Converting lumens to square meters

The power of traditional light sources was often expressed in watts, but nowadays lumens are a much more popular unit. This is a unit of luminous flux in the SI system and is used to determine the power of light. We can therefore say that a lumen determines the amount of light emitted by a given source. The more of them there are, the brighter the room will be. Importantly, lumens alone are not sufficient to determine the efficiency of light. A simple equation is used for this purpose - the number of lumens is divided by the number of watts, and the higher the result, the higher the efficiency of the light source.

What are lumens?

Lumens are a unit that allows you to determine the intensity of light emitted by a selected source and is designated by the symbol "lm". The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light. Importantly, this unit is increasingly replacing the previously popular watts, which were used to determine the power of ordinary light bulbs. However, given the fact that they are gradually being withdrawn from sale, the basic unit of light intensity is now considered to be lumens - used in LED lighting and fluorescent lamps. In addition, the number of lumens allows you to determine not only the brightness, but also the efficiency of the installed lighting.

Does the same number of lumens in different light sources mean the same power?

The same number of lumens in two different LED bulbs will not mean the same power. This depends not only on the size and type of the bulb, but also on the place from which it emits light. A light source mounted on the ceiling will illuminate very well what is located centrally below it. In addition, you must also take into account the height at which the bulb will be. The higher it is, the more the light will be dispersed. The type of bulb is also taken into account - LED will shine point-like, while incandescent will shine with diffused light.

Converting watts and lumens

The range of lumen values ​​in various light sources is between 200 and 2400. 200 lumens corresponds to the old 25 watts, and 2400 lumens is 150 watts. Importantly, lighting manufacturers now very often use both of these values ​​on their packaging, making it easier for customers to choose a product. This is particularly useful information for people who still use the older definition of bulb power.

How many lumens per m2 for a living room?

Every room should be well lit, but when planning lighting in a living room, you can't make a mistake and make the room either too bright or too dark. In such a case, it is worth checking how many lumens should be used per square meter in a specific room. When it comes to a living room, it is important to remember that in addition to its size, it will be important to determine its height and other architectural factors, such as recesses or ceiling curvature. However, it is possible to generalize and adopt the rule that the lighting power per m2 in the living room should be from 300 to 500 lumens.

How many lumens per m2 for the bedroom?

The bedroom is a room that is used for rest and sleep. In this case, the optimal value of the number of lumens per square meter will be 200. It should be remembered that in this interior you can also install spot lighting in the form of an LED lamp above the bed, which can be turned on, for example, for reading.

How many lumens per m2 for the kitchen?

The kitchen is a room that should be very well lit. Under-cabinet LED strips or traditional lamps should have from 300 to 500 lumens per square meter. Thanks to this choice, you can ensure good lighting while preparing food, cleaning or washing dishes.

How many lumens per m2 for the bathroom?

In the case of the bathroom, proper lighting also plays a significant role. According to the generally accepted range, the power of the light flux in this room should be between 300 and 500 lumens per square meter. This will ensure adequate visibility during everyday care activities, as well as cleaning or applying makeup.

How many lumens per square meter - summary

The power of the light flux per square meter in a given room is an important issue when planning its lighting. Therefore, it is important to know the values ​​that LED bulbs, LED strips, or other light sources should have. You can be guided by the values ​​given in the text. However, if someone has a problem converting watts to lumens and does not know what light power to choose for a given interior, they can use the lumen calculators available online.