Design guideline — not a CEC rule

Lumens Per Room Calculator

Figure out roughly how much total light a room actually needs, based on its size and purpose — then shop for fixtures with a real target in mind.

Room Type

Room Length (ft)

Room Width (ft)

— footcandles

RECOMMENDED TOTAL LUMENS

—

ROOM AREA

— sq ft

Rough fixture guide: Enter room dimensions to see a fixture estimate.

1 footcandle = 1 lumen per square foot, so recommended lumens = room area × the target footcandle level for that room type.
Task-heavy rooms (kitchens, bathrooms, offices) get a higher footcandle target than relaxed-use rooms (living rooms, bedrooms).
This is a general-lighting target — dedicated task lighting (under-cabinet, desk lamps) should be layered on top, not counted against this total.
Check your planned fixture count and wattage against our Pot Light Spacing Calculator.