What are Lumens and Watts? Key Differences

Until a few years ago, the choice of light bulbs was based exclusively on the power in Watts (W) . The higher the wattage, the brighter the light seemed. With the advent of LED technology , however, the fundamental parameter has become the Lumen (lm) , which measures the actual brightness of the bulb.

Today, if you want to choose the right lighting for your home or office, you have to look at Lumens , not Watts.

What is the difference between lumens and watts?

The main difference between Lumen (lm) and Watt (W) lies in their function and measurement:

• Lumen (lm) : Measures the brightness of a light bulb, or the amount of visible light it emits. More lumens means a brighter light.
• Watt (W) : Indicates the power absorbed by the bulb, i.e. the consumption of electrical energy. More Watts do not necessarily mean more light, but only higher consumption.

Why are LED lights more efficient?

LED bulbs offer a huge advantage over incandescent or halogen bulbs:

• Energy consumption reduced by up to 90%

• Longer lasting

• Lower environmental impact

Let's take a practical example:

• A 5W LED bulb can generate about 450-500 Lumens .

• If you have an old 150W bulb that emits 2600 Lumens , you can replace it with a 25W LED , obtaining the same brightness with drastically lower energy consumption.

Why are LEDs measured in Lumens and not Watts?

In the past, wattage was the only way to compare light output of bulbs. Today, thanks to factory testing, light output in Lumens is a reliable and guaranteed figure.

Watts vs Lumens: Why the Confusion?

Many consumers are still accustomed to thinking that a more powerful light bulb (more Watts) emits more light. In reality, a low-energy LED bulb can provide much more intense lighting than a traditional bulb with a high wattage.

How to choose the right light bulb?

If you want bright light without wasting energy, choose your bulb based on Lumens , not Watts.

Lumens (lm)	LED (W)	Incandescence (W)
450 lm	5-6W	40W
800 lm	8-10W	60W
1600 lm	15-18 W	100W
2600 lm	25-28W	150W

Conclusions

Now that you know the difference between Lumens and Watts , you can choose the right lighting for your home or office intelligently and efficiently.

Contact us to discover the best LED solutions for your light design project !