While deciding which light to use, you might have wondered if 40 lumens is bright enough to light a particular room in your house. Regardless you are interested in the quality of light or the energy-saving benefits that you can get, you can start thinking in terms of lumens when it comes to your indoor or outdoor lighting. It is important to have the right amount of lighting especially for areas of your home where natural light cannot go in.
How bright is 40 lumens? A 100 W incandescent light bulb is designed for use at 120 V emits roughly 1500 to 1700 lumens. Hence, 40 lumens provide the same light as a 2.5 W incandescent bulb.
You can easily determine the brightness of the incandescent light bulbs by the number of watts printed on the package. On the other hand, the brightness of LED bulbs is measured in lumens. What is a lumen? How is a lumen different from a watt? How many lumens are considered bright? These are some of the questions that we will talk about in this article. Check out the rest of this article for tips and information that you can use to find the right lighting for your home.
What are Lumens?
A lumen is a unit of measurement of visible light. Understanding light output in lumens is very important when looking for energy-efficient light bulbs. The more lumen an LED bulb has, the brighter it will be. When purchasing an incandescent bulb, you can check the watts rating to find out how bright it is. The more watts mean the brighter the bulb.
However, that rule does not apply to LED bulbs. An LED that uses 40 watts cannot be compared to an incandescent bulb that uses 40 watts. LEDs are designed to use less energy and have a lower watt rating. This means that watts cannot be used to determine brightness. As a solution, bulb companies used lumens are to rate bulbs. This provides an accurate indication of how much light you can expect from an LED.
What is the Difference between Lumens and Watts?
Lumens and Watts are used to measure two different things. Lumens measure the total amount of light that is emitted by the bulb. On the other hand, watts measure the amount of power consumed by the bulb.
Watts or also known as wattage measures the amount of electrical power the light bulb consumes. Back then, when purchasing incandescent light bulbs, their brightness is loosely estimated on how much power is required. In contrast, lumens measure the actual brightness regardless of how much power is required. Purchasing a light based on lumens is a more accurate way to determine its brightness as compared to purchasing a light based on watts.
How Many Watts is 40 Lumens?
A light bulb with 40 lumens provides the same light as a 2.5 watts incandescent light bulb.
How Many Lumens is Considered Bright?
120 lumens is ideal for landscape spotlights, 120-180 lumens for your outdoor lamp posts, 150-300 lumens are best for shed lights, and 700-1300 lumens should be used for security floodlights. 100 lumens is equivalent to about 20 watts.
You can also check out this article that we have written that discusses what the best lighting is for a vanity mirror. We have shared tips that you can use when lighting your vanity area.
Is 40 Watts Bright Enough for Reading?
40 watts or 450 lumens is enough for reading and writing. It is also enough for doing everyday tasks. On the other hand, 60 to 75 watts or 800 to 1100 lumens are the recommended brightness for doing delicate tasks like drafting or working with small pieces.
Does Higher Wattage Mean Brighter Light Output?
Lights with higher wattage do not always mean that they are brighter. The reason for this is that wattage is associated with energy consumption. Hence, a low-wattage light like LEDs can consume less energy while providing more light than a high-wattage incandescent light.
How Many Lumens do I Need?
If you want a brighter light bulb, you should choose one with more lumens. Consider your space. If you are lighting a large space, you may need a bulb with over 1000 lumens. On the other hand, a lamp with a few hundred lumens is enough for a small fixture. If you are not that sure about how many lumens you need for your space, you can check the wattage level of the bulb and convert it to lumens. You can check online for the watt to the lumens conversion table.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Light Bulb
Choosing a light bulb can be rather confusing for many people. There are many things that you need to consider like the fitting, wattage, lumens, size, and shape. Below are some tips on how to choose the right light bulb for your space.
How Much Light do You Need?
One of the first things that you need to consider is the amount of light that you will need. Lumens are used to measure the brightness of the bulb. 450 lumens are enough for a lamp that you will use for reading. A bedroom or sitting room needs about ten to twenty lumens per square foot. A kitchen or bathroom needs seventy to eighty lumens per square foot.
We have also written this article that talks about what color light is best for a bathroom. You can check out the article for an in-depth discussion about the topic.
What Type of Bulb do You Need?
You can choose from different light bulbs available on the market. Each of the bulbs has its qualities when it comes to energy efficiency, ambiance, and lifespan.
Incandescent
These are the old-fashioned filament bulbs that are bright and brilliant. On the other hand, most incandescent bulb converts their energy into heat instead of light and they have a short lifespan.
Halogen
These kinds of bulbs are thirty percent more efficient as compared to the incandescent ones. They have a lifespan of up to three years. Halogen bulbs have a rather harsh and bright light, so they are best for outdoor use where intense task lighting is needed.
Fluorescent
These have white curly tube bulbs and are well known for their eco-friendly credentials. They are up to 75 percent more energy-efficient as compared to incandescent lights and can last for many years.
LED
They are considered the most efficient bulb and are up to eighty percent more efficient as compared to incandescent bulbs. LED lights can last for decades and provide a lovely warm light.
What Color or Ambience do You Like?
The color or ambiance will depend on your taste. Light colors are measured in degrees Kelvin. The lower the temperature, the warmer the light will be. 2700K to 3000K is warm white, 3000K to 4500K is bright white, and 4500K to 6500K is daylight. Higher temperatures or those bright white colors are ideal for basements and garages.
✅ Video – Choosing the correct LED Bulb or Fixture for your Application
BrightWay Supply shared the video below on YouTube. It talks about how to choose the correct LED bulb or fixture according to your needs. The video also discusses color temperature, CRI, and other terms that you need to know and understand to make the right purchase. Check out the video below for more tips and information.
What Style of Bulb do You Prefer?
You also need to consider the style of the bulb. There are many stylish variations that you can choose from. A large bulb for a large lamp is ideal and smaller bulbs for smaller lamps as well. This is a matter of taste and how you would want your space to look.
What Fitting do You Need?
The fitting will have to depend on the requirements of your lamp. Before purchasing a bulb, make sure to check the fixture so that you can find the right kind.
Are LED Lights Good for Reading?
LED lights are ideal for reading because they are a directional light source which means that they emit light in a designated direction. On the other hand, see to it that you choose the right color temperature and brightness to avoid causing eye strain.
How Bright is 100 Lumens?
100 lumens is considered bright enough for most walkways which include commercial properties.
How Bright is 40 Lumens Flashlight?
40 lumens is bright enough for a flashlight. Flashlights with 20 to 150 lumens are ideal for home use and some outdoor activities. The average flashlight can emit up to 100 lumens which are ideal for most suburban and urban settings. You can also check out this article that we have written titled, what is the most flattering lighting? We have shared tips and information on how to choose the best lighting for your home.
How Many Lumens in a 40 Watt Bulb?
A 40-watt bulb equals 450 lumens. If you have a 40-watt bulb that does not give off the amount of lighting that you need, you can change it with an LED bulb that has 450 lumens.
How Bright is 2000 Lumens?
2000 lumens is bright enough to light up a 100 square foot living room. It is bright enough to be used for both indoor and outdoor lighting.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading this article that discusses how bright 40 lumens is. We have found what lumen is and how it differs from watts. Moreover, we have also shared tips on how to find the right lighting for your home. When it comes to choosing lights, you need to consider the area of the space. The light should provide enough brightness without causing strain to the eyes. We hope that this article has provided you with more information and ideas to use when searching for the ideal lighting for your home. Thank you for reading!