The Scale of Light Brightness
An interactive spectrum replacing static infographics. Drag the slider to see how light scales from a gentle 12-lumen candle to a blinding 50,000-lumen arena floodlight.
General Room
800 Lumens
Standard Room Bulb / 60W Incandescent (9W LED)
Lux at 1m70-100 lx
LED Power9 Watts
Incandescent60 Watts
Candle (12 lm)Drag Spectrum SliderStadium (50,000 lm)
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Ideal Application
Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways
Photometric Fundamentals
How Light Brightness is Measured
Photometry deals with visible electromagnetic radiation weighted by the spectral sensitivity of the human eye.
Total Light Output
Lumens (lm)
Luminous flux (Φ). The total amount of visible light emitted by a light source in all directions.
Formula: Φ = 4π · I (isotropic)
Surface Illuminance
Lux (lx)
Illuminance (E). The intensity of light arriving at a specific surface area. 1 Lux = 1 Lumen per square meter (1 lm/m²).
Formula: E = Φ / A
Directional Beam Power
Candela (cd)
Luminous intensity (I). Light emitted in a particular angle or direction per unit solid angle (steradian).
Formula: I = dΦ / dΩ
Imperial Standard
Foot-Candle (fc)
American architectural standard. 1 Foot-Candle = 1 Lumen per square foot (1 lm/ft²). 1 fc ≈ 10.764 lx.
Formula: 1 fc = 10.76 lx
Complete Brightness Scale Matrix
10 Benchmarks| Lumens | Common Light Source | Illuminance (Lux) | LED Power | Traditional Incandescent | Ideal Environments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 lm | Standard Wax Candle | 1 lx at 1m | 1W | 1W | Romantic dinner, decorative night accent |
| 50 lm | Nightlight / Keyhole Lamp | 5 lx at 1m | 1W | 4W | Hallway navigation at night, nursery |
| 220 lm | Book Reading Lamp / 25W Incandescent | 20-40 lx | 2W | 16W | Bedside reading, soft accent glow |
| 450 lm | Desk Lamp / 40W Incandescent (6W LED) | 40-60 lx | 5W | 32W | Desk work, table lamp, cozy corner |
| 800 lm | Standard Room Bulb / 60W Incandescent (9W LED) | 70-100 lx | 9W | 57W | Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways |
| 1100 lm | Bright Fixture / 75W Incandescent (12W LED) | 100-150 lx | 12W | 79W | Dining room chandeliers, vanity mirrors |
| 1600 lm | High-Output Bulb / 100W Incandescent (15W LED) | 150-250 lx | 18W | 114W | Kitchen islands, home workshops, offices |
| 2600 lm | 150W Incandescent Equivalent (23W LED) | 250-400 lx | 29W | 186W | High-ceiling rooms, garage workbenches |
| 5000 lm | Outdoor Floodlight / Workshop High-Bay | 500+ lx | 56W | 357W | Driveways, backyard security, warehouse |
| 50000 lm | Sports Arena / Stadium Floodlight | 10,000+ lx | 556W | 3571W | Sports stadiums, commercial architectural lighting |