Lumens Calculator – Find the Right Brightness for Any Room

💡 Lumens Needed Calculator

Room Type:

Lighting Preference:

Room Length (feet): Room Width (feet): Ceiling Height (feet): 🖌️ Wall Color (for Reflectance):
Click to select your wall color. Light colors reflect more light and require fewer lumens. Dark colors absorb more and require extra brightness to achieve the same lighting effect.

📝 About This Lumens Calculator

Choosing the right brightness for your space can be tricky, but our lumens calculator makes it simple. Whether you’re lighting a cozy bedroom, a bright kitchen, or a spacious workshop, getting the correct amount of lumens per square foot is essential for both comfort and efficiency.

This tool helps you determine how many lumens your room needs based on:

Room size (length × width)
Ceiling height
Wall color reflectance
Desired lighting intensity (foot-candles)

💡 For example, a living room may only need 15 lumens/ft² for ambient lighting, while a kitchen might need 30 or more for task lighting.

🔦 How to Use This Lighting Calculator

Select a room type or choose Custom to enter your own foot-candle value.
Enter your room dimensions and ceiling height.
Pick your wall color to calculate reflectance automatically.
Instantly get the total lumens required, suggested LED bulb setups, and estimated lux level.

💡 Why Lumens Matter

In modern lighting, lumens have replaced watts as the standard measure of brightness. An 800-lumen LED bulb (like a 60W equivalent) is great for small to medium spaces, while 1600-lumen bulbs are better for high ceilings or larger rooms. This calculator helps you avoid over-lighting or under-lighting, saving energy while optimizing comfort.

✅ Compatible with All Light Bulb Types

Whether you’re shopping for LED, CFL, or halogen bulbs, this calculator provides suggestions that match your space and lighting goals. It’s especially helpful when choosing energy-efficient lighting or upgrading older fixtures.

📏 Lighting Standards by Room Type

Room Type	Recommended Lumens per sq ft
Bedroom / Living	10–20 lumens
Kitchen	30–50 lumens
Bathroom	35–50 lumens
Garage / Shop	50+ lumens

🔧 Tip: Want Advanced Control?

Use the Custom mode to input specific lumens per square foot if you’re designing a space for photography, reading, or specialty work.

🔁 Wattage to Lumens Conversion Guide

If you’re switching from incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient options like LEDs or CFLs, this table helps you understand how many lumens you’re actually getting based on wattage.

Bulb Type	Watts	Approx. Lumens	Typical Usage
LED	5W	400–500 lm	Small lamps, accent lighting
	8–10W	800–900 lm	60W equivalent, general lighting
	12–15W	1100–1600 lm	Bright rooms, high ceilings
CFL	9W	450 lm	Small fixtures
	13W	800 lm	Standard use
	23W	1600 lm	Task lighting, large rooms
Incandescent	40W	450 lm	Reading lamps
	60W	800 lm	Bedrooms, living rooms
	100W	1600 lm	Kitchens, bathrooms
Halogen	29W	450 lm	Accent or spot lighting
	43W	800 lm	Table lamps
	72W	1600 lm	Bright overheads

💡 Note: Lumens may vary slightly by manufacturer. Always check the box when buying bulbs in-store.