This room needs about
How many lumens do I need per room?
Lumens measure how much light a bulb actually gives off — not watts, which only measure energy use. The right amount depends on room size and what you do there. A cosy living room needs gentler light than a kitchen where you chop and cook. This calculator multiplies your room’s area by the recommended brightness for that room type, then tells you the total lumens and roughly how many bulbs that means.
| Room | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Living room / Bedroom | ~15 lumens per sq ft |
| Dining room | ~18 lumens per sq ft |
| Kitchen / Bathroom | ~35 lumens per sq ft |
| Home office / study | ~40 lumens per sq ft |
| Hallway / stairs | ~8 lumens per sq ft |
This is total ambient light for the room. Add task lighting (under-cabinet, desk lamp, over-mirror) where you read, cook or work, and put brighter rooms on a dimmer so you can soften them in the evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to have too many or too few lumens?
Aim for the recommended amount and add a dimmer. A slightly brighter room on a dimmer gives you flexibility — you can turn it down for relaxing and up for tasks. Too little light strains the eyes and makes a room feel gloomy.
How many bulbs should the light be split across?
Spread the total lumens across several fixtures rather than one very bright bulb — it gives even, comfortable light with no harsh glare or dark corners. The calculator shows the bulb count for the brightness you pick.
Do warm or cool bulbs change the lumens I need?
No — lumens are the same regardless of colour temperature. Warm white (2700–3000K) suits living rooms and bedrooms; cooler white (3500–4000K) suits kitchens, bathrooms and offices. Pick the colour for the mood, the lumens for the amount.
What if my ceilings are very high?
High ceilings scatter light, so add roughly 10–20% more lumens for ceilings above about 9 feet, and lean toward brighter or additional fixtures.