Do you need a flashlight that has a lot of lumens? We ask how many lumens is good for a flashlight, to help you determine how many lumens you need for your specific application.
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Flashlights come in a huge variety of sizes and features, but the primary reason one is used of course is to illuminate things. A flashlight’s brightness is determined by the lumen number given on the product, but what does that mean?
A lumen is a unit of measurement for the amount of light that is produced by a given source. One lumen is equivalent to the light produced by one candle. So, a flashlight with 100 lumens would produce the same amount of light as 100 candles.
As a flashlight’s lumen rating indicates the amount of light that the flashlight is capable of producing, this rating will help determine how well the flashlight will be able to illuminate your surroundings. The higher the lumen rating, the brighter the light will be.
However, it is important to note that a higher lumen rating does not always mean that a flashlight is better. For example, if you are looking for a flashlight to use in your home, then you won’t need one with a very high lumen rating.
If you are looking for a flashlight to use outdoors at night, then you will want one with a higher lumen rating so that you can see more clearly.
Lumen ratings can range from around 20 lumens all the way up to over 3000 lumens for the extreme professional use. When choosing a flashlight, it is important to consider both the lumen rating and the intended use.
The brightness of a flashlight is not only based on how many lumens it has. The reflector or lens also affects how bright the beam is, how wide it is, and how far away it can be seen.
There are more factors to consider than just brightness but it’s the primary differentiator so it’s the obvious place to begin your selection by knowing how many lumens is good for a flashlight to suit each task.
The following lumens scale for flashlight increments from the smallest to highest, so you can know how many lumens should a flashlight have.
A flashlight with 10-20 lumens has a very low brightness and usually found in micro-sized, pocket, pen, or keychain light. These lights are handy to have with you and give off just enough light for close up applications.
This rating of light is helpful to find something in a dark place, or to see in an emergency. These lights just use small batteries.
A flashlight with a brightness level of 20-100 lumens is ideal for use in and around the home, as well as outdoor activities. Most average flashlights have the power of 100 lumens, so this rating has become the standard for good all round general use in and out of urban areas.
The label of EDC flashlights or “Everyday Carry Lights” means they are small enough to fit in your pocket and bright enough to have a throw distance of 20-30 feet with an average runtime of 5-10 hours on two AA batteries.
A flashlight within a 100 to 199 lumen range is also a good choice for general use. It has a good amount of light output, making it effective and efficient. It is still affordable, and usually small enough to fit in your pocket handbag or purse.
If you plan on buying a flashlight for activities like camping or hiking, this is ideal you’ll want to get one that is cost effective but still fit for basic use. But if you plan on using one often or need it for a job, you may want to get a more powerful model.
A flashlight within a 200-399 lumen range is bright and very useful and excellent for camping, fishing, trekking, and tactical outdoor tasks. You can also use it at home, in your garage, reserved for power outages, or keep it in the car for emergencies.
Pro Tip: The compromise for run times with flashlights is often the higher the brightness, the bigger the battery to compensate and therefore size or a shorter run time to retain a smaller size.
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NEBO Powerful Small Flashlight |
This is an incredibly useful flashlight, so small and portable it can clip to your cap! 5 light modes from 500 - 1000 lumens, providing plently of light with the added convenience of wireless charging through the included mag cable. |
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Pocket Sized |
A flashlight within a 400-999 lumen range is perfect for anyone who wants a lot of light. It can cast light a long way or fill a room. It is a good balance between light and run time as still energy efficient.
This is the type you need when looking for a good brightness but spending more on higher output and more cost is unnecessary. Flashlights within this range typically have Lithium-ion batteries that allow you to opt for full LED power with great run times and be fully rechargeable.
A flashlight with a 1000-1199 lumen range is very bright and creates an intense task light commonly used by mechanics as a work light.
Ensure the battery size is sufficient for your expected run time before recharging again, as high lumen outputs demand a large battery capacity for extended uses.
A flashlight with a 1000-1199 lumen range is extremely bright and creates a type of illumination that is intense and far reaching. Commonly used in professional applications like the emergency services and great for hunting where the dark of night is at its deepest in remote places.
The light from these types of output will be overwhelming if shone into the human eye and great care should be taken when using them.
A flashlight with a 3000+ lumen range is extremely powerful and creates a type of searchlight illumination used in professional applications like the emergency services, military and search and rescue.
This is the brightest you can buy and with that comes a few considerations. Firstly, the battery life will be short-lived unless it is a very big battery or multiple batteries are used in tandem. Secondly, the size and weight will be larger than most due to the need for effective heat sinking to avoid damage to the LEDs.
As a guide, we take a look at how bright is 3000 lumens
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when deciding begin your choice by how many lumens you need for the intended use and your budget.
There are versions of flashlight that span the lumen rating boundaries by offering different brightness modes. If you only need 500 lumens for general use but want the option for 1000 lumens, the variable mode settings could be good for you.
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