How Many Lumens For Bedside Lamp?

Nightstand lamps are bedroom must-haves, and it’s no surprise, they sit snugly on your bedside table. But to make your bedside lamp truly perfect, you should know how many lumens for the bedside lamp.

Typically, 220 - 450 lumens works best for bedside lamps, depending on your purpose, reading, or winding down.

Rule of thumb: Too dim, and you’ll strain your eyes; whereas, too bright, and it’ll be more like a stage show than bedtime.

Finding the right lumens can turn your bedside area from "can’t see a thing" to "just right" in seconds. Our lumens guide will help you brighten up your bed space the smart way!

First, what exactly are lumens?

Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb produces, basically telling you how bright it will be. While many still look at watts on the packaging, watts only show how much energy a light bulb uses, not brightness like lumens do.

Typically, more watts mean more lumens and brighter light. But with energy-efficient bulbs taking over, lumens have become the go-to for selecting the perfect brightness for your space.

Lumens Chart for Bedside Lamp

When choosing the right bedside lamp, understanding how many lumens for the bedside lamp can make all the difference. Here’s a handy chart to help you find the ideal brightness that suits your needs: 

Lume range	Purpose of the lamp
Softer Light (220 lumens)	Soft, ambient lighting for a cozy, romantic atmosphere
Relaxing Light (400 lumens)	Gentle lighting for a calm, comfortable environment to relax
Brighter Light (440 - 450 lumens)	Stronger lighting, ideal for tasks like reading or working in bed

Softer Light (220 lumens)

If you want to set a calm and cozy vibe or even sprinkle in a little romance, a bulb with around 220 lumens is perfect for softer lighting. This level of brightness provides a warm glow that's ideal for bedtime routines or simply chilling out without too much light.

The big plus point is that it won’t overpower the room which makes it great for mood-setting or as a low-light option while you watch TV or unwind after a long day.

Relaxing Light (400 lumens)

For those who want a balance between functionality and comfort, 400 lumens hits the sweet spot. This is the perfect brightness for activities like meditating or just hanging out in bed without being too intense.

A 400-lumen bedside lamp lights up the room just enough to make it cozy and inviting, but it's soft on the eyes. It is perfect for getting your relaxation time on before hitting the hay.

If you're going for this cozy lumen level to relax before bed, why not replace your boring lamp? Bring the ocean with dreamy light, or maybe even channel superhero vibes with the "light of justice". All wrapped up in these super cool Artisan Epoxy Lamps!

Brighter Light (440 - 450 lumens)

How many lumens for reading in bed? If you want a little extra energy for those late-night reading sessions or work-from-bed moments, bedside lamps with 440 - 450 lumens work best. This lumen range offers excellent brightness for focused tasks like reading and ensuring you won’t strain your eyes or risk future vision issues.

But don’t forget, room size plays a big role too! For comfortable reading, aim for 25 - 50 lumens per 10.8 sq. ft (1 m²) directly focused on your reading area. Just because a bulb has high lumens doesn't mean it provides adequate brightness for your book.

Sometimes, a well-aimed bedside lamp with fewer lumens is a much better choice than a chandelier that leaves your reading nook in the shadows. To get the best light, divide the bulb lumens by the room area; otherwise, you might end up with tired eyes, redness, and pesky headaches.

5 Factors Affecting Choosing Lumens For Bedside Lamp

Knowing how many lumens for a bedside lamp won’t cut it! You also need to take a few more things into account to score that ideal brightness for your bedroom.

Color Temperature

When it comes to the overall brightness, calculating how many lumens for a bedside lamp alone is not enough, we also need to consider color temperature. Color temperature is measured on the Kelvin scale ranging from 1,000K to 10,000K and tells you how warm, neutral or cool the lighting feels.

For bedroom ambiance, you should choose warm and neutral color temperatures for a cozy, relaxing atmosphere that promotes rest. 

Warmer lights with soft white color (2000K - 3000K) give off a calming, golden light that helps to set a more soothing and romantic mood before sleep, especially with those gorgeous traditional lamps.

On the other hand, neutral lights with soft white, bright, true, and cool white colors (3100K - 4500K) bring a more energetic feel while remaining gentle on the eyes. These are typically found in sleek, modern bedside lamps with brighter lighting, perfect for those pre-sleep reading sessions. 

At the higher end of the color temperature scale, from 4600K and above, the light produced is known as cool white, pure white, or day white. These lights have a blue-ish white tint and appear crisp, invigorating, and energetic. While they are best suited for busier and more lively areas of the home, such as kitchens, utility rooms, bathrooms, and offices, they are generally not recommended for bedside lamps. The higher blue content can be stimulating and may disrupt the sleep-wake cycle if used in the bedroom

Light Fixture Design

Before thinking about how many lumens for a bedside lamp, don’t forget to factor in the design of your fixture and how it will interact with the light. With so many different styles out there, each one plays with light in its unique way.

When it comes to bedroom lighting, most prefer fixtures that direct light downward like those with standard shades, to focus brightness near the bed and create a cozy atmosphere.

For a softer vibe, lamps with diffusers like torchieres spread light evenly throughout the room to create a relaxing atmosphere without being too harsh, even with higher lumens.

If you’re an avid reader, go for a focused light fixture like a desk lamp with a downward-facing shade that directs light on your book. It’s perfect for avoiding eye strain and making bedtime reading more comfortable.

Number of Bulbs

Consider “how many lumens for a bedside lamp” isn't enough, as a room typically requires more than just one light source. So, single bulb or multiple bulbs?

A lamp with multiple bulbs such as mogul lamps that can hold up to six bulbs can provide a higher total lumen output. With more bulbs, it's easier to hit the right brightness level for reading or relaxing. For example, a lamp with two 20-lumen bulbs gives you 40 lumens overall.

Just keep in mind that more bulbs may mean more energy consumption. But pair it with a dimmer switch, and you’ve got the perfect setup. You can easily switch between soft, warm light or a brighter option for reading by using LED bulbs.

Brightness

No doubt about it, brightness is the key factor in making sure your bedside lamp does its job well.

As mentioned earlier, a calming atmosphere typically requires a light range of 220 - 400 lumens, which is gentle on the eyes. Yet, for reading, a slightly higher brightness of 400 - 450 lumens is recommended to ensure clarity and ease. 

As we age, our eyes need more light, the average person needs about 1% more light each year. For example, at age 10, you might need around 400 lumens for comfortable reading, but by age 60, you may require nearly 1,000 lumens to achieve the same brightness.

Now, if you're unsure about choosing a brightness level because most bulb packaging only lists watts, here’s a quick guide:

*Note: While this guide is helpful, there's no exact formula to convert watts into lumens or the other way around.

Light distribution

Last but not least, light distribution is essential for effective illumination. The way light spreads from your bedside lamp can significantly impact how well it lights your space.

For instance, a lamp that directs light downward will provide focused brightness for reading, while a lamp that scatters light all around creates a cozy, soft glow that sets the perfect mood.

But beware! Reading near a super bright lamp while the rest of the room remains dark, as this stark contrast can strain your eyes. To avoid this, choose lamps with a maximum brightness of 450 lumens and a color temperature between 2600K and 3200K. This provides enough light for reading while keeping your eyes comfortable and protected.

And while we’re at it, avoid reading straight from your computer screen. The glare can be intense, and with those flickering pixels, you might end up with Computer Vision Syndrome, which is no fun at all.

Also, don’t overlook the lampshade which can greatly affect light distribution. An opaque shade can block too much light, while a sheer one might not soften it enough. The right shade diffuses light effectively and provides comfort for your eyes, like Hirosart's handcrafted lamps with their diffused soothing glow.

Lumen Calculation Formula

Now, the real game starts!

If you’re looking to determine the necessary lumens for your bedroom or want to spice things up with some layered lighting but aren’t quite sure how many lumens for a bedside lamp you need, take a look at the handy lumen formula below.

Bedroom Ceiling Lower Than 10ft

Total Lumens = [Room Area (square feet) x Foot-Candles (fc)]/[Coefficient of Utilization (CU) x Light Loss Factor (LLF)]

Explanation of Components in the Formula:

• Lumens measure the amount of light produced by a light source. 
• Room Area (square feet) is the total surface area of the room in square feet, calculated by multiplying the length and width.
• Foot-Candles (fc) measure the intensity of light on a one-square-foot area from a consistent light source. Essentially, it indicates how bright the light is one foot away from the light source. For bedrooms, the recommended foot candle range is typically between 10 and 20 foot-candles.
• Coefficient of Utilization (CU) measures the percentage of light from a fixture that reaches the work surface, depending on fixture design and room reflectance (walls, ceiling). Higher CU (0.3 to 0.9) means more efficient light distribution, with lighter walls increasing CU.
• Light Loss Factor (LLF) accounts for light reduction from aging, dirt, and the environment. LLF typically ranges from 0.6 to 0.9. Higher values mean less light loss.

Now, let’s take an example. The average bedroom size in U.S. homes is about 132 square feet to accommodate a full-size bed comfortably. Let’s assume you want 15 fc, with a CU of 0.9 and an LLF of 0.7. The calculation would be:

Total Lumens = (132 sq. ft. × 15 fc) / (0.9*0.7)= 3,143 lumens. That means you'll need around 3,143 lumens to effectively light up a 132-square-foot bedroom.

*Note: To be more precise, you need to divide the total lumens required for the room by the number of lighting fixtures. For example, a 132 m² room needing 3,143 lumens and 5 fixtures means each fixture needs an average of 629 lumens.

However, fixtures may vary in lumen output depending on their design, so not all fixtures in a room may require the same lumens. Just like bedside lamps only require 220 - 450 lumens for localized tasks like reading or creating a calming atmosphere, not lighting the whole room.

Bedroom Ceiling Taller Than 10ft

Wait a minute! Is your bedroom ceiling taller than 10 feet? If so, you’ll need to think about a few extra things.

First, Ceiling Height Adjustment tells us the extra lumens per square foot needed based on ceiling height. Higher ceilings need more light to properly brighten a space.

Let's assume you need 20 footcandles with light-colored walls (0.90 reflectance), the chart below shows the approximate lumens needed.

Room Dimensions	11ft Ceiling	12ft Ceiling	15ft Ceiling
12ft x 12ft	3,600 lm	3,900 lm	4,400 lm
15ft x 15ft	5,200 lm	5,400 lm	6,000 lm
15ft x 20ft	6,700 lm	6,900 lm	7,400 lm
20ft x 20ft	8,600 lm	8,900 lm	9,400 lm

Second, Wall Colour Adjustment:

• For medium-dark walls, multiply your total lumens by 2
• For dark walls, multiply your total lumens by 4

To make things simple, just follow the steps above or if you want a more accurate lumens number, enter your measurements into this lumen estimation calculator.

Finished your calculations? It’s time to shop for a new bedside lamp. But don’t let that old one go to waste. Check out this safe lamp disposal guide. And if you're feeling a bit crafty, here is how to take apart a lamp and turn that old lamp into something fabulous.

Conclusion

Now that you know how many lumens for bedside lamp lighting, you can say goodbye to squinting in the dark and hello to cozy bedtime vibes.

Remember, For the ideal pre-sleep chill session, aim for 220 - 400 lumens, and when it’s time to read or tackle late-night tasks, crank it up to 440 - 450 lumens. With the right brightness, you’ll turn your bedside into the perfect spot for relaxation and sweet dreams.

FAQs

What Is Good Wattage For Bedside Lamp?

A bedside lamp typically needs 40 - 60 watts for a cozy glow, depending on the room size and desired brightness. But with energy-efficient bulbs, it’s better to focus on lumens for the right brightness.

How Many Lumens Do I Need For A Bedroom Light?

A bedroom typically needs 10 - 20 lumens per square foot. For small rooms (under 100 sq. ft.), aim for 1000 - 2000 lumens; medium rooms (100 - 200 sq. ft.) need 2000 - 4000 lumens, and large rooms (200+ sq. ft.) require 4000 - 8000 lumens. 

Total lumens is the total amount of lumens from different light sources in the bedroom, such as overhead lights, table lamps, and wall sconces.

Is 800 Lumens Bright Enough For A Bedroom?

No, 800 lumens isn't enough to light up the entire bedroom, and it's also too bright for a single bedside lamp in the sleeping area.  It's comparable to a 60-watt incandescent bulb, which would leave the room dim if it's the only light source. You'll likely need additional lighting to properly illuminate a habitable space.