You might have heard the word "Lumens" while planning or purchasing lights for your home or office. People usually get confused when calculating the exact lumens for designated spaces. However, it should be a regular practice to understand the requirements. In this guide, we explain what lumens mean. We will explain how it differs from watts and how you can calculate the appropriate lumens for different locations and applications. Part 1. What Are Lumens? Lumens are a standard unit of how much bright light is emitted from a source. In other words, lumens indicate the capacity of a bulb to produce a higher or lower visible light. A higher lumens value indicates that the bulb will appear to be brighter. For example, a 60W bulb can produce up to 800 lumens, but it may differ due to evolving technology. Nowadays, low-wattage bulbs can also produce the same lumens, which clearly shows that power cannot indicate the light produced by a specific bulb. Lumen is a critical factor that you should consider when installing lights at your home or office to ensure comfort and illumination. Part 2. Lumens vs. Watts: What's the Difference? Lumens and watts are two different entities, each depicting critical characteristics. People are often confused between the terms. In actuality, lumens measure the amount of light produced by a light source. However, Watt measures the energy consumption. A 12W bulb can produce the same lumens as a 90W bulb. Here, the difference is only in their energy consumption. With new technological advancements, energy-efficient bulbs are becoming more common to minimize electricity costs. LEDs are a preferred choice, while incandescent bulbs are almost obsolete due to massive energy wastage. How To Convert Lumens To Watts There are various ways to convert lumens to watts. You can follow a generalized formula for quick conversion. Wattage = Lumens/ Luminous Efficiency of the bulb The efficiencies are different for different types of bulbs LED Efficiency: 90-120 lm/W Compact Fluorescent Lamp Efficiency: 45-70 lm/W Incandescent Bulb Efficiency: 12-15 lm/W For instance, you have an LED bulb providing 800 Lumens. The wattage for this bulb will be Wattage = 800/90 Wattage = 8.8 ~ 9 Watts Lumens To Watts Conversion Chart Type Lumen Watts LED Bulbs 800 50-60 Incandescent Bulb 800 7-9 CFL Bulb 800 14-16 Part 3: How To Calculate Lumens? To calculate lumens, you would require two factors: one is lux, and the other is room area (m2). The room area should be calculated accurately. Lux indicates the lumens per square meter, and each space requires a different amount to fulfill it. For instance, you will require high luminance for kitchen and study rooms, while a lower luminance is required for living and bedroom. The standard formula to calculate lumens is Lumens = Lux x Room Area (m2) For instance, the recommended lux of a store is around 100. Suppose an area of 10 square meters, the required lumens for this case will be 1000. You can customize the lighting as per your requirement. You should incorporate all the constraints, such as lighting position and ceiling height, to get the desired lighting. Part 4: How Many Lumens Do I Need? How Many Lumens For Bedroom? A bedroom also demands low lighting for relaxation. The lumens are intended to be low, which helps in comfortable sleep and rest. The bedroom requires at least 1500-3000 lumens; however, lamps are also installed to assist in reading. The intensity should be maintained to eliminate any shadows and also to reduce eye strain. Shop all Govee Bedroom Lighting >> How Many Lumens For Living Room? A living room typically requires low lumens as compared to other spaces due to comfort and relaxation. The lights should be soft and warm for a family gathering and video streaming. A living room requires 2000-4000 lumens as a standard. In addition, you can install smart lights that could be controlled according to the requirements, to provide a calm and cozy space. Shop all Govee Living Lighting >> How Many Lumens For A Kitchen? The kitchen is the place where high luminance is required due to the tasks performed. Good lighting in the kitchen also ensures safety and precision. A kitchen typically needs 4000-8000 lumens, and it could be higher according to the space or demand. With good lighting, we can ensure that the floor and countertop are cleaned. Moreover, it reduces eye strain as you need to focus completely while cooking. Shop all Govee Ceiling Lights for Kitchen >> How Many Lumens For Home Office? A home office typically requires 3000-6000 lumens, but the selection here depends on the space and work nature. Offices usually have hanging lights to have a main focus on the table to ensure no shadows are cast. Moreover, white lights are preferable in offices to make the workspace feel more professional. Shop all Govee Floor Lamps for your home office >> You may also like: 30 Home Office Decor Ideas That Will Boost Your Productivity How Many Lumens For A Bathroom? Bathrooms usually require high lumens due to frequent makeovers, shaving, and other grooming applications. If you take an average number, the required lumens are 3000-7000, which may vary according to the bathroom size. If it is poorly lit, you will find shadows everywhere, and you may not get a comfortable feel. The lighting should be uniform and detailed to fulfill different needs. How Many Lumens Do I Need For Outdoor Lighting? Outdoor lighting requirements vary a lot due to higher diffusion. Outdoor lighting typically varies from 100 to 3000 lumens, depending on the application, whether it's a security floodlight or pathway light. Floodlights are usually 1500 to 3000 lumens. Good lighting will help to deter intruders and also assist in navigation for pedestrians. However, the light should be placed in the right position to get the desired results. Shop all Govee outdoor lights to decorate your garden >> Part 5. How to Read Lumen Information on Light Bulb Packaging In modern light bulb packaging, the information is displayed in detail for the consumer's convenience. The lumens will be clearly stated to assist the users in having a planned installation for lights at their homes, offices, or outdoor spaces. Additionally, wattage information is highlighted, but luminance doesn't depend on it. The wattage might differ a lot in LED bulbs, so you must focus on the lumens information. With the required lumens, you should look for the lowest possible wattage bulb to minimize energy consumption. Part 6: Lumens vs Color Temperature Lumens and color temperature are two different factors, but they are highly essential to consider in lighting. Lumens describe the amount of visible light that any source can emit to the designated space. While color temperature generally indicates the appearance. The color temperatures often come in three different variants. A warm light (2,700K – 3,000K) produces a soft, yellow light, while a neutral white (3,500K – 4,100K) produces a balanced version of white. At last, daylight (5,000K – 6,500K) is extremely whitish in appearance and is usually used to fulfill higher requirements. Choosing the right luminance and color temperature is necessary for comfort. For instance, low lumens and warm light would be the best option for bedrooms for higher comfort. FAQs about Lumens Lighting 1. What are the applications of lumens in lighting? Lumens define the amount of light a source produces. It gives you an idea of the actual light you see. It helps in finding the number of light sources you need in any area to achieve the desired lighting. Thus, whether it is a bedroom, bathroom, or outdoor area, lumens matter a lot and are used in everything. 2. How many lumens are needed for different rooms? The standardized lumens for different rooms are: Living Room / Bedroom: 1,500-3,000 total lumens (Relaxed atmosphere). Kitchen / Dining: 3,000-6,000 total lumens (Task lighting is key). Bathroom: 4,000 - 8,000 total lumens (Bright light for grooming). Home Office: 3,000-6,000 total lumens (To reduce eye strain). 3. What is the formula for calculating lumens? The generalized formula for calculating lumens is: Lumens = Watts x Luminous Efficiency of the bulb 4. How many lumens are good for lighting? For good lighting, it is necessary to know the requirements according to the tasks performed. However, in general, living rooms require 1,500-3,000 lumens, and kitchens require 3,000-6,000 lumens. 5. How many lumens is a 60-watt bulb? A 60W incandescent bulb can produce up to 800 lumens. At the same time, LED bulbs can produce higher lumens than incandescent bulbs and consume less energy. 6. Is 5000 lumens very bright? Yes, 5000 lumens is way brighter and used for outdoors and larger workshops. It is usually used for higher applications where you need more attention and focus. 7. How bright is a 3000-lumen LED? A 3000-lumen LED is extremely bright. It is specifically designed for larger spaces like workshops, warehouses, and outdoor spaces. Conclusion A clear understanding between lumens and watts is necessary to optimize the electricity usage. Additionally, it will help to make informed decisions based on lighting requirements. Wrong lumen lighting will be disturbing for anyone and may cause eyestrain. We have discussed what it means and how you can select the right lumens for different applications.