I’m planning a backlit stone wall and I keep getting stuck on one number: how much power will it actually draw per square metre? The honest answer is that it depends on which sheet you choose, because density changes everything. A high-density RGBCCT sheet works out at about 416 W/m², while a standard single-colour sheet works out at about 161 W/m². Same wall, very different load — settle the sheet before sizing a driver.
Two numbers you can check yourself
Watts per square metre is rated power divided by sheet area. Here are the two examples, arithmetic included.
BG-0318, high-density RGBCCT: 50W ÷ (0.49 × 0.245 m²) = 50W ÷ 0.12005 m² ≈ 416 W/m². The sheet measures 490 × 245 mm, runs at 24V, and carries 640 LEDs in the 2835 size, with two white channels, 2700K warm and 6000K cool, over 6 cores (V+/R/G/B/warm/cool).
BG-2002, standard single-colour: 30W ÷ (0.61 × 0.305 m²) = 30W ÷ 0.18605 m² ≈ 161 W/m². The sheet measures 610 × 305 mm and carries 288 LEDs. Both sheets are Ra>95.
The gap is density: 640 LEDs in a smaller sheet versus 288 across a larger one. More light points per square metre means more watts.
What this means for a real wall
Scaling up is simple multiplication. A 2 m² wall using the BG-0318 example would be 2 × 416 W/m² = 832W, and the same wall using BG-2002 would be 2 × 161 W/m² = 322W. That gap decides driver capacity and whether the wall must be split into zones. A wall is built from multiple sheets spliced together, with a 3M adhesive backing, so the total is the sum of all the sheets. Do not size the electrics from a single sheet.
Density also affects the cavity behind the stone. As a starting point, high-density sheets sit in the 30–50 mm distance band and standard sheets at around 50 mm, but the final result always depends on a sample test with the real stone. A darker or heavily veined stone may need the denser sheet, pushing watts per square metre up. See our distance guide before locking in a cavity depth. The sheets are thin: glowing area 1.6 mm thick, connector 5.6 mm, so allow 6 mm at the connector and 2 mm at the glowing area.
Checklist before you size the power supply
- Sample-test your stone, then pick the density that lights it evenly.
- Multiply that sheet’s watts per square metre by your wall area.
- Size the driver so driver power is at least total LED power ÷ 0.8.
- Apply controller derating of 70–80%; do not run the controller at full rating.
- Match voltage and controller channels to the sheet. A normal RGB controller is 3-channel and cannot drive the two white channels of a 6-core RGBCCT sheet.
- For resin, stone bands are a starting point only. Translucency differs from stone, there are no resin-specific distances here, and a sample test is required.
- For a shower or bathroom wall, the IP rating and driver placement must suit a wet area. Confirm the certifications required for your market when ordering.
FAQ
Why do two sheets differ so much in watts per square metre?
LED density. BG-0318 gives 50W ÷ (0.49 × 0.245 m²) ≈ 416 W/m², while BG-2002 gives 30W ÷ (0.61 × 0.305 m²) ≈ 161 W/m². Use the figure for the sheet you are actually buying.
Can I use 416 W/m² for any RGBCCT sheet?
No. That figure belongs to BG-0318 only. BG-0313 RGBW, for example, is rated at 45W with 512 LEDs and 5 cores, and its white is only 3000K or 6000K. Check the rated watts and dimensions for your exact model.
How do I go from watts per square metre to a driver?
Multiply watts per square metre by wall area for total LED power, then size the driver so driver power is at least total LED power ÷ 0.8. Apply controller derating of 70–80%, and split the wall into zones if one driver cannot cover the total.
Does a shallower cavity change the watts per square metre?
No. Cavity distance affects whether light looks even, not watts drawn. High-density sheets start in the 30–50 mm band and standard sheets at around 50 mm, but the final result always depends on a sample test with the real stone.
What if my wall is resin, or in a bathroom?
For resin, do not borrow a stone figure and assume it will look the same. Translucency differs, stone bands are only a starting point, and a sample test is required. For a bathroom, the IP rating and driver placement must suit a wet area, so confirm that setup before ordering.
If you are comparing sheets, start from the flexible PCB LED light sheet range, run your wall size through the LED light sheet calculator, and then request a quote or a sample. Tell us wall size, stone or resin type, and whether it is a wet area, and we can point you to the matching sheet.