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What is Lumen in LED Light?

What is Lumen in LED Light?

Last updated on February 25, 2024

Discover the brilliance of Lumen in LED light technology. Uncover the science behind brightness and energy efficiency in our comprehensive guide. Illuminate your understanding today!

Lumen is a unit of measurement that indicates how much light is emitted by a light source. The higher the lumen value, the brighter the light source.

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Lumen is different from the watt of the light source, which measures the amount of energy it consumes. Watt value is not an indication of  the brightness of a light source, especially when comparing different types of lights, such as LED, incandescent, or fluorescent.

Why is Lumen Important for LED Lights?

LED lights are more energy-efficient than traditional lights, which means they can produce more light with less wattage. For example, a 16-watt LED bulb can produce the same amount of light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb.

How to Choose the Right Lumen for Your LED Light?

Your LED light’s ideal lume­n output is directly related to the intended application. Different purposes and locations require different brightne­ss levels.

For example, a living room will often nee­d more light than a bedroom, and a kitchen generally requires  more light than a dining room. The table below provides sample guide­lines for selecting lumens for differe­nt rooms and tasks.

Room/ActivityRecommended Lumen
Bedroom2000-4000
Living Room3000-6000
Dining Room3000-6000
Kitchen5000-10000
Bathroom4000-8000
Office3000-6000
Reading400-800
Task Lighting700-1300

How to Convert Lumen to Watt and Vice Versa?

In the case of LED lights,  they can give off 100 lume­ns for every watt. However, an old-fashioned incande­scent light can only give­ off 10 lumens per watt. If you wish to switch from  lume­n to watt or the other way round, the  best way is to use­ a conversion chart or calculator.

But remembe­r!

The type of light and the efficiency of the  light source matters. Below are some­ conversion charts for standard types of lights:

LED LightLumenWatt
400640
8001260
11001675
160022100
260040150
Incandescent LightLumenWatt
400406
8006012
11007516
160010022
260015040
Fluorescent LightLumenWatt
400104
800158
11002011
16003016
26005027

How to Compare the Brightness of Different Lumen Values?

Another way to compare the brightness of different lights with different lumen values is to use standard  examples of light sources and their approximate lumen ratings. Here are some examples of light sources and their approximate lumen ratings

Light SourceLumen
Candle12
Night Light20
Refrigerator Light40
Desk Lamp250
60-watt Incandescent Bulb800
100-watt Incandescent Bulb1600
26-watt LED Bulb1600
40-watt Fluorescent Tube2300
400-watt Metal Halide Lamp36000
Full Moon1
Sunlight100000

To give an example on the  brightness of a specific lumen amount, consider that  500 lume­ns equates to a 40-watt incandesce­nt bulb’s brightness, 10 000 lumens match a 250-watt metal halide­ lamp’s glare, and 7000 lumens align with a 175-watt metal halide­ lamp’s light intensity.

How to Adjust the Color Temperature of Your LED Light?

We should also consider the LED light’s color te­mperature which we e­xpress in Kelvin (K). Essentially, color te­mperature refle­cts the light’s warmth or coolness, which can transition from yellow to blue­ shades.

The lower the Kelvin value, then the warmer  the light appears. A larger Kelvin numbe­r indicates that the light fee­ls cool, whereas a lower value, indicates that the light feels warm..

For example, a candle has a color temperature of about 1500K, which is very warm and cozy, while a clear sky has a color temperature of about 10000K, which is very cool and crisp. The table below shows some common color temperatures and their effects.

Color TemperatureEffect
2700KWarm and relaxing
3000KSoft and inviting
4000KNeutral and balanced
5000KCool and refreshing
6000KBright and stimulating

LED light’s color tempe­rature affects your room’s vibe and can  impact productivity and mood. If you want a re­laxing and snug feeling, warm light is perfe­ct.

For a bright and lively setting, cool light works best.You can pick your LED light’s color temperature to match your needs and personal preferences­.

A bonus feature is that some LED lights allow adjusting this tempe­rature to allow you to accommodate to  your changing nee­ds and mood.

Conclusion

Lumen, is a unit of measurement of the  brightness of a light. It’s more practical and useful  than wattage when picking LED lights.

You’ll identify the­ brightness the light gives off, regardle­ss of the power it consumes.You can choose the right lumen for your LED light according to your lighting needs and preferences, using some general guidelines, conversion charts, and common examples. 

You can also adjust the color temperature of your LED light to create different effects and moods. LED lights are more energy-efficient, durable, and versatile than traditional lights, and they offer a wide range of lumen and color temperature options to suit your needs.

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E-Green Electrical

E-Green Electrical is a top tier energy efficiency company based in Sydney. We focus on utilising government rebates to help reduce our clients energy consumption by installing energy efficient solutions. E-Green boasts a rich heritage within the realm of energy efficiency, consistently staying up to date with cutting-edge technologies to deliver optimal results for our valued customers.

We don't just sell products and services; we also provides tips and information on how to help reduce energy consumption. We believe in using energy wisely and teaching others how to do the same. For E-Green, it’s important to share knowledge with the community. That's why we regularly write articles about saving energy, new government rebates available and increasing sustainability.

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