Watts, Lumens, and Kelvins: Understanding Lighting Terms

Have you ever listened to a conversation where everyone seemed to speak in a language you can’t understand? It can be like that when you start researching and shopping for landscape lighting. Most of us don’t use the terms’ watts,’ ‘lumens,’ or ‘kelvins,’ and while they may sound familiar, we may not fully understand what they mean.

But, understanding lighting terms empowers consumers to make informed decisions and purchase products that meet their needs.

Measuring Energy Use with Watts

Watts are a unit of power. They measure the amount of energy that a device uses per second. When discussing lighting, watts specify the amount of electricity that a bulb consumes to produce light. 

An incandescent bulb may use 60 watts of electricity to produce light. However, LED bulbs can produce the same amount of light using only 8-10 watts. This significant difference means that LED bulbs are much more energy efficient.

Lumens Measure Brightness

A lumen indicates the amount of visible light that is emitted. The higher the lumen rating, the brighter the light. Knowing this measurement helps consumers choose the right lighting for their needs:

• Nightlight: 20 lumens
• Lighting for kitchens or offices: 800 lumens
• Outdoor floodlights 1500 lumens

By understanding lumens, you are assured you won’t have too bright or dim lighting for what you wish to accomplish.

Kelvins for Color Temperature

We use kelvins (K) to describe the appearance of the light, which ranges from warm to cool tones. The number on the Kelvin scale indicates the temperature.

Warm (2,000K-3,000K)

Warm lights produce a soft, yellowish glow reminiscent of candlelight. This makes them perfect for cozy spaces like bedrooms.

Neutral (3,500K-4,500K)

Kitchens and bathrooms are ideal for neutral lights, which mimic natural daylight.

Cool (5,000K-6,500K)

The crisp, bright, bluish-white lights provided by kelvins in the cool range are commonly used in offices and for outdoor security lighting.

Bringing it All Together

When shopping for outdoor landscape lighting, it’s essential to consider watts, lumens, and kelvins. This will help ensure that you are choosing lighting that is functional (lumens), energy-efficient (watts), and creates the right ambiance (kelvins).

Your outdoor lighting may need to stay on for long periods, so you will want LED lights that produce the same amount of brightness as incandescent bulbs, but use fewer watts. Your brightness will depend on the purpose of your outdoor lighting. Your pathways and gardens should need 100-300 lumens. Areas such as your porches and entrances need 500-1,000 lumens for visibility and security. For floodlights’ bright, wide coverage area, 1,300 to 2.400 lumens is an ideal choice.

Your kelvins help to set the tone and functionality, such as intimate conversations or fun backyard games and grilling.

Houston Lightscapes Has Your Watts, Lumens, and Kelvins

Now that you better understand lighting terms, you can start designing the perfect outdoor lightscape. Use low-wattage LEDs to save on your electricity bills while creating a cohesive and inviting outdoor space that is practical and visually appealing.

At Houston Lightscapes, we have everything you need, including an expert lightscaping team. Our family-owned business works with homeowners throughout Houston and the surrounding area to create unique lighting designs for every budget.

Contact us at (713) 461-3600 to schedule your free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!