Chip on Board Led Market Size, Share & Outlook to 2033

Chip on Board LED Market Overview

Global Chip on Board Led market size is forecasted to be worth USD 4561.35 million in 2024, expected to achieve USD 6302.98 million by 2033 with a CAGR of 3.7%.

The Chip on Board (COB) LED market is defined by rapid advancements in compact lighting technology, marked by an integration of multiple LED chips into a single module. This configuration enhances lumen density, heat dissipation, and uniformity of light. COB LEDs typically offer luminous efficacy between 130 to 150 lumens per watt and a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of over 80, making them viable for demanding applications. The market is propelled by efficiency improvements in the power range of 3W to over 100W. COB LEDs have found utility in general lighting, automotive headlamps, and industrial luminaires due to their high thermal conductivity substrate and dense array layout. Manufacturers are shifting toward ceramic-based and aluminum-based substrates with thermal conductivity values exceeding 150 W/mK. By 2024, over 42% of LED modules in the industrial lighting sector utilize COB architecture. The shift from Surface Mount Device (SMD) LEDs to COB has reduced component count by 25% and improved assembly time by 18%, highlighting its industrial efficiency. The ongoing miniaturization trend has led to 30 mm x 30 mm COB LED modules capable of producing over 5,000 lumens, suitable for high-bay and stadium lighting.

Key Findings

Top Driver Reason: Growing demand for compact, high-efficiency lighting in automotive and architectural sectors.

Top Country/Region: China leads production and export with over 48% of COB LED manufacturing capacity.

Top Segment: General lighting holds the highest share, accounting for 47% of application usage.

Chip on Board LED Market Trends

The Chip on Board LED market is being transformed by rising industrial demands for cost-efficient and powerful lighting solutions. A major trend is the transition from discrete LEDs to integrated modules. As of 2023, nearly 55% of commercial LED lighting fixtures use COB modules, up from 38% in 2020. This shift is driven by COB’s ability to reduce glare while improving lux distribution across lighting panels. Manufacturers are adopting phosphor coating techniques that enable more accurate color rendering, achieving CRI values above 90. These are crucial in retail and museum lighting applications where color accuracy is non-negotiable.

Thermal management is another evolving area. COB modules are now being designed with direct heat sink interfaces, eliminating intermediate layers and reducing thermal resistance to below 1.5°C/W. This has expanded their use in high-temperature environments. Additionally, advances in driver circuitry and constant current regulation have stabilized output within ±2%, an improvement from the ±5% range seen previously.

A third emerging trend is miniaturization. High-density 9 mm COB LEDs now offer output exceeding 2000 lumens, making them ideal for compact luminaire designs. The compatibility of COB LEDs with optical lenses has led to 15% improvement in beam angle control, especially in directional lighting for showcases and task lighting. In the automotive sector, dual-color COB modules are gaining traction for headlight and DRL (Daytime Running Light) configurations, with 35% of new models in 2024 using COB-based lighting.

Chip on Board LED Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand for compact, high-efficiency lighting solutions.

COB LEDs are designed for dense light output in limited space, making them ideal for applications like portable work lights, track lighting, and automotive forward lighting. In 2023, over 27 million COB modules were installed in automotive lighting assemblies worldwide. Their improved thermal management, with temperature thresholds exceeding 120°C, enables usage in engine bay and high-vibration environments. The COB structure also allows simplification in optics and housings, reducing luminaire weight by up to 15% compared to traditional designs. These efficiencies have fueled adoption across sectors where space and power are limited.

RESTRAINT

Heat dissipation challenges in high-lumen COB modules.

Despite advanced thermal substrates, high-wattage COB modules above 50W often struggle with heat concentration. In field tests, modules exceeding 5000 lumens recorded junction temperatures of 135°C without adequate heatsinking, leading to reduced lifespan and color shift. In applications like stadium or industrial floodlights, this thermal buildup necessitates complex cooling systems, increasing cost and reducing system reliability. Manufacturers also face constraints in scaling COB beyond certain sizes without performance drop due to thermal bottlenecks.

OPPORTUNITY

Growing LED penetration in horticulture and smart lighting.

The adoption of LEDs in horticulture lighting has surged, with COBs favored for their high PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) output. Modules with tailored spectral emissions, especially in red and blue ranges, show 18% better plant growth yield than SMD alternatives. Additionally, smart lighting systems are integrating COB modules due to their dimmability and compatibility with Zigbee or Bluetooth mesh protocols. Smart-ready COBs equipped with onboard sensors grew 31% in shipments from 2022 to 2023, showing vast potential in IoT-integrated lighting infrastructure.

CHALLENGE

Pricing pressures from SMD and emerging Micro-LED technologies.

The COB market faces stiff competition from low-cost SMD solutions, especially in applications where light uniformity is not critical. SMD LEDs can be sourced at up to 25% lower cost per lumen. Meanwhile, micro-LED development threatens future growth, offering pixel-level control and higher dynamic range. In consumer electronics, micro-LED displays achieved over 2000 PPI in prototypes during 2024, significantly outperforming COB in terms of resolution and control. Price erosion has also made it difficult for smaller COB manufacturers to remain competitive, pushing consolidation.

Chip on Board Led Market Segmentation

The Chip on Board LED market is segmented by type and application, with differentiation based on performance, substrate type, and usage environment. Segmentation provides clarity on adoption patterns and technological focus within the industry.

By Type

OLED: Although OLEDs differ from COB in structure, in some contexts they are grouped for comparison in diffuse lighting applications. OLED panels achieve brightness levels of 3000 nits in 2023 while maintaining a thickness below 2 mm. Their flexibility makes them suitable for interior ambient lighting, though their cost per lumen remains 3x higher than COB. OLEDs command a minor share, estimated at 7% within broader solid-state lighting segments.
Others: This includes ceramic COBs, aluminum-based COBs, and hybrid modules. Ceramic COBs are widely used in environments exceeding 150°C due to their stability and dielectric strength. Over 68% of COBs used in medical lighting equipment feature ceramic substrates for sterilization durability. Aluminum-based COBs dominate general lighting applications, offering 140 lm/W efficiency. Hybrid modules integrating active cooling elements are emerging in cinema projectors and large-scale architectural lighting.

By Application

Backlighting: COB LEDs in backlighting are limited but gaining relevance in large-format displays and signage. In 2024, 11% of new LED billboards incorporated COB modules for improved brightness and fewer pixel seams. Uniformity in light diffusion across large panels is a key benefit, reducing bezel lines in multi-panel setups.
Automotive Lighting: The automotive industry accounts for approximately 33% of COB LED consumption, particularly in headlamps and fog lamps. Dual-intensity COBs allow adaptive lighting with real-time sensor input. In 2023, 14 million vehicles featured COB-based headlamp arrays, indicating robust integration into mid- and high-end models.
General Lighting: This is the largest application, with COB modules used in downlights, track lights, and industrial fixtures. Retail chains adopted over 3.4 million COB ceiling lights in 2023 alone. These modules enhance color consistency and reduce flicker levels to below 1%, ensuring a stable light environment for commercial interiors.

Chip on Board Led Market Regional Outlook

Asia-Pacific leads the global COB LED market, driven by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and strong government support for energy-efficient lighting solutions. Countries like China, India, Japan, and South Korea are at the forefront due to robust manufacturing capabilities and policies promoting sustainable infrastructure.

North America’s

market has shown strong adoption in architectural and industrial sectors. The U.S. led demand with over 18 million COB modules sold in 2023, primarily driven by energy-efficiency mandates and high replacement rates in retail chains and parking structures.

Europe

has advanced its LED transition with government-backed retrofitting programs. Germany, France, and the UK together installed more than 22 million COB LED luminaires in 2023. Emphasis on CRI compliance and RoHS directives has accelerated ceramic COB usage.

Asia-Pacific

dominates manufacturing, with China and South Korea contributing to over 60% of global COB production. In 2024, Chinese factories produced 185 million COB chips, backed by substantial government subsidies and vertically integrated supply chains.

Middle East & Africa

shows growing uptake in high-lumen outdoor lighting, particularly in UAE and South Africa. The 2023 FIFA-approved stadiums in Qatar used COB LED floodlights exceeding 120,000 lumens per fixture.

List of Top Chip on Board Led Market Companies

Citizen Electronics
Cree
Nichia
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
Philips Lumileds Lighting
Samsung Electronics
Seoul Semiconductor

Top Two companies with highest share

Citizen Electronics: Produced over 260 million COB units globally in 2023, maintaining high-volume dominance in general lighting.

Samsung Electronics: Held 18% of global COB shipments in 2024 with a strong portfolio in automotive and smart COB modules.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The COB LED market has attracted multi-million-dollar investments across design, packaging, and heat management innovations. Over $950 million was invested in new COB module assembly lines globally in 2023. Key investment areas include wafer-level packaging, phosphor coating automation, and thermal substrate fabrication.

In Asia, new fabrication facilities have increased chip output by 24% annually. South Korean firms invested in GaN-on-Si (Gallium Nitride on Silicon) COB substrates, offering reduced cost and improved heat dissipation. Investments in AI-based binning systems for COBs have reduced defect rates to 0.8%, compared to 2.1% in 2020.

North American lighting OEMs are investing in COB-integrated smart lighting solutions. COB modules compatible with voice assistants and real-time occupancy sensors saw a 39% increase in integration by commercial clients. Similarly, European companies have focused on environmentally friendly materials, replacing rare-earth phosphors with synthetic alternatives that reduce environmental impact by 21%.

Opportunities lie in miniaturization and specialty markets. Medical-grade COB modules, which maintain consistent lumen output under sterilization, are gaining traction, with unit sales doubling from 1.6 million to 3.2 million between 2022 and 2024. COBs used in stage lighting and event production are now offering tunable white and RGBW configurations, expanding their versatility.

New Product Development

In the past two years, COB LED development has focused on multi-chip integration, thermal breakthroughs, and form factor customization. Citizen launched its COB Series Gen-6, integrating a 5-channel system with peak CRI of 97, ideal for museum lighting. These modules maintained 85% lumen output after 10,000 hours of operation under 110°C.

Samsung introduced its automotive-grade COB series with integrated driver ICs, reducing installation space by 30%. These modules achieved IP68 compliance and passed vibration tests above 10g RMS.

Cree unveiled a high-density COB platform for street lighting applications, offering 180 lm/W efficacy and modular scalability from 10W to 80W in a single footprint. The solution has been adopted in over 4,000 urban lighting projects in 2024.

Philips Lumileds released a tunable COB series with a temperature variance tolerance of only ±3°C, significantly improving color consistency. Nichia developed a horticulture-specific COB emitting at 450 nm and 660 nm wavelengths with 90% PAR efficiency.

Seoul Semiconductor launched a narrow beam COB optimized for spotlighting in commercial interiors. The design integrates anti-glare optics with a beam spread of just 10°, meeting premium architectural requirements.

Five recent development

Daktronics Introduces Flip-Chip COB LED Technology: Daktronics unveiled its Flip-Chip COB LED technology, offering an alternative to traditional Surface Mount Device (SMD) and Integrated Matrix Device (IMD) LEDs. This innovation enhances durability and reduces power consumption, providing a lower cost of ownership over time.
Hikvision Launches 5th Generation LED Cabinets: On June 18, 2024, Hikvision showcased significant upgrades in its LED product lineup, including the debut of its 5th generation LED cabinets. These advancements aim to improve outdoor displays, creative displays, modules, and controllers, reflecting Hikvision's commitment to R&D and product innovation.
ADJ Unveils Updated Par Z Series at NAMM: At NAMM 2024, ADJ introduced updated versions of its Par Z Series, featuring 100-Watt COB LED engines. The Par Z100 3K2 offers a 3000K cool white light, while the Par Z100 5K2 provides a 5700K warm white light. These fixtures combine the classic aesthetic of traditional Par Cans with modern LED advantages.
Cree LED Launches XLamp® CMB Family: Cree LED expanded its product offerings with the XLamp® CMB family, delivering industry-leading lumen density and efficacy. This new COB technology platform provides a performance upgrade to existing CXA, CXB, and CMA product families while maintaining mechanical and optical compatibility.
Saphlux Introduces QD-COB Mini/MicroLED Display: Saphlux launched a Quantum Dot Chip-on-Board (QD-COB) Mini/MicroLED display using Nanopore Quantum Dot (NPQD) technology. This innovation replaces conventional AlInGaP LEDs with NPQD red chips, achieving better color consistency, wider viewing angles, and an arsenic-free design, advancing full-color microLED fabrication.

Report Coverage of Chip on Board LED Market

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the global Chip on Board LED market across key regions and segments. It covers technological evolution, product advancements, regulatory impact, and application-specific performance of COB modules. More than 80 product SKUs across major lighting categories were benchmarked in terms of thermal resistance, luminous efficacy, beam angle, and CRI.

The report assesses over 65 major manufacturers and analyzes 240+ COB module specifications, allowing for detailed segmentation and competitive insights. Market size distribution is mapped across automotive, architectural, and industrial domains, along with production statistics from top fabricators.

Evaluation parameters include thermal threshold, lumen maintenance (L70), dimming compatibility, and spectral distribution. Supply chain trends, including chip packaging types (EMC, Ceramic, Aluminum), are assessed, alongside logistics and warehousing data from global distributors.

In addition, the study outlines capital expenditures and R&D trends from leading manufacturers. It also tracks patent filings related to COB technologies between 2022 and 2024, totaling over 1,300 COB-specific innovations globally. This provides stakeholders with a well-rounded perspective on future opportunities, bottlenecks, and strategic positioning.