1. Foot Candle Overview
2019

2. What is a Foot Candle?
A Foot Candle is a measurement of light intensity defined by how much a uniform light source illuminates a one square foot surface.
Image from

3. Foot Candles vs. Lumens
Lumens measure the total amount of light that a device produces. However, devices with the same number of lumens can look very different depending on their beam focus. Very dispersed light can provide a dimly lit room while very directed light can brightly illuminate small area.
Lumens measure the output of the light source, while Foot Candles measure how bright the light will be across a room consistently.
Image from:

4. Why are Foot Candles Important?
Foot Candles are important for calculating the appropriate amount of illumination needed for different workspaces and environments. Improperly lit workspaces can negatively impact focus and productivity.
Workspace
Recommended Foot Candles
Warehouse & Storage
10-30
Commercial Office
30-50
Educational Areas
25-125
Industrial
30-100
Grocery
10-100
Table info from