Recommended lux levels come from EN 12464-1, the European standard for indoor workplaces: 300 lx for retail sales areas, 500 lx at tills and office desks, 100 lx for warehouse storage and 150 lx for manned racking gangways. These are maintained minimums, meaning the level the space must still reach after the fittings have aged. Below is the table by space, and how to turn a lux target into the lumens you need.
Lux, lumens and why the difference matters
- Lumens (lm) are the total light a fitting gives out.
- Lux (lx) is the light landing on a surface. One lux equals one lumen per square metre.
A fitting with plenty of lumens can still leave a shelf or desk under-lit if the light goes to the wrong place. That is why specifications are written in lux on the task, and why beam angle and spacing matter as much as output. See the beam angle guide for how optics change the light on the floor.
Recommended lux levels by space
Values are maintained illuminance minimums from EN 12464-1. Many spaces are designed above them. Check the current edition for your project.
| Space | Lux (minimum) | Notes | Fittings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | |||
| Sales area | 300 lx | Most stores design higher, plus accent on displays | Retail store lighting |
| Till area | 500 lx | Glare limited to UGR 19 | Anti-glare COB downlight |
| Wrapping and packing counter | 500 lx | ||
| Supermarkets | |||
| Sales area and aisles | 300 lx | Check vertical light on shelf faces | Supermarket lighting |
| Warehouses and industry | |||
| Storage and stock rooms | 100 lx | LED high bay lights | |
| Racking gangways, manned | 150 lx | LED batten and linear lights | |
| Racking gangways, unmanned | 20 lx | ||
| Dispatch and packing | 300 lx | Warehouse lighting | |
| Loading bays | 150 lx | LED tri-proof lights | |
| Offices | |||
| Writing, reading, screen work | 500 lx | Glare limited to UGR 19 | |
| Filing and copying | 300 lx | ||
| Reception desk | 300 lx | ||
| Circulation | |||
| Corridors | 100 lx | Anti-glare COB downlight | |
| Stairs | 150 lx |
Accent light: going above the minimum
The standard sets minimums for seeing the task. Retail and showroom lighting adds a second layer on top: accent light on products and displays, typically three to five times the surrounding level so they stand out. A store with a 500 lx floor might light a feature wall at 1,500 to 2,500 lx with track spots. See showroom lighting and retail store lighting for how the two layers work together.
From lux to lumens: a quick estimate
To estimate the total lumens a room needs:
Total lumens ≈ target lux × floor area (m²) ÷ 0.5
The 0.5 allows for light absorbed by walls and ceilings and for output lost as fittings age. Rooms with dark surfaces or high ceilings lose more; bright, low rooms lose less.
| Example | Target | Area | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shop floor | 300 lx | 100 m² | about 60,000 lm in total |
| Office | 500 lx | 50 m² | about 50,000 lm in total |
| Warehouse storage | 100 lx | 1,000 m² | about 200,000 lm in total |
Divide the total by the output of one fitting to estimate how many you need, then check spacing so the light is even. This is a first estimate only. A DIALux calculation with your room dimensions, surfaces and fittings gives the real result. For old-bulb equivalents and how to turn lumens into watts at a given efficacy, see the lumens guide.
Other things the standard sets
- UGR (glare): limits how much glare a scheme may produce. Offices and tills are typically UGR 19; many retail and circulation areas allow more.
- Colour rendering: most workplaces need Ra 80 or higher. Retail, showrooms and fresh food benefit from Ra 90 so colours look true.
- Uniformity: light should be even across the task area, not bright spots with dark gaps.
Get a calculated layout
Send your floor plan, ceiling height and the target levels from this table. We return the fittings, quantities and predicted lux, with a quotation within 24 hours. We can prepare a lighting layout for qualified projects.
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