What are Lumens?
Lumen (lm) is the technical unit used to measure the total luminous flux. In other non-technical words, the amount of visible light emitted by a source. This latin derived word has been used since the 1870s, but it started to be adopted almost a century later, when new lighting technologies emerged.
That is because, we used to refer to traditional lighting’s brightness to the power of consumption. For example, you may remember adding to your grocery list 60W lamp bulbs for the kitchen and 40W lightbulbs for the bedroom. With LED’s low consumption, the 60 watts equivalent could be as little as 8 watts. But don’t let that low consumption fool you! In fact, some lower power LED lamps and luminaires have better performance and efficiency compared to your traditional option.
Here is a quick chart with equivalencies:
Lighting is measured by lumens, but any product with a light has lumens as well. ANSI lumens or Peak lumens, for example, are standards for testing video projectors.
Looking to find the ideal replacement for your lamp/luminaire?
- Look at the fixture you are replacing. Proper lamps and fixtures will have a label with basic specifications.
- When you are shopping for the replacement, the packaging usually mention the wattage equivalency. But now, you want to refer to the lumens output in the product characteristics.
For optimal results, consult your lighting specialist for the perfect lighting makeover.