How many lumens do I need for my space?

Check out our Lumen Estimation Calculator

Brightness, of course, is one of the most fundamental and important aspects of an LED bulb. All of our LED bulbs are listed in lumens as well as a wattage equivalence number. It is difficult to provide any absolute answers when it comes to recommended lumens number for a given space, but you may want to consider the following three guidelines:

800 lumens = 60 watt Incandescent
Every 800 lumens gives you approximately the same amount of light as a 60W incandescent bulb. If, for example, you're trying to reproduce the brightness of 4 incandescent bulbs, make sure you have approximately 3200 lumens (4 x 800 lumens).

450 lumens = 1-ft T8 Fluorescent
4-ft T8 fluorescent lamps emit approximately 3000 lumens. However, because it emits light in all directions, much of it is "lost" in the fixture. When replacing T8 fluorescent lamps with an LED solution such as LED strip lights, we recommend budgeting 450 lumens per foot as a direct replacement. For example, a 2-lamp 4-ft T8 fixture would require approximately 3600 lumens (8 x 450 lumens).

1000-3000 lumens per 100 Square Feet
If you're lighting up a new space or don't have a reference point to compare with incandescent or fluorescent lamps, you can also estimate your lighting needs by square footage. For every 100 square feet, 1000 lumens is sufficient for low-light level areas such as living rooms and lounge areas, while task-oriented spaces may require up to 3000 lumens or more.

Check out our Lumen Estimation Calculator for an interactive way to calculate the number of lumens or lamps needed for your space.

Finally, keep in mind that we offer a free returns & exchanges program. We encourage customers to test out our LED strip lights prior to installing them to make sure the brightness and color meet or exceed their expectations. As long as the LED strips are in their original condition (e.g. segments uncut, adhesive liner not removed), we will gladly accept returns and exchanges of LED strip lights. See our full return & refunds policy here.

Question posted under:

Home / residential lighting

Related Knowledge Base Questions

‹   Knowledge Base Home