Lumens Defined
A lumen is a measurement of illumination which tells you the exact amount of light a bulb will produce. If you want to look at it from a more technical perspective, a lumen is a finite measurement of visible light emitted by a source which is detectable to the human eye.
It’s now common to find lumen ratings listed on light bulb packaging as this information can help individuals make more informed choices in determining which bulbs are right for them. Traditionally, light bulbs have only displayed wattage ratings on product packaging.
As energy saving bulbs are now taking up a larger share of the market, expect to see lumens listed universally. By taking the time to understanding the essentials of lumen output, you’ll be able to make smarter choices when selecting lights for use in your home or office.
Lumens and Watt Conversion
The following lists some watt to lumen conversion list for you to roughly gauge which lumen rating to use against common watt output:
For a 100 watt bulb, you can replace it with a bulb rated at around 1600 lumens.
For a 75 watt bulb, around 1100 - 1200 lumens will work.
For a 60 watt bulb, try a bulb of between 700 - 900 lumens.
For a 40 watt bulb, a bulb producing between 400 - 500 lumens is perfect.
Naturally personal preferences will come into play so feel free to experiment and see which lumen rating works best for you home, office, or creative space.