LED downlights are the foundation of every modern lighting plan. They’re affordable and versatile, so they can be installed in almost any space.
The only trick is figuring out how many lights you need and where they should be placed. You can use the calculator and information on this page as a rough guide to developing your own LED downlight plan.
Lumens vs Lux
When designing lighting plans, we measure LED downlights in terms of lumens and lux:
Lumens is a measure of light output. Dimmable LED downlights have variable outputs. Lumens is related to the wattage of the light fitting.
Lux is a measure of how much light lands on a particular surface. Lux is related to the square metres of a given surface, and the distance between the surface and the light fitting.
Lux is typically more important when designing a lighting plan. The “Average Lux” in a room is the average amount of usable light in any given spot. You can increase the average lux by increasing the number of lights and/or increasing the wattage of each light.
Recommended Lux Levels for LED Downlights
We measure the light provided by LED downlights in “lux”. The required lux level depends on how you use your space. We’ve provided some common examples below:
Lux Level | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
<15 | Ambient lighting | Security lighting, pathway lighting |
15-100 | General lighting | Hallways, cupboards and basic lighting |
100-250 | General lighting | Bedrooms, dining areas, cafes, entertainment spaces, accent lighting (e.g. for paintings) |
250-600 | Task lighting | Kitchen counter, office desks, classrooms, retail paces |
600+ | Task lighting | Specific tasks (e.g. parts assembly stations) |
Lighting Usage
Ambient lighting is used to set the mood and provide low lighting for applications like pathways and nightlights.
General lighting includes most of the lights in your home. They’re used for general illumination and accent lighting.
Task lighting is typically installed in working areas, such as offices and kitchens. It’s brighter than general lighting to prevent eye strain when working.
Average Output for LED Downlights
The amount of light provided by LED downlights depends on the wattage, beam angle and the distance between the light and work surfaces. This table shows the average lumens and lux for LED downlights installed in 2.4 metre ceilings:
Wattage | Avg Lumen Output | Lux @ 2.4 Metres |
|---|---|---|
5W | 450 lm | 42 lx |
8W | 650 lm | 61 lx |
9W | 730 lm | 69 lx |
10W | 875 lm | 83 lx |
12W | 950 lm | 90 lx |
13W | 1000 lm | 94 lx |
14W | 1200 lm | 113 lx |
This table shows how much light is created by each downlight. The Average Lux will be much higher if you have multiple downlights in the room.
Colour Temperature
Colour temperature describes the colour of the light in your space. Colour temperature is measured in Kelvins, with most LED downlights ranging between warm white and cool white:
Colour Temperature | Usage |
|---|---|
Warm White (2700K-3000K) | Bedrooms, living areas, cafes and any space that you want to feel warm and cosy |
Neutral White (3500K-4100K) | Kitchens, offices and other work areas where clarity is important |
Cool White (5000K-6500K) | Offices and industrial settings that need a bright, cool light for safety and accessibility |
Contact Us for Help With Your Lighting Plan
If you’re designing a lighting plan and need help, our electricians can provide honest advice on the best LED downlights for your home. Contact us for a quote!
How Many Downlights Do I Need?
To figure out how many LED downlights you need for a particular room, we’ll need to know the:
There’s no simple answer to this question. Generally speaking, we’d install 4-9 LED downlights in a standard 3mx3m bedroom. Larger rooms like kitchens and living areas will need more downlights, as well as dedicated task lighting.
LED Downlight Spacing
Most LED downlights are placed 1.5-4 metres apart when used for general lighting. Lights may be closer or further apart depending on what you’re trying to achieve.
You also need to consider the distance between each downlight and the nearest walls, ceiling fans and other light fittings. We typically recommend keeping downlights at least 1 metre away from walls and corners, and 1.5 metres away from the centre of ceiling fans and other ceiling-mounted lights.
Dealing With Flickering LEDs? Dawson Electric Can Get Them Working Properly!
Flickering lights is one of the most common and annoying electrical problems in the home. If you’ve installed LED bulbs that are prone to flickering, Dawson Electric can help!
Dawson Electric is a team of experienced electricians that works with clients all over Brisbane performing LED lighting installations. We love LED lighting and frequently recommend LED upgrades to our customers.
But LEDs also have a few quirks, and they may not work properly with old wiring or dimmer switches. If that happens, we can trace the source of the problem and find a solution that works for your home and budget.
Contact us to find out more, or give us a call for a quote!
Last Updated on November 28, 2024
Owner
Kristine Dawson is the co-owner of Dawson Electric, a family-owned Brisbane business established in 2007. With over 15 years of experience in the electrical industry, she is dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and quality workmanship. Kristine frequently shares her expertise on topics such as electrical safety, energy efficiency, and home maintenance.