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.
Enter Your Illuminance Value
Type the light measurement you want to convert into the Input Value field. For example, enter 500 to convert 500 lux (typical office lighting level).
Select Source and Target Illuminance Units
Choose your input unit on the left (e.g., lux, foot-candle, phot, nox) and your target unit on the right dropdown menu.
Read Your Converted Light Level
Your result is calculated instantly. Perfect for photographers, lighting designers, architects, and anyone working with lighting standards across different measurement systems.
Popular Illuminance Conversions
Common Benchmarks
Reference
1 lx → lx
1 lx
Reference
1 lx → fc
0.0929031299 fc
Reference
1 lx → ph
0.0001 ph
Reference
1 lx → mlx
1000 mlx
Reference
1 lx → nx
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.











