Lighting Tool
Lighting Unit Converter
Convert between metric and imperial units used on LED lighting spec sheets: meters ↔ feet, m² ↔ ft², lux ↔ foot-candles and watts ↔ VA.
Length
Mounting heights, distances
Formula: 1 m = 3.28084 ft; 1 ft = 0.3048 m
Area
Room and floor areas
Formula: 1 m² = 10.7639 ft²; 1 ft² = 0.092903 m²
Illuminance
Lux ↔ foot-candles
Formula: 1 fc = 10.76 lux
Power
Watts ↔ VA (power factor 0.95)
Formula: VA = W ÷ power factor (0.95)
FAQs
Unit Conversion Questions
Quick reference for the conversions used across our tools and spec sheets.
How do I convert lux to foot-candles?
1 foot-candle = 10.76 lux. Divide lux by 10.76 to get foot-candles; multiply foot-candles by 10.76 to get lux.
How many feet are in a meter?
1 meter = 3.28084 feet; 1 foot = 0.3048 meters. For ceiling heights, 3 m ≈ 9.8 ft.
How do I convert watts to VA?
VA = watts ÷ power factor. LED drivers usually have PF 0.9–0.95, so 15W ≈ 16VA. This matters when sizing circuits and generators.
Why do US projects use foot-candles?
The US market commonly specifies illuminance in foot-candles (lumens per square foot) while Europe and Asia use lux (lumens per square meter). 1 fc = 10.76 lux.
Spec Sheets in Your Units
Ask for photometric files (IES/LDT), datasheets and cut sheets in metric or imperial units.