The table below shows how traditional incandescent wattages compare to modern LED and CFL lumen outputs, helping you choose the right brightness for any room:
Have you ever bought a low energy light bulb and were disappointed by the level of brightness it gave out? You may have bought a bulb with too small a lumen value.
Lumens are a measure of how bright a bulb is.
With traditional bulbs, we used watts to figure out the brightness of a bulb. However, watts measure power consumption rather than brightness. Energy saving light bulbs use fewer watts, so it’s best to look at lumens.
When selecting a bulb, consider the room's purpose. A bedroom might need 400–800 lumens for ambient lighting, whilst a kitchen or workspace benefits from 1200–1600 lumens for task lighting. Check your fixture's maximum wattage rating and always opt for the lumen value that matches your brightness needs rather than relying on old wattage assumptions.
Pro tip: Look for the lumen figure on the packaging—it's usually displayed prominently on modern LED and CFL bulbs. This single number is your best guide to choosing the right brightness, regardless of the bulb type.
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