Luminance Converter
Luminance is the brightness of a surface seen from a particular direction — how much light it emits or reflects per unit area. The SI unit is the candela per square metre, also called the nit.
1 Candela/sq Meter (Nit) = 0.291863508 Foot-lambert
How to convert Candela/sq Meter (Nit) to Foot-lambert
One Candela/sq Meter (Nit) equals 0.291863508 Foot-lambert, so multiply any value in cd/m² by 0.291863508 to get fL. To convert back, divide by 0.291863508 — or multiply by 3.4262591.
fL = cd/m² × 0.291863508
Example: 25 cd/m² × 0.291863508 = 7.296587699 fL.
Candela/sq Meter (Nit) to Foot-lambert table
| Candela/sq Meter (Nit) (cd/m²) | Foot-lambert (fL) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.291863508 |
| 2 | 0.5837270159 |
| 3 | 0.8755905239 |
| 4 | 1.167454032 |
| 5 | 1.45931754 |
| 10 | 2.91863508 |
| 15 | 4.377952619 |
| 20 | 5.837270159 |
| 25 | 7.296587699 |
| 50 | 14.5931754 |
| 75 | 21.8897631 |
| 100 | 29.1863508 |
| 250 | 72.96587699 |
| 500 | 145.931754 |
| 1,000 | 291.863508 |
Foot-lambert to Candela/sq Meter (Nit) table
| Foot-lambert (fL) | Candela/sq Meter (Nit) (cd/m²) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.4262591 |
| 2 | 6.852518199 |
| 3 | 10.2787773 |
| 4 | 13.7050364 |
| 5 | 17.1312955 |
| 10 | 34.262591 |
| 15 | 51.39388649 |
| 20 | 68.52518199 |
| 25 | 85.65647749 |
| 50 | 171.312955 |
| 75 | 256.9694325 |
| 100 | 342.62591 |
| 250 | 856.5647749 |
| 500 | 1,713.12955 |
| 1,000 | 3,426.2591 |
Luminance units at a glance
All 9 units this converter supports, each expressed in Candela/sq Meter (Nit) (cd/m²) and the other way round.
| Unit | Symbol | 1 unit in cd/m² | 1 cd/m² in unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candela/sq Meter (Nit) | cd/m² | 1 | 1 |
| Candela/sq Centimeter | cd/cm² | 10,000 | 0.0001 |
| Candela/sq Foot | cd/ft² | 10.76391042 | 0.09290304 |
| Candela/sq Inch | cd/in² | 1,550.0031 | 0.00064516 |
| Stilb | sb | 10,000 | 0.0001 |
| Apostilb | asb | 0.3183098862 | 3.141592654 |
| Lambert | L | 3,183.098862 | 0.0003141592654 |
| Foot-lambert | fL | 3.4262591 | 0.291863508 |
| Bril | bril | 1e-7 | 10,000,000 |
Where luminance conversions are used
Display and monitor brightness (commonly 250–1,000 nits, more for HDR), signage, and road lighting.
Frequently asked questions
What is 1 Candela/sq Meter (Nit) in Foot-lambert?
1 Candela/sq Meter (Nit) (cd/m²) is 0.291863508 Foot-lambert (fL).
What is 1 Foot-lambert in Candela/sq Meter (Nit)?
1 Foot-lambert (fL) is 3.4262591 Candela/sq Meter (Nit) (cd/m²).
How do I convert Candela/sq Meter (Nit) to Foot-lambert?
Multiply the value in Candela/sq Meter (Nit) by 0.291863508. For example, 5 cd/m² × 0.291863508 = 1.45931754 fL. To go the other way, divide by 0.291863508.
How many units does the luminance converter support?
It converts between 9 units: Candela/sq Meter (Nit), Candela/sq Centimeter, Candela/sq Foot, Candela/sq Inch, Stilb, Apostilb, Lambert, Foot-lambert, Bril.
More Light & Optics converters
- Illuminance (Illumination) ConverterLight illuminance / illumination conversions (lux, foot-candle, phot)
- Luminous Intensity ConverterLuminous intensity conversions (candela, candlepower)
- Digital Image Resolution ConverterDigital image resolution conversions (PPI, DPI, pixels/cm)
- Frequency-Wavelength ConverterConvert between electromagnetic frequency and wavelength (Hz ↔ nm)
Figures on this page are calculated with the same conversion factors as the converter above and shown to up to 10 significant figures. See our disclaimer before relying on a result in a professional or safety-critical context.