the total length in metres (e.g. 5m x 9.6W = 48W)
• Add 10–20% headroom to the result (e.g. 48W + 20% = ~58W)

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This gives you the minimum wattage required for your driver. In this example, a 60W driver would be suitable.

Real Example

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You’re installing two 5m runs of 24V LED strip, each rated at 9.6W/m. That’s:
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• 9.6W x 5m = 48W per run
• Total = 96W

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With headroom added: 96W + 20% = 115W. So, you’d need a driver rated at 120W or higher. You could use one driver if running in parallel, or split the load across two smaller drivers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a 12V driver on a 24V strip (or vice versa)
• Overloading the driver by not adding headroom
• Running strips in series instead of parallel

Need Help Choosing the Right Driver?

We stock a full range of constant voltage LED drivers, from compact 30W units to heavy-duty 150W models. If you're unsure what's best for your setup,  our team is happy to help.

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