Old incandescent bulbs were rated in watts (energy consumed). LED bulbs are rated in lumens (light produced). Confusing the two leads to buying the wrong brightness.
The simple conversion
| Old incandescent wattage | Approximate LED lumens |
|---|---|
| 25 W | 250 lm |
| 40 W | 450 lm |
| 60 W | 800 lm |
| 75 W | 1100 lm |
| 100 W | 1600 lm |
So a "60W replacement LED" is one that produces about 800 lumens, while consuming only 9–10 watts of actual power.
How much light does each room need?
- Bedroom: 10–20 lumens per square foot total.
- Living room: 10–20 lumens/sq ft total, with task lighting for reading.
- Kitchen: 30–40 lumens/sq ft.
- Bathroom: 50–70 lumens/sq ft (especially at the vanity).
- Office: 60–80 lumens/sq ft at the desk.
- Hallway: 5–10 lumens/sq ft.
Color temperature is separate from brightness
Lumens tell you HOW MUCH light. Color temperature (Kelvin) tells you WHAT KIND.
- 2700–3000K — warm white (cozy)
- 3500–4000K — neutral white (kitchens, offices)
- 5000–6500K — cool / daylight (task lighting)
For LED floor lamps and pendants
Integrated LED fixtures usually list lumens, not watts. The Corner Floor Lamp, for example, produces 1800–2200 lumens depending on its color mode — equivalent to a 100W incandescent bulb but using only 20W of power.
Related reading
LED pendant lights guide · Smart vs traditional floor lamps · Lighting & Lamps