
Lux and foot candles are two commonly used units for measuring light intensity. Both are important metrics in the field of lighting design and can help determine the appropriate level of illumination for various applications. Lux is the metric unit of measurement used in the International System of Units (SI), measuring the amount of light that falls on a surface in lumens per square meter (lm/m²). Foot-candle is the imperial unit of measurement and is widely used in the United States and other countries still following the imperial system. One foot-candle equals one lumen per square foot. This article will provide an overview of how to measure foot-candle and lux, including the conversion between the two units.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Foot-candle definition | Equals one lumen per square foot |
| Foot-candle measurement | Used to measure the amount of light in one square foot |
| Foot-candle usage | Foot-candles are used mainly in the United States and other countries that follow the imperial system |
| Lux definition | Lux is the metric unit of measurement used in the International System of Units (SI) |
| Lux measurement | Lux measures the amount of light that falls on a surface in lumens per square meter (lm/m²) |
| Lux usage | Lux is commonly used in Europe and other parts of the world |
| Conversion factor | 1 lux = 0.0929 foot-candles or 1 foot-candle = 10.76 lux |
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What You'll Learn

Lux and foot candles are two sides of the same coin
Lux and foot candles are indeed two sides of the same coin. They are both units of measurement used to quantify the amount of visible light falling on a surface per unit area. In other words, they are both used to measure light intensity or illuminance.
Lux (lx) is the metric unit of measurement used in the International System of Units (SI). It measures the amount of light that falls on a surface in lumens per square meter (lm/m²). One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter. Lux is commonly used in Europe and other parts of the world.
Foot-candle (fc), on the other hand, is the imperial unit of measurement widely used in the United States and other countries that still follow the imperial system. It represents the amount of light in one square foot. One foot-candle equals one lumen per square foot.
The primary distinction between lux and foot candles lies in the units used. Since they represent the same concept of light intensity, they can be converted from one unit to the other. The conversion factor is approximately 10.764, meaning one lux is roughly equal to 0.0929 foot-candles or 10 lux is roughly equal to one foot-candle. To convert lux to foot-candles, divide the lux value by 10.764, and to convert foot-candles to lux, multiply the foot-candle value by 10.764.
Understanding the relationship between lux and foot-candles is important in various fields, including lighting design, photography, and film. It helps to ensure proper illumination levels in different environments and achieve the desired lighting effects.
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The metric and imperial systems
Foot-candles and lux are both units of measurement for light intensity. They describe the amount of light that hits a surface, but they belong to different measurement systems.
The Imperial System
Foot-candles are a unit of measurement in the imperial system. They measure the amount of light that falls on a surface in lumens per square foot (lm/ft²). One foot-candle equals one lumen per square foot. This unit is commonly used in parts of the world where United States customary units are used, mainly in the United States. It is widely used in the museum and gallery fields in the US, where lighting levels must be carefully controlled to conserve light-sensitive objects. Foot-candles are also used in cinematography in the US, where incident light meters are used to measure the number of foot-candles present, allowing cinematographers to set up proper lighting-contrast ratios when filming.
The Metric System
Lux is the metric unit of measurement used in the International System of Units (SI). It measures the amount of light that falls on a surface in lumens per square meter (lm/m²). Lux is commonly used in Europe and other parts of the world. It is also used in scientific contexts. Lux is defined as one lumen per square meter.
Conversions
Since lux and foot-candles represent the same concept of light intensity, they can be converted from one unit to the other. One foot-candle is equal to approximately 10.76 lux, which is typically rounded to around 10 lux for convenient use and easier conversions. To convert foot-candles to lux, multiply the number of foot-candles by 10.76. Conversely, one lux is equivalent to approximately 0.0929 foot-candles.
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How to convert lux to foot candles
Lux and foot candles are both units used to measure illuminance, or the amount of light that a surface receives. Lux is the internationally accepted unit, representing the amount of light in one square meter. Foot candles, on the other hand, represent the amount of light in one square foot and are primarily used in the United States.
To convert lux to foot candles, you need to use the conversion factor derived from the square meters to square feet ratio. First, you need to know that 1 square meter equals 10.76391 square feet. Then, simply divide the lux value by this conversion factor to get the foot candle value. For example, if you have a lux measurement of 15 lux, you can divide this by 10.76391 to get the foot candle value of approximately 1.39 foot candles.
Alternatively, you can use an online conversion calculator. These tools will allow you to input the lux value and will quickly and accurately calculate the equivalent foot candle value for you. Some websites that offer these conversion calculators include TranslatorsCafe.com and Omnicalculator.com.
Understanding how to convert between lux and foot candles is important when designing lighting setups, calculating appropriate illumination levels, or assessing the efficiency of light sources. It also allows you to effectively communicate illuminance measurements in different settings, as different industries and regions may prefer one unit over the other.
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How to convert foot candles to lux
Foot-candles and lux are both units of measurement used to quantify the amount of visible light falling on a surface per unit area. The primary distinction between the two is that lux is a metric unit, while foot-candles are imperial. The choice between the two often depends on geographical location and industry standards.
To convert from lux to foot-candles, divide the lux value by the square feet conversion factor (approximately 10.76391) to calculate foot-candles. For example, 15 lux is equal to approximately 1.3935456 foot-candles.
To convert from foot-candles to lux, multiply the foot-candle value by the conversion factor (approximately 10.76391) to calculate lux. So, 1 foot-candle is equal to approximately 10.76391 lux.
There are also online conversion tools and calculators that can be used to quickly convert between foot-candles and lux.
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Photography and film applications
Lux and foot candles are indispensable units of measurement for photographers and filmmakers to control lighting conditions for capturing high-quality images or footage. Understanding these measurements helps them achieve the desired lighting effects and maintain consistency in their work.
Photographers and filmmakers use light meters to measure the number of foot-candles present, which are then used to calculate the intensity of motion picture lights. This allows cinematographers to set up proper lighting-contrast ratios when filming.
Foot-candles are also used frequently when lighting sets for films and TV. Cinematographers and photographers use foot-candles to measure the intensity of light falling on a surface, which is important for achieving the desired lighting effects. For example, a basic exposure rule taught in film school is that for ISO 100, 100 foot-candles equals 1/50 @ f2.8.
With the widespread use of LED lights for cinematography and still photography, and the abandonment of tungsten, watts are no longer a reliable indicator of light output. This makes understanding lux essential to evaluating light sources. Lux is the metric unit of measurement used in the International System of Units (SI) and is defined as one lumen per square meter. Lux is commonly used in Europe and other parts of the world, while foot-candles are more prevalent in the United States and other countries still following the imperial system.
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Frequently asked questions
Foot candles and lux are both units of measurement used to quantify the amount of visible light falling on a surface per unit area.
To convert foot candles to lux, multiply the foot candle value by the conversion factor of 10.764.
To convert lux to foot candles, divide the lux value by the conversion factor of 10.764.
One foot candle is equivalent to approximately 10 lux or 10.57 lux.
One lux is roughly equal to 0.0929 foot candles.




































