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Convert between lumens (lm) and candela (cd) with beam angle input for accurate light intensity measurements
Common Beam Angles:
Conversion Formula:
cd = lm / (2π × (1 - cos(θ/2)))
where θ is the beam angle in radians
| Lumens (lm) | 15° (cd) | 30° (cd) | 60° (cd) | 120° (cd) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1860.34 | 467.08 | 118.79 | 31.83 |
| 500 | 9301.72 | 2335.42 | 593.97 | 159.15 |
| 1000 | 18603.43 | 4670.84 | 1187.95 | 318.31 |
| 2000 | 37206.86 | 9341.68 | 2375.90 | 636.62 |
| 5000 | 93017.16 | 23354.19 | 5939.74 | 1591.55 |
Lumens (lm) measure the total amount of visible light emitted by a source in all directions. It's a measure of luminous flux.
Lumens tell you how much total light a bulb produces, regardless of how that light is distributed. A 1000 lumen bulb produces the same total light whether it spreads it in all directions or focuses it into a beam.
Candela (cd) measures luminous intensity in a particular direction. It's the SI base unit for measuring light intensity.
Candela tells you how bright the light appears when looking directly at the source from a specific direction. The same lumens output can produce different candela values depending on the beam angle.
Important: The relationship between lumens and candela depends critically on the beam angle. A narrow beam (small angle) concentrates the light, producing higher candela values. A wide beam (large angle) spreads the light, producing lower candela values for the same lumens.
Very focused beam for accent lighting, art displays, or long-distance illumination.
Concentrated beam for highlighting objects, retail displays, or task lighting.
Medium spread for general lighting, wall washing, or illuminating larger areas.
Very wide distribution for ambient lighting, room illumination, or outdoor security.