Lumens to Watts: The Difference and How to Convert It
While we need light for almost everything we do, choosing the right kind of lighting is the tricky part of the process. Most of us will have a style of lighting fixtures we love, it’s just the type of light that these fixtures give off that we need to make a decision on. The temperature of the light, the brightness and often the type of lamp/bulb. Let’s focus on the brightness for now.
For years, people relied on watts to judge the brightness of a light bulb, but as new lighting technologies like LEDs have emerged, lumens have become the preferred measure. With that in mind, we’ll explain the difference and help you convert your watts to lumens
What Are Lumens?
Lumens are a measurement of the brightness of a light source. Essentially, lumens indicate how much light a bulb emits and the higher the lumens, the brighter the light is going to be. Unlike watts, which measure energy consumption, lumens give you an idea of the actual amount of light that will illuminate your space. For example, a standard 60-watt incandescent bulb typically produces about 800 lumens of light, which helps us understand how bright it is.
What Are Watts?
Watts measure the amount of energy a light bulb consumes. In the past, people used watts as a shorthand for brightness because traditional incandescent bulbs had a predictable relationship between energy consumption and light output. For instance, a 60-watt incandescent bulb was considered bright enough for most rooms. However, with energy-efficient technologies like LEDs, the same brightness can be achieved with significantly fewer watts, making it necessary to consider lumens instead of relying solely on wattage.
Lumens vs. Watts: Understanding the Difference
The key difference between lumens and watts is what they measure. Lumens indicate the amount of visible light produced by a bulb, while watts measure the energy consumption. In the past, higher wattage meant a brighter bulb, but with better lighting technology, this is no longer a reliable measurement. Nowadays, lumens are the better way to define the level of brightness, especially when comparing traditional bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives like LEDs and CFLs.
Why the Shift from Watts to Lumens?
The shift from using watts to lumens has largely been driven by the rise of energy-efficient lighting. LED bulbs use a lot less energy compared to traditional incandescent bulbs all while providing the same level of brightness. As a result, watts are no longer a useful indicator of brightness since energy-efficient bulbs use fewer watts to produce the same amount of light. This helps us focus on the brightness of the bulb rather than the energy it uses. This also helps when trying to find a nice, bright bulb while lowering your energy bills.
How to Convert Lumens to Watts
Converting lumens to watts can be a bit confusing because different types of bulbs have different efficiencies. As a rule of thumb, an LED bulb uses about 10% of the wattage of an equivalent incandescent bulb to produce the same lumens. For example, if you're looking for a replacement for a 60-watt incandescent bulb (which produces roughly 800 lumens), you would need an LED bulb that uses only 8-12 watts. To convert lumens to watts, it's important to consider the type of bulb and its efficiency.
Lumens to Watts Conversion Table
Below is a simple conversion table to help you understand the relationship between lumens, incandescent watts, and LED watts. This will make it easier for you to choose the right light bulb based on brightness and energy efficiency.
| Lumens (Brightness) | Incandescent Watts | LED Watts | Halogen Watts | CFL Watts |
| 200 - 300 lumens | 25W | 3 - 5W | 18W | 5 - 7W |
| 400 - 500 lumens | 40W | 6 - 8W | 28W | 8 - 10W |
| 700 - 900 lumens | 60W | 8 - 12W | 42W | 13 - 15W |
| 1000 - 1400 lumens | 75W | 12 - 15W | 53W | 18 - 20W |
| 1500 - 1800 lumens | 100W | 15 - 20W | 70W | 23 - 30W |
Choosing the Right Lighting for Your Needs
When selecting lighting for your home, you should definitely look at both lumens and watts. This will mean that you find a bulb with the right brightness without using too much energy. For living rooms and bedrooms, a softer light of around 400-800 lumens is often okay, but for a workspace or kitchen, you may need something brighter, maybe around 1000 lumens or more. Always consider the use of the room before making a decision and you can always mix and match for accent lighting too. Using lumens as your guide will help you choose the most energy-efficient bulb for each space, whether it's an LED, CFL, or another type.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between lumens and watts is key to selecting the right lighting for your home. While watts were once the standard for determining brightness, the rise of energy-efficient lighting has made lumens the more relevant measure. By focusing on lumens, you can ensure your lights are bright enough for your needs while also being mindful of energy consumption. Use lumens as your guide, and you'll be able to choose efficient and effective lighting that suits every room in your home.
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