A lumen is a new unit of measure to determine light output. Denoted by lm, they are the total amount of light visible to the human eye from a source of light. The brighter the lamp is, the higher amount of lumens being output.
Thanks progressing LED technology, higher lumens are now achievable with much less power usage. For example, you will commonly see a 50W PAR20 lamp now replaced by an 8W PAR20 lamp. That's roughly 85% less energy used for the same lumen output. The technology in LED is always progressing and more lumens are being produced per watt with every new lamp release, so keep in mind, wattage isn't the best way to use to determine brightness any more.
If you are wanting to directly swap a 50W conventional lamp, you will need an LED lamp with between 450-500 lumens. All LED lamps will have a lumen rating on the packaging, as well as most companies, will have a comparison. An example is 8W LED = 50W Halogen.
Here is something to remember when you are selecting a lamp based on lumens. A non-directional lamp, such as a globe(G25) or bulb(A19) shape, has a lumen rating based off of the light in all directions. These lamps may have more lumens then other lamps but not all of it usable.
To get an idea of how many lumens you need in a room we have made up examples.
| Area | Lumens per Square Meter |
| Kitchen, Living Room, Bedroom | 300 to 400 |
| Kitchen, Bedroom, Office, Task Spaces | 700 to 800 |
| Hallways | 300 |
Contact a Gescan Representative today for help with how many lumens you need in a room!