LED Lighting FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) — kelvin

Another common question we get is how do you calculate how many lumens = a certain kelvin. In short, these are two measurements that are not directly related. See our "Watts vs. Lumens vs. Kelvin" article. Kelvin is not a measure of brightness rather it is a measure of color temperature. If you are looking for brightness, the proper measurement to look for is lumens. In general though, 5000K or cool/daylight white will a appear brighter than 2700K all things being equal but this is due to the higher contrast of such light.

As we state in our "Watts vs. Lumens vs. Kelvin" article. Kelvin is not a measure of brightness rather it is a measure of color temperature. If you are looking for brightness, the proper measurement to look for is lumens. In general though, 5000K or cool/daylight white will a appear brighter than 2700K all things being equal but this is due to the higher contrast of such light.

When shopping for LED bulbs, the color temperature of the light, rated in Kelvin, is a frequently cited specification. Shoppers are often confused if buying a higher Kelvin bulb will produce more light. As we described in our Lumens vs. Kelvin FAQ, Lumens are a measurement of total light output while Kelvin describes the color of the light. LED bulbs of a higher Kelvin may appear brighter due to the higher contrast the cooler light provides but often are equal or just slightly brighter on a Lumens measurement. Ultimately, the choice in color temperature should be made on the basis...