Illuminance converter
Convert light levels on a surface between lux and foot-candles.
500 Lux = 46.45152 Foot-candles
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About these units
Illuminance is how much light falls on a surface. The SI unit is the lux, one lumen per square metre. Office desks typically need around 500 lux; full daylight can exceed 100 000 lux.
In the US, lighting designers often use foot-candles, one lumen per square foot, about 10.764 lux. Lumens measure the total light a lamp gives out and cannot be converted to lux without knowing the area lit.
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Questions people ask
How many lux is one foot-candle?
About 10.7639 lux. One foot-candle is one lumen per square foot.
Can I convert lumens to lux?
Only if you know the area: lux = lumens ÷ area in square metres, assuming the light is spread evenly.
How bright should a workspace be?
European standard EN 12464-1 recommends about 500 lux for writing, reading and computer work.
Factors checked 19 October 2026.