LED lightbulbs make up two-thirds of all light bulbs sold in Britain. Yet many customers aren’t sure what terms like Lumens and Kelvin mean. Most are aware of what Watts stands for, as they’ve been using incandescent bulbs for decades, but the other two terms are almost foreign to them.

Take for instance Sarah Brown, a repeat customer of ours. She recently asked us “While browsing through LED bulbs on your online store, I’ve come across terms such as ‘Lumens’ and ‘Kelvin’. What do these terms mean and why should I pay attention to them while selecting an LED light bulb?”

Well, by the end of this post, you’ll know exactly what Lumens and Kelvin mean. So, let’s dive right in.

Lumens

Lumens is a unit of measurement which describes the amount of visible light we can see from a light source. In simple, plain language, it means Lumens measures light output of a light source, like an LED bulb.

As a matter of fact, Lumens is a more accurate way to measure light output, compared to Watts, which measures power consumption of a light source. For instance, a 60W incandescent bulb emits around 700 lumens, whereas a 60W LED light bulb emits no fewer than 5,500 lumens.

When shopping for new light bulbs, forget about watts and focus on lumens instead — that’s what tells you how bright a bulb is.

Since different parts of your home require bulbs of different brightness levels, here are some general tips when you’re shopping for new LED light bulbs:

An LED light bulb with 1600 lumens gives roughly the same output as a 100W incandescent bulb. So, if you are replacing a 100W incandescent bulb, look for LED light bulbs with a lumens reading in the range of 1600.
An LED light bulb with a reading of 1100 lumens or thereabout is ideal for replacing a 75W incandescent bulb
An LED light bulb with a reading of roughly 450 lumens is a suitable option for replacing a 400W incandescent bulb

Kelvin

Kelvin is the unit of measurement used for describing the colour temperature of LED lights. LED light bulbs with higher Kelvin readings (4000K-6000K) are typically better for tasks that require attention to detail, like reading, sewing, or cooking. Warm white and soft white LED light bulbs (2700K-3000K), on the other hand, are ideal for bedrooms and living rooms, as they promote a relaxing, cozy atmosphere.

Watts

A watt is a unit of measurement for electrical power. With incandescent bulbs, it's simple: more watts means more brightness. But LED bulbs are a whole different ball game. They're super energy-efficient, so instead of looking at watts, you need to check out lumens to figure out how bright they really are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do bulbs with higher colour temperature produce more light?

When shopping for LED bulbs, don't get confused by Kelvin ratings. They're not about brightness – that's what lumens are for. Kelvin just tells you the light colour. For a cozy home vibe, stick to 2700K-3000K LED light bulbs. Need task lighting? Go for higher Kelvin numbers. Remember, a 5000K bulb might seem brighter than a 2700K one, but it's just because of the higher contrast light it gives off.

How can I calculate how many Lumens to Kelvin?

You can’t calculate lumens to Kelvin since these two measure different things about light. Lumens measure brightness while Kelvin measures colour temperature. Because there’s no correlation between these two, it’s impossible to state that a certain number of lumens will equal a specific Kelvin reading.

How can I choose LED lights for different rooms?

There’s no 1-word answer to this question because different people have different preferences and requirements. All the same, here are some general guidelines to help you choose the right LED lights for different rooms:

For living rooms and bedrooms, pick a warmer colour temperature (2700K–3000K).
For kitchens, home office spaces, garages, a cool colour temperature (5000K-6000K) is a good option.
For bathrooms consider a combination of warmer and cool colour temperature. For ambient lighting warmer colour temperature is a suitable option. On the other hand, you may want to use cool colour temperature LED light bulbs near the mirror.