What are Watts?
A watt is the unit of electrical power named after Scottish engineer James Watt. It measures the rate of energy transfer or conversion and is defined as one joule per second. Watts are commonly used to quantify electrical power. The concept of power measurement dates to the late 18th century when James Watt improved the steam engine's efficiency and introduced the term "horsepower" to compare engine output. The watt was later adopted as an SI unit in the 20th century to standardize power measurement worldwide. In lighting, watts refers to the amount of electricity that a light requires to produce it’s light output.
What are Lumens?
A lumen is the unit of luminous flux that measures the total amount of visible light emitted by a source per unit of time. Unlike watts, which measure power consumption, lumens indicate the brightness of a light source, making them essential for comparing lighting efficiency. Today, lumens are widely used to describe the brightness of bulbs, LEDs, and other lighting technologies, helping consumers choose energy-efficient lighting solutions.
What to Look for When You are Purchasing Light Bulbs?
With the recent requirement that all lights be LEDs, you may be thrown off by the wattages of LEDs compared to the old incandescent lights. 60 watts in an incandescent bulb would have gotten you somewhere near 800 lumens, while 60 watts in an LED like one of GT-Lite’s LED Panel bulbs would get you 6,000 lumens. It's best to pay attention to what lumen output you are purchasing if you don’t have a feel for how many watts an LED bulb uses by application. Here is a quick guide on how to gauge how many lumens you might need.
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800–1,500 lumens will put you in the range of the classic 60–100W incandescent light bulbs. You can find LED replacements here.
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2,500–5,000 lumens is the range that can light up a single-car garage. Results can vary, though, depending on the shape and what is in that space. Check out our option for high lumen bulbs here.
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5,000–10,000 lumens can cover like two car garages. Again, your results can vary due to shape and what is in your space. Check out our high-lumen bulb products here.
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10,000-15,000 lumens will light up three car garages, barns, workshops, and more. Use LED panel bulbs to get the most control over the light output to target important areas.
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15,000 lumens or more are very bright bulbs and can light up high bay storage areas. If this is something you need, try our 20,000 Lumen LED panel bulb.
