Luminous Intensity Converter
Quick answer: Choose a starting unit and a target unit, then enter a value. Common conversions: 1 cd = 1,000 mcd; 1 cd = 1 lm/sr; 1 mcd = 0.001 cd. This converter covers 4 luminous intensity units.
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Use the Luminous Intensity Converter
Luminous Intensity formula and what each symbol means
target = value × (factor of starting unit ÷ factor of target unit), where each factor is the unit value in cd.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| value | The number you want to convert |
| factor | The unit’s size expressed in the base unit (cd) |
Luminous Intensity examples
cd to mcd
10 cd = 10,000 mcd.
cd to lm/sr
10 cd = 10 lm/sr.
mcd to cd
10 mcd = 0.01 cd.
How to calculate Luminous Intensity step by step
- Choose the starting unit and the target unit.
- Enter your value.
- Read the converted value, plus the conversion factor in both directions.
Popular luminous intensity conversions
How to read your Luminous Intensity result
Luminous intensity is light power per unit solid angle. The SI unit is the candela, which equals one lumen per steradian. A millicandela is one thousandth of a candela.
| UNIT | SYMBOL | EQUALS | VALUE OF 1 CD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candela | cd | 1 cd = 1 cd | 1 cd |
| Millicandela | mcd | 1 mcd = 0.001 cd | 1,000 mcd |
| Kilocandela | kcd | 1 kcd = 1,000 cd | 0.001 kcd |
| Lumen per steradian | lm/sr | 1 lm/sr = 1 cd | 1 lm/sr |
Common mistakes when calculating Luminous Intensity
- Confusing luminous intensity (cd) with luminous flux (lm).
- Mixing cd and mcd, which differ by 1,000.
- Forgetting that lm/sr and cd are the same.
Luminous Intensity FAQ
Is 1 lm/sr equal to 1 cd?
Yes. A candela is defined as one lumen per steradian.
How many cd is 1,000 mcd?
1,000 mcd is 1 cd.
What is the difference between candela and lumen?
Candela measures intensity in one direction; lumen measures total light output.
What is the base unit for luminous intensity?
This converter uses candela (cd) as the common base unit: every value is first converted to it and then to the target unit.
How do I convert between two luminous intensity units?
Choose the starting and target units, enter the value and read the result. By hand: convert to the base unit with the table, then divide by the target unit factor.
How many millicandelas are in 1 candela?
1 cd = 1,000 mcd.
How many lumens per steradian are in 1 candela?
1 cd = 1 lm/sr.
How many candelas are in 1 millicandela?
1 mcd = 0.001 cd.
Which luminous intensity units does this converter support?
It covers 4 units: candela (cd), millicandela (mcd), kilocandela (kcd), lumen per steradian (lm/sr).
How accurate is the luminous intensity converter?
Results are calculated at full double precision and shown to about 8 significant figures. Round the answer to the precision of your original measurement; a result cannot be more accurate than the number you started with.
More in Luminous Intensity converters
- Lumens per steradian to Millicandelas Converter
- Millicandelas to Lumens per steradian Converter
- Lumens per steradian to Candelas Converter
See all luminous intensity converters tools · All Conversion calculators · Site map
Method, review and disclaimer
Edited by: Hemant Kumar and Anjita Rai, founders of ToolsVault (SEO and content professional, not a licensed adviser). Method: this tool runs in your browser using the formula shown on this page; the numbers you enter are not sent to our servers. Sources: NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8: conversion factors, BIPM: the International System of Units (SI)