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Calcimator

Lighting Layering Calculator

Calculate ambient, task, and accent lighting needs for any room. Get total lumens, fixture count, and LED wattage based on room type and size.

Inputs

sq ft
ft

Results

Total Lumens Needed

3,060 lm

Estimated Fixtures

4 fixtures

Ambient Layer1,836 lm
Task Layer765 lm
Accent Layer459 lm
LED Wattage34 W
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter Room Area, Room Type, and Ceiling Height.
  2. Set Natural Light Level.
  3. Review Total Lumens Needed (lm) and Estimated Fixtures (fixtures).
  4. Use Ambient Layer (lm) and Task Layer (lm) to inform your decision.

How the result changes with Room Area

Room AreaTotal Lumens NeededEstimated Fixtures
2183,335 lm5 fixtures
71310,909 lm14 fixtures
1,30719,997 lm25 fixtures
1,80227,571 lm35 fixtures

What each input means

Room Area
Total floor area of the room in square feet.
Room Type
0 = living room, 1 = kitchen, 2 = bedroom, 3 = bathroom, 4 = office.
Ceiling Height
Higher ceilings require more lumens to light the floor plane.
Natural Light Level
0 = none (basement/interior), 1 = some (1-2 windows), 2 = abundant (many windows/skylights).

What each result means

Total Lumens Needed
Total light output required for the room.
Ambient Layer
General overhead lighting — ceiling fixtures, recessed cans, chandeliers.
Task Layer
Directed light for work areas — desk lamps, under-cabinet, pendants.
Accent Layer
Decorative or highlighting — sconces, picture lights, spotlights.
Estimated Fixtures
Approximate number of fixtures (assuming ~800 lm each).
LED Wattage
Total LED watts needed (at ~90 lumens/watt efficiency).

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Room Area = 200, Room Type = 0, Ceiling Height = 8, Natural Light Level = 1 = 4 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Total Lumens Needed
    Total Lumens Needed
    3060 = 3060
  3. Calculate Estimated Fixtures
    Estimated Fixtures
    4 = 4
  4. Calculate Ambient Layer
    Ambient Layer
    1836 = 1836
  5. Calculate Task Layer
    Task Layer
    765 = 765

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