Lux, foot-candles and lumens converter
Convert between lux (lumens per square metre, the unit used in UK standards such as BS EN 12464-1:2021) and foot-candles (lumens per square foot, common on US datasheets). The second converter estimates the average illuminance a given number of lumens produces over a floor area, before any losses.
1 foot-candle = 10.764 lux. 1 lux = 0.0929 foot-candles.
Lux = lumens ÷ area. Real rooms lose light to walls, ceilings and dirt, so installed lumens must be higher. Use the room lighting calculator to allow for that.
Why lux is the unit that matters in the UK
HSE guidance HSG38, BS EN 12464-1:2021 and BS 5266-1:2025 all specify illuminance in lux, measured on the working plane with a calibrated meter. A converted figure from a datasheet is useful for planning, but only an on-site lux survey shows whether a space actually complies.