Illuminance Converter

Free Illuminance Converter — Convert Lux, Foot-Candles & More Instantly

Convert illuminance between any units instantly with OmniConverter's free online illuminance converter. Supports lux (lx), foot-candles (fc), phot (ph), millilux (mlx), and nox (nx). Whether you're a photographer calculating exposure, a lighting designer meeting building standards, an architect specifying workspace lighting, or a safety inspector checking minimum light levels, our converter gives you accurate results in seconds.

How It Works

Convert in three simple steps.

1

Enter Your Illuminance Value

2

Select Source and Target Illuminance Units

3

Read Your Converted Light Level

Popular Illuminance Conversions

Common Benchmarks

Reference

1 lxlx

1 lx

Reference

1 lxfc

0.0929031299 fc

Reference

1 lxph

0.0001 ph

Reference

1 lxmlx

1000 mlx

Reference

1 lxnx

1000 nx

Real-World Use Cases

Illuminance conversion is essential for architectural lighting design (meeting IESNA or ISO standards in both lux and foot-candles), photography and videography (setting correct exposure for a given light level), workplace safety compliance (minimum lux levels for task lighting), horticulture (plant growth lighting requirements), smart home lighting automation, and comparing solar irradiance readings.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common conversion questions

What does lux measure?+

Lux measures illuminance, or the amount of light falling on a surface.

How do I convert lux to foot-candles?+

Multiply lux by 0.092903 to estimate foot-candles.

What is a phot?+

A phot is a unit of illumination equal to 10,000 lux.

Why is illuminance different from brightness?+

Brightness is subjective, while illuminance is a measurable amount of light on a surface.

How do I convert millilux to lux?+

Multiply millilux by 0.001 to get lux.

What unit is used in photography?+

Lux and foot-candles are common in lighting and photography contexts.

Can I convert nox to lux?+

Yes, nox is a very small illuminance unit and converts through the standard ratio.

What is a foot-candle?+

A foot-candle measures light intensity over one square foot.

Why do lighting designers use lux?+

Lux gives a standardized measure for lighting levels in indoor and outdoor environments.

Can I compare indoor lighting to sunlight?+

Yes, lux and foot-candles make those comparisons straightforward.

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