Adafruit NeoPixel Shields

Put on your sunglasses before plugging in this shield — 40 eye-blistering LEDs adorn the NeoPixel Shield for a blast of configurable colour. Arranged in a 5×8 matrix, each pixel is individually addressable using just one pin (Digital #6 by default, changeable by cutting a trace). Available in RGB and RGBW variants.

Choose your version: RGB, or RGBW in Warm White (~3000K), Natural White (~4500K), or Cool White (~6000K).

Key Features

• 40 Addressable LEDs – 5×8 matrix with 24-bit colour (RGB) or 32-bit colour (RGBW)
• Arduino Shield Form Factor – Plugs directly onto Arduino Uno, Mega, Leonardo, and compatible boards
• Flexible Power Options – Powered from Arduino 5 V by default, or via included terminal block for external 4–6 V DC supply with polarity protection
• Chainable – Connect DOUT of one shield to DIN of the next for larger displays
• Headers Included – Both stacking headers and plain headers provided for your preferred configuration

Power Options

• Default: Powered from the Arduino's onboard 5 V supply — suitable for moderate brightness use
• External: Solder the included terminal block (best placed on the underside) to connect a 4–6 V DC supply, which also powers the Arduino
• Isolated: Cut the solder jumper next to the terminal block to power the shield externally while keeping the Arduino on USB/DC power only

Specifications

• Dimensions: 53 × 69 × 3 mm (2.1″ × 2.7″ × 0.1″)
• Weight: 27.1 g
• LEDs: May ship with WS2812B or SK6812-based LEDs

Ideal For

• Arduino-based LED displays and signage
• Scrolling text and pixel art
• Prototyping addressable LED effects
• Interactive art and notification displays

Package Contents

• 1× Adafruit NeoPixel Shield – 40 LED Pixel Matrix
• 1× Terminal block for external power
• 1× Set of stacking headers
• 1× Set of plain headers

Resources

• NeoPixel Uberguide – Comprehensive guide covering wiring, libraries, and example code
• WS2812 Datasheet
• SK6812 Datasheet