When choosing an LED luminaire, most people look at the wattage. But watts measure power draw, not the amount of light. What actually matters is brightness, and it is measured in lumens (lm): the more lumens, the brighter the light. As a rough guide, a kitchen work area wants around 300–500 lux, a living room 150–250, and a production floor considerably more.
The second key figure is colour temperature, in Kelvin (K). 2700–3000K is warm, yellowish light for bedrooms and relaxation areas. 4000K is neutral white for kitchens, hallways and offices. 5000–6500K is cool, daylight-like light for production, warehouses and garages, where you need to see detail clearly.
Third is the colour rendering index (CRI or Ra), which shows how faithfully the light reproduces colours. A CRI above 80 is fine for the home, but for a shop, a mirror area or a workplace choose 90+, so colours and faces look natural.
Do not overlook the IP rating. A dry room is fine with IP20, a bathroom or damp area needs at least IP44, and outdoors or on a production floor you want IP65 or higher. We cover this in a separate article.
Finally, look at the warranty and the manufacturer. A cheap, no-name fixture can fail within six months, turning your saving into an expense. Electrica Group selects luminaires that last — true to our "For Long Life" principle. If in doubt, write to us or use the lighting calculator on the site to work out the right quantity and power.
