Studio Lighting & Space Calculator
Enter your room's dimensions and how it's used to see the total lumens needed and how many fixtures that takes.
Lighting plan
How the plan is worked out
The calculator multiplies your room's floor area (width × length) by a target footcandle level set by how the room is used, giving the total lumens the space needs to hit that brightness evenly.
Dividing that lumen total by your fixture's rated output, and rounding up, gives a fixture count you can plan an install around — useful whether you're shopping for a single lamp or laying out a ceiling grid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a footcandle, and why does it matter here?
A footcandle is a standard lighting-design unit equal to one lumen of light spread over one square foot of surface. Because it's already expressed per square foot, multiplying a room's target footcandle level by its floor area gives the total lumens the room needs — no extra unit conversion required.
Why do the three room-use presets have different targets?
An active practice floor benefits from brighter, more even light (around 40 footcandles) so movement is easy to see. A relaxation or restorative corner is deliberately dimmer (around 15 footcandles) to support a calmer atmosphere. A reception or entry area runs brightest (around 50 footcandles), matching common interior-lighting guidance for a welcoming, functional entrance.
How do I find my fixture's lumen rating?
Check the packaging or spec sheet for a lumens value — most LED bulbs and panels list it directly. If you can only find a wattage, that's not directly comparable across bulb types, so look up the specific product's lumen output instead of estimating from watts.
Why round the fixture count up?
You can't install a fraction of a light fixture, and slightly overshooting your lumen target is far less disruptive than falling short of it, so the calculator always rounds the fixture count up to the next whole fixture.
Space-planning tool only. Figures follow standard footcandle lighting-design arithmetic, not an electrical or building-code determination — have any fixed wiring installed by a licensed electrician.