One of the major points to consider when adding any type of lighting is the brightness factor. While watts measure the power of a lightbulb, lumens and lux both play a part in overall lighting. But what is the difference between the two?

Lumens

Lumens are the most common lighting factor used by the lighting industry today to measure brightness. Lumen information is required to be on lighting packages, so it may be a term some are familiar with. Lumens measure the luminous flux, or how much lighting a source can emit. It shows lighting output regardless of external factors or the direction of lighting emission. It describes how efficiently a lighting source turns power into light. Therefore, lumens will help determine efficiency, which is a key benefit of LED lighting.  

Lux

Lux, on the other hand, may not be as well known, but it still plays a part in determining the quality of lighting. It’s the measurement of illumination. To put it plainly, lux measures light visible to the human eye, the amount of light that strikes a visible surface. Lumens will measure the output of light itself, while lux measures the amount of light that actually reaches surfaces in sight. It can vary based on several factors, such as surface brightness, distance from the light source, or the size of the beam. The same bulb inside a flashlight may not have the same lux as the bulb within a lamp, for example.

Using Lumens and Lux for LED Lighting Installation

These two units of measurement can be very helpful when planning an LED lighting installation project. For example, lux measurements are good for knowing how much light will occur in certain working spaces within a building where high-quality lighting is required. Lumens can help measure efficiency to be sure lighting installations pay for themselves over time in energy savings. 

While lumens and lux will be considered, other factors such as square footage, lamp types, ceiling heights, and external factors will also be factors as well. LED lighting experts will take measurements, look at all parts of a building plan, and help come up with an LED lighting design that fits your needs.

To talk to an LED lighting expert about LED lighting installation, contact US LED today.