What is an illuminance converter?

An illuminance converter is a tool that allows you to translate a measurement of illuminance—the amount of light falling on a given surface area—from one unit to another. The most common conversion is between Lux (metric) and Foot-candles (imperial).

What is the difference between Lux and Lumens?

Lumens measure luminous flux, which is the total amount of visible light emitted by a source in all directions. Lux measures illuminance, which is the amount of that light that lands on a specific surface. One Lux is equal to one Lumen per square meter.

What is a Foot-candle (fc)?

A Foot-candle is an imperial and US customary unit of illuminance. It is defined as the illuminance on a one-square-foot surface from a uniform source of one candela. One foot-candle is approximately equal to 10.764 lux.

Where are illuminance measurements used?

Illuminance measurements are crucial in many fields, including photography and cinematography (to ensure proper exposure), architecture and interior design (to plan lighting for spaces), horticulture (to provide adequate light for plant growth), and occupational health and safety (to ensure workspaces are adequately lit).

Free Illuminance Converter | Convert Lux to Foot-Candles (fc)

Instantly convert between Lux, Foot-candles, and other photometry units. Our free Illuminance Converter provides fast, accurate results for photography, architecture, and science.

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About the Illuminance Converter

Illuminance is the measure of how much light falls on a specific surface area. It is one of the most important concepts in lighting design, photography, and environmental science, yet its various units can be confusing. The Illuminance Converter from TechnoCodex is a precision tool designed to simplify these measurements, allowing you to instantly and accurately convert between all major units of illuminance, including Lux, Foot-candles, and more.

This lux converter is an essential resource for professionals and students alike. Whether you are an architect designing an office space to meet safety standards, a filmmaker setting up the perfect lighting for a scene, a horticulturalist ensuring crops receive enough light, or a student of physics, our tool provides the reliable results you need. By supporting both metric (Lux) and imperial (Foot-candle) systems, our calculator eliminates complex formulas and helps you make informed decisions quickly.

How to Use the Illuminance Converter

Our tool is designed for an efficient and straightforward user experience. Get your conversion in just three steps:

Enter Your Value: Type the illuminance measurement you want to convert into the “Amount” field.
Select Your Units: Choose your starting unit from the “From” dropdown menu (e.g., Lux) and your target unit from the “To” dropdown menu (e.g., Foot-candle).
Click “Convert”: The accurate converted value will immediately appear in the result box. Use the “Reset” button to clear the fields for a new illuminance calculation.

Understanding the Key Units of Illuminance

To get the most from this tool, it helps to understand what each unit represents:

Lux (lx): The Lux is the standard SI (International System) unit of illuminance. It is defined as one lumen per square meter (lm/m²). Lux is the most widely used unit for illuminance worldwide and is the standard for scientific, architectural, and safety specifications in most countries.
Foot-candle (fc): The Foot-candle is the corresponding imperial and U.S. customary unit. It represents one lumen per square foot. As the name suggests, it was originally based on the amount of light cast by one standard candle on a surface one foot away. The lux to foot-candle conversion is the most common use of this tool for those working between international standards and US practices. (1 fc ≈ 10.764 lx).
Phot (ph): The Phot is an older, CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit of illuminance. It is defined as one lumen per square centimeter. Because it represents a very large amount of light (1 phot = 10,000 lux), it is not commonly used today but is included for historical and comprehensive purposes.
Nox (nx): The Nox is another older unit, designed to measure very low levels of illuminance. One nox is equal to one millilux (0.001 lux), making it suitable for scientific work involving scotopic (night) vision.

Common Use Cases and Applications

This illuminance converter is a vital tool for many professional and creative fields:

Architecture and Interior Design: Lighting designers use lux and foot-candle measurements to ensure that spaces like offices, schools, and hospitals meet building codes and provide a comfortable, productive environment.
Photography and Cinematography: Directors of photography use light meters (which measure in lux or foot-candles) to ensure scenes are lit correctly for the desired mood and camera exposure.
Horticulture and Agriculture: The growth of indoor plants is directly related to the amount of light they receive. Growers use this tool to convert lighting specifications and ensure plants get the optimal illuminance for photosynthesis.
Occupational Health and Safety: Standards organizations (like OSHA) mandate minimum lighting levels (often in foot-candles) for workspaces to ensure safety and prevent eye strain.
Museum and Gallery Curation: Curators must carefully control lighting levels (measured in lux) to preserve delicate artifacts and artworks from light-induced damage.

By providing a reliable and accessible platform, the TechnoCodex Illuminance Converter is the essential resource for anyone who needs to measure and convert the brightness of light on a surface.