Brightness is measured in lumens and not watts, and this information is typically found right on the package of a light bulb. If you’re trying to save on energy, find light bulbs with lumen to watt comparison. Find a bulb with the right amount of needed lumens and then look for the lowest amount of wattage.
Balanced light distribution can really make your space a wonderful place to spend time, but you have to be smart about the light you choose. When you choose light levels too low, you could risk your project looking cheap; and when you choose levels too high, you could risk comfort. Therefore, there’s more to consider than lumen to watt comparison when finding that perfect light bulb.
Light Bulb Picks and Tricks
How many lumens do I need?
LED light bulbs are the most efficient lighting option on the market. They provide visual quality by combining comfort with efficiency. However, if you’re changing your existing, non-efficient light bulbs to LEDs, you may find that the light doesn’t look the same.
One of the main reasons why LEDs are good for lighting quality is because of the intensity of illumination on the areas of interest and the uniformity of illumination. Therefore, you may find that you don’t need as many lamps in your room when lighting with LED light bulbs. LEDs are directional, so you’re going to get more light to the source.
When you measure how many lumens are in a room, you’re not determining the range of light intensity in a room and the difference in where the intensity occurs. For that reason, to see how bright something is, you must consider the source and the target you want lit. The number of lumens you’ll need may vary depending on the design and color scheme of your room. However, the IES Lighting Handbook provides some guidance, which includes the following:
- 20 lumens per square foot for floors
- 30 lumens per square foot for tables and raised surfaces
- 50 lumens per square foot for desks and task lighting
How do I know what light bulbs are energy efficient by wattage?
Standard incandescent and halogen light bulbs are not as efficient to CFLs and LEDs. If you’re looking for lamps with high efficiency to save you money on that electric bill, see the below chart for lumen to watt comparison. You can also find energy efficient light bulbs by looking for ENERGY STAR® certified on the package. This means the light bulb meets strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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