Watts to Lumens Calculator

Convert between watts and lumens instantly, or look up the LED equivalent of any incandescent bulb. Use the tabs below to switch between conversion modes.

Find the LED wattage equivalent for any traditional incandescent bulb.

Lumens vs. Watts: What’s the Difference?

Watts measure how much energy a bulb consumes. Lumens measure how much light it actually produces. LED and CFL bulbs changed how we shop for light: a 9-watt LED can produce as much light as a 60-watt incandescent, because it converts far more energy into light rather than heat.

LED Equivalent Reference Chart

Incandescent LED Equivalent Lumens (approx.)
25W 2–3W LED ~250 lm
40W 4–5W LED ~450 lm
60W 8–10W LED ~800 lm
75W 11–13W LED ~1,100 lm
100W 14–16W LED ~1,600 lm
150W 20–25W LED ~2,600 lm

Lumens per Watt (Efficacy) by Bulb Type

LED bulbs typically produce 80–120 lumens per watt. Incandescent bulbs produce around 10–17 lumens per watt. CFLs fall in between at 45–75 lumens per watt. T8 fluorescent tubes typically achieve 80–90 lumens per watt.

Shopping for LED Replacements

When replacing traditional bulbs with LED, match lumens rather than watts. Browse our LED Bulbs collection to find the right replacement, or request a quote for bulk orders.

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Bulb Efficiency Comparison Chart

This chart shows how efficiently each bulb type converts electricity into light. Download or print it as a reference when choosing replacements.

Lumens per Watt — Bulb Efficiency Comparison More lumens per watt = more light for less electricity Bulb Type Incandescent 14 lm/W Halogen 20 lm/W CFL 60 lm/W T8 Fluorescent 85 lm/W LED 90 lm/W 0 20 40 60 80 90 Lumens per Watt (lm/W) When replacing bulbs, match lumens — not watts A 9W LED produces the same ~800 lumens as a 60W incandescent — saving ~85% in energy costs lightbulq.com