Light Level Reference
Compare starting light levels for common tasks and room types. Use the layout calculator for an initial estimate and the formula guide to review the assumptions. Confirm the applicable design criteria before specifying a project.
Commercial Spaces
Planning values for office and commercial tasks. Check the working plane and the task-specific criteria for the project.
| Space Type | Foot-candles (fc) | Lux (lx) | Task Type | IES Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office - Open Plan | 30-40 | 300-400 | Computer work | RP-1-20 |
| Office - Private | 30-50 | 300-500 | Reading, writing | RP-1-20 |
| Conference Room | 30-50 | 300-500 | Meetings | RP-1-20 |
| Lobby / Reception | 10-20 | 100-200 | Transient | RP-1-20 |
| Corridor | 5-10 | 50-100 | Circulation | RP-1-20 |
| Restroom | 10-20 | 100-200 | Grooming | RP-1-20 |
| Stairway | 5-10 | 50-100 | Safety | RP-1-20 |
| Retail - General | 30-50 | 300-500 | Merchandise | RP-2-20 |
| Retail - Feature Display | 100-200 | 1000-2000 | Accent | RP-2-20 |
| Restaurant - Dining | 5-10 | 50-100 | Dining | RP-6-20 |
| Restaurant - Kitchen | 50-100 | 500-1000 | Food prep | RP-6-20 |
| Hotel Lobby | 10-15 | 100-150 | Transient | RP-6-20 |
| Bank Teller | 50-75 | 500-750 | Transaction | RP-1-20 |
Industrial & Warehouse
Industrial tasks vary widely. Check the detail, contrast, safety needs, and age of occupants when selecting a target.
| Space Type | Foot-candles (fc) | Lux (lx) | Task Type | IES Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse - Bulk Storage | 10 | 100 | Bulk storage | RP-7-22 |
| Warehouse - Active Storage | 15-20 | 150-200 | Active storage | RP-7-22 |
| Warehouse - Order Picking | 20-30 | 200-300 | Picking, labeling | RP-7-22 |
| Factory - Rough Assembly | 10-20 | 100-200 | Large parts | RP-7-22 |
| Factory - Medium Assembly | 20-50 | 200-500 | Medium parts | RP-7-22 |
| Factory - Fine Assembly | 50-100 | 500-1000 | Precision | RP-7-22 |
| Factory - Inspection | 50-200 | 500-2000 | Quality control | RP-7-22 |
| Machine Shop | 30-50 | 300-500 | Machining | RP-7-22 |
| Loading Dock | 10-20 | 100-200 | Loading | RP-7-22 |
| Welding Area | 30-50 | 300-500 | Welding | RP-7-22 |
| Cold Storage | 15-20 | 150-200 | Storage, picking | RP-7-22 |
Residential
Starting values for residential spaces. Assess reading, cooking, and other task areas separately from general room lighting.
| Space Type | Foot-candles (fc) | Lux (lx) | Task Type | IES Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Room | 5-10 | 50-100 | General, social | RP-8-22 |
| Living Room - Reading | 20-30 | 200-300 | Reading | RP-8-22 |
| Kitchen - General | 30-40 | 300-400 | General | RP-8-22 |
| Kitchen - Counter | 50-75 | 500-750 | Food prep | RP-8-22 |
| Bathroom | 20-50 | 200-500 | Grooming | RP-8-22 |
| Bedroom | 5-10 | 50-100 | General | RP-8-22 |
| Bedroom - Reading | 20-30 | 200-300 | Reading | RP-8-22 |
| Home Office | 30-50 | 300-500 | Computer work | RP-8-22 |
| Dining Room | 10-20 | 100-200 | Dining | RP-8-22 |
| Garage | 10-20 | 100-200 | Storage, parking | RP-8-22 |
| Laundry Room | 20-30 | 200-300 | Laundry | RP-8-22 |
| Hallway | 5-10 | 50-100 | Circulation | RP-8-22 |
Outdoor & Site Lighting
Outdoor light levels depend on the site, traffic, surrounding brightness, and local requirements. Check glare and light spill as well as illuminance.
| Space Type | Foot-candles (fc) | Lux (lx) | Task Type | IES Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parking Lot - Low Activity | 0.5-1 | 5-10 | Basic security | RP-43-22 |
| Parking Lot - High Activity | 1-2 | 10-20 | Shopping, event | RP-43-22 |
| Walkway / Sidewalk | 1-2 | 10-20 | Pedestrian | RP-43-22 |
| Street - Residential | 0.5-1 | 5-10 | Low speed road | RP-8-22 |
| Street - Commercial | 1-2 | 10-20 | Medium traffic | RP-8-22 |
| Building Entrance | 5-10 | 50-100 | Entry, security | RP-43-22 |
| Gas Station Canopy | 10-20 | 100-200 | Service area | RP-2-20 |
| Landscape - Accent | 0.5-2 | 5-20 | Decorative | RP-43-22 |
| Loading Area | 5-10 | 50-100 | Truck loading | RP-7-22 |
Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare tasks require specialist design criteria. General room values cannot replace examination or procedure-lighting requirements.
| Space Type | Foot-candles (fc) | Lux (lx) | Task Type | IES Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient Room | 10-20 | 100-200 | General, rest | RP-29-20 |
| Patient Room - Exam | 50-75 | 500-750 | Examination | RP-29-20 |
| Examination Room | 50-100 | 500-1000 | Medical exam | RP-29-20 |
| Surgery - General | 200-500 | 2000-5000 | Surgery (ambient) | RP-29-20 |
| Surgery - Surgical Field | 2500+ | 25000+ | Surgical task light | RP-29-20 |
| Laboratory | 50-100 | 500-1000 | Lab analysis | RP-29-20 |
| Pharmacy | 50-75 | 500-750 | Dispensing | RP-29-20 |
| Nurse Station | 30-50 | 300-500 | Charting, computer | RP-29-20 |
| Waiting Room | 10-20 | 100-200 | Waiting | RP-29-20 |
| Corridor | 5-10 | 50-100 | Circulation | RP-29-20 |
Educational Facilities
Check classroom tasks, screen use, glare, and the working plane when selecting educational lighting criteria.
| Space Type | Foot-candles (fc) | Lux (lx) | Task Type | IES Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classroom - General | 30-50 | 300-500 | Reading, writing | RP-3-13 |
| Lecture Hall | 30-50 | 300-500 | Note-taking | RP-3-13 |
| Library - Reading Area | 30-50 | 300-500 | Reading | RP-3-13 |
| Library - Stacks | 20-30 | 200-300 | Browsing | RP-3-13 |
| Science Laboratory | 50-75 | 500-750 | Experiments | RP-3-13 |
| Art Classroom | 50-100 | 500-1000 | Art, color work | RP-3-13 |
| Computer Lab | 20-30 | 200-300 | Computer work | RP-3-13 |
| Gymnasium | 20-30 | 200-300 | Physical education | RP-3-13 |
| Corridor | 5-10 | 50-100 | Circulation | RP-3-13 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are IES recommended light levels?
The Illuminating Engineering Society publishes task-specific lighting guidance. A recommended illuminance is one part of a design brief; uniformity, glare, color quality, and maintenance also matter.
How do I convert foot-candles to lux?
1 foot-candle (fc) equals 10.764 lux. To convert, multiply foot-candles by 10.764. For example, 30 fc = 323 lux. To convert lux to foot-candles, divide by 10.764.
What is the difference between maintained and initial illuminance?
Maintained illuminance is the average light level at the end of the maintenance cycle, accounting for lumen depreciation and dirt accumulation. Initial illuminance is the level when fixtures are new and clean. IES values are maintained values. Use a maintenance factor (typically 0.7-0.8) when sizing fixtures.
Which IES standard should I use?
Choose the guidance for the actual application and confirm the edition used by the project. IES documents cover offices, industrial facilities, healthcare, education, roadways, and other uses; roadway guidance is not a residential-interior standard.
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