Home Lighting and Lumens Calculator

For a typical living room, aim for around 150 lux on the floor. Multiply the room area in square meters by 150 to get the required lumens. For a 20 square meter room, you need approximately 3,000 lumens.

Lumens measure the total light output from a bulb. Lux measures the light that actually reaches a surface. A room with high ceilings or dark walls needs more lumens to achieve the same lux level because light is lost to distance and absorption.

Yes. LED bulbs produce about 100 lumens per watt, while incandescent bulbs produce only about 15. A 10W LED bulb gives the same light as a 60W incandescent bulb, using one-sixth of the electricity.

Dark walls and ceilings absorb light. In a room with dark surfaces, you may need 50% more lumens than the standard recommendation.

For comfortable reading, you need 300 to 500 lux on the page. General ambient lighting usually provides 150 to 200 lux, so add a task lamp near your reading spot for the extra brightness.

Only if they are marked as dimmable. Standard LEDs may flicker or have a shortened lifespan when connected to a dimmer. Always check the packaging for the dimmable symbol before installing.