People are prioritizing energy-efficient technology, meaning looking at watts when bulb shopping is a thing of the past. Using lumens (lm) can help contractors and distributors shop smart for lighting systems that illuminate the area while using less power.
What Is the Difference Between Lumens and Watts?
Lumens and watts (W) are crucial units of measurement in selecting the correct lighting. The key difference between these two units is what they measure. Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb emits, while watts show the amount of power it consumes. The total number of lumens helps you gauge the visible brightness of a light source.
When calculating light output, focusing on lumens instead of watts is a more effective step toward energy conservation. It can help lighting experts and contractors select a light with the desired brightness.
Prioritizing lumens illuminates clients’ spaces while still offering lower power consumption.
What Is Efficacy?
Efficacy measures how efficiently a light source converts energy to light. For example, an incandescent bulb typically has an efficacy of around 15 lumens per watt, while LEDs have an efficacy of around 75–110 lumens per watt.
In other words, LEDs have approximately 7x higher efficacy than incandescent bulbs. When replacing an incandescent bulb with an LED, you can simply divide the wattage of the incandescent bulb by 7. For example, if you have a 50-watt incandescent bulb that you want to change out for an LED — you would only require a 7-watt LED bulb to produce the same level of visible brightness.
How to Choose the Correct Lumens
More lumens give you a brighter output, while fewer offer dim lighting. Lumens are what gallons are to milk — they help you pick the amount of light you need. Of course, you still need to consider the watts, so here’s how to choose the correct measures from typical watts to lumens:
- 60W bulb: Use an energy-saving bulb around 800 lumens
- 75W bulb: Use an energy-saving bulb of around 1,100 lumens
- 100W incandescent bulb: Use an energy-saving bulb at around 1,600 lumens
How to Convert Watts to Lumens
Since lumens represent the visible brightness of a light, converting lm to watts depends on the bulb type. Different bulb types have varying lumen-to-watt ratios. Here are the simple equations to calculate lumens based on the type of bulb:
- Metal halide: Watts x 60
- LED: Watts x 80
- Incandescent: Watts x 15
- Halogen: Watts x 20
- CFL: Watts x 70
These equations only reflect the general lumens per watt for each bulb type, but the actual values depend on the bulb you’re working with. They can also help you find a more efficient light source. For example, a traditional incandescent bulb would use around 1,000 watts to produce around 15,00 lumens. Now, let’s use the formula for an LED light:
- LED: Watts x 80
= 1,000 watts x 80 lm
= 80,000 lumens for a 1,000-watt LED light
Therefore, an LED light uses a similar number of watts as a traditional incandescent bulb but produces more than double the brightness. You can use LED lights to illuminate bigger spaces than you would with an incandescent bulb.
How to Convert Lumens to Watts
Turning lumens to watts can help you find how much power a bulb consumes based on its lumens. To perform a lumens to watts conversion, you’ll need to reverse the previous equation so it looks like this:
- Watts= lumens / luminous efficacy
With the increasing demand for energy, it’s vital to choose power-saving methods wherever possible. This equation can help locate a light that produces the same effects but with lower energy consumption. Before unpacking an example, here’s a table of the luminous efficacy of common bulbs:
Type of Light Bulb | Typical Luminous Efficacy η Range |
| LED | 20–150 |
| Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) | 40–75 |
| Incandescent | 12–35 |
| Florescent lamp | 50–100 |
To put the formula in balance, let’s say you have an LED bulb that produces around 800 lumens — the equation would look like this:
- Watts= 800 lm / 80 η
= 10 watts
In other words, this bulb uses 10 watts of power to produce 800 lumens of visible light and functions at an efficacy of 80.
Now, what if you had an incandescent bulb with 800 lumens? Let’s apply the equation:
- Watts= 800 lm / 15 η
= 53 watts
So, an incandescent bulb would require 53 watts to create the same amount of visible light that an LED bulb could produce with 10 watts. Converting lumens to watts when choosing lights can grant clients significant cost reductions on electricity.
This equation proves that LED lamps are more functional and energy-smart than most. They’re typically budget-friendly and they also save clients money in the long run.
What Other Factors Should You Consider?
Understanding the importance of lumens when selecting lighting is essential to choosing the most efficient type. However, there are other factors to consider:
Find Incandescent Equivalents
If your clients prefer the brightness of incandescent bulbs, use the lumens to find a bulb that has the same brightness but at a lower wattage.
For example, choice LED lights offer better light quality than incandescent bulbs at a lower wattage. They also have more lighting control, allowing users to cast a warm glow. Additionally, they are significantly more straightforward to maintain.
Consider Color Temperature
Some may prioritize the color temperature, which is measured in Kelvins (K). A space may also call for a certain level of Kelvins.
Cooler tones have a measurement of around 5,000K and over and they’re excellent for energizing places like offices. Warmer tones of approximately 2,700K are ideal for cozy spaces like dining rooms.
Explore Dimming Options
Adjusting the brightness level can transform a space and make the lighting more versatile. Installing a low-voltage dimmer that’s compatible with the bulbs can allow users to enjoy a range of brightness levels.
Find a Brilliance LED Distributor Near You!
At Brilliance LED, we offer high-performance lighting solutions and outdoor living products. Our in-house metal works line includes a range of landscape path lights and other fixtures made in America. We manufacture our lights with distributors and contractors in mind, ensuring each item is durable and top quality.
Our distributors enjoy end-of-year rebates and other perks. We’ve gained recognition from many leading associations in the lighting industry, including the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP) and we are a bronze member of the Irrigation Association (IA). Feel free to contact us with questions about becoming a distributor or buying our products for your business. You can also locate a store near you and check out our products or talk to one of our friendly staff members.
