What is the difference between LED package types such as 3528,3030, 5050, and 2835?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I choose the right solution for my project?
Start by defining your budget, installation environment (indoor vs outdoor), and how long you expect the display to last. If you are unsure, send us your drawings and dimensions, and our engineers will recommend the best option within 24 hours.

Q: What is the minimum order quantity?
Standard items have no MOQ. Custom colors, custom sizes, and private label packaging usually require 500–1000 pieces depending on the product. Sample orders are always welcome before bulk production.

Q: How long is the lead time?
Standard stock items ship within 3–5 working days. Custom production takes 15–25 days depending on quantity and tooling. We can also rush orders for urgent trade shows if needed.

Q: Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. We export to 40+ countries including the USA, Germany, UK, Australia, and the Middle East. We can ship by sea (FCL/LCL), air, or express courier. We handle export documentation, customs declaration, and commercial invoice preparation.

Practical Tips Before You Order

Before placing an order, always confirm three things: first, double-check your exact dimensions and corner angles against your space. Second, ask for a physical sample before mass production—what looks good on screen may feel different in person. Third, plan for spare parts (LED strips, drivers, edge strips) at the same time as your main order, because reordering small spare parts later usually costs more than the parts themselves.

For long-term projects, we recommend keeping a detailed spec sheet for every installation: what size frame, what color strip, what LED color temperature, and which driver version. This makes future replacements and maintenance much faster. EEYUN has been manufacturing SEG lightboxes, aluminum profiles, and LED strips in Hangzhou, China since 2010, and we support OEM/ODM for distributors and brand owners worldwide.

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When searching for LED products, you may come across different 4-digit designations for LED types. When you first come across these codes, you may be very confused as to what they mean! Read on to find out the difference between common LED types and what to look out for.

First of all, what is an LED package?

An LED lamp typically consists of multiple LEDs mounted onto a circuit board, commonly specified at certain density numbers such as 60 per meter for LED strips. Each of these LEDs, however, come in a variety of types called LED packages.

An LED package is a plastic casing that carries an LED chip and phosphor. The LED chip is the semiconductor material that emits light (blue light) and the phosphor material converts some of this light into green and red wavelengths. This mixture results in the white light that is emitted by the LED package.

A variety of LED package types

LED packages types are designated by four digit codes such as 3528, 5050, 3030 and 2835. The first two digits refer to the width of the package, while the last two digits refer to its length, in tenths of a millimeter. So for example, a 3528 LED package has a width of 3.5 mm, and a length of 2.8 mm.

Generally speaking, a larger package can handle more power. This is because it has more surface area to dissipate heat. However, be aware that this is not always a hard and fast rule. The 2835 package, for example, has the same surface area dimensions as the 3528, but is a newer package design that allows for much higher power levels. The package material (e.g. PPA vs PCT vs ceramic) and thermal design all have an influence on power capacity as well.

Generation 1 LEDs: 3528 and 5050

The first generation of surface mount style LEDs come in 3528 and 5050 sizes. The 3528 typically contains a single 20 mA LED chip (approximately 0.06 Watts) and a 5050 typically contains three 20 mA LED chips (approximately 0.2 Watts). Therefore, a single 5050 LED package has the capacity of 3x 3528 LEDs.

In addition to the higher capacity, because the 5050 package typically has enough space for three different LED chips, it is a popular method of packaging RGB LEDs that require multiple colors. Of course, they can also be used to package single color white LEDs, in which three blue LED chips would be used.

There are some 3528 RGB LEDs, but these typically contain only one color per LED. This can cause additional issues where you may see some shadowing or color shifts due to the uneven spacing. Because the RGB LED chips are located in a single package for a 5050 LED, the single point source tends to work better.

Generation 2: 2835 and 5730

The second generation of LED types saw an increase in power density. The 2835 LED is typically driven at 60 mA each (0.2 Watts) while the 5730 LED is typically driven at 150 mA each (0.5 Watts). Due to improvements in LED chip technology and package thermal design improvements, power levels at the LED level have increased significantly. In reality, some of the power levels of these LEDs will exceed the overall thermal capacity of the LED strip system since the thermal dissipation of an LED strip is limited due to the material and lack of heat sinking.

The second generation 2835 and 5730 LEDs also offer a lower profile. If you need to fit the LED strips in a location with limited vertical space, this can be an advantage, and in addition, this package design creates fewer issues with fringe yellowing.

Other package types

3014 may be another LED package type that you come across. These LEDs are designed to be low power (approximately 20 mA each) and are commonly used in LCD backlighting applications where high LED count is needed for uniformity. Similarly, there are LED strip light products that have these LEDs in a diagonal pattern at a high density in order to create a uniform linear light source.

3030 LEDs are also seen used on LED strips. Many of these products take advantage of the symmetrical circular light emission surface as they can be paired with secondary optics and lensing. 3030 LEDs are typically designed to be run at 300 mA or more (up to 1.0 Watts) but due to thermal concerns are typically not run at full capacity on LED strip products.

Bottom line

When choosing an LED strip, the LED type can be one of the most important aspects of its performance. Be sure to consider the quality and performance at the individual LED level in addition to the total quantity, as this can have an effect on overall performance.