Illuminance Converter

Planning the lighting for a new office space or setting up a professional photo shoot? Our Free Illuminance Converter allows you to switch between international and imperial light measurement units with ease. Illuminance describes the intensity of light landing on a surface, and getting the levels right is crucial for both eye comfort and regulatory compliance.

In 2026, as we focus on workplace wellness and "human-centric lighting," understanding the difference between Lux (lx) and Foot-candles (fc) is essential. Whether you are a plant hobbyist checking grow light intensity or an engineer calculating urban street lighting, our tool provides instant, high-precision results for all standard light units.

Units Supported in Our Illuminance Converter:

• Metric (SI): Lux (lx), Lumen per square meter (lm/m^2), Phot (ph).

• Imperial/US: Foot-candle (fc), Lumen per square foot (lm/ft^2).

• Specialized: Meter-candle, Nox.

• 100% Free & Fast: Professional lighting math on HelpingWebTools.com.

What is the difference between Lux and Lumens?

Lumens measure the total amount of light emitted by a source (like a lightbulb). Lux measures how much of that light actually hits a surface (like your desk). Think of it like a hose: Lumens is the water leaving the nozzle, and Lux is how much water hits the bucket.

How many Lux are in a Foot-candle?

One Foot-candle is approximately equal to 10.76 Lux. A quick rule of thumb used by many designers is to multiply foot-candles by 10 to get a rough estimate in Lux.

What is a "Phot"?

A Phot (ph) is a metric unit of illuminance equal to one lumen per square centimeter. It is much larger than a Lux ($1\ ph = 10,000\ lx$) and is typically used in specialized scientific calculations.

What is the recommended Lux level for an office?

For standard office work and computer use, a level of 500 Lux is generally recommended. For detailed drafting or surgical tasks, levels can go up to 1,000–2,000 Lux. Our tool helps you convert these standards into whatever unit your light meter uses.

How much light is 1 Lux?

One Lux is roughly equivalent to the light of a full moon on a clear night, or the light from a single candle falling on a surface one meter away.