Illuminance Converter

Convert illuminance units like lux, foot-candle.

Convert Units

Convert illuminance measurements between lux, foot-candle, phot, and more.

What is Illuminance Converter?

Illuminance measures how much luminous flux falls on a surface per unit area — it tells you how brightly lit a surface actually is. Essential for lighting design, workplace safety standards, photography exposure settings, and agricultural grow-light planning.

Understanding the Units

Lux (lx)

The SI unit of illuminance. One lux = one lumen per square metre.

Common Uses: Lighting design standards, photography, plant growth, workplace regulations

Foot-candle (fc)

Imperial unit of illuminance. One foot-candle = one lumen per square foot.

Common Uses: US lighting industry, film and photography in North America

Conversion: 1 fc = 10.764 lx

Common Conversions

  • Full moonlight: ~1 lux
  • Office lighting standard: 300–500 lux
  • Retail store lighting: 500–1,000 lux
  • Bright overcast day outdoors: ~10,000 lux
  • Direct sunlight: ~100,000 lux

Conversion Formulas

  • Illuminance = Luminous flux ÷ Area (E = Φ/A)
  • Point source: E = I ÷ d² (intensity divided by distance squared)
  • Lux to foot-candle: fc = lux ÷ 10.764
  • Foot-candle to lux: lux = fc × 10.764

Practical Examples

Photography: camera exposure determined by scene illuminance (EV value)

Plant growth: most vegetables need 10,000–50,000 lux for photosynthesis

Operating theatre: 10,000–20,000 lux for detailed surgical visibility

Building code: stairways and corridors require minimum 50–100 lux

When to Use Each Unit

Lux (lx): International standard — architecture, photography, workplace lighting
Foot-candle (fc): US lighting industry, film/photography in North America

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