In any case, let’s try to answer a few common questions to help clear up the differences between Lumens and Candela: Is a Lumen equal to a Candela? So, while the two are closely related, they are used to measure different aspects of light production. Lumens Vs CandelaĬomparing Lumens and Candela can get tricky, as the former measures the amount of light produced by a given source, while the latter measures the intensity of light produced by a single source in a specific direction. Moreover, the number of Watts required to produce 100 Lumens would be far lower than 100, regardless of the type of bulb used. Lumens measure visible light while Watts measure energy consumption. No, 100 Lumens are not equal to 100 Watts. Therefore, 1,000 Lumens produced by an incandescent bulb consumes about 75 Watts per hour, while 1,000 Lumens from an LED bulb consumes about 12 Watts per hour. How bright are 1000 Lumens in Watts?Ĭomparing Lumens to Watts varies based on the energy efficiency of the bulb. How many Lumens is a 100-Watt bulb?Ī 100-Watt incandescent bulb produces about 1,600 Lumens, while a 100-Watt LED bulb can put out about 8,400 Lumens. Therefore, a standard 60-Watt incandescent bulb produces about 800 Lumens, while a 60-Watt LED bulb can produce upwards of 5,000 Lumens. For example, LED bulbs are able to produce more Lumens while burning the same amount of energy (Watts) as an incandescent bulb. The answer to this will actually depend on the type of bulb. To better illustrate the relationship between Lumens and Watts, let’s look at a few common questions: How many Lumens is a 60-Watt bulb?

This means that we can use Lumens and Watts together to determine the relationship between energy efficiency and brightness of any given bulb. As described above, Lumens measure the total light emitted by a bulb while Watts measure the amount of energy the bulb consumes. Fortunately, Lumens and Watts are pretty easy to distinguish, especially when it comes to light bulbs. Now that we have covered the basics of each term, it is time to see how these units of measurement actually compare to one another. It is even used to help rate the lowest available light needed to film with a video camera, allowing manufacturers to rate video cameras using Lux. However, it is very important for photometry.

Like Candela, Lux is not as widely known as some other units of measurement related to light. We use Lux to measure the intensity of light when seen by the human eye, as it hits or passes through a surface. Lux is a unit of measurement within the International System of Units that measures the perceived power of light (luminous flux) per unit area. This unit of measurement also falls within the International System of Units and gets its name from the traditional wax candle, as one candle produces roughly one Candela of luminous intensity. In other words, we use units of Candela to measure the power or intensity of light produced by a single light source in a specific direction. Candela is the unit of luminous intensity. However, it is extremely important for the measurement of visible light. What Is Candela?įor the average consumer, Candela may seem like a completely foreign term. For example, a 50 Watt light bulb that has been turned on for one hour has used 50 Watt-hours of energy. In the realm of lighting, Watts refers to the amount of power used by a given light source over one hour (known as a Watt-hour). In layman's terms, the Watt is a unit that measures the power generated or consumed by something. What Are Watts?Ī Watt is a unit of measurement in the International System of Units that quantifies the rate of energy transfer. Since Lumens fall within the International System of Units (SI), they are often listed on light bulbs and similar products. Instead, it is specifically concerned with the degree of visible light produced by a single source over time. Unlike other forms of light measurement, Lumens are not related to the area the light covers or even the intensity of light. Lumens measure the total quantity of visible light emitted by a particular source per unit of time. So, let’s get started! What Are Lumens?Ī Lumen is a unit of measurement of the perceived power of light, known as the luminous flux. Additionally, we will see how specific measurements of one unit of measurement compare to another. In today’s guide, we will define these four terms and see how they compare to one another. The four most important terms to know when it comes to measuring light are Lumens, Watts, Candela, and Lux. Unfortunately, these terms can also get really confusing. However, when it comes to lighting and light measurements, there are various terms that can be extremely useful to know. If you’re like most people, you have forgotten a lot of the terms and measurements discussed in your high school science classes.

Lumen candela