Luminance Converter
Free Luminance Converter for other units. Enter a value to see equivalent measurements across systems. Free to use with no signup required.
Reviewed for accuracy by Manoj Kumar, Mathematics Educator
Luminance Converter
Calculator
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Formula: Converted Luminance = Value x (From Factor / To Factor)
Worked example โ 500 nits = 145.95 foot-lamberts
Formula
Converted Luminance = Value x (From Factor / To Factor)
Each luminance unit has a conversion factor to candela per square meter (cd/m2) as the base unit. One nit equals one cd/m2. One foot-lambert equals 3.42626 cd/m2. One stilb (cd/cm2) equals 10,000 cd/m2. One lambert equals approximately 3183.1 cd/m2. The apostilb relates to the lambert by a factor of pi.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Converting Display Brightness to Foot-Lamberts
Problem:A monitor has a brightness of 500 cd/m2 (nits). Convert to foot-lamberts.
Solution:cd/m2 = 500 (same as nits) Foot-lamberts = 500 / 3.42626 = 145.95 fL
Result:500 nits = 145.95 foot-lamberts
Example 2: Converting Stilb to Nits
Problem:Convert 0.05 stilb (cd/cm2) to nits (cd/m2).
Solution:cd/m2 = stilb x 10,000 cd/m2 = 0.05 x 10,000 = 500 nits Foot-lamberts = 500 / 3.42626 = 145.95 fL
Result:0.05 stilb = 500 nits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is luminance and how does it differ from illuminance?
Luminance measures the brightness of a surface as perceived by the human eye, expressed in candela per square meter (cd/m2 or nits). It describes the light emitted or reflected from a surface in a given direction. Illuminance, measured in lux, describes the amount of light falling onto a surface. Think of luminance as how bright something looks and illuminance as how much light hits it. A white wall and a black wall under the same illuminance have different luminance because they reflect different amounts of light.
What are nits and why are they used for display brightness?
A nit is a colloquial name for candela per square meter (cd/m2), the SI unit of luminance. Display manufacturers use nits because the term is concise and consumer-friendly. A typical indoor LCD monitor produces 250-350 nits, while HDR displays reach 1000-2000 nits. Smartphone screens typically output 500-800 nits with peak brightness up to 2000+ nits for outdoor visibility. OLED TVs achieve 800-1500 nits peak. Higher nit values mean the screen can produce brighter highlights and remain visible in bright ambient conditions.
What is the relationship between foot-lamberts and nits?
One foot-lambert equals approximately 3.426 candela per square meter (nits). The foot-lambert is a non-SI unit traditionally used in the American cinema industry for screen brightness specifications. SMPTE (the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) recommends 14 foot-lamberts (about 48 nits) for cinema screen brightness. The conversion factor comes from the relationship between the foot and meter along with the Lambert reflectance model that accounts for the pi factor in diffuse light emission.
What luminance levels correspond to real-world scenarios?
Clear sky luminance is approximately 8000 cd/m2. Direct sunlight on white paper reaches about 30,000 cd/m2. A candle flame is roughly 7000 cd/m2. The full moon surface has a luminance of about 2500 cd/m2 as seen from Earth. A typical office computer monitor set to comfortable brightness is 120-200 cd/m2. Street lighting produces about 1-2 cd/m2 on road surfaces. The human eye can perceive luminance ranging from about 0.000001 cd/m2 (starlight) to over 100,000 cd/m2 (sunlit snow).
References
Reviewed for accuracy by Manoj Kumar, Mathematics Educator ยท Editorial policy
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