How Much Light Do I Need?Updated 2 hours ago
Fixture size and light output are two different questions. Dimensions tell you how big the fixture is. Lumens tell you how much light it puts out.
Start here
Room square footage × the lumens per square foot for that room = the total lumens the room needs.
Room | Lumens per sq. ft. |
|---|---|
| Living room, bedroom, hallway | 10–20 |
| Dining room | 30–40 |
| Kitchen, general lighting | 30–40 |
| Kitchen counters, stove, sink | 70–80 |
| Bathroom | 70–80 |
| Home office or desk | 60–80 |
For example, a 12' × 14' bedroom is 168 sq. ft. 168 × 20 = 3,360 lumens.
One fixture doesn't have to do all of it
That 3,360 is the whole room, not the chandelier. If the room also has recessed lights, sconces, table lamps, or floor lamps, the total is spread across all of them. Plan the room, not the fixture.
High ceilings
Above 9 feet, add about 10–15% for every additional foot. Light falls off with distance.
Reading and task lighting
A floor lamp for reading usually wants around 1,000–2,000 lumens.
But output alone doesn't make a good reading lamp. Shade design, how the light is thrown, where the lamp sits, and glare all matter as much as the number does.