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Wattage vs. Lumens: Which Matters More? Share


⚡ Wattage vs. Lumens: Which Matters More?

1. Understanding the Basics

 

Term

What It Measures

What It Tells You

Wattage (W)

Power consumption

How much electricity the light uses

Lumens (lm)

Light output

How bright the light actually is

 

 

A good way to judge light quality and energy efficiency is to check lumens per watt (lm/W).

 

Wattage = Power Consumption


*Definition: Wattage measures how much electricity a bulb uses.


*Example: A 60W incandescent bulb uses 60 watts of power.


*Key Point: Higher wattage doesn’t always mean brighter light — especially with LEDs, which are far more efficient.





Lumens = Brightness

 

*Definition: Lumens measure the actual light output or brightness.

 

*Example: A 10W LED can produce 800 lumens, the same brightness as a 60W incandescent bulb.


*Key Point: The higher the lumens, the brighter the light.





⚖️ The Relationship

Light Type

Power (Watts)

Brightness (Lumens)

Efficiency

Incandescent

60W

800 lm

❌ Low

CFL

15W

800 lm

✅ Better

LED

10W

800 lm

 Excellent




So, Which Matters More?

 

*For brightness: Lumens matter most.


*For energy use: Wattage matters for efficiency and electricity costs.

 

*Best balance: Choose higher lumens with lower wattage (i.e., high efficiency).





✅ Quick Tip

When shopping for LED flood lights:


Look for lumens first.


Check wattage second (for energy savings).


Example:


“14000 lumens, 100W LED” → bright and energy-efficient.

Author introduction

royce.png Author

G'day My friends,

My name is Royce O'young, I’m the sales manager of Oleder Lighting. I have been in the LED lights industry for more than 16 years. Good at lighting design, street light system configuration, and bidding technology support,and architecture inner decorating lighting advice . Feel free to contact us.I’m happy to provide you with the best service and products.

Email: r.oyoung@oleder-lighting.com | WhatsApp: +86159 2057 0517


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