1 lux equals 1 lumen per square meter. So, for an area of 1 square meter, 1 lux corresponds directly to 1 lumen.
Lux measures illuminance or how much light falls on a surface area, while lumens measure the total light output from a source. The conversion depends on the surface area illuminated. When the surface is exactly 1 square meter, lux and lumens are numerically equal.
Conversion Tool
Result in lumens:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert lux to lumens is:
Lumens = Lux × Area (in square meters)
This works because lux measures illumination on a surface, and lumens measure total light emitted. Lux is lumens divided by area, so to get lumens from lux, multiply by the area.
For example, if you have 1 lux illuminating 1 square meter, the calculation is:
- 1 lux × 1 m² = 1 lumen
If the area changes, so does the lumen value. For 2 lux on 3 m²:
- 2 lux × 3 m² = 6 lumens
Conversion Example
- Example 1: Convert 5 lux over 2 m²
- Multiply lux by area: 5 × 2 = 10 lumens
- Result: 10 lumens
- Example 2: Convert 10 lux over 0.5 m²
- Calculate: 10 × 0.5 = 5 lumens
- So, there are 5 lumens
- Example 3: Convert 0.2 lux on 4 m²
- Multiply: 0.2 × 4 = 0.8 lumens
- Output: 0.8 lumens
Conversion Chart
This chart shows lux values from -24.0 to 26.0, converted to lumens assuming an area of 1 square meter. Negative values represent hypothetical or measurement errors in lux but shown here for completeness.
Lux | Lumens (for 1 m²) |
---|---|
-24.0 | -24.0 |
-20.0 | -20.0 |
-16.0 | -16.0 |
-12.0 | -12.0 |
-8.0 | -8.0 |
-4.0 | -4.0 |
0.0 | 0.0 |
4.0 | 4.0 |
8.0 | 8.0 |
12.0 | 12.0 |
16.0 | 16.0 |
20.0 | 20.0 |
24.0 | 24.0 |
26.0 | 26.0 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many lumens is 1 lux on a 2 square meter surface?
- What is the lumen output for 1 lux lighting?
- Can 1 lux be directly converted to lumens?
- What area is assumed when converting 1 lux to lumens?
- How to calculate lumens from 1 lux on different surfaces?
- Does 1 lux equals 1 lumen in all cases?
- What formula is used to convert 1 lux to lumens?
Conversion Definitions
Lux: Lux is a unit measuring illuminance, which tells how much luminous flux falls on a surface area. One lux equals one lumen per square meter, describing the intensity of light on a given area, used for assessing lighting environments and brightness.
Lumens: Lumens quantify the total amount of visible light emitted by a source. It measures brightness perceived by the human eye, regardless of direction. Higher lumens mean brighter light output, important for bulbs and lighting products.
Conversion FAQs
Why does 1 lux equal 1 lumen only on one square meter?
Because lux accounts for light per unit area, so 1 lux means 1 lumen spread over exactly 1 square meter. If the area increases or decreases, lumens must be adjusted by multiplying lux by that area to get total light output.
Can lux be negative, and what does it mean for lumens?
Lux cannot be negative in real measurement since it reflects light intensity. Negative values might happens due to sensor errors or calibration issues, but converting negative lux to lumens results in negative lumens which isn’t physically meaningful.
Is the conversion affected by the type of light source?
The conversion itself only depends on area, not light type. But different sources have varying efficiency and distribution patterns, so while lumens measure total output, lux on a surface depends on distance, angle, and diffusion.
How to convert lux to lumens for irregular surfaces?
For uneven or irregular surfaces, you must estimate or measure the effective illuminated area, then multiply lux by that area. Without knowing exact area, conversion will be imprecise because lumens depend on total light spread.
Do I need special tools to measure lux before converting to lumens?
Measuring lux needs a light meter or sensor designed to gauge illuminance. Once you have lux, converting to lumens is a mathematical step requiring the area. Without accurate lux measurement, lumen calculation won’t be reliable.