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YOU CAN BUILD A LIGHTSABER THAT LIGHTS UP FROM THE HILT, JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES

Two addressable LED strips inside a polycarbonate blade, driven by an Arduino Nano, so the blade lights from hilt to tip and switches colours at a button press.

by Danovation

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

DisplaysAutomation

Built withArduino

difficulty
●●○○○
time
a weekend
license
none
repo
repo ACTIVE13 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a Neopixel lightsaber that ignites from the hilt to the tip like in the Star Wars films, built with two RGB LED strips inside a polycarbonate blade and driven by an Arduino Nano running FastLED. The repository has clean Arduino code, a wiring schematic, and a README with troubleshooting steps, so the electronics are well documented. The hilt in the video is cut from packing foam, which makes it light and cheap but also fragile — this is a display prop, not a duelling saber. The single biggest trap is that the parts list is not in the repository; it is in the creator's YouTube video description, so you will need to open the video before ordering. The repo includes a simple hilt outline (template.png), but the hilt construction is still largely up to you. The cost is genuinely low — about 60 dollars per the creator — but you are trading money for time and some guesswork on the mechanical side. If you want the ignition effect and are comfortable improvising a hilt, this is a solid weekend build.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —Arduino code (FinalLightsaberCode.ino) and wiring schematic are in the repo.
  • —Step-by-step README with troubleshooting is present.
  • —No BOM file: parts list is in the YouTube video description, not the repository.
  • —Hilt template included as an image (template.png); no CAD files.
  • —No licence file: the files are public but not formally open source.
  • —Commercial use status is unclear without a licence.

Parts to buy

9 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • Arduino NanoFind
  • 2× addressable RGB LED stripsFind
  • Polycarbonate bladeFind
  • Packing foam for the hiltFind
  • ButtonsFind
  • SwitchFind
  • 9 V battery clipFind
  • WireFind
  • Breadboard and jumpers for testingFind

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Can I build this?

Printnothing required
BuyArduino Nano, 2× addressable RGB LED strips (the code is set up for WS2812), a polycarbonate blade (the creator used Ultrasabers' cheapest blade), packing foam for the hilt, buttons, a switch, a 9 V battery clip, wire; a breadboard and jumpers for testing
Toolssoldering iron, wire strippers, multimeter, a craft knife for cutting the foam hilt
SkillsBasic Arduino upload and soldering. The FastLED library is well-documented, so the code side is beginner-friendly. The hilt is improvised, so basic craft skills.
TimeA weekend: half a day for the electronics, half a day for the hilt.
Cost$ — the creator's build cost about 60 dollars in total.
Safety9 V battery is low voltage. No mains, no lithium cells, no lasers. The blade is polycarbonate, not metal, so no edge risk. None beyond ordinary electronics care.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Neopixel Lightsaber build (Danovation)

166,000 views, August 2023. The parts list is in the video description.

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Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Watch the YouTube video and copy the parts list from the description (The BOM is not in the repository.)
  2. 2.Read the repository README for wiring and assembly steps
  3. 3.Upload FinalLightsaberCode.ino to the Arduino Nano (Install the FastLED library first via the Arduino Library Manager.)
  4. 4.Wire the LED strips and buttons per the schematic(The schematic is clear; take your time with the solder joints.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • The parts list is in the YouTube video description, not the repository, so you must watch the video or reverse-engineer the schematic before ordering.
  • The hilt template (template.png) is only an outline, so the hilt construction is largely improvised.
  • The hilt in the video is cut from packing foam, so it is light and cheap but fragile — this is not a duelling saber.
  • The blade tube is likely an Ultrasabers polycarbonate blade or similar; generic polycarbonate tubing will work but check the diameter matches your LED strip width.
  • No licence file means the legal status for commercial use or redistribution is unclear.
  • The 9 V battery will drain quickly with two full LED strips lit; budget for spare batteries or consider a rechargeable lithium pack (which adds complexity and safety requirements).

Can I use a different microcontroller?

Yes, as long as it runs the FastLED library. An ESP32 or Raspberry Pi Pico will work, but you will need to adjust pin assignments in the code.

Is the hilt design included?

Yes — the repo includes template.png, a printable hilt outline. The hilt in the video is cut from packing foam.

How long does the 9 V battery last?

The creator does not give a runtime, and a 9 V battery has little capacity for this many LEDs, so expect short sessions and keep spares. Use the kill switch: the README notes the Arduino still draws power even when the blade is off. A rechargeable lithium pack is a common upgrade, but that adds wiring complexity and lithium safety considerations.

Can I change the colours or ignition speed?

Yes. The FastLED library is very flexible, and the code is cleanly written, so tweaking colours, speed, or adding new effects is straightforward.

Community builds

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

Danovation's build came in at about 60 dollars, with an Arduino, two LED strips, packing foam and a 9 V battery. Would you keep it that simple, or spend the extra on a proper hilt and a rechargeable battery?

CompareeTEAM8d agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: the repository has the Arduino code, a wiring schematic and a hilt template (template.png), while the parts list lives in the YouTube video description — not ideal if you prefer everything in one place. There is no CAD model for the hilt, so the mechanical side is largely up to you. Follow the repo rather than the video for wiring: the README says the button now goes to D4 and GND instead of D4 and 5V, and the code expects that. The README also has a solid troubleshooting section, and the creator runs a Discord with a forum channel for build questions. The design runs from a 9 V battery; a rechargeable lithium pack would be the obvious upgrade, but that adds wiring complexity and safety considerations the current design avoids. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.

Danovation

Danovation (GitHub redsaber42) built this Neopixel lightsaber in 2023 as a low-cost alternative to commercial sabers. The project was documented in a YouTube video that has 166,000 views.

GitHub

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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