Lighting Requirements in Residential and Commercial Settings | LEDVANCE

Lighting Requirements in Residential and Commercial Settings

Residential and commercial properties have different recommendations for illumination based on the room or task that requires completion.

The primary measurements for residential and commercial lighting requirements are in footcandles and lux. A footcandle measurement involves how many lumens are needed per square foot, while lux takes the same measure by each square meter.

In this guide, we will deliver a quick overview of lighting requirements in resident and commercial settings to help you access useful lighting information with ease

Why You Should Know About Lighting Requirements


Understanding lighting requirements is crucial across various aspects of business. 

Proper lighting helps prevent accidents such as trips and falls, especially in high-risk areas like stairwells and work zones. It also plays an irreplaceable role in health, as light regulates our internal clocks. In addition, different tasks require specific lighting.

Cooking, reading, or detailed work requires focused brightness to avoid mistakes, while offices require balanced lighting to maintain productivity. As for compliance, many spaces must follow legal standards for lighting to keep occupants safe. In essence, understanding lighting requirements impacts our lives in many ways, both at home and in the workplace.
residential lighting requirements

Minimum Recommended Lighting Levels for Homes
 

Here is a look at the minimum recommended lighting levels for homes today. 
Room or Environment Footcandles Lux
Bedrooms 5 50
Basements, Recreation Rooms, Enclosed Floors 14 150
Bathrooms 28 300
Hallway, Entryway, Transition Spaces 3 30
Garage (General Environment) 20 200
Garage (Task Lighting, Workbench) 93 1,0000
Formal Dining Room 19 200
Reading Area, Writing Space, Library 19 200
Informal Dining Space 9 100
General Kitchen Area 9 100
Kitchen Stovetop and Cooktop Area 29 300
Kitchen Prep Spaces 47 500
Living Room 3 30
Although any light bulb style or technology can provide this resource, the most efficient installation involves LEDs​​ Lower wattage requirements combine with equitable lux and footcandle ratings to create desirable residential spaces to use.​

Overall Recommendation for Residential Lighting

Room or Environment Footcandles Lux
Bedrooms 50 50
Basements, Recreation Rooms, Enclosed Floors 323 323
Laundry Room 215 to 1,076 215 to 1,076
Bathrooms 20 to 50 ​215 to 538
Hallway, Entryway, Transition Spaces10 to 20 10 to 20 108 to 215
Garage (General Environment) 30 323
Garage (Task Lighting, Workbench) 100 1,076​
Formal Dining Room 50 to 100​ ​538 to 1,076
Reading Area, Writing Space, Library 50 to 100 ​538 to 1,076
Informal Dining Space 20 to 50 215 to 538
General Kitchen Area ​20 to 50
215 to 538​
Kitchen Stovetop and Cooktop Area ​50 to 100 538 to 1,076
Kitchen Prep Spaces 50 to 100​ 538 to 1,076​​​
Living Room 10 to 20 ​​108 to ​215​


The difference in lux can be significant when comparing minimum to recommended levels in many homes. This is why it is crucial to understand how much space is in each area to ensure an LED light bulb delivers appropriate performance.​​

Commercial Building Lighting Needs


The recommended lighting levels for businesses depend on the purpose of the environment. Working in a warehouse is a different experience than putting together a retail display​​, which means the fixtures must meet specific minimums to provide safe and efficient lighting.
Here are common task-specific commercial lighting requirements to help you compare.
Commercial Space Lux Footcandles
Offices 300 – 500 lux
28 – 46 fc
Retail (aisles/walkways)
200 – 300 lux 		18 – 28 fc
Retail (merchandise displays) 200 – 1000 lux 46 – 93 fc
Hospitals (patient rooms)
100 – 300 lux
9 – 28 fc
Hospitals (operating rooms) 10,000 – 100,000 lux
929 – 9,290 fc
Warehouses (storage areas)
100 – 300 lux
9 – 28 fc
Restaurants (dining areas) 100 – 200 lux 9 – 18 fc
Restaurants (kitchens) 500 – 1000 lux 46 – 93 fc
commercial building lighting requirement

The average office space requires about 40 lumens per square foot. That's the same amount you'd want to have in a classroom, conference area, or department store.

Shops, showrooms, and grocery settings benefit from a boost to 50 lumens per square foot. Better color rendering makes items appear more realistic to the eye.

By understanding what a building needs, whether it's a residential or a commercial setting, it is easier to create a safer and more productive space. If you're looking for lighting options today, use this guide to determine the minimum levels you’d like to incorporate into those areas. ​​​​