LED light pipes are optical fibers (or see-through plastic rods) that transmit light from one end to the other. Light pipes can be found in medical gadgets, security systems, small space accent lighting (like automated teller machine card slots), communications and industrial control.

Created from polycarbonate, glass or optical grade substances, they take on different shapes and lens caps. They are ideal for mounting on surfaces or through-hole LEDs and can be paneled, or PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted. LED light pipes hold leverage in terms of design flexibility, easy installation, efficient optical layout, standardized illumination and minimized glare. They are also affordable.

Light pipes can either be rigid or flexible. Rigid light pipes have a solid plastic material with a vertical or right-angled structure. They are thus able to transmit light with little intensity lost. Such pipes are complementary to LEDs fixed upon boards. Flexible light pipes are made from optical grade plastic substances, more flexible in transporting light around. Light is transmitted within the pipe through total internal reflection. To avoid light hemorrhage, multi-unit light pipes can be constructed