Under-Cabinet Light Symbol
Definition: The Under-Cabinet Light symbol represents a low-profile, hardwired or plug-in luminaire mounted beneath kitchen cabinets or shelving to provide focused task lighting, shown in residential wiring diagrams with two terminals: Hot and Neutral, following NEC Article 410 fixture wiring conventions.
Also known as: under-cabinet luminaire, cabinet task light, LED strip light fixture, counter task light, kitchen under-cabinet light.
What the Under-Cabinet Light symbol means
The Under-Cabinet Light symbol represents a lighting fixture installed on the underside of kitchen upper cabinets, bookcases, or workbench shelves to direct illumination onto the countertop or work surface below. These fixtures are wired on a dedicated lighting circuit or connected to a switched hot wire routed inside the cabinet run, providing shadow-free task lighting independent of ceiling ambient lighting.
In residential and commercial electrical wiring diagrams, the under-cabinet light symbol marks the load endpoint for a lighting circuit that typically also includes a wall switch or dimmer. Modern installations commonly use LED strip lights or LED puck lights for energy efficiency and low heat output; older installations used fluorescent tubes or halogen puck lights. The symbol appears on floor plans alongside switch symbols to show which switch controls the fixture.
How to identify the Under-Cabinet Light symbol
The Under-Cabinet Light symbol is typically drawn as a small horizontal rectangle or elongated bar (representing the fixture profile as seen from below) with Hot and Neutral wiring terminals. On simplified floor-plan wiring diagrams it may appear as a small rectangular block labelled 'UCL' or 'Under-Cabinet Light' positioned at the cabinet location. Some diagramming tools show a linear strip shape to represent the elongated form of an LED bar or fluorescent tube fixture, distinguishing it from a round ceiling fixture symbol.
Function and usage boundary
An under-cabinet light fixture provides task illumination by positioning a light source directly above and in front of the work surface, eliminating the shadows cast when overhead ceiling lights are blocked by a person standing at the counter. The fixture is connected to a 120 V AC (North America) or 230 V AC (IEC regions) supply via a Hot wire and Neutral wire. A wall switch or dimmer upstream in the circuit controls on/off or brightness. LED driver circuits within modern LED fixtures convert line voltage to the required DC level for the LED array, typically 12 V or 24 V DC internally.
Standards: IEC vs ANSI
| IEC 60617 | No dedicated IEC 60617 symbol exists for under-cabinet lights; they are represented as a generic luminaire (lamp) symbol — a circle with a cross — or as a rectangular fixture block in IEC-style architectural wiring diagrams per IEC 60364 and BS 7671 conventions. |
|---|---|
| ANSI/IEEE 315 | ANSI / NFPA 70 (NEC) does not prescribe a specific schematic symbol for under-cabinet luminaires. In residential one-line and floor-plan drawings they are shown as a fixture rectangle or a switch-outlet combination per the NEC Article 410 fixture guidelines. Wiring follows NEC Article 310 (conductors) and Article 410 (luminaires). |
| Key difference | Both IEC and ANSI conventions represent under-cabinet lights as generic luminaire blocks or rectangular fixture bars on wiring diagrams. IEC architectural drawings may use the EN 60617-10 lamp circle symbol; ANSI residential drawings use a simple rectangular fixture outline. No functional difference exists — both convey a 2-wire (Hot + Neutral) mains-connected fixture. |
The displayed SVG is the live editor implementation, not a licensed reproduction or certification of an IEC or IEEE database glyph. Verify the exact official entry and project edition before issuing work.
Logical terminals
| Logical ID | Editor terminal name |
|---|---|
| hot | Hot |
| neutral | Neutral |
Where the Under-Cabinet Light symbol is used
- Kitchen countertop task lighting beneath upper wall cabinets
- Workshop and garage workbench illumination beneath overhead shelving
- Retail display case underlighting for merchandise presentation
- Home office bookshelf accent and reading lighting
- Commercial deli and food-service counter illumination
- Under-shelf lighting in server rooms and telecommunications cabinets
Key facts
- The Under-Cabinet Light symbol represents a low-profile luminaire mounted beneath cabinets for task lighting, with two terminals: Hot and Neutral.
- Wiring follows NEC Article 410 (North America) for luminaires; IEC 60364-5-55 and BS 7671 in IEC countries.
- LED under-cabinet lights typically consume 5–30 W and operate at 2700–4000 K colour temperature; they replace older 13–40 W fluorescent or 20–50 W halogen puck designs.
- No dedicated IEC 60617 or ANSI Y32.2 schematic symbol exists; the fixture is shown as a generic luminaire or rectangular bar block on wiring plans.
- A switched hot wire (from a wall switch or dimmer) connects to the Hot terminal; the Neutral connects directly to the neutral conductor.
- Hardwired under-cabinet lights require a junction box or cable connector inside the cabinet per NEC 300.15; plug-in variants connect to a standard 15 A outlet.
- LED drivers in modern under-cabinet fixtures convert 120/230 V AC to 12 V or 24 V DC internally; external LED driver supply symbols may appear separately on low-voltage LED strip wiring diagrams.
- A dimmer switch in the control leg allows colour-temperature-compatible LED fixtures to be dimmed to suit ambient and task lighting needs.
Frequently asked questions
What does the under-cabinet light symbol look like in a wiring diagram?
The under-cabinet light symbol is typically drawn as a small horizontal rectangle or elongated bar representing the fixture profile, labelled 'UCL' or 'Under-Cabinet Light', with Hot and Neutral wire terminals. On floor-plan wiring diagrams it is positioned along the cabinet wall run and connected to a switch symbol nearby.
What does the under-cabinet light symbol mean?
The symbol marks the location of a task-lighting fixture mounted below kitchen or workbench cabinets. It indicates a mains-connected luminaire (120 V or 230 V AC) that requires a Hot and Neutral wire connection, typically controlled by a wall switch or dimmer shown elsewhere on the same wiring diagram.
What wiring is needed for under-cabinet lights?
A hardwired under-cabinet light requires a Hot wire (switched from a wall switch or dimmer), a Neutral wire, and optionally a ground conductor inside NM cable (Romex) or conduit. In North America, wiring follows NEC Article 410 for luminaires and Article 300 for cable routing. The circuit is typically a 15 A branch circuit shared with other kitchen lighting.
What voltage do under-cabinet lights use?
Mains-voltage under-cabinet lights operate on 120 V AC in North America or 230 V AC in IEC countries. Low-voltage LED strip variants run on 12 V or 24 V DC supplied by a remote LED driver or plug-in power supply adapter; these low-voltage versions are safer to cut and join inside cabinets but require a separate driver unit shown on the wiring diagram.
Can I put a dimmer on under-cabinet lights?
Yes — LED under-cabinet lights that are rated as dimmable can be controlled with a compatible LED dimmer switch. The dimmer symbol replaces the standard switch symbol on the wiring diagram. Confirm the LED driver or LED power supply is marked 'dimmable' on its datasheet; non-dimmable LED drivers will flicker or fail if connected to a dimmer.
What standard covers under-cabinet light wiring?
In North America, under-cabinet luminaire wiring is governed by NFPA 70 (NEC) Article 410 (luminaires) and Article 310 (conductors). In IEC countries, IEC 60364-5-55 (selection and erection of electrical equipment — other equipment) and BS 7671 (UK wiring regulations) apply. No specific glyph standard exists for the schematic symbol.
What is the difference between hardwired and plug-in under-cabinet lights?
Hardwired under-cabinet lights are permanently wired to the building's electrical system via a junction box, shown on a wiring diagram with Hot and Neutral conductors from the circuit breaker panel. Plug-in under-cabinet lights connect to a standard 15 A wall outlet and are represented on wiring diagrams as a load plugged into an outlet symbol — they do not require a dedicated circuit or junction box.
Related symbols
- Fluorescent Fixture symbol
- Landscape Light (Low Voltage) symbol
- Light Fixture symbol
- Pilot Light / Indicator symbol
- Recessed Light symbol
- Track Light symbol
Physical breadboard, PCB, and panel mapping
No universal physical profile is published for this symbol yet. Create a versioned custom part from the exact manufacturer dimensions and terminal map before fabrication.
Place the Under-Cabinet Light symbol directly on a wiring diagram or schematic in the free online editor — no download required.