How Much Lux Do You Need? Lux Values for All Areas

The required illuminance depends on the visual task, the area and the applicable standard. For an office workstation, EN 12464-1 recommends a maintained illuminance (Em) of at least 500 lux. A warehouse needs 100–300 lux depending on the activity, an outdoor car park 5–20 lux. This guide gives standard values for all commercial areas – including UGR, Ra and maintenance factor.

Lux, lumen, candela – what do they mean?

Lumen (lm) is the total luminous flux of a luminaire. Lux (lx) is the illuminance on a surface: 1 lux = 1 lumen per square metre. Candela (cd) is the luminous intensity in a given direction. For planning, lux is decisive because it shows how much light actually reaches the working surface; two luminaires with the same flux can give very different lux values depending on mounting height, beam angle and room geometry (see Lumen vs. Lumen per Watt).

UGR and Ra

The UGR value describes glare limitation: the lower, the less glare. For offices, UGR ≤ 19 is the limit (see UGR Value Explained). The Ra value (CRI) describes colour rendering: Ra ≥ 80 is the minimum for work areas; Ra ≥ 90 is recommended for quality and colour inspection (see CRI and Colour Rendering).

Standards: EN 12464-1 and national rules

EN 12464-1:2021 is the European standard for lighting of indoor workplaces and the basis for every professional lighting design. National workplace regulations refer to it or set minimum values of their own (in Germany, for example, ASR A3.4). Designing to EN 12464-1 generally also satisfies national minimums.

Lux table: indoor – office, production, warehouse

All values are maintained illuminance (Em) on the working plane per EN 12464-1.

Area / activity	Em (lux)	UGR ≤	Ra ≥
Office – writing, reading, screen work	500	19	80
Office – filing, copying	300	19	80
Meeting room	500	19	80
Corridor (no vehicles)	100	25	40
Stairwell	150	25	40
Workshop – coarse work	300	25	80
Workshop – medium work	500	22	80
Workshop – fine work	750	19	80
Quality / colour inspection	1,000	16	90
Warehouse – general	100	25	60
Warehouse – racking aisles	200	28	60
Warehouse – order picking	300	25	60
Goods in / out	300	25	60
Retail – sales floor	300	22	80

Guides by area: Office, Warehouse, Production, Workshop and Retail.

LED high bays for warehouses and production – IP65, up to 210 lm/W, 5-year warranty:

Lux table: outdoor – car parks, construction sites, facades

Outdoor workplaces fall under EN 12464-2. Car parks are classified by traffic, construction sites by activity.

Area / activity	Em (lux)	Uniformity U₀ ≥	Ra ≥
Car park – light traffic	5	0.25	20
Car park – medium traffic	10	0.40	20
Car park – heavy traffic	20	0.40	20
Permanent outdoor workplace	200	0.40	40
Construction site – coarse work	50	0.25	40
Construction site – medium work	100	0.25	40
Construction site – fine work	200	0.40	60
Escape route / emergency lighting	1	–	–

LED floodlights with IP66 suit car parks and outdoor areas; LED street lights suit roads on business premises. See also Car Park Lighting, Business Premises and Emergency Lighting.

LED floodlights for outdoor areas, car parks and facades – IP66, 170 lm/W, 5-year warranty:

Lux values for sports facilities (EN 12193)

EN 12193 distinguishes three classes: class III for training, school and recreational sport; class II for local and regional competition; class I for national competition. Vertical illuminance matters too, especially for fast sports with small balls.

Sport / area	Class III (lx)	Class II (lx)	Class I (lx)	Ra ≥
Football (outdoor)	75	200	500	20–65
Basketball / handball (indoor)	200	500	750	65
Tennis (outdoor)	200	300	500	65
Badminton / table tennis	300	500–600	750	65
Padel	200	300–400	500–600	65
Athletics (outdoor)	100	200	500	65

Guides by sport: Football Pitch, Tennis Court, Sports Hall and Riding Arena. Products: football pitch lighting, basketball court lighting and padel court lighting.

Lux calculator: how many luminaires do I need?

Determine the number of luminaires from floor area, mounting height and target lux. The result is a guide figure; for a compliant plan with uniformity verification we recommend our free DIALux light planning.

Maintenance factor: always plan with a reserve

The maintenance factor (MF) accounts for loss of light through soiling, lumen depreciation and reflection losses. In planning: target lux ÷ MF = required initial value. Clean offices: 0.80 (25% oversizing). Dusty workshops, warehouses or production: 0.67–0.70, roughly 40–50% reserve.

Mounting height and light distribution

In halls, what matters is whether the light actually reaches the working surface. Spacing, uniformity (U₀ ≥ 0.6 for work areas) and the task must be considered together. For LED high bays from 6 m, 60–90° optics are recommended; lower down 90–120° (see LED High Bay Lighting). In damp areas use LED tri-proof lights with at least IP65 (see IP Ratings Explained).

Office lighting

For offices and screen work, Em 500 lux, UGR ≤ 19 and Ra ≥ 80 are decisive. UGR is often overlooked: a luminaire with UGR 25 can cause fatigue and headaches despite enough lux. LED panels with UGR < 19 are well suited; 4000K is recommended for concentrated work (see LED Colour Temperature).

Safety notice

You can plan lux levels and choose luminaires yourself; electrical installation on 230V or 400V must be carried out by a qualified electrician (see Connecting an LED Light Fitting).

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between lux and lumen?

Lumen is the total luminous flux; lux is the illuminance on a surface: 1 lux = 1 lm/m². A 10,000 lm luminaire gives 1,000 lux on 10 m² but only 100 lux on 100 m².

How much lux do I need in an office?

At least 500 lux for writing, reading and screen work per EN 12464-1, with UGR ≤ 19 and Ra ≥ 80. Filing needs 300 lux.

How much lux does a car park need?

Per EN 12464-2 at least 5 lux with light traffic, 10 lux with medium and 20 lux with heavy traffic.

How much lux does a warehouse need?

General storage 100 lux, racking aisles 200 lux, order picking and goods in 300 lux. In dusty warehouses use a maintenance factor of 0.67–0.70.

What does UGR mean and why does it matter?

UGR rates glare. Offices need UGR ≤ 19; workshops allow 22–25. The value is stated on every compliant luminaire's data sheet.

Is EN 12464-1 legally binding?

It is a design standard, but national workplace rules refer to it or set minimums. Designing to EN 12464-1 generally meets them.

How do I calculate the number of luminaires?

Number = (target lux × area) ÷ (lumens per luminaire × maintenance factor × utilisation factor). Use the calculator for an estimate and a DIALux simulation for uniformity.

How much lux does a sports hall or football pitch need?

Sports halls: 200 lux (class III), 500 lux (class II), 750 lux (class I). Outdoor football: 75, 200 and 500 lux.