How Bright is 100 Lumens

100 lumens is as bright as a 2x AA flashlight in the mid-sized. It’s true that 100 lumens are not very bright, but it’s enough to see what you’re doing in an average-lit room. When it comes to brightness, lumens measure the amount of light emitted by a bulb. This means that 100 lumens are equivalent to the brightness of a standard 12-watt incandescent lightbulb.

If you are not yet familiar with lumens, we recommend reading our article on the subject. Once you are familiar with lumens, you can compare 100 lumens to other bulbs and determine which one is brighter.

Why Does Lumens Brightness Matter?

Lumens is a measurement unit that assesses light’s brightness or intensity. It is also known as the zonal cavity method. When it comes to brightness, you want the bulbs in your home to emit as much light as possible. Too little light, and you’ll have difficulty seeing in dark areas or during nighttime activities.

Conversely, too much light can cause problems such as sleep deprivation or headaches because it is too strong for some people. Let’s look at some reasons why Lumens brightness matters:

1. Light Output Matters

One of the reasons why Lumens brightness matters are because it measures how much light a bulb emits. This determines whether you can see what you’re doing in a room or if you need to adjust the lighting.

2. Updating Lighting

As technology advances, more and more bulbs are coming with LED lights. These bulbs emit fewer lumens than incandescent lights but consume less energy. So if you want to update your home’s lighting without spending a fortune, consider opting for LEDs over traditional bulbs.

3. Measuring Ambient Lighting

Most homes have some kind of light fixture that emits indirect lighting. This type of lighting is used to balance the brightness of areas in a room, such as near a window or the front door. The Lumens measurement can help you determine how bright this ambient light is.

4. Watts vs Lumens

One of the most common ways to compare light sources is by looking at their wattage and lumens ratings. Watts measure how much power a bulb uses, while lumens measure how bright the light emitted is. This can be helpful if you want to buy a new bulb but aren’t sure which one will be brighter.

How Bright is 100 Lumens?

I know it’s tough to determine how bright a bulb or light will be, especially when you have no experience with this. So let’s try to put things into perspective for you to understand the Lumens brightness rating better.

If 100 lumens is the equivalent of what an incandescent bulb emits, then most higher-wattage bulbs emit between 1000 and 2000 lumens. In other words, if a bulb has a watts rating of 31 watts, it will emit about 326 lumens. This means that one single high-wattage LED bulb can provide nearly as much light as several lower-wattage CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) or an incandescent lightbulb.

Nowadays, we carry lighter phones, laptops, tablets etc., with brighter screens that emit anywhere from 60-200+ lumens. So it’s really not crazy at all for something emitting 100 lumens to be brighter than most traditional light sources.

For what can we use 100 lumens?

We all know that light makes things look better. Whether in a dark room or exterior spaces such as walkways, doorways and patios, bright ambient lighting can help create an inviting and comfortable environment.

In addition, many people use 100 lumens lighting fixtures in their home office to offset the brightness of computer screens, reducing eye strain during extended work periods. And some garage sales sell LED task lights that emit up to 1000 lumens for use in workshop areas where higher levels of illumination are needed. For your better understanding, let’s see some Examples of 100-Lumen Use Cases:

1. Ambient Lighting

100 lumens can provide a bright and cheerful ambience in any room. From family rooms to hallways, it can help create an environment that is more inviting and comfortable.

2. Closets and Bedrooms

Many people use 100 lumens in their closets and bedrooms as a supplemental light source. This can help avoid using an incandescent light bulb, which can be costly and energy-intensive.

3. Outdoor recreational areas

When it comes to bright ambient lighting, few things are as impressive as light emitting from a 100-lumen bulb outdoors. You can use this type of lighting to highlight features of a landscape or add an extra level of safety when walking at night.

4. Reading room

One of my friends asked me whether 100 lumens are bright enough to read by. Yes, 100 lumens is bright enough to read by. In fact, I like to use it as my main reading light in the living room.

However, if you would like a brighter light, consider purchasing a 200- or even 500-lumen LED light bulb.

5. Close-up general use

100 lumens can also be a great light source for general close-up use. This includes tasks such as reading, working on a computer, or inspecting small objects. Even if you’re working in a relatively small space, 100 lumens can be more than enough light.

6. Home security

Many people use 100 lumens as part of their home security strategy. This type of light can help to provide visibility when walking around the house at night or illuminating areas that may be difficult to see during daylight hours.

Lumens vs Watts measurement chart

Types Of Bulbs	100 Lumens to watt
Incandescent	12W
LED	1W
CFL	2W
Halogen	8W

 

Conclusion

Now that you know the answer to your question, it should be easier now to determine how bright is 100 lumens. While this brightness level isn’t exactly what you would need for a long walk at night or in a dark alley, it can certainly come in handy anytime you want some light.

Something like using a flashlight when walking around your home late at night? Sounds right? The same case applies here; just switch to dim mode, and everything will be fine.