Room Type
Living room
Kitchen
Bedroom
Dining room
Home office
Bathroom
Workshop / garage
Hallway
Custom
Activity Level
Relaxed / Mood
5–10 fc
Standard Living
15–20 fc
Bright Task
30–40 fc
Detailed Work
50–75 fc
Hospitality
8–12 fc
Retail Bright
75–100 fc
Room Dimensions
Room Finishes
Light
Medium
Dark
White
Off-white
Coloured
Dark finishes absorb light — you’ll need significantly more lumens.
Total lumens required
—
Very dimComfortableBright taskOverlit
💡 Fixture Equivalents
📋 Recommended Lighting Plan
Room-by-Room Lumen Reference Chart
| Room | Recommended FC | Lumens / sq ft | Typical Total (12×14) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living room | 10–20 fc | 10–20 lm/sq ft | 1,700–3,400 lm |
| Kitchen (general) | 30–40 fc | 30–40 lm/sq ft | 5,000–6,700 lm |
| Kitchen (task) | 50–75 fc | 50–75 lm/sq ft | 8,400–12,600 lm |
| Bedroom | 10–20 fc | 10–20 lm/sq ft | 1,700–3,400 lm |
| Dining room | 15–25 fc | 15–25 lm/sq ft | 2,500–4,200 lm |
| Bathroom | 30–50 fc | 30–50 lm/sq ft | 2,400–4,000 lm |
| Home office | 40–60 fc | 40–60 lm/sq ft | 6,700–10,100 lm |
| Workshop / garage | 50–100 fc | 50–100 lm/sq ft | 8,400–16,800 lm |
| Hallway | 5–10 fc | 5–10 lm/sq ft | 420–840 lm |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lumens do I need for a room?
Multiply your room’s square footage by the recommended footcandles for that room type. A living room (15 fc) measuring 14×12 ft = 168 sq ft × 15 = 2,520 lumens. A kitchen (35 fc) of the same size needs 168 × 35 = 5,880 lumens.
What is a footcandle?
A footcandle (fc) is a measure of light intensity on a surface — specifically, one lumen of light per square foot. It’s how lighting designers specify how bright a space should be at the working plane (desk, countertop, floor level). 1 footcandle = 10.764 lux.
What’s the difference between lumens and watts?
Lumens measure light output (brightness). Watts measure energy consumption. A 10W LED can produce 800–1000 lumens — the same as an old 60W incandescent. Always shop for lumens, not watts. Watts only tell you the electricity bill.
Does ceiling height affect how many lumens I need?
Yes significantly. A 14ft vaulted ceiling needs roughly 40–50% more lumens than an 8ft standard ceiling for the same perceived brightness. Light intensity falls off with distance (inverse square law), so fixtures mounted high deliver less useful light to the floor and work surfaces.
How do dark walls affect lighting needs?
Dark walls absorb light instead of reflecting it, dramatically increasing your lumen requirements. A room with matte dark walls may need 50–70% more lumens than the same room with white walls. This is why many “dark and moody” design schemes require much higher fixture outputs than they appear to need.
What is layered lighting?
Ambient lighting provides general illumination (overhead fixtures, recessed downlights). Task lighting concentrates bright light on work areas (under-cabinet strips, desk lamps). Accent lighting highlights features and creates visual interest (wall sconces, picture lights). Good rooms use all three.
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