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Lighting Calculators

Lumens Calculator

Lumens needed to light a room properly, based on area and the task being done.

Enter values

Light that actually reaches the working plane

Results update as you type.

Result

Total lumens needed

10,000 lm

Bulbs required
13
Floor area
20 m²
Target illuminance
300 lux
Lumens per m²
500
Equivalent LED wattage
111.1 W
Equivalent incandescent
714 W

About the Lumens Calculator

Lighting is specified in lux — lumens per square metre — and every room type has a recommended level. Multiply the target lux by the floor area and divide by the fittings’ efficiency and you have the total lumens you need. This calculator does that and converts it into bulbs.

Also known as: how many lumens do i need, lumens for a room, lighting calculator, brightness calculator, lux to lumens.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter room length, room width, room type, utilisation factor and the other fields.
  2. The result updates instantly as you type — press Calculate (or Enter) at any time.
  3. Review the breakdown shown under the main result.
  4. Use Copy result or Share to save the answer or send a link with your inputs.

Formula

lumens = target lux × area ÷ utilisation factor

Worked example

Using the values pre-filled in the calculator above:

  • Room length = 5 m
  • Room width = 4 m
  • Room type: Kitchen (300 lux)
  • Utilisation factor = 0.6
  • Lumens per bulb = 800

the calculator returns:

  • Total lumens needed: 10,000 lm
  • Bulbs required: 13
  • Floor area: 20 m²
  • Target illuminance: 300 lux

Frequently asked questions

How many lumens is a 60 W bulb?

About 800 lumens. An LED producing the same light uses around 9 W.

How bright should a kitchen be?

Around 300 lux overall, with 500 lux or more over worktops where you are chopping.