Luminous Intensity Unit Converter
The luminous intensity unit converter allows you to convert between commonly used luminous intensity measurements such as candelas, millicandelas, and kilocandelas. This tool is useful for lighting designers, photographers, electrical engineers, and anyone working with light sources. Select a conversion below or choose from popular luminous intensity unit conversions.
Supported Luminous Intensity Units
| Unit | Short Form | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Candela | cd | SI base unit of luminous intensity |
| Millicandela | mcd | 1/1,000 of a candela, common for LEDs |
| Kilocandela | kcd | 1,000 candelas, used for high-intensity lights |
Popular Luminous Intensity Conversions
How Luminous Intensity Unit Conversion Works
Luminous intensity units are converted using powers of 10, following the metric system.
For example, 1 candela equals 1,000 millicandelas.
Our luminous intensity converter uses accurate conversion factors to ensure precise results for lighting design, LED specifications, and photometry.
Common Use Cases
- LED specification and selection
- Lighting design and architecture
- Photography and videography
- Automotive headlight measurements
- Display and indicator brightness ratings
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the luminous intensity unit converter?
Our converter uses precise conversion factors based on international standards. Results are accurate to multiple decimal places, suitable for professional use in lighting design, engineering, and photometry.
What is a candela?
A candela (cd) is the SI base unit of luminous intensity. It measures the power emitted by a light source in a particular direction, weighted by the sensitivity of the human eye. One candela is roughly the luminous intensity of a common candle.
How many millicandelas are in a candela?
1 candela equals exactly 1,000 millicandelas (mcd). This is a standard metric conversion.
What’s the difference between luminous intensity and brightness?
Luminous intensity (measured in candelas) is the power of light emitted in a specific direction. Brightness is how we perceive light and depends on many factors including distance, viewing angle, and surrounding conditions.
What is a typical LED brightness in millicandelas?
Standard indicator LEDs typically range from 20 to 2,000 millicandelas (0.02 to 2 candelas). High-brightness LEDs can exceed 10,000 millicandelas (10 candelas).
How is luminous intensity different from lumens?
Luminous intensity (candelas) measures light in a specific direction, while luminous flux (lumens) measures total light output in all directions. A 1-candela source emitting uniformly in all directions produces about 12.57 lumens.
Why is the candela one of the SI base units?
The candela is an SI base unit because light measurement is fundamental to many scientific and practical applications, and luminous intensity cannot be derived from other base units.
What are kilocandelas used for?
Kilocandelas are used for very bright light sources such as searchlights, lighthouse beacons, aircraft landing lights, and high-intensity industrial lighting.