Magnetic shelf lighting is a low-voltage LED shelf lighting system that uses slim magnetic LED bars and concealed DC power tracks. It helps retail fixture manufacturers, shop fit-out contractors, and designers add hidden, repositionable lighting to gondola shelves, display cabinets, and store fixtures without exposed wiring or complex on-site installation.
What Is Magnetic Shelf Lighting?
Magnetic shelf lighting is a complete LED lighting system designed for retail environments where shelf lighting needs to be hidden, adjustable, and easy to maintain.
A typical magnetic shelf lighting system includes three main parts:
Magnetic LED bars
Slim aluminium LED profiles, usually from 10×10mm to 25×11mm, with built-in magnets. They attach directly to the DC power track without visible wiring. For glass, wooden, or non-magnetic shelves, adhesive magnetic strips, clips, or mounting accessories can be used.
DC power track
A low-profile aluminium rail installed inside the shelf frame, behind the shelf lip, or along the shelf structure. It carries low-voltage DC power and transfers electricity to the LED bar when the bar makes contact with the track.
Driver and controller
A power supply converts mains voltage to low-voltage DC power, commonly 24V DC. Optional dimmers or controllers can be added when brightness adjustment is required.
This structure allows retail shelves, display cabinets, and store fixtures to use concealed lighting without routing separate wires to every LED bar.
How Does Magnetic Shelf Lighting Work?
For a standard retail gondola shelf, the installation usually works like this:
- The DC power track is installed inside the shelf frame during fixture production or retrofit installation.
- The power driver is connected to the DC track and installed inside the upright, cabinet base, or another hidden position.
- The magnetic LED bar is pressed onto the track.
- The magnets hold the LED bar in place and complete the electrical contact.
- After the initial setup, LED bars can be repositioned without rewiring or tools.
For retrofit projects, a super-slim DC power track can be attached to existing metal gondola shelves with magnetic strip or suitable mounting accessories. ULIGHT’s TB-F Super Slim DC Power Track has a 25.8×2mm profile and is designed for low-profile retrofit installation.
Note: Final mains connection should follow local electrical regulations. On-site electrical work requirements vary by country, project type, and installation environment.
When Should You Use Magnetic Shelf Lighting?
| Use Case | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Metal gondola shelves requiring hidden wiring | Ideal |
| Retail fixtures built by manufacturers and delivered pre-wired | Ideal |
| Store renovation projects with frequent shelf layout changes | Ideal |
| Glass display cases with adhesive magnetic accessories | Suitable |
| Wooden cabinets or custom furniture with clip-mount accessories | Suitable |
| Pharmacy, wine cabinet, museum, or heat-sensitive displays | Suitable with low-heat models |
| Simple decorative lighting for temporary displays | Standard LED strips may be sufficient |
| Very low-budget, one-time fixtures | Consider cost-benefit before choosing a magnetic system |
Magnetic Shelf Lighting vs Adhesive LED Strip Lights
| Factor | Magnetic Shelf Lighting | Adhesive LED Strip Lights |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Magnetic attachment to DC power track | Adhesive backing applied to surface |
| Wiring | Concealed inside shelf frame or track system | Often visible or manually routed |
| Repositioning | Tool-free after initial setup | Difficult after adhesive is fixed |
| Replacement | LED bar can be swapped without rewiring | Strip often needs to be removed and replaced |
| Profile | Rigid aluminium profile, typically 10–25mm | Flexible strip, varies by product |
| Appearance | Cleaner for retail fixtures and display systems | Better for simple decorative lighting |
| Best For | Gondola shelves, store fixtures, display cabinets | Temporary, decorative, or low-budget lighting |
How to Choose the Right Magnetic LED Bar
| Buyer Need | Recommended Direction |
|---|---|
| Standard retail shelf or brand store lighting | 1010 Slim Magnetic LED Bar |
| Premium displays requiring higher color rendering | 1010 PLUS |
| Eye-level shelf-front lighting with glare control | 1310 Anti-Glare Magnetic LED Bar |
| Wine cabinets, pharmacy shelves, museum displays, or heat-sensitive products | 1108 Low-Heat Magnetic LED Bar |
| Supermarket aisles or high-brightness shelf displays | 2511 High-Brightness Magnetic LED Bar |
| Ultra-slim furniture or hidden cabinet integration | 1705 Slim Magnetic LED Bar |
| Japan-specific projects with special power configuration | 1709 project-based model |
ULIGHT magnetic LED bars are available in custom lengths from 140mm to 2500mm. Common options include CRI>80, CRI>90, and CRI>95, depending on model and project requirements. Voltage options are typically 12V DC or 24V DC.
Which DC Power Track Is Right?
| DC Track Model | Size | Thickness | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TB-U | 20×6mm | 6mm | New gondola builds and standard-depth shelf frames |
| TB-F | 25.8×2mm | 2mm | Retrofit installation on existing metal shelves |
| TB-R2 / TB-R3 | Recessed type | Project-based | Flush-mount installation in custom furniture and cabinets |
TB-U is rated up to 15A. TB-F is rated up to 8A. Standard track lengths include 1m, 1.5m, and 2m, with custom lengths available for project-based production.
Who Uses Magnetic Shelf Lighting?
Retail fixture manufacturers
Gondola shelf and display case manufacturers use magnetic shelf lighting to integrate lighting before delivery to end clients. They usually need consistent specifications, repeatable production, OEM support, and reliable lead times.
Shop fit-out contractors and lighting engineers
Contractors use magnetic shelf lighting for retail renovation and store roll-out projects where installation speed, hidden wiring, and maintenance access matter.
Interior designers
Designers specify magnetic shelf lighting for branded retail stores, pharmacy chains, jewellery displays, museums, and premium commercial interiors where the light source should remain visually discreet.
Cabinet and furniture makers
Cabinet manufacturers use magnetic LED bars and DC tracks for custom cabinetry, wine displays, showcases, and display furniture where clean integration is required.
About ULIGHT — Why We Build Magnetic Shelf Lighting Systems
ULIGHT, United LED Lighting Co., Ltd, is a B2B LED lighting manufacturer founded in 2012 in Shenzhen, China and part of Cosun Group. ULIGHT designs and produces magnetic LED bars, DC power tracks, drivers, controllers, curved linear lights, light boxes, and custom shelf lighting systems.
Our magnetic shelf lighting systems are supplied to retail fixture manufacturers, shop fit-out contractors, lighting engineers, interior designers, cabinet makers, and display companies in Europe and North America.
ULIGHT supports project-based customization, including custom LED bar lengths, CRI options, color temperature selection, mounting accessories, DC track selection, and OEM production. Certification documents are available depending on product model and destination market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is magnetic shelf lighting?
Magnetic shelf lighting is a low-voltage LED shelf lighting system that uses slim magnetic LED bars and concealed DC power tracks. It provides hidden, repositionable lighting for retail gondola shelves, display cabinets, and store fixtures.
How does magnetic shelf lighting get power?
A driver converts mains voltage to low-voltage DC power, commonly 24V DC. The DC power track carries power inside the shelf frame, and the magnetic LED bar receives power when it contacts the track.
Does magnetic shelf lighting require drilling?
For new gondola shelf manufacturing, the DC track can be integrated into the shelf frame during production. For retrofit projects, a slim DC track such as TB-F can be installed on existing metal shelves using magnetic strip or suitable mounting accessories. Drilling requirements depend on the shelf structure and mounting method.
Can LED bars be moved after installation?
Yes. After the DC track and driver are installed, magnetic LED bars can be removed and repositioned without rewiring. This is useful for retail environments where shelf layouts and product displays change regularly.
Is magnetic shelf lighting suitable for glass or wooden shelves?
Yes, with mounting accessories. Metal shelves can use direct magnetic attachment. Glass shelves usually require adhesive magnetic strips. Wooden shelves or non-magnetic surfaces can use clip-mount or project-specific mounting accessories.
What surfaces can the DC power track attach to?
The mounting method depends on the shelf material. Metal shelves can use magnetic strip. Smooth surfaces can use adhesive tape where suitable. Wooden or rough surfaces may require clips or mechanical mounting accessories.
Can magnetic shelf lighting be dimmed?
Yes. ULIGHT DC shelf lighting systems can support dimming when matched with compatible drivers and controllers. Common options include 0–10V and PWM dimming, depending on the project configuration.
What color temperature and CRI options are available?
Common color temperature options include 2700K, 3000K, 4000K, and 6000K. CRI options typically include CRI>80, CRI>90, and CRI>95, depending on the LED bar model and project requirements.
Which LED bar model is best for anti-glare shelf lighting?
For shelf-front lighting where glare control matters, the 1310 Anti-Glare Magnetic LED Bar is usually the recommended direction. It is designed for eye-level shelf lighting where the light should focus on products while reducing direct glare to shoppers.
Which model is suitable for wine cabinets, pharmacy shelves, or museum displays?
For heat-sensitive displays, the 1108 Low-Heat Magnetic LED Bar is usually the better direction. It can be used for wine cabinets, pharmacy shelves, museum cases, cosmetics displays, and other environments where product protection matters.
What is the maximum circuit run length?
The maximum circuit load depends on the DC power track rating, driver capacity, LED bar wattage, and total number of bars. TB-U is rated up to 15A, while TB-F is rated up to 8A. The final circuit design should be confirmed based on total wattage and project layout.
What certifications are available?
Certification availability depends on product model and destination market. Common market requirements include CE, RoHS, ERP, UL, ETL, PSE, and CB. Specific certification availability should be confirmed by model before ordering.
What is the MOQ and sample lead time?
No minimum order quantity for samples. Bulk orders are handled on a project basis with no fixed MOQ — suitable for fixture manufacturers and contractors sourcing for specific projects. Sample lead time is 3–5 working days. Final timing should be confirmed based on model and configuration.
Can ULIGHT support OEM or custom lengths?
Yes. ULIGHT supports OEM production and custom lengths for magnetic LED bars and DC power tracks. Available customization may include length, CCT, CRI, finish, mounting method, packaging, and project-specific system configuration.
Send us your shelf drawing, target market, and lighting requirements. ULIGHT can suggest a suitable LED bar, DC power track, driver, mounting method, and lighting layout for your project.