Solid state lighting devices having side reflectivity and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of forming a solid state lighting device includes attaching a solid state emitter to a support substrate, mounting the solid state emitter and support substrate to a temporary carrier, and cutting kerfs through the solid state emitter and the substrate to separate individual dies. The solid state emitter can have a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material, and an active region between the first and second semiconductor materials. The individual dies can have sidewalls that expose the first semiconductor material, active region and second semiconductor material. The method can further include applying a reflective material into the kerfs and along the sidewalls of the individual dies.